Nutrition therapy is recommended as part of a comprehensive diabetes treatment plan by the American Diabetes Association, ADA, and practitioners of naturopathic medicine. Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, author of "Eat Right for Your Type," proposes that diet choices should be made according to the red blood cell antigens that determine your ABO blood type. The blood type diet is based on the theory that lectin, diverse proteins found in all foods, react with cell membranes to produce beneficial, neutral or harmful effects. Based on observations of these effects, in theory you can eat or avoid specific foods to prevent or treat certain medical conditions, including diabetes, cancer and certain inflammatory conditions. Recommendations for nutritional diabetes treatment from the ADA are not identical to those of Dr. D'Adamo and other lectin theorists, but there are some places they overlap.
Blood Type AB Diet Overview
People with blood type AB have the dietary needs of both type A and type B, according to Dr. D'Adamo's research. This makes type AB best suited for a mixed, yet moderated diet of plant- and animal-based foods with a few exceptions. The lectins in chicken, red meat, nuts, seeds, kidney beans, lima beans, corn and buckwheat may produce negative health effects for type AB. Also key for this blood type is to limit the portion size of meats.
This recommendation is in keeping with ADA diet standards due to the type and amount of fat in meats. Although diabetes creates an increased need for protein, a typical Western adult's diet contains about 50 percent more than he needs, according to the ADA. Also in keeping with ADA standards is the blood type diet's suggestion to eat a diet rich in phytochemicals, disease-fighting plant compounds, found in fresh fruits and vegetables. This is due to the unique immune system vulnerabilities of people with type AB blood.
Meat, Poultry, Seafood and Dairy
The following meat, poultry and fish are most beneficial for blood type AB and are deemed acceptable for diabetics according to ADA standards: skinless turkey, eggs and fatty fish such as tuna, cod and mackerel. The ADA recommends two to three servings of fatty fish per week and no more than 20 percent of total daily calories from protein. Beneficial dairy foods include fat-free sour cream, yogurt, goat's cheese and ricotta cheese. Due to the increased risk of heart disease in diabetics, limit egg yolks and choose fat-free or nonfat dairy products. Also, reduced-fat dairy products such as yogurt may contain high amounts of carbohydrates that should be factored into your total daily carb intake.
Fats, Nuts, Grains and Beans
Olive oil, soy beans, soy nuts and walnuts are beneficial for type AB per the blood type diet. These foods are also aligned with ADA standards due to their monounsaturated fat content and healthy effects on cholesterol. Navy, pinto and red beans are also healthy options due to their lectin, high protein and fiber content, yet low-fat and total calorie content. The blood type diet emphasizes rice over pasta for type AB as well as the following grains: millet, oat bran, rice bran, whole oats, rye and spelt. The ADA recommends that carbohydrates come from whole grains, fruits and vegetables, but stresses that the total amount of daily carbohydrates is more important than the source. It also suggests that total carbohydrates and monounsaturated fats make up 60 to 70 percent of total daily calories.
Fruits and Vegetables
The ADA recommends that diabetics eat five to nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Those touted as most beneficial for type AB include broccoli, cucumbers, berries, plums, celery and pineapple. To ensure optimal phytochemical intake, eat fruits and vegetables of all colors, as produce of similar colors tend to have similar nutrient profiles.
References
- Dr. Lam; Blood Type Diet -- Type AB Detailed Food Chart; Michael Lam, MD, MPH
- Eat Right for Your Type: What Makes a Type AB an Individual?
- Dr. Lam: Blood Type Diet AB
- Krispin's Komments on Nutrition and Health; The Lectin Story; Krispin Sullivan, MS, CN; May 2011
- "Diabetes Care"; Evidence-Based Nutrition Principles and Recommendations for the Treatment and Prevention of Diabetes and Related Complications; January 2002
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