EATING FOR YOUR BLOOD TYPE

Learn How Eating For Your Blood Type May Help You Lose Weight

If you’ve been thinking about losing weight or cleaning up your daily diet, you’ve probably stumbled across dozens of fad diets that promise to burn off fat fast, and give your metabolism a boost. Some diets help you lose weight for a short period of time but can leave you hungry and likely to binge.

Others may recommend slow and gradual changes towards a healthier lifestyle, but you might still be missing out on some important nutrients.  Eating for your blood type is one of the latest diets on the market, and focuses on understanding how your genetic makeup influences what and how much you should eat. Is eating for your blood type just another fad, or are there some health lessons to be learned from this type of eating style?

EATING FOR YOUR BLOOD TYPE: How it works

The blood type diet has been developed by Dr. Peter J D’Adamo, author of the book, “Eat Right For Your Type.” Dr. D’Adamo maps out a different diet for the four blood groups: Type AB, Type A, Type B, and Type O. Once you learn what blood type you are, you need to follow certain dietary guidelines because the types of foods you eat will influence your digestion, metabolism, and rate of assimilation of nutrients.

This diet plan is also known as ‘metabolic eating’ and ‘blood type dieting’, and may work well for some people, but not so well for others.

Dr. D’Adamo points out that people who have ‘O’ type blood have a physiological composition that is similar to our very early ancestors. This means that Type Os may benefit from a high-protein, low carbohydrate diet and by maintaining a vigorous exercise schedule. Eating too many carbohydrates and unhealthy fats can lead to heart problems, obesity and even diabetes for these types.

If you are a Type A or Type B, you may be better off eating balanced meals comprised of all-natural whole grains, fruits and vegetables. A high-protein diet may be too restrictive for these types, so a diet comprised of healthy carbohydrates and various cuts of meat and lean protein sources may be a much better match.

Ultimately, eating for your blood type dismantles the notion that everyone can follow a ‘one size fits all’ diet and get results.

EATING FOR YOUR BLOOD TYPE: The research

According to David Katz, MD, there is some research behind the eating for your blood type diet plan. Dr. Katz points out that researchers have known for years that people with Type O blood types have a tendency to develop ulcers, and may be allergic to certain foods. As a result, they may benefit from a solid, wholesome diet that contains only modest amounts of dairy and wheat products (the most common source of food intolerance and allergies).  Still, Dr. Katz says that focusing excessively on your blood type may be a far-fetched diet strategy that won’t necessarily keep you healthy.

Your best strategy is to eat a well-balanced diet comprised of a variety of foods, and to check with your doctor if you suspect you have allergies or a food intolerance.

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Sabah Karimi writes about health, diet and fitness for DivaVillage.