WHAT’S YOUR TYPE?

We all have our types — and no, we are not talking about your ideal date, but rather, your blood type. O, A, B, AB. A couple years back, New York Times best selling author Peter D’Adamo talked about different blood types, and how to eat right for your blood family. He argued that each blood type had specific types of foods, supplements, exercises, and even medical treatment plans that worked most effective for that blood type alone, and that paying attention to these findings was key to having a healthy life. Here is what he had to say for each blood type:

Type O blood: A high-protein diet heavy on lean meat, poultry, fish, and vegetables, and light on grains, beans, and dairy. D’Adamo also recommended various supplements to help with stomach problems and other issues which according to D’Adamo, type O’s tend to have.

Type A blood: A meat-free diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains — ideally, organic and fresh, because people with type A blood have a sensitive immune system.

Type B blood: Avoid corn, wheat, buckwheat, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts, and sesame seeds. Chicken is also problematic, according to D’Adamo. He encourages eating green vegetables, eggs, certain meats, and low-fat dairy.

Type AB blood: Foods to focus on include tofu, seafood, dairy, and green vegetables. People with type AB blood tend to have low stomach acid so avoid caffeine, alcohol, and smoked or cured meats.

Now that we know what he had to say, let’s take a look at the studies behind the diet… Check, as there are none. Let us put it this way: It is rather difficult to group people by the millions or even billions and tell them to obey a same diet because they are sharing a blood group. Things like activity level, food availability, economic conditions, family history, exercise, knowledge about weight loss, medical conditions also play a role in one’s health and wellness. In other words, this stuff is complicated! Figuring out your blood type alone won’t help you get in shape.

What is good about the blood group diet is that it calls for the exclusion of processed foods, which is a surefire way to drop weight. Type O? Even better! Most of us are type O’s, and D’Adamo calls for a low carb diet for this group which should also help with weight loss.

All joking aside, the blood type diet is an example of over-simplification and cherry picking in regards to science. Next!

Happy Easter,
Maik Wiedenbach

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