What Foods Are Eaten On The Blood Type Diet?

Processed foods should be avoided by everyone on the Blood Type Diet, but beyond that, the type of food you eat depends on the type of blood you have. The Blood Type Diet was popularized by Peter D'Adamo, a naturopathic physician. It is based on his theory that food proteins called lectins are digested differently by different blood types, and people will lead a healthier life by eating foods most compatible with their blood type.

Type O Foods

If you have type-O blood, D'Adamo says you'll feel your best if you eat like the ancient hunter-gatherers who had blood type O. He recommends a diet that is high in protein-rich foods, such as meat and fish, and low in carbohydrates. Certain vegetables, seeds, nuts and eggs are all right for Type O's, but D'Adamo says wheat gluten is a leading cause of weight gain for people with type-O blood. Some beans and legumes also can add pounds to Type O's.

Type A Foods

As our ancestors moved toward a more agrarian lifestyle, type-A blood evolved. The blood-type theory holds that today's Type A's do best on the more vegetarian-style diet of their forebears. Their diet should include lots of fruits and vegetables, grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. Type A's should avoid foods high in protein, such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy and eggs. D'Adamo says animal foods slow the metabolisms of people with type-A blood.

Type B Foods

Type-B blood came next on the evolutionary scale, and today's Type B's can enjoy a combination of the foods recommended for people with type-O and type-A blood. There are a few quirks for Type B's. While turkey is a recommended food, people with type-B blood are told to avoid chicken. Fish is alright, but shellfish is not. The biggest sources of weight gain for Type B's include buckwheat, corn, lentils, sesame seeds and peanuts. Dairy consumption is encouraged.

Type AB Foods

People with type-AB blood, the most recent blood type to develop, can eat a combination of foods approved for Type A's and Type B's. However, D'Adamo recommends following a vegan diet most of the time. People with type AB blood should stay away from foods on the Type A and Type B lists of foods to avoid, with one exception. According to the diet plan, people with blood types A and B may have trouble with tomato lectins, but Type AB's don't.

Warnings

Weight loss experts say it's possible to lose weight on the Blood Type Diet, but there's a lack of scientific evidence proving it's because of the blood type theory. Eliminating processed foods can easily trim lots of calories from anyone's diet, and some of the blood-type menus are similar to other diets, such as high-protein/low-carb weight loss plans. Dieters also run the risk of losing important nutrients by severely limiting their food choices.