Blood Type O Diet Recommendations

According the "Eat Right for Your Type Diet" formulated by Dr. Peter D'Adamo, you should tailor your diet to your blood type. D'Adamo says the lectin content of certain foods makes them detrimental to the health of people with certain blood types. He calls people with blood type O "hunters."

Meats

According to D'Adamo, blood type Os are carnivores by nature and thrive on physical exercise and a diet high in animal protein. He says type Os can digest animal protein well due to a high-acid stomach content. If you are a type O, you should eat lean, chemical-free meats, especially beef, mutton, veal and venison, and avoid bacon, ham, goose and pork.

Fish

Type Os can eat all types of seafood except smoked salmon, caviar, barracuda, catfish, pickled herring, octopus and conch. The best seafood choices include fresh mackerel, herring and cod. These fish are good sources of iodine and help maintain regular thyroid function in type Os.

Dairy

Type Os do not tolerate dairy foods made with cow's milk well and also should limit their consumption of eggs. However, you can eat butter, feta cheeses, mozzarella and goat's cheese in moderate amounts, along with products made from soy milk.

Seeds and Nuts

Walnuts and pumpkin seeds are good choices for type Os, but they should not replace meat as a source of protein. Avoid poppy seeds, peanuts, pistachios and Brazil nuts completely if you are a type O.

Legumes

If you are a type O who wants to lose weight, you should restrict your consumption of legumes. Always avoid Navy, kidney and tamarine beans and all types of lentils. If you are at your ideal weight, you can eat black-eyed peas, aduke, azuki and pinto beans occasionally. Certain legumes can contribute to weight gain in type Os by depositing lectins in muscle tissues, making them less responsive to physical activity.

Fruit and Vegetables

Recommended vegetables for type Os are kale, spinach, broccoli, collard greens and romaine lettuce. Some types of vegetables can cause problems for Type Os, especially Brassica family vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. These can inhibit thyroid function in type Os. You also should not eat corn and avocados.

Type Os tolerate most fruits well, but all types of melons can trigger allergies. Fruits with a high acid content such as tangerines, oranges, strawberries, blackberries and rhubarb also are not optimal for type Os because they can irritate the stomach. Dark-colored fruits such as figs, prunes and plums can help balance the high acid levels of types Os, which might reduce the risk of ulcers and irritation of the stomach lining.

Warning

According to Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. a nutritionist from the Mayo Clinic, there has been no solid research to support the claims made by D'Adamo that foods affect people in diverse ways according to their blood types. Before making changes to your regular diet, consult first with a nutritionist or your doctor.