All of us have a specific type of blood. Blood may look the same at first and we might say that they are equal in composition, but that is not the case. On the basis of the ABO system, blood has different types and it is especially important to understand these when you are having a blood transfusion or any kind of medical procedure. But are you aware that you could alter your diet to fit the type of blood? That would do wonders for your body.
Blood Type Diet
The blood type diet was prepared by a naturopath and a doctor, Peter J. D’Adamo in 1996. According to him, if we do not eat a specific kind of food which matched with our blood type then there might be agglutination i.e. the clumping up of blood cells. So, if we really need better immunity and energy, we can’t let the agglutination to take place and for that reason, the blood type diet is necessary to follow. Plus, research shows that this diet actually helps and can also help in restricting calories and making you lose weight.
This is the kind of diet that you should follow:
1. Blood O
Blood O is the type of blood that is referred to as the universal donor. It has both anti-A and anti-B antibodies but does not have any A or B antigens. About 46% of the world’s population has this blood type. This kind of blood type can digest animal proteins easily because that have higher acidic levels in their stomach. A paleo or a low carbohydrate diet is recommended for them. So here are some of the options that O positive and O negative blood types could try:
Meats
Poultry, fish, and lean meat are great options, among which seafood and lean meat can help in weight loss. Other examples are beef, cod, mutton, lamb, etc.
Vegetables and Fruits
Blood O type can enjoy all kinds of vegetables and fruits. However, they should be aware of not having certain foods listed in our ‘Foods to Avoid’ chart.
Beans and Nuts
Nuts have a lot of proteins and good fat. Beans are full of fiber, making it a great food to eat. But again, you should be aware of not having certain foods listed in our ‘Food to Avoid’ chart and plan accordingly.
Dairy
Regarding dairy, most of the dairy food is not right for you. However, a bit of soy milk, cheese, and butter are fine sometimes.
Grains
Grains should be avoided most of the times when you have Blood O. But you can go for some tolerable ones like millet, barley, rye buckwheat, amaranth, and kasha.
Drinks
We don’t consider how beverages can affect us. Water is great. But other drinks like tea, wine, seltzer water, and club soda are great too.
Sweets
Cocoa and chocolate are fine for you.
Add-ins
Curry, parsley, and iodized salt are great options. You can also go for kelp-based seasoning. Honey can be a good addition.
Foods to avoid
There are certain foods that blood O should avoid, especially carbs which can get stored as fats. They are:
- Most beans and lentils
- Wheat and other grains
- Legumes
- Brazil nuts
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Peanuts
- Eggs and Dairy
- Pork, bacon, and ham
- Cashews
- Pistachios
- Goose meat
- Barracuda
- Caviar
- Smoked salmon
- Brassica vegetables
- Nightshade vegetables
- Pickled herring
- Octopus
- Leek
- Corn
- Poppy seeds
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Avocado
- Also do some aerobics alongside to keep yourself fitter.
2. Blood A
Blood A has both anti-B antibodies and A antigens. Since they have low acidic levels, they may not be able to process food properly. Their immune system is also a bit sensitive. A vegetarian diet is the best bet for them. A positive and A negative types can go for this kind of diet:
Vegetables and Fruits
Blood A type can enjoy all kinds of vegetables and fruits but they should try to keep an eye on the ‘foods to avoid’ list to plan their diet.
Grain and bread
Buckwheat and amaranth are good options. Also, you can have rice cakes of different kinds of flours like oat, rye etc. or wheat varieties like soya, Ezekiel, sprouted, soba noodles, or artichoke pasta.
Beans and Nuts
Nuts have a lot of proteins and good fat. Beans are full of fiber, making it a great food to eat. But again, you should be aware of not having certain foods listed in our ‘Food to Avoid’ chart and plan accordingly.
Dairy
Dairy is not the thing to go for but some variants like yoghurt, kefir, goat milk, and most of the cheeses are great options.
Animal Protein
Animal protein is not good for blood A type but if you really want to have it, go for turkey or chicken.
Drinks
Water is the best option. Other beverages are wine, coffee, and green tea and other beverages made out of herbal products like aloe, hawthorn, ginger, etc.
Add-ins
Amari, ginger, soy sauce, garlic, and miso are great flavoring agents. Blacktrap molasses are great too.
Foods to avoid
- Eggs
- Cashews
- Pistachios
- Oils (corn, peanut, cottonseed, sesame, safflower)
- Seven grain
- Wheat germ
- Beans (garbanzo, lima, copper, red, kidney, tamarind, red)
- Granola
- Cream of wheat
- Brazil nuts
- Grape nuts
- Farina
- Most animal proteins and seafood
- Wheat bran
- Shredded wheat
- Multi-grain breads
- Wheat bran muffins
- Pumpernickel
- English muffins
- Matzos
- Pasta
- Whole wheat flour
- White flour
- Familia
- Wheat bran
- Nightshade vegetables
- Peppers and capers
- Olives
- Mushrooms
- Durum wheat
- High-protein whole wheat breads
- Cabbage
- Citrus fruits
- Melons
- Berries
- Bananas
- Rhubarb
- Mango
- Seltzer water
- Black tea
- Coconut
- Vinegar
- Gelatin
- Most common hot dog condiments
- Alcohol
- Tomatoes
- Pickles
- Soda
3. Blood B Type
This type has anti-A antibodies and B antigens. They have the best kind of digestive system and can tolerate most food types. They are natural omnivores too. Here are some of the things they can eat:
Meats
Lamb, mutton, venison meat are fine choices for you. Fish like cod, halibut, salmon and sole are good choices. However, don’t go for poultry. Stick with lean meat.
Eggs and Dairy
Eggs are a good option. Low-fat dairy is a fine choice too.
Vegetables and Fruits
Vegetables and fruits are a great option for Type B blood group. Raw vegetables can be great.
Cereals and grains
These are fine but only when taken in balance. Spelt, millet, and oat are good options.
Nuts And Seeds
As they are loaded with proteins, you can go for walnuts.
Legumes
They are not only full of proteins, but the fat content is low and they have a lot of minerals and fiber. Lentils, peas, and different kinds of beans are great options.
Drinks
Have more water. That’s the best diet.
Add-ins
For seasoning, go for curry, horseradish, cayenne pepper, and ginger.
Foods to avoid
Some of the foods you should not go for, as they cause tiredness, weight gain and increased glucose in blood are:
- Chicken
- Pork
- Duck
- Wheat
- Pepper
- High-fat dairy products
- Shellfish
- Corn
- Ketchup
- Black beans
- American cheese
- Blue cheese
- Pomegranate
- Coconut
- Avocados
- Pumpkin
- Buckwheat
- Garbanzo beans
- Peanuts
- Rye
- Garbanzo beans
- Lentils
- Peanuts
- Sesame seeds
- Tomatoes
- Distilled liquor
Blood AB Type
This is one of the rare blood types. They have both B and A antigens but neither the anti-A nor the anti-B antibodies. This makes them the universal recipient. A blood type cannot digest everything well but since a bit of B is added, they can digest meat. But it is generally recommended in small proportions so that they don’t stress their digestive system. Some of the food they can have are:
Meats
Meats are good options if they go for mutton, turkey, lamb, rabbit and white fish. Go for the lean cuts.
Dairy
Sour cream, yoghurt, kefir, and most cheese are great options. Go for the low-fat variants.
Nuts
These can be a source of good fat but try to see the ‘foods to avoid’ list to plan better.
Grains
Spelt, oatmeal, rye, rice, millet, and bran are good options.
Vegetables and fruits
Leafy greens are great and AB blood type can enjoy most of the foods. However, they should check the list of foods that should be avoided to make their diet better.
Add-ins
Go for seasonings with kelp, curry, garlic, parsley, miso or horseradish.
Drinks
Water is great but you can go for wine, beer, and green tea as well.
Foods to avoid
Some of the foods to avoid are:
- Beef
- Pork
- Poultry
- Guava
- Mango
- Orange
- Smoked meats
- Butter and buttermilk
- Whole milk
- Banana
- Coconut
- Seed oils (sunflower, poppy, sesame, pumpkin)
- Seeds (same as above)
- Avocado
- Peppers
- Distilled liquor
- Buckwheat
- Soba noodles
- Caffeine
- Soda
- Artichoke
- Radish
- Corn
- Cured meats
- Some cheeses (blue and American)
- Ice cream and sherbet
- Most beans
- Wheat
- Most seafood
- Shellfish
- Vinegar
These diets will make you feel a lot better about yourself. So, try to make the required changes and have a healthy life.