Developed by naturopathic physician Dr. Peter D’Adamo, the Blood Type Diet is based on the theory that protein-like compounds in food called lectins react with different blood types to cause a wide variety of health complaints. To help people avoid eating lectins that are incompatible with their blood type, Dr. D’Adamo provides lists of foods that are beneficial and those that should be avoided, for each blood type. Although critics have claimed the diet lacks scientific support, Dr. D’Adamo draws on a significant body of research dating all the way back to the late 19th century to support his dietary recommendations. In general, the diet recommendations for each blood type include a variety of foods and are well-balanced. Because the diet recommended for person with Type O blood emphasizes meat, care should be taken not to exceed recommended portion sizes and to balance meat consumption with adequate amounts of Type O recommended fruits and vegetables or the Blood Type O diet may provide higher than recommended amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol.

Over the years, distinct patterns began to emerge. He noticed that patients with Type A blood did well on a vegetarian diet, while patients with Type O did well on a high-protein, meat-based diet. In 1980, James D’Adamo published his clinical observations in a book titled One Man’s Food. That same year, Peter D’Adamo began to research the scientific basis for his father’s theories. In 1996, nearly twenty years later, Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s findings were published in his first book, Eat Right For Your Type.

Blood Principles

Dr. D’Adamo’s ideas on the relationship between diet and health are rooted in a simple concept: your blood type – O, A, B or AB – determines your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, fight off diseases, and handle stress. Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s diet recommendations were born out of evolutionary history, and, specifically, the observation that the different blood types emerged as the environmental conditions and eating styles of our ancestors changed. Between 50,000 BC and 25,000 BC, all humans shared the same blood type –

Type O. These early humans were skilled hunters, and thrived on a meat-based diet. The Type A blood type emerged between 25,000 BC and 15,000 BC, a necessary adaptation to a more agrarian lifestyle. Climactic changes in the western Himalaya mountains led to the appearance of Type B, and the blending of Type A and Type B blood types in modern civilization resulted in the appearance of the Type AB blood type. Because the emergence of new blood types made it possible for our ancestors to survive the changing environmental conditions, Dr. D’Adamo believes that blood type, diet, and health are intricately related.

According to Dr. D’Adamo, the physiological reason why people should eataccording to their blood type relates to lectins, which are protein-like substances found in many commonly eaten foods. Lectins, also known asphytohemagglutins, were first identified in 1888, at which time it was discovered that lectins interact with sugar-containing molecules on the surface of cells. This discovery allowed certain lectins to be used in blood typing, since blood type is determined by the presence (or absence) of specific sugar-protein residues on the surface of red blood cells. These residues are called antigens. Antigens play acrucial role in the function of the immune system, as they allow your body to distinguish between what is friend and what is foe. When an antigen enters your body that is unlike your blood type antigen, your immune system identifies it as a foreigner and prepares to attack and kill the invader. This process starts with the production of an antibody, which attaches to the foreign antigen, making it sticky and causing it to clump together with other antigens on viruses, bacteria, parasites, and cancer cells. This process, called agglutination, is necessary for your immune system to eradicate foreign invaders and protect you from colds, flus, and even cancer.

In the scenario above, agglutination is a clearly a good thing – it allows your immune system to remove potentially harmful agents from the body. However, the clumping of blood cells is not always beneficial. At its extreme, such clumping can cause a blockage in your blood vessels, causing a stroke. The more harmful aspects of agglutination is the key to understanding the role of diet, lectins and blood type.

Although most of the lectins found in food are destroyed by cooking, digestive enzymes, or are inactivated within the gut, at least 5% of the lectins we take in through our diet are absorbed into the bloodstream, and some of these are incompatible with our blood type. Many food lectins look very similar to the antigen that determines one of the four blood types or else bind directly to blood type antigens. In either case, this resemblance can lead to agglutination. According to Dr. D’Adamo “Simply put, when you eat a food containing lectins that are incompatible with your blood type antigen, the lectins target an organ or bodily system (kidneys’ liver, brain, stomach, etc.) and begin to agglutinate blood cells in the area.” Dr. D’Adamo implicates lectin-caused agglutination as a significant contributing factor to many common health complaints. Scientific evidence supports his contention; for example, the lectin component of gluten – a protein found in wheat and many other grains – is known to interact with the mucous membranes in the gastrointestinal tract of people with celiac disease creating inflammation. In summary, Dr. D’Adamo believes that if you want to prevent health problems, it is important to eat foods that are compatible with your blood type based upon their lectin content.

In the Blood Type Diets, foods are divided into sixteen categories: meats and poultry; seafood; dairy and eggs; oils and fats; nuts and seeds; beans and legumes; cereals; breads and muffins; grains and pasta; vegetables; fruit; juices and fluids; spices; condiments; herbal teas; and miscellaneous beverages. For each blood type, lists of foods described as “highly beneficial”, “neutral”, or “avoid” (based on the lectin content of the food) are provided for each category. In addition, a list of foods that promote weight gain and a list of foods that promote weight loss is provided for each blood type.

Dr. D’Adamo also cites research that links blood type with the development of certain diseases. For example, it has been observed that individuals with blood type A have a higher incidence of achlorhydria (inadequate production of stomach acid), stomach cancer, and pernicious anemia, while people with blood type O have a higher incidence of intestinal ulcers (Buckwalter, 1956). In addition, people with Type B blood are more susceptible to slow moving viruses and autoimmune conditions (for example, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis). Dr. D’Adamo also notes that the Framingham Heart Study examined the connection between blood type and heart disease. In this study, male patients with Type A , especially in the age group 50-59, experienced a higher incidence of fatal coronary heart disease that men with Type O. Dr. D’Adamo suggests that these results indicate a strong connection between blood type and heart disease, but the authors of the Framingham study are more tenative in their conclusion. They write, “From these data it is only possible to say that non-fatal coronary heart disease with an intermediate-term survival of 4 years seems to be associated with blood-group. For women, however, there seems if anything to be a reversal of the trend, with more heart-disease in blood group O. This trend was particularly evident in the prevalence of angina pectoris (chest pain). A rather complex hypothesis would, however, be necessary to explain the apparent inconsistencies between the sexes, and between the associations found in the prevalence and incidence data” (Havlik, 1969). Research relating other diseases, including diabetes and hyperthyroidism, to blood type has not yet been conclusive.

Foods Emphasized

Type O was the blood type of the earliest humans, who were skilled hunters and subsisted on a diet of wild game and edible plants growing wild in the forests. As a result, the diet for individuals with Type O blood emphasizes the importance of animal flesh and vegetables. If you are Type O, you are encouraged to eat lean beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, and seafood. In addition, azuki beans, pinto beans, kale, collard greens and all fruits are considered to be beneficial.

Individuals with Type A blood thrive on a plant-based diet and should consume large amounts of raw or steamed vegetables, lentils, soy beans (and soy products), pinto beans, black beans and whole grains. Berries and plums are also beneficial. Occasional consumption of poultry and fermented dairy products is also well tolerated.

The diet for individuals with Type B blood is more varied than the other blood type diets. If you have Type B blood, you are encouraged to eat seafood, beef, lamb, and dairy products. Oats and millet, green vegetables, and all fruits are beneficial. Individuals with Type AB blood are encouraged to eat lamb, turkey, cultured dairy products (yogurt and sour cream), eggs, rice, tofu, plums and cherries. Foods Avoided Individuals with Type O blood must strictly avoid dairy foods, breads and pastas made from wheat, cabbage and Brussel sprouts, and corn, and eat eggs only in moderation (although it is suggested that those individuals of African-American descent, avoid eggs).

Individuals with Type A blood should eliminate all meat products, whole fat dairy products, peppers, tomatoes, and tropical and citrus fruits. Individuals with Type B blood are encouraged to avoid chicken, bacon, ham, and shellfish entirely. In addition, it is recommended that individuals with Type B blood limit consumption of beef, wheat, rye, tomatoes and corn. Individuals with Type AB blood must strictly avoid all smoked or cured meats and limit consumption of beef, wheat, corn, tropical fruits, oranges and bananas.

Since the primary sources of calcium in the standard American diet are dairy products, people following the Type A diet, which does not allow these foods, must be sure to include a variety of vegetables that contain calcium to ensure adequate calcium intake. The Type A diet also excludes meat products, which are an important source of iron in the typical American diet. As a result, care should also be taken to ensure adequate intake of other foods recommended for persons with Blood Type A that are rich in iron.

Who Benefits

In general, the foods listed as “highly beneficial” or “beneficial” for each of the blood types are whole, natural foods. As a result, the blood type diets limit the consumption of many processed and refined foods that are commonly eaten in the United States. If you currently eat a standard American diet, you will significantly improve the overall quality of your diet by following the blood type

diet recommendations.

Who is Harmed

Diets that restrict whole categories of foods are not typically recommended during childhood, adolescence, pregnancy or lactation. Whenever eliminating a significant category of foods from your diet, working with a health care practitioner knowledgeable about nutrition is recommended to ensure that all your nutrient needs are met.

Blood Type Menu Ideas