When the U.S. Department of Agriculture revised its eating recommendations for Americans in 2011, it didn't take blood type into account, and nutritionists probably won't ask about your blood type when they draw up a diet plan for you, either. The idea of different diets for people of different blood types was popularized in the 1996 book, "Eat Right 4 Your Type," but it has drawn criticism from many in the medical community.
Blood Types
A person's blood type is determined by the presence or absence of two antigens --- A and B --- on the surface of red blood cells. Antigens can trigger an immune response if they're foreign to the body, so it's important to know your blood type before getting a transfusion. The author of the Blood Type Diet, Peter D'Adamo, says these antigens also affect how your body digests foods. He claims that by eating foods that are not compatible with your type, you risk gaining weight and developing health problems.
Rh Factor
A third antigen, called the Rh factor, determines whether your blood is typed positive or negative. If you have B-positive blood, that means this third antigen is present. When it comes to the Blood Type Diet, D'Adamo says your Rh factor is fairly insignificant. He reports "few significant differences" have been found when it comes to food and Rh factor. People with both B-positive and B-negative blood follow the Type B diet plan.
Type B Foods
On the Blood Type Diet, people with type-B blood can eat a wide variety of foods, drawing from the food lists of both type-O and type-A individuals. D'Adamo says that's because type-B blood followed the other two blood types on the evolutionary scale. He recommends a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet for Type O's and a largely vegetarian diet for Type A's. The Blood Type Diet suggests people with type-B blood eat lots of meat and dairy, some fish and a wide assortment of fruits and vegetables.
Foods to Avoid
Just as important on the Blood Type Diet are foods that should be avoided. For type-B people, D'Adamo says chicken, shellfish, nuts and seeds can be harmful. He notes that most Type B's also have problems with wheat products. In addition, he says corn and buckwheat can cause weight gain in Type B's and contribute to a sluggish metabolism, insulin irregularity, fluid retention and fatigue. Health professionals cite a lack of scientific evidence for D'Adamo's claims of a connection between food and blood type.
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