Blood Type Diets

Blood Type Diets

According to Eat Right 4 Your Type by Dr. Peter D’Adamo, the most important factor for health (diet, disease) is knowing your blood type.  There are four basic blood types: O, A, B, and AB.  Dr. D’Adamo said, “there had to be a reason why there were so many paradoxes in dietary studies and disease survival…why some people lose weight and others do not on the same diet or why some people keep their vitality as they age, and others do not.”

While there are critics of his research, here is what D’Adamo found to be true dependent on blood type:

Type O: The health of people with type O blood is typically better when eating a lean protein diet with less dairy and fewer grains; they also fare better with intense physical activity, like martial arts.  D’Adamo believes gluten is a leading cause for weight gain in this blood type.

Type A: This group has a sensitive immune system and is predisposed to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.  Therefore, a fresh and organic vegetarian diet is best suited for blood type A.  Calming physical activity, like yoga, is best for this group.

Type B: These people have a strong immune system as well as a tolerant digestive system and survive chronic diseases better than the other blood types.  When it comes to exercise, they do best with moderate physical activity, like hiking, cycling, and tennis.

Type AB: D’Adamo lists type AB as the newest blood type in terms of evolution and is the most complex.  Seafood and dairy are a large part of the diet for this group and they enjoy a combination of moderate and calming physical activity.

The Blood Type Diet has been criticize for it’s validity.  According to WebMD, David W. Grotto, RD, LD (and former spokesperson for the Academy) states, the diet in general has good recommendations because D’Adamo doesn’t promote avoiding fruits and vegetables; however, there is little scientific evidence to support the benefits.

Even more recently, Belgian researchers sought to find science which would support health benefits with eating for your blood type.  More than 1,400 journal articles showed up in the original search and only 16 could provide additional information about health and blood types.  Unfortunately, 15 of the 16 articles were thrown out due to poor design.  The one strong article included a randomized controlled trial, however it had several weakness – small groups, participants knew which group they were assigned to, and the study assessed cholesterol levels, not weight or overall health.

This fad likely thrived on people’s desperate need to lose weight and improve their health quickly.  There are several testimonies of this diet working, whether it be weight loss or less heart burn; unfortunately, the science saying it improves health is lacking.  In theory, the diet sounds great – there are four different blood types, why wouldn’t each have an ideal diet and exercise regimen?

Meet the Author

Amanda Seguin

aseguin73

Amanda Seguin completed her B.S. in Dietetics at Bradley University in Peoria, IL and her distance dietetic internship at Lenior-Rhyne University located in Hickory, North Carolina. Through the internship she completed the Certification of Training in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management. Currently, Amanda is a Food Service Supervisor and Clinical Dietitian practicing in long-term care with The Alden Network. Previously, she worked as a Clinical Dietitian with Prism Health Care Services Inc., and as a Nutrition Specialist for the Chicago Partnership for Health Promotion, a community nutrition education program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading, hiking, camping, swimming, and spending time with family and friends.
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