Blood type weight-loss plans can be traced to naturopathic physician Peter D'Adamo who claims that people who choose their foods based on their blood type can lose weight, feel more energetic, stave off chronic health conditions and prevent certain diseases. While health professionals say you can lose weight on the Blood Type Diet, some argue that it's no more effective than many other diet plans.
Theory
Blood-type diets are based on the theory that food proteins called lectins are digested differently by people with different blood types. According to the Blood Type Diet, if you eat foods that are not compatible with your blood type, your metabolism may slow and you can develop medical conditions, such as digestive problems or kidney and liver problems. While health professionals acknowledge there is a link between blood type and some medical conditions, the role that food plays is not backed by independent research.
Diet Foods
The D'Adamo plan recommends that people with type-O blood eat a diet high in protein, much like the diet of the early hunter-gatherers who had type-O blood. As humans evolved and started living a more agrarian lifestyle, type-A blood was born. So, people with this type of blood are told to follow a more vegetarian-style diet on the Blood Type Diet. Type B's came along next in the evolutionary process and can enjoy a more varied diet. People with type-AB blood, the newest blood type, can eat most foods good for type A's and type B's.
Foods to Avoid
On the Blood Type Diet, there are certain foods that should be avoided by people with each type of blood. For example, Type O's are told to limit dairy and avoid grains, avocados, brazil nuts and oranges. Type A's are supposed to avoid red meat and limit dairy. Type B's are supposed to strike chicken, bacon and shellfish from their diets. Type AB's should limit meat and avoid corn, buckwheat and sesame seeds.
Exercise
Exercise is an important component of the plan, and D'Adamo argues that the type of exercise a person chooses also should be based on her blood type. He says Type O's need intense physical exercise: aerobics three or four times a week, martial arts or contact sports. On the other hand, Type A's do best with calming exercises, such as yoga and tai chi. D'Adamo says the other two groups do best with more moderate exercises, such as brisk walking, swimming or bicycling.
References
- Eat Right For Your Type: How Blood Determines Your Type
- MayoClinic.com: What is the Blood Type Diet?; Katherine Zeratsky; August 2010
- The Doctors of USC: The Blood Type Diet; Maria Adams; December 2009
- Vanderbilt University Psychology Department: Eat Right 4 Your Type; Courtney Sanders
- Every Diet: Blood Type Diet
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