On the blood type diet, the types of foods you should avoid vary based on your individual blood type. The diet, popularized by naturopath Peter D'Adamo in his book "Eat Right 4 Your Type," says blood type affects how foods are digested. It argues that by eating what's right for your blood type, you can enjoy better health and lose weight. However, the diet plan has drawn criticism from health professionals at institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Vanderbilt University and the University of California for the lack of independent scientific research backing D'Adamo's claims.
Type O
D'Adamo says type-O is the oldest blood type, and that people with type-O blood feel their best when they eat the types of foods used by early hunter-gatherers---meats and certain fruits and vegetables. The Type O diet is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. D'Adamo says Type O's should limit or avoid breads, pasta and other foods made from grains. He says wheat gluten, in particular, is responsible for much of the weight gain in Type O's. However, he recommends that people of all blood types avoid processed foods.
Type A
According to the Blood Type Diet, the next blood type to evolve in early humans was type A. Early Type A's tended to live a more settled lifestyle than their Type-O predecessors, and today's Type A's do best on a vegetarian-style diet. D'Adamo recommends that Type A's avoid dairy products, meats, fish, poultry and eggs, and limit their intake of wheat products. D'Adamo says people with type-A blood are predisposed to heart disease, cancer and diabetes, and that eating fresh, pure and organic foods will help their sensitive immune systems.
Type B
Type B's have a shorter list of foods to avoid. This blood type evolved after types O and A and is seen as an attempt to join the two opposites. D'Adamo says Type B's enjoy a strong immune system and can eat a wider variety of foods, such as meats, fish, some poultry and dairy. However, the diet says Type B's should avoid chicken, shellfish, nuts and seeds, as well as processed foods. Wheat might not be well tolerated, and tomatoes might irritate a Type B's stomach.
Type AB
Type AB blood has been around for less than 1,000 years, and it's the rarest of blood types. Unlike the other blood types, Type AB's have no problems with wheat germ and whole-wheat products, D'Adamo says. People on the blood type diet with type-AB blood can thrive on the foods recommended for people with types A and B blood. However, they also need to avoid foods that should be avoided by people with type-A or type-B blood. To lose weight, the diet recommends that type ABs cut back on meat and stay away from corn, buckwheat and sesame seeds.
Warnings
While it's possible to lose weight on the blood type diet, nutritionists recommend eating a well-balanced diet each day that draws from each of the food groups. Restrictive diets might be hard to maintain and lack important vitamins and minerals.
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