Having a personalized diet has been a new trend. How about we eat as per our blood group— A, B, O, and AB? According to the blood type diet, our blood type determines the type of food that is healthy. The idea of a blood type diet has been known for two decades. The concept of 4 diets for 4 blood types was popularized by a naturopathic physician, Dr. Peter D’Adamo. He claims that the person’s blood group decides the optimal diet for an individual in his books. But do we have any evidence for this? Let us explore 4 diets for 4 blood types that can help us trim down and become healthy.
Why The Blood Type Diet?
The physician behind the blood group diet has proposed that the blood type is a unique fingerprint of our genetic characteristics. D’Adamo also claimed that foods that are harmful to our blood group might react with our blood to clot, leading to various diseases. A diet designed according to the blood group can be digested well.
Just like our genes influence our weight and body type, so does our blood group. Our blood group decodes the right food for our blood type. The systematic consumption of foods that are beneficial and eliminating the harmful ones is the essence of this diet. Critics do not claim the blood group-based eating plan to have scientific proof. The logic behind the blood type diet is simple yet controversial.
4 Blood Type diet for Your Good Health
D’Adamo’s research recommends various organic foods and herbal supplements in the blood type diet.
Type A (Agrarian):
The people with blood group A are believed to be cultivators. The diet suitable for people with blood group A is essentially vegan. The diet should be full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and legumes, ideally organic. Meat is considered toxic for this blood group, and hence the diet should be meat-free.
Type B (Nomad):
The omnivores are believed to have blood type B. D’Adamo claims them to have a balanced diet. The diet should have low-fat dairy products, meat, fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans, and eggs. However, the consumption of corn, peanuts, sesame, and lentils is not recommended.
Type AB (Enigma):
This is the most evolved blood type. The ones with blood type AB should avoid caffeine, alcohol, beef, and smoked meats. The diet is believed to be a mix of types A and B. One should eat seafood, dairy products, grains, and tofu in their diet. However, the use of red meat should be barred, similar to type A.
Type O (Hunter):
This is the most ancient human blood group. The diet suitable for people with blood group O is rich in proteins. The diet should be rich in fish, meats, fruits, and vegetables, but eating grains and beans should be limited as per the recommendations of Dr. D’Adamo. People with blood type O are also advised to avoid beans, corn, cabbage, and cauliflower.
Does It Have Any Benefits?
The recommendations of the blood type diet seem to be interesting. Various claims explain the diet to be a practical tool for weight loss. It causes restriction of the calories that we eat. No matter the blood type, processed foods have been eliminated in each regimen, making it an aid for weight loss.
A study has presented that the blood type diet has led to benefits like lowering BMI and blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes as well! Elimination of processed foods and cutting calories are the key features of the blood type diet.
It Has Drawbacks Too!
Nutritionally, the blood type diet promotes restrictive eating. There is no scientific evidence to claim if the blood group diet works or not. Although the diet does not have any risks, it is a restrictive type of diet that makes it challenging to follow. A diet based on blood type may keep one devoid of all the necessary nutrients simply because of not being compatible with their blood group.
People on a blood type diet might acquire unhealthy eating patterns. A broad-based nutrition plan provides all the vital nutrients to an individual. The bottom line is that no evidence supports that the meals that we eat are affected by our blood group. Eliminating certain food groups is not practical. Our diets should be nutrient-dense. The scientific evidence favoring the blood type diets are still skeptical.