According to the blood type diet, type-A blood evolved in humans at the time early ancestors were moving from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more agrarian way of living. So, the theory goes, people with type-A blood will feel healthier and lose weight more easily if they follow a vegetarian-style diet. While some foods recommended for type As are definitely healthy, the limited nature of the food list may cause some problems.
Good Foods
The blood type diet popularized by naturopathic physician Peter D'Adamo says people with type-A blood should focus on foods that are fresh, pure and organic. The diet plan calls for lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. A typical day's menu might include oatmeal, fruit juice, salad, rice cakes, wheat bread, peanut butter, pasta, fruits and vegetables, and herbal tea.
Bad Foods
Just as important on the blood type diet are the foods you should avoid. D'Adamo says type As have a sensitive immune system and are predisposed to heart disease, cancer and diabetes. He recommends they avoid meats, which can slow the metabolism of a type-A person, and stay away from dairy products to promote better health. Some wheat products are all right, but they should be consumed in limited quantities. Other foods on the list of things to avoid are fish, poultry, eggs and processed foods.
Exercise
Eating right is only part of the D'Adamo blood-type plan. He also recommends exercises that he says are best suited to each of the four major blood types. Along with a menu of vegetarian foods, D'Adamo says calming exercises work best for type As. He suggests people with type-A blood play a round of golf, sign up for a yoga or stretching class or do tai chi.
Warnings
While there is nothing wrong with the foods recommended for type As, people on restrictive diets may face two problems. Restrictive diets tend to be hard to stick with over the long-term. In addition, when entire food groups are cut from the menu, there's a risk that important vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are lost, too. D'Adamo sells a line of supplements for each blood type, but nutritionists will argue that supplements are not necessary for most people if they eat a well-balanced diet.
References
- Eat Right For Your Type: How Blood Type Determines Your Health
- MayoClinic.com; What is the Blood Type Diet?; Katherine Zeratsky, RD, LD; August 2010
- The Doctors of USC; The Blood Type Diet; Maria Adams; December 2009
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Weight---It's Not a Diet, It's a Lifestyle!
- Every Diet: Blood Type Diet
Member Comments