According to Dr. D'Adamo, author of the book, "Eat Right 4 Your Type," your blood type dictates your nutritional needs and specifies what type of exercise best suits you. He claims that of 6,617 people that followed diets specific to their blood type, between 71 to 78 percent of them "had significant improvement in a variety of health conditions," with weight loss being the result most often reported. With a blood type of AB, D'Adamo says you'll need to consider both types A and B int factoring your dietary needs.
Do's and Don'ts
According to D'Amado, type ABs have low stomach acid, which causes meat to be inefficiently metabolized and stored as fat. He says that smoked and cured meats lead to stomach cancer for people with this low acidity, so if your blood type is AB, you should try to eat more fish and seafood like red snapper and salmon. D'Amado suggests eating many smaller meals through the day, as opposed to three main meals. Avoid combining starch and protein in the same meal. He says for AB types to focus mainly on eating more tofu, dairy and green vegetables. Also avoid caffeine.
Lifestyle Management
D'Adamo believes that your blood type influences everything in your life, including your personality. He has lifestyle tips for people with AB blood types that include avoiding competitive situations and developing a concise plan for meeting your goals well in advance to avoid rushing. You should also participate in 45 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity twice a week, mixed with stretching and meditation. You should become involved in your community. D'Adamo also suggests using visualization techniques daily.
Food Lists
"Eat Right for Your Type" has many lists of suggested foods to include in your diet. According to the Natural Health Place, some of the best foods to include into your diet if you're an AB are lamb, turkey, peanuts, walnuts, navy beans, pinto beans, red beans, millet, oats, rice, spelt, alfalfa sprouts, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, yams, berries, figs, kiwi, lemon, pineapple and plum.
Food List to Avoid
According to D'Adamo, certain foods will react with your body chemically and cause many different kinds of health problems. Foods to avoid are beef, pork, chicken, canola oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil or sunflower oil, anything made with buckwheat or corn, artichokes, avocados, Lima beans, mushrooms, olives, peppers, radishes, guava, banana, coconut, oranges, vinegar, ketchup, pickles, relish, Worcestershire sauce, liquor, soda and black tea.
Expert Insight
Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky says the blood type diet is no more effective than any other diet. There is no scientific data to support the claims made by D'Adamo. If you choose to follow D'Adamo's advice, try to keep a balanced, healthy plan in mind so you are able to follow it for the long run. Also, be sure to discuss your specific dietary needs with your physician before making any changes.
Member Comments