Federal health officials don't take blood type into account when drawing up dietary guidelines for Americans, but a naturopathic physician popularized the idea of choosing foods based on your blood type in the 1996 book "Eat Right 4 Your Type." Peter D'Adamo claims that by choosing foods most compatible with your type of blood, you may be able to shed pounds, reduce chronic health problems and help prevent certain diseases from developing. Other medical professionals cite a lack of scientific evidence for his claims.
Type O
If you want to follow the D'Adamo eating plan, you need to know your blood type. He says type O was the first blood type to evolve in the days of the early hunter-gatherers, therefore today's Type O's will feel their best if they eat and exercise like those early ancestors. He advises people with type O blood to eat lots of meat, fish and poultry and avoid dairy foods and grain products. Some vegetables are okay, but he says corn, lentils, kidney beans and cabbage can cause weight gain in Type O's. He recommends Type O's get plenty of intense physical exercise.
Type A
D'Adamo says type A blood evolved as early man moved to a more agrarian lifestyle. Therefore, today's Type A descendants should eat a mostly vegetarian diet and engage in calming exercises. The Type A diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, legumes nuts and seeds. Type A's are told to avoid meats, poultry and dairy. D'Adamo says people with type A blood need foods that are fresh, pure and organic because they have sensitive immune systems. His theories are based on the way the body digests food proteins, and he says people of different blood types digest food differently.
Type B
According to D'Adamo, people with type B blood have a strong immune system and a tolerant digestive system, so they can enjoy foods from both the Type O and Type A food lists. Still, there are some foods they should avoid, too. D'Adamo says Type B's should stay away from chicken and shellfish because they can lead to health problems. He claims corn, buckwheat, lentils, peanuts and sesame seeds are the biggest factors in weight gain among Type B's. He recommends moderate exercises for Type B's, such as hiking and swimming.
Type AB
Type AB blood is the rarest of the four major blood types, and D'Adamo says that it's the newest in evolutionary terms and the most biologically complex. People with AB blood can enjoy the widest variety of foods on the Blood Type Diet, but a vegan diet is recommended most of the time. Type AB's should stay away from processed foods, just like all the other blood groups. D'Adamo says a person with type-AB blood does best with a combination of exercises recommended for Type A's and Type B's.
