Health professionals generally don't take blood type into account when making recommendations about foods, vitamins and minerals. Age, gender, health and activity level are the major factors doctors consider when advising patients. However, naturopathic physician Peter D'Adamo has proposed a blood type diet that is designed around his theory that people with different blood types digest foods differently and will be healthier by fine-tuning their diet to their blood type.
Blood Type Diet
D'Adamo says in his book "Eat Right 4 Your Type" that people with type-AB blood should follow a vegan diet most of the time, but they can enjoy foods that are recommended for people with type-A and type-B blood. Those foods include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. D'Adamo says type-ABs are the only people who don't tend to have problems with wheat germ and whole-wheat products. To lose weight, D'Adamo recommends that people with type AB blood have smaller portions of meat and avoid corn, buckwheat and sesame seeds.
My Plate
The U.S. Department of Agriculture makes healthy eating recommendations for Americans that do not take blood type into account. In 2011, the USDA introduced a MyPlate graphic to help simplify what constitutes a healthy diet. It says people should fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables, eat more grains than protein-rich foods and include some dairy at mealtime. Many health professionals find no scientific backing for a diet based on blood type.
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamin and mineral needs vary greatly from person to person and change over time. As people grow from infancy to old age, the types of vitamins and minerals and the amounts they need may vary significantly. Gender is a factor. Certain health conditions and medicines may also influence the need for vitamins and minerals. A woman's needs will change during pregnancy and while nursing. The government publishes general guidelines, but it's best to talk to your doctor before taking any kinds of supplements.
Supplements
Nutritionists say most people should be able to get the vitamins and minerals they need by eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. If you're concerned you're not getting all the nutrients you should, talk to your doctor, who can test to see if there's something you're lacking. Restrictive diets, such as the blood type diet, can lead to a loss of vitamins and minerals when certain classes of food are eliminated from the menu. D'Adamo sells a line of supplements for people with different blood types that are designed to go along with his diet.
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