Many people believe that their blood type, whether A, B, AB, or O, is only relevant in relation to blood transfusions. But discussions over recent decades have indicated that eating for a specific blood type may offer some health benefits.
However, there is a lack of supporting evidence to validate the proposed health benefits of following a blood type diet.
A review of data published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded: "No evidence currently exists to validate the purported health benefits of blood type diets."
Despite this, supporters of blood type diets attempt to help people achieve overall good health and a lower disease risk through eating for their specific blood type.
More research needs to be done, but here, we will learn more about the importance of the body's blood type, and the purported benefits of eating for an A, B, AB, or O blood type.
Contents of this article:
- What is the A blood type?
- Eating for your blood type
- Foods recommended by the diet
- Foods that the diet avoids
- Takeaway
Fast facts on the A positive (and A negative) blood type diet:
- Individuals with type A blood may be better suited to natural, vegetarian diets.
- People with type A blood have been shown to have lower levels of stomach-acid than other blood types, so a meat-based diet may not be digested as easily as a vegetarian based one.
- Research has shown that certain blood types are at risk of developing specific diseases or conditions.
- People with type A blood also have a higher natural propensity for developing other diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.
- What is the A blood type?
- Blood has an array of cells that are needed for proper body function. These include plasma, red and white blood cells, and platelets.
Antigens are also present in blood and are responsible for triggering a response by the immune system to attacks from foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses.
Eating for your blood type
D'Adamo argues that when the blood comes in contact with certain food components, a chemical reaction occurs, specifically with a protein called lectin.
Lectins, which are proteins found in food, have believed to have a direct effect on the blood and the digestive tract.
These proteins bind to cells within the body, causing them to clump together and potentially cause hormonal disruptions. This disruption has a similar effect on the body as a foreign substance might.
Foods recommended by the diet
Certain foods are recommended for people with type A blood to eat, as well as avoid, in order to maintain optimal health. According to the diet, these are the foods that those with blood type A may benefit from:
Animal proteins
Although people with type A blood may be best suited to a vegetarian diet, some animal products are allowed, including:
- chicken
- turkey
According to the diet, people with type A blood may consume most kinds of seafood with the most beneficial being:
- carp
- cod
- grouper
- mackerel
- monkfish
- pickerel
- red snapper
- rainbow trout
- salmon
- sardine
- sea trout
- silver or yellow perch
- snail
- whitefish
Exceptions are on the "avoid list" of animal proteins further down this article.
Dairy
Digesting dairy is allegedly difficult for people with type A blood, but certain types of dairy may be acceptable, including:
- yogurt
- kefir
- cheeses, including mozzarella, feta, goat cheese, ricotta, and string
- cheese
- goat milk
- Nuts and fats
Nuts are a great source of protein and healthful fats. People following the type A blood diet can typically have most nuts, except for the ones listed in the "avoid" list. The most beneficial nuts for people following the diet include:
- peanuts
- pumpkin seeds
- walnuts
The most beneficial fats for people who follow a diet include linseed oil and olive oil. Other allowable fats include liver and canola liver oil. that's what you must know about positive and negative blood type diet