According to the writings and research of naturopathic physician Peter J. D'Adamo, your diet should be personalized according to blood type. He believes eating the right foods may help prevent diseases you are predisposed to. He also proposes that the blood type diet can help you manage chronic disease, improve digestive function and increase your energy level. Many of the foods recommended for the blood type diet are also recommended by the American Diabetes Association.
Type O
According to D'Adamo, people with type O blood should eat a diet rich in protein and low in carbohydrates. MedlinePlus recommends you include an even amount of carbohydrate in each diabetic meal to help regulate blood glucose. Recommended proteins for type O blood are fish, beef, lamb, cod, herring and mackerel. According to the American Diabetes Association, meat choices should be lean cuts, such as sirloin or tenderloin.
Diets rich in animal proteins tend to be high in fat. To limit overall fat intake, prepare all foods using little or no added fat by grilling, steaming or broiling. Dairy and eggs should be restricted, while leafy green vegetables and purple, blue and red fruits are encouraged. Olive and flaxseed oil, rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, are recommended.
Type A
According to the Blood Type Diet, type A diabetics stand to benefit the most from a vegetarian diet. This type of diet tends to be low in saturated fat and high in fiber, both of which are recommended for diabetics. Fish and plant-based proteins are important for this blood type in diabetics because protein helps to manage blood glucose levels and hunger between meals. Soy foods, nuts, seeds and dried beans are beneficial protein choices. Exceptions for dried bean options are kidney and lima beans.
Other recommendations from D'Adamo for type A diabetics include pineapple, green tea, grapefruit, broccoli and collard greens. Optimal grain choices include soba noodles, rice cakes, Essene bread and baked goods made from soy flour.
Type B
Type B diabetics benefit equally from each food group, so a balanced omnivorous diet is best for them, advises D'Adamo. Low-fat dairy and fish are encouraged. Due to their lectin content, the following foods are restricted for type B diabetics; nuts, seeds, shellfish, chicken, corn and tomatoes. Spelt, millet, oatmeal, brown rice and Ezekiel bread are recommended grains while bananas, leafy green vegetables and cranberries are recommended produce options.
Type AB
The red blood cells of type AB diabetics contain both of the antigens that make type A and B blood, so they exhibit the characteristics of both. Any of the foods recommended for type A and Type B are beneficial for type AB, D'Adamo claims. Vegetables rich in phytochemicals are especially recommended for this blood type due to their immune system function. Phytochemicals, plant components that fight disease, are found in all fruits and vegetables, but are abundant in certain types.
According to the Stanford School of Medicine, the following foods are some of the best sources of phytochemicals: broccoli, berries, soy beans, soy nuts, carrots, turnips, celery and spinach.
