In his book "Eat Right for Your Type," author Peter D'Adamo argues that your food choices should be based on your blood type. Type O constitutes 1 of 4 major blood types, the others being types A, B and AB. In general, type O's are meat eaters with a hardy digestive tract. However, if you are type O, you might be sensitive to the amount of iodine in your diet, and according to the author, you should ensure you're getting adequate amounts. Before starting any new diet, always talk to your doctor.
About Type O's
Also called "hunters," type O's thrive on a diet heavy on meat. If you are type O, you have a strong digestive tract and a very active immune system. In addition, you respond best to stress with intense physical activity and require an efficient metabolism to stay lean. This is where your thyroid comes into play.
Iodine Deficiency in Type O's
D'Adamo says type O's have unstable thyroid metabolisms, and he attributes this to a lack of iodine. Your thyroid gland uses dietary iodine to synthesize several hormones involved in metabolic reactions, including energy production and heat regulation, according to the textbook "Physiology." Inefficient thyroid function causes side effects that include weight gain, fluid retention and fatigue.
Dietary Sources of Iodine
D'Adamo recommends that Type O's pay particular attention to consuming adequate amounts of iodine. He favors whole food sources such as seafood, especially saltwater fish, in addition to kelp, a type of seaweed. While he does not endorse the use of supplements, he recommends that if these foods are unavailable, you get your iodine from iodized salt in moderation. The daily requirement for iodine is 150 micrograms per day, or the amount present in 2 g of iodized salt.
Criticisms
These claims are not without their critics. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of "Eat to Live," says no ethnic group or blood type has higher iodine requirements than others, and that a healthy thyroid is capable of producing adequate hormones with the amount of iodine found in common foods. Indeed, iodine is a mineral widely available in the average diet. Any food that contains added sodium, such as most packaged foods, likely contains iodine in the form of iodized salt. For this reason, deficiencies are extremely rare in the U.S., according to the textbook "Biochemistry."
References
- "Eat Right for Your Type"; Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo; 1996
- Linus Pauling Institute: Iodine
- "Biochemistry"; Pamela Champe et al; 2005
- "Eat to Live"; Dr. Joel Fuhrman; 2005
