Naturopathic physician Dr. Peter D'Adamo, author of "The Blood Type Diet," says that people will lose weight, gain energy and improve their health by choosing foods based on their blood type. His diet theories are based on when the different blood types appeared on the evolutionary scale and how people with different blood types digest protein. The diet has been criticized by health officials at organizations such as the Mayo Clinic and the University of Southern California for the lack of scientific research to support its claims.
Dairy
According to D'Adamo, early Type B people were nomads who ate a varied diet, so today's Type Bs can thrive on a variety of foods, too. While D'Adamo says Type As and Type Os should avoid dairy products, Type Bs can enjoy milk, yogurt, cheese and other dairy items on the Blood Type Diet. Choose low-fat products to help you lose weight.
Meat and Poultry
Type As are told to avoid meat on the Blood Type Diet, but Type Bs can choose from a wide variety of meats. D'Adamo says the most beneficial meats for Type Bs include rabbit, venison, goat, lamb and mutton. Beef and veal are okay, too. Turkey is all right to eat, but Type Bs should avoid chicken. Even though it's a lean meat, D'Adamo says it contains an agglutinating lectin that can attack the bloodstream of Type Bs and potentially lead to strokes and immune disorders.
Fish and Seafood
Fish is on the Type B diet, but shellfish should be avoided because of the lectins it contains. Dr. Michael Lam, who also promotes natural healing, says shellfish contains lectins that can disrupt the Type B system. He says Type Bs will thrive on deep-ocean fish such as cod, salmon, flounder, halibut, sole and trout.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are part of the Type B diet, and most are allowed. If you want to lose weight, D'Adamo recommends lots of green, leafy vegetables. According to Lam, the most beneficial fruits are bananas, cranberries, grapes, papaya and plums.
Grain Products
Type Os are told to stay away from cereal, bread, pasta and rice, but some grain products are included in the Type B diet. Lam says millet, oatmeal, puffed rice, rice and spelt are the most beneficial grains. Avoid foods made with corn, rye and wheat.
Foods to Avoid
In addition to chicken and shellfish, there are some other foods Type Bs should avoid on the Blood Type Diet. D'Adamo says the biggest factors in weight gain for Type Bs are corn, wheat, buckwheat, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts and sesame seeds. He says these foods can affect how efficiently the metabolism works and can lead to fatigue, fluid retention and hypoglycemia, which is a severe drop in blood sugar after eating.
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