Are Kidney Beans Bad For Someone With A Positive Blood Type?

The same diet is not necessarily beneficial for everyone. According to Dr. D'Adamo, author of "Eat Right For Your Type," certain blood types may react differently to the same foods, however the Rh factor of positive or negative does not play a significant role in this diet. D'Adamo explains that lectins, the binding protein found in foods, contain glue-like properties that can cause clumping of cells in specific organs or body systems, which can predispose an individual to certain diseases. Dr. D'Adamo recommends avoiding kidney beans, since they do not prove to be beneficial to those with type A blood.

Type A Blood Diet

According to Dr. D'Adamo type As tend to do best on a vegetarian diet. Those with type A blood have a predisposition to immune problems, digestion sensitivity and diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Dr. D'Adamo explains in his book that type As have low levels of stomach acid and therefore have difficulty digesting meats and dairy. Dr. D'Adamo recommends eating foods that are more easily digested, such as vegetables, alkaline fruits, soy protein, nuts, seeds, beans and grains. He also suggests that these foods will promote weight loss and increase energy and productivity in those with type A blood.

Harmful Bean Lectins

Dr. D'Adamo explains that certain beans, such as kidney, lima, navy and garbanzo beans, contain a lectin that may interfere with digestive enzymes, slow the metabolic rate and cause a decrease in insulin production in type As, which has been shown to be a factor in obesity and diabetes. According to "Eat Right For Your Type", the lectins in these beans are digested in the stomach of type As by acid hydrolysis; however, because these lectin proteins are resistant to acid hydrolysis, food passes through the system undigested and results in symptoms including irritable bowel syndrome.

Beneficial Beans for Type As

Dr D'Adamo recommends utilizing soy protein, such as soy beans, tofu, soy cheese and soy milk, since they are easily digested by type As. Beans and legumes including lentils, black-eyed peas, black, aduke, azuki and pinto beans are considered highly beneficial on this diet and provide a nutritious source of protein.

Criticism

Although more than two million followers of Dr. D'Adamo swear by the benefits of the Type As "Eat Right For Your Type" diet, registered dietitian Katherine Zeratsky states that the program does not provide solid scientific evidence. Strict vegetarian diets may cause nutritional deficiencies in nutrients including iron and B vitamins, however Dr. D'Adamo recommends eating vegan foods high in iron and B-12, such as black strap molasses, dark leafy greens, soybeans, tempeh, tofu and miso, to offset the lack of meat, eggs and dairy in the type A diet.