Blood Type and Nutrition

[Camazotz]

by Paul J. Dunn, MD, charter member of the American Holistic Medical Association, member of the American College of Advancement in Medicine, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, and the Academy of Orthomolecular Medicine, and member and past president of the International Academy of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, with a private practice in holistic medicine in Oak Park, Illinois.

Most people have heard about blood types. Many, however, do not know their own type and fewer still are aware of the relationship of blood type to nutrition, exercise, personality, and susceptibility to different diseases. My purpose here is to bring about an awareness of the concept and to elaborate on some of these relationships, especially with nutrition. For more complete information on specific details for each type I strongly recommend reading the book, Eat Right for Your Type by Peter J. D’Adamo, ND.* This article and, to quote the author, "This book is not intended as a substitute for the recommendations of physicians or other health care providers. Rather, it is intended to offer information to help the reader cooperate with physicians and health professionals in a mutual quest for optimum well-being."

Origin of Blood Types

The explanation for the differences among the different types lies in their origin. Type O is the oldest and the most common type. About 40,000 BC our ancestors in southern Africa had weapons and tools and they hunted in packs. They were hunter-gatherers, who thrived on meat, which led to their digestive characteristics. In time, hunting grounds became depleted of big game. To survive, the human race migrated to northern Africa. Eventually good hunting there was eliminated leading to migration out of Africa into Europe and Asia. Thus, the basic population of the planet was type O for "old." In time, depletion of large game in Europe and Asia occurred so different kinds of food were needed. Our ancestors survived on berries, small game, nuts, grubs, and fish. Overpopulation by early man led to increasing competition for the remaining meat, which led to war and further migration.

According to D’Adamo, type A first appeared in Asia or the Middle East between 25,000 and 15,000 BC. Type A mutated from type O because the increased population and major diet changes resulted in many infections. This mutation occurred rapidly. The gene for type A thrived. Characteristics of the culture were agriculture and the raising of domesticated animals. Dietary and environmental changes led to further digestive and immune system mutations. People became better able to absorb and tolerate grains and other agricultural products. They were able to sustain themselves and stable communities arose, which led to networking and cooperation. Eventually the type A gene spread into Western Europe.

Type B (for balance) developed between 15,000 and 10,000 BC in the Himalayas. Changes in climate from hot East Africa to the cold Himalayan highlands may have brought about the mutation to type B. It was characteristic of the Steppe dwellers of the Eurasian plains. Some of these were nomads, who penetrated far into Eastern Europe; while others, agriculturally based, spread through China and Southeast Asia. Movement of type B into North America was prevented by the disappearance of the land mass between it and Asia. Earlier populations in North America were all type O.

Type AB is found in less than 5% of the population and did not exist prior to between 900 and 1,000 years ago. When eastern Mongolian invaders overran the last of European civilization, type AB came into existence. AB’s inherited the tolerances of A and B, which gave them enhanced ability to counteract infections, allergies, and immune diseases. However, they have some increased susceptibility to certain cancers.

Blood Types and Health

Our blood type is significant for our health because of three classes of chemicals—antigens, antibodies, and lectins. An antigen is any chemical that generates an antibody by the immune system in response to it. An antibody is a substance, an "immunoglobulin," made by cells of the immune system specifically to identify foreign material in the body of the host and to adhere to the foreign material. A lectin is any compound, usually a protein, found in nature, which can interact with surface antigens found on the body’s cells causing them to agglutinate or clump together.

Antigens and antibodies

As far as antigens are concerned, we each have a variety of our own that enable the immune system to decide whether a substance in the body is foreign or not. They are located on the cells of the body. Every form of life from the simplest virus to human beings has a unique set of antigens. In the human body one of the most powerful of these is the one that determines blood type. When the immune system senses a suspicious invader it looks first to the blood type antigen to decide whether or not it is friendly. Our blood type is named for the blood type antigen found on the red blood cells. Thus, type A has A antigen, type B has B antigen, type AB has both A and B antigens, and type O has no antigens.

When a blood-type antigen senses that a foreign antigen has entered the system, it alerts the immune system to create antibodies to that antigen. Immune system cells manufacture these antibodies, which attach themselves to the foreign antigen for destruction. Over time we develop an increasing number of different antibodies. When an antibody meets the antigen of a bacteria or virus or parasite it causes the microorganism to become sticky or agglutinate. The organisms clump up and can be disposed of more easily.

Besides detecting and destroying microbes and other invaders, there are other important aspects of blood-type antigens with their resulting antibodies. About a hundred years ago, an Austrian physician and scientist, Dr. Karl Landsteiner, discovered that blood types produced antibodies to other blood types. This explains why some people can exchange blood and others can’t. Thus, blood-type A carries antibodies against type B. Type B carries antibodies against type A. Type AB carries no antibodies against either type A or type B. Type O carries antibodies against both type A and type B. Anti-blood-type antibodies are extremely powerful and can clump (agglutinate) blood cells of the opposing type in seconds. Unlike most other antibodies that require some sort of stimulation, for example, vaccination or infection, for their production, blood-type antibodies appear automatically at birth and, by four months of age, have attained almost adult levels.

In addition to blood-cell agglutination by anti-blood-type antibodies, it was found that many foods agglutinate the cells of certain blood types but not of others. A food that may be harmful to the cells of one blood type may be beneficial to the cells of another. Many of the antigens in these foods have A-like or B-like characteristics. This discovery led to the link between blood type and diet.

Lectins

Which brings us to lectins. Lectins are abundant proteins, found in foods. Their agglutinating properties affect blood and other tissues, organs, and body systems. If you eat a food that has protein lectins that are incompatible with your blood-type antigen, they attack an organ or system and begin to agglutinate cells in that area. Many food lectins are close enough to a certain blood-type antigen so as to make that food detrimental to another type. For example, milk has B-like qualities. If a type A drinks milk, agglutination begins immediately to reject it. Cells in the target area are clumped together and destroyed. However, there is some protection from lectins. Our immune system actually sloughs off 95% of the lectins in our food. The other 5% can cause problems if a particular blood type is reactive.

General Comments

In addition to diet, Dr. D’Adamo’s book includes sections, under each blood type, about stress/exercise, meal planning, supplements, weight loss, and personality. At this time I will consider the broad aspects of diet and exercise. The details of these and the other actors are nicely discussed in Dr. D’Alamo’s book, which I strongly advise reading. There are some variations within each type because of size and weight of various peoples as well as geographic variation. Also, people from different cultures and races don’t always have the same frequency of the gene. For example, one type A person may be AA if both parents were A, another may be AO, if one parent was O.

Food suggestions

As to diet, foods are classified into beneficial, neutral, and avoid. These are further classified into fifteen types of foods—meat, fish, oils, nuts, beans, cereals, breads, vegetables, fruits, juices, condiments, etc. Following are a few examples of the three basic classifications for each blood type. Further reading will give the reader all the details.

Type O

Highly Beneficial: Beef, lamb, liver, eggs, salmon, whitefish, olive and flaxseed oils, onions, kale, garlic, spinach, plums and prunes, pineapple juice, to mention a few.

Neutral: Chicken, turkey, bass, shrimp, lobster, butter, goat cheese, cod. liver oil, almonds, pecans, string beans, rice, rye bread, many vegetables, most fruits, most juices, most spices, mustard, mayonnaise, chamomile tea, beer, red and white wine, plus many other items.

Avoid: Pork, ham, bacon, catfish, lox, milk, goat milk, cheese, peanuts, cashews, navy beans, lentils, wheat, oats, corn, white potato, cabbage, olives, oranges, honeydew melons, strawberries, apple juice, orange juice, vinegar, black peppers, ketchup, coffee (even decaffeinated), tea, and sodas.

Type O‘s have a hardy digestive tract and thrive on animal protein. Organic, free range meats are preferable.



Type A

Highly Beneficial: D> Rainbow trout, sea trout, whitefish, salmon, soya cheese, soy milk, olive and flaxseed oils, peanuts, lentils, black eyed peas, buckwheat, amaranth, Ezekial bread, rice cakes, broccoli, carrots, kale, spinach and many other vegetables, apricots, grapefruit, pineapple, juice of these fruits, ginger, garlic, mustard, rose hips tea, coffee, red wine, and green tea.

Neutral: Chicken, turkey, ocean perch, sea bass, swordfish, goat cheese, yogurt, kefir, cod liver oil, almonds, filberts, macadamia nuts, green peas , snap beans, rice, corn flakes, gluten-free bread, wild rice, spelt noodles, cauliflower, celery, corn, apples, grapes, melons, peaches, pears, apple and grape juice, very many spices, pickles, jelly, dandelion tea, senna tea, and white wine.

Avoid: All red meats, anchovy, catfish, clam, American cheese, cottage cheese, brie, buttermilk, corn oil, peanut oil, brazil nuts, cashews, navy beans, kidney beans, red beans, grapenuts, shredded wheat, granola, whole wheat bread, white and whole wheat flour, cabbage, all potatoes, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, black pepper, catnip tea, beer, and distilled liquor.

Type A’s flourish on somewhat more vegetarian diets.



Type B

Highly Beneficial: Lamb, rabbit, venison, cod, halibut, salmon, cottage cheese, goat milk, skim milk, olive oil, navy beans, oatmeal, puffed rice, Ezekiel bread, rice, kale, cabbage, carrots, and many other vegetables, bananas, grapes, pineapple, grape juice, cranberry juice, cayenne pepper, ginger, rose hips tea, and green tea.

Neutral: Beef, liver, turkey, whitefish, catfish, white perch, buttermilk, Monterey Jack, cod liver oil, flax oil, pecans, walnuts, white beans, snap beans, grape nuts, granola, gluten-free bread, oat bran muffins, quinoa, brown and white rice, garlic, cucumber, white potatoes, and very many other vegetables, apples, peaches pears, apricot juice, orange juice, most spices, mayonnaise, mustard, many herbal teas, coffee, and red and white wine.

Avoid: Bacon, ham, chicken, duck, pork, shrimp, lobster, anchovy, American cheese, ice cream, peanut oil, safflower oil, peanuts, cashews, filberts, lentils, pinto beans, wheat cereals, corn flakes, multigrain bread, rye bread, buckwheat, couscous, yellow corn, all olives, coconuts, rhubarb, tomato, black pepper, ketchup, senna tea, distilled liquor, and cola.

This type diet represents "the best of the animal and vegetable kingdoms."



Type AB

Highly Beneficial: Lamb, rabbit, turkey, salmon, mackerel, sardine, cottage cheese, goat milk, olive oil, peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts, navy beans, green lentils, oatmeal, Essene and Ezekial bread, rye crisp, white and brown rice, broccoli, celery, kale, garlic, grapes, figs, pineapple, grape juice, carrot juice, horseradish, ginger tea, hawthorn tea, rose hips tea, coffee, and green tea.

Neutral: Liver, pheasant, catfish, carp, sole, snapper, skim milk, soy milk, cheddar cheese, peanut oil, cod liver oil, cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, green beans, northern beans, domestic lentils, grapenuts, seven grains, cream of rice, whole wheat bread, multigrain bread, couscous, quinoa, asparagus, carrots, red cabbage, white potatoes, and many other vegetables, apples, peaches, pears, various melons, apple juice, pineapple juice, prune juice, very many spices, mustard, mayonnaise, jelly from appropriate fruits, catnip tea, peppermint tea, beer, red and white wine.

Avoid: Anchovy, sea bass, lobster, haddock, lox, bacon, beef, pork, veal, venison, ice cream, whole milk, buttermilk, sherbet, corn oil safflower oil, filberts, sesame seeds, lima beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, kamut, buckwheat kasha, lima beans, all white and yellow corn, red and yellow peppers, bananas, oranges, rhubarb, white vinegar, cayenne pepper, ketchup, relish, fenugreek tea, senna tea, distilled liquor, diet and other sodas.

Exercise Suggestions

The amount and type of exercise recommended is related to how different blood types respond to stress. Each type attempts to overcome stress through a distinct, genetically programmed instinct. The ancient hunter ancestors of type O’s had an immediate, physical response to stress that goes directly to muscles. With a physical release at this time a positive effect may come from a bad stress. Type O’s then are suited for intense, physical exercise.

The type A person reacts to the alarm stage of stress intellectually, producing anxiety and irritability. As the stress continues, the immune system is affected, leading to further problems. These negative effects of stress can be countered by quieting techniques such as yoga or meditation. Other quieting type exercises like hiking, swimming, and bicycling are also helpful.

The type B response to stress is a balance of types A and O. The physical response of type O and the nervous and mental response of type A complement one another very nicely allowing type B to respond very well to stress. Moderate activities that involve other people, such as group hiking or biking, Tai Chi, tennis, and aerobics classes.

Type AB’s respond to the initial stage of stress intellectually much like type A’s. Exercises that provide calm and focus bring relief. This type would benefit from moderate, isotonic exercise like hiking, swimming, and bicycling done even vigorously. Hatha yoga, Tai Chi, Aikido, and golf are other good exercises.

Conclusion

Specific guidelines for each blood type regarding specific exercises, with time and frequency, are beautifully outlined in Dr. D’Adamo’s book. The same is true for dietary guidelines as well as the other elements of a blood-type plan. Hopefully, the information contained herein will motivate the reader to think about these ideas and, working with one’s individual health practitioner, decide whether or not to implement all or parts of them into one’s lifestyle.

_____________

*G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1996, 392 pages, hardcover, $22.95.

Article from NOHA NEWS, Vol. XXIII, No. 2, Spring 1998, pages 2-4.

[deusxmachina]

I honestly don't buy into it. I think any particular benefits, if any, that would be afforded by following such an exacting guideline for diet, would be offset by the inconvenience.

I have recently tried cutting out wheat on the possibility it might be aggravating my eczema, but because I currently have a meal plan at my college, I have very little control over what is available for me to eat. It's extraordinarily difficult to eat healthfully in general in these situations, let alone cut out wheat. I could do it, some people have legitimate intolerance to gluten and casein. But I already know that I don't have an intolerance to any of those because of the batteries of allergy testing I've had over the years (because I am allergic to a ton of other things).

There are many other diet factors which impact your wellbeing far more, such as the overall balance of fats, carbs, and proteins, relative to your metabolism type. I have a really high metabolism and I'm really prone to hypoglycemia, so I eat lots of small, dense meals throughout the day high in fiber, fats and proteins, and low in simple sugars. Even then, there isn't a huge difference unless I intentionally eat a lot of sugar, which makes me feel pretty gross afterward.

I intuitively favor and avoid all kinds of foods. I just sort of know what's good for me, and while it's somewhat similar to Dr D'Adamo's recommendation, I think it's much more individual to people, not just a function of blood type.

[Camazotz]

Mmhmm, I can entirely understand where you're coming from, just going to throw some things out for folks to ponder. Next up will be some info from ayurveda which breaks people down into three types and covers lots of various aspects for each then, including recommended foods to eat or avoid.

[tomakins]

Now I need to find out my blood type. I used to know it years ago but, even if just for experimentation purposes, I would like to know what it is to see where I stand in all of this, if any of it makes sense, and (if changes seem to be suggested) how any changes will make me feel.

I have experimented with dieting and exercise for years. Everything from Low Carb (as low as <5carbs/day) to 100% Raw Vegan. Have found that a semi-vegan diet (no meat and only the occasional minor amount of dairy such as goat related cheeses, a bit of cream in my coffee if soy milk isn't available, basically stuff where the dairy isn't in any way a significant part of the meal) along with trying to fit in some raw snacks such as fruit and veg has worked best for me.

As for exercise I have done everything from the occasional once or twice in a two week period to a 9 day straight heavy workout.

[G-rod]

I'm an omnivore. If it was ever alive at any point or came from something living, chances are I'd be willing to give it a shot.

[Camazotz]

Personally I'm A+ and, whilst I'll never ever be persuaded to fully cut out red meat (not a hope) it's actually quite true that I tend to do a lot better on a mainly vegetarian diet, or consuming only meat from fish and small amounts of white meat.

Tomakins, how did you find existing on low carb? It was *insanly* good for me the first time that I did it, but having taken a break from it and then returned later it seems to only have minor benefits and some random problems- absolutely nothing like the first time that I'd done it. The only thing which keeps me in order now is heavily calorie controlled, with most coming from veggies and dairy and red meat only when I get to craving them.

[Lono676767]

a similar article i found
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Blood Type O

Blood Type O is the oldest blood type in the world (evolved around 40,000 BC), and is traced back to CroMagnon man. People with Blood Type O have the hardiest digestive systems. They are the meat-eaters. Persons with Blood Type O need animal protein for good health, as well as vegetables and fruits. However, carbohydrates should be kept to a minimum, since the Blood Type O person cannot digest carbohydrates very well, especially wheat products containing gluten. This person will do well on a high animal protein, low carbohydrate diet; and, dairy products should be kept to a minimum. Persons with Blood Type O produce a lot of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, and it is this great abundance of stomach acid that allows them to digest animal protein favorably. And, because their digestive systems already contain a lot of stomach acid, they should avoid drinking coffee, since coffee will cause them to produce even more stomach acid, and this tends to make them prone to peptic ulcers, especially if they are constantly under a great deal of stress. They should drink more green tea, instead of coffee. Persons with Blood Type O tend to have low thyroid and sluggish metabolisms; therefore, they should supply their diets with sea kelp and seafood to obtain natural iodine to stimulate their thyroids. The best exercises for these persons are the vigorous workouts like jogging, power walking, aerobics, weight training, etc. The harder they exercise, the better they will feel. Get the heart rate going, and sweat up a storm to burn calories, alleviate stress and eliminate depression!

Foods that encourage weight gain - Wheat gluten; corn; kidney beans; navy beans; lentils; cabbage; brussel sprouts; cauliflower; mustard greens; and, of course, sugar and white flour.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Sea kelp (iodine); Seafood: bluefish, cod, hake, halibut, herring, mackerel, pike, rainbow trout, red snapper, salmon, sardines, shad, snapper, sole, striped bass, sturgeon, swordfish, tilefish, white perch, whitefish, yellow perch, yellowtail; Red Meat: beef, buffalo, heart, lamb, liver, mutton, veal, venison; Vegetables: kale, spinach, broccoli.

Other foods to avoid

    * Meat: bacon; goose; ham; pork. Seafood: barracuda, catfish, caviar, conch, herring (pickled), lox (smoked salmon), octopus.
    * Cheeses & Dairy: American cheese, blue cheese, brie, buttermilk, Camembert, casein, cheddar cheese, colby, cottage cheese, cream cheese, edam, emmenthal, goat milk, gouda, gruyere, ice cream, Jarlsburg; kefir, Monterey Jack, munster, parmesan, provolone, Neufchatel, ricotta, skim or 2% milk, string cheese, Swiss cheese, whey, whole milk, yogurt, all varieties.
    * Oils: corn, cottonseed, peanut, safflower;
    * Nuts & Seeds: brazil nuts, cashew, litchi, peanuts, peanut butter, pistachios, poppy seeds.
    * Beans & Legumes: copper, kidney, navy, tamarind, lentils (domestic, green & red).
    * Cereals: cornflakes, cornmeal, cream of wheat, familia, farina, grape nuts, seven-grain, shredded wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ.
    * Grains & Pastas: bulgur wheat flour, couscous flour, durum wheat flour, gluten flour, graham flour, soba noodles, semolina pasta, spinach pasta, sprouted wheat flour, white flour, whole wheat flour.
    * Vegetables: avocado, cabbage (Chinese, red, white), cauliflower, white & yellow corn, eggplant, domestic & Shiitake mushrooms, mustard greens, olives (black, Greek, Spanish), potatoes (red & white), alfalfa sprouts, brussel sprouts;
    * Fruits: blackberries, coconuts, melon (cantaloupe & honeydew), oranges, plantains, rhubarb, strawberries, tangerines;
    * Juices: apple, apple cider, cabbage, orange.
    * Spices: capers, cinnamon, cornstarch, corn syrup, nutmeg, black & white pepper, vanilla, vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, red & white wine).
    * Condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles (kosher, dill, sweet & sweet pickle relish).
    * Herbal Teas: alfalfa, aloe, burdock, coltsfoot, corn silk, echinacea, gentian, goldenseal, red clover, rhubarb, Saint-John's Wort, senna, shepherd's purse, strawberry leaf, yellow dock.
    * Beverages: coffee (regular & decaf), distilled liquor, all sodas, black teas.

Blood Type A

People with Blood Type A evolved from the hunter/meat-eater to the agrarian, and were the farmers and grain gatherers. This blood type evolved between 25,000 and 15,000 bC. They have fragile digestive systems. These people cannot tolerate animal protein well, and should be the proverbial, classic "vegetarian" of the human species. They also are usually lactose intolerant, as well. Persons with Blood Type A should avoid animal protein and dairy products, and would do well with whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Tofu and Hawaiian Spirulina should become the Blood Type A person's best friends, as these foods contains high-quality vegetable protein! Persons with Blood Type A do not produce enough hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, and that is why they have a difficult time digesting animal protein well. This also gives them a predisposition toward getting stomach cancer, and should never eat smoked or cured meats due to the sodium nitrites in them. Animal protein and dairy products tend to rot and ferment in their digestive tracts, and the toxic bacteria backs up into their tissues and muscles, thereby causing digestive distress. A lack of sufficient hydrochloric acid in their stomachs is another reason that persons with Blood Type A do not absorb Vitamin B12 properly from the foods they eat. Vitamin B12 is normally found in red meat, although B12 is also found in superior vegetable protein foods such as Hawaiian Spirulina, soy products and sea kelp. This inability to absorb Vitamin B12 sufficiently from food tends to make the person with Blood Type A prone to pernicious anemia. Therefore, supplementing the diet with Vitamin B12 is critical. Also recommended is supplementation with digestive enzymes such as betaine, bromelain and papain. Bromelain is derived from pineapple, and assists with the digestion of animal protein. Betaine will help to increase the amount of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. The best exercise for these persons is not the heavy, vigorous workouts, but more calming, centering exercises like Tai Chi, Hatha Yoga and golfing. These soothing types of exercises will relieve the Blood Type A person's stress in a more beneficial way.

Foods that encourage weight gain - Meat; dairy food; kidney beans; lima beans; wheat (in overabundance); and, of course, sugar and white flour.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Vegetables oils, such as olive and flaxseed; soy foods; spirulina; vegetables; pineapple.

Other foods to avoid

    * Meat & Poultry: bacon, beef, ground beef, buffalo, duck, goose, ham, hart, lamb, liver, mutton, partridge, pheasant, pork, rabbit, veal, venison, quail.
    * Seafood: anchovy, barracuda, beluga, bluefish, bluegill bass, catfish, caviar, clam, conch, crab, crayfish, eel, flounder, frog, gray sole, haddock, hake, halibut, herring (fresh & pickled), lobster, lox (smoked salmon), mussels, octopus, oysters, scallop, shad, shrimp, sole, squid (calamari), striped bass, tilefish, turtle.
    * Cheese/Dairy: American, blue cheese, brie, butter, buttermilk, Camembert, casein, cheddar, colby, cottage, cream cheese, edam, Emmenthal, gouda, gruyere, ice cream, Jarlsberg, Monterey jack, Munster, Parmesan, provolone, Neufchatel, sherbet, skim or 2% milk, Swiss, whey, whole milk.
    * Oils: corn, cottonseed oil, peanut, safflower, sesame.
    * Nuts & Seeds: brazil, cashews, pistachios.
    * Beans & Legumes: copper, garbanzo, kidney, lima, navy, red beans, tamarind beans.
    * Cereals: cream of wheat, familia, farina, granola, grape nuts, wheat germ, seven grain, shredded wheat, wheat bran.
    * Breads & Muffins: English muffins, high-protein bread, matzos wheat, multi-grain bread, pumpernickel, wheat bran muffins, whole wheat bread.
    * Grains & Pastas: white & whole wheat flour, semolina & spinach pasta.
    * Vegetables: cabbage (Chinese, red, white), eggplant, lima beans, mushroom (domestic), olives (black, Greek, Spanish), peppers (green, jalapeno, red, yellow), potatoes (sweet, red, white), tomatoes, yams.
    * Fruits: bananas, coconuts, mangoes, melon (cantaloupe & honeydew), oranges, papayas, plantains, rhubarb, tangerines.
    * Juices: orange, papaya, tomato.
    * Spices: capers, plain gelatin, pepper (black, cayenne, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, white), vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, red wine, white), wintergreen.
    * Condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce.
    * Herbal Teas: catnip, cayenne, corn silk, red clover, rhubarb, yellow dock. Beverages: beer, distilled liquor, seltzer water, all sodas, black teas.

Blood Type B

This blood type developed between 15,000 and 10,000 BC. Persons with Blood Type B have tolerant digestive systems, and can tolerate most foods equally well, with some exceptions. They are the lucky ones who can digest all types of foods with ease. However, the foods they should avoid are corn, buckwheat, lentils, peanuts, and sesame seeds, as these foods will tend to make them gain weight. Just like the Type O's, Type B's tend to have a problem with gluten in wheat products and wheat germ, which can cause a drop in their blood sugar levels, causing symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Blood Type B's who want to lose weight should definitely avoid wheat products. These lucky people can handle dairy products okay, compared to the other blood types. However, easy does it; if you consume too many high-calorie dairy products, you will gain weight! If you get hypoglycemia after eating a meal, sipping licorice tea would be beneficial for you. It is not advisable to take licorice supplements, unless under the supervision of a doctor. However, sipping licorice tea is very good.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Green vegetables; red meat such as lamb, mutton and rabbit; liver; turkey; pheasant; eggs/low-fat dairy products, including eggs from chicken; seafood, especially deep ocean fish such as cod and salmon, also flounder, halibut and sole; licorice tea. (Licorice tea is great to sip after a meal, as this will prevent hypoglycemia); soy foods; olive and flaxseed oil; oatmeal; oat bran; millet; rice bran; spelt; puffed rice.

Other foods to avoid

    * Corn; lentils; black-eyed peas; garbanzo beans; peanuts; sesame seeds; buckwheat; wheat; and chicken (chicken is bad for the Type B's); shellfish; tomatoes; tofu; artichokes; avocados; olives: black, green, Greek, Spanish; pumpkin; radishes; mung bean sprouts; radish sprouts; tempeh; oils: canola, corn, cottonseed, peanut, safflower, sesame and sunflower; coconuts; persimmons; pomegranates; prickly pears; rhubarb; starfruit; allspice; almond extract; barley malt; cinnamon; cornstarch; corn syrup; plain gelatin; black and white pepper; tapioca; ketchup; hard distilled liquor; seltzer water; all sodas; amaranth; barley; cornflakes; cornmeal; cream of wheat; kamut; kasha; rye; seven-grain; shredded wheat; wheat bran; wheat germ.

Blood Type AB

Very rare, and the gentle offspring of Type A and Type B blood. This blood type has only been around for about 1000 years; a modern adaptation and result of intermingling of disparate groups. Less than 5% of the world's population have Blood Type AB. You combine the best and the worst of Blood Types A and B. Most foods that are bad for the Type A and Type B persons, are also bad for the Type AB person, with the exception of tomatoes. The Blood Type AB person can tolerate tomato lectins well. Like Type A, you do not produce enough hydrochloric stomach acid to digest animal protein well, such as red meat and poultry, yet you do need some animal protein. Therefore, portion size is important, and with less frequency. Be sure to take bromelain, a digestive enzyme derived from pineapple, to assist with the digestion of your animal protein meals. The best meats for you are lamb, mutton, rabbit and turkey. Also, avoid smoked and cured meats.

Foods that encourage weight gain - Red meat; kidney beans; lima beans; seeds; corn; buckwheat; wheat.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Tofu; seafood; dairy; green vegetables; spirulina; sea kelp; pineapple.

Other foods to avoid

    * Meat: bacon, beef, ground beef, buffalo, chicken, cornish hen, duck, goose, ham, heart, partridge, pork, veal, venison, quail.
    * Seafood: anchovies, barracuda, beluga, bluegill bass, clams, conch, crab, crayfish, eel, flounder, frog, haddock, halibut, herring (pickled), lobster, lox (smoked salmon), octopus, oysters, sea bass, shrimp, sole, striped bass, turtle, yellowtail.
    * Cheese: American, blue cheese, brie, butter, buttermilk, Camembert, ice cream, Parmesan, provolone, sherbet, whole milk. Oils: corn, cottonseed oil, safflower, sesame, sunflower.
    * Nuts/Seeds: filbert; poppy seeds; pumpkin seeds; sesame butter (tahini); sesame seeds; sunflower butter; sunflower seeds.
    * Beans: adzuke, black, fava, garbanzo, kidney, lima; black-eyed peas.
    * Cereals: cornflakes; cornmeal; kamut; kasha; corn muffins.
    * Grains & Pasta: buckwheat kasha; barley flour; artichoke pasta; soba (buckwheat) noodles.
    * Vegetables: artichoke (domestic & Jerusalem); avocado; white & yellow corn; lima beans; black olives; peppers: green, jalapeno, red, yellow; radishes; sprouts: mung bean & radish.
    * Fruits: bananas; coconuts; guava; mangoes; oranges and orange juice; persimmons; pomegranates; prickly pears; rhubarb; starfruit.

Credits:

Run The Planet thanks Hawaii Herbals for the permission to reprint the article "Eat Right For Your Blood Type" based on the book "Eat Right 4 Your Type" by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo. If you are interested in the blood-type diet, we recommend that you read Dr. D'Adamo's book ("Eat Right 4 Your Type", by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, C.P. Putnum's Sons, New York, 1996). Illustration copyright © 2003 by Run The Planet.

[Camazotz]

Danke Lono *wanders off to read more*

[masonmac]

that really makes sense... thanks for the post

[Todd]

Good articles, It's all true, but it only shows the best diet for a certain blood type. It also doesn't mean that if we won't obey this diet we get sick or something. Nothing more mistaking. It only shows what type of food is best to assimilate, however this feature depends on not only blood type but also much more factors, especially genetic ones.

[Juju]

no way...i couldn't live without lobster...damn it, that's cruel to post anywhere XD

[Nightrain]

I actually heard bits and pieces of this from a friend about a year back.

This was awesome to read and learn from.

Now it makes sense why I naturally go to the diet I have. haha. I'm type O. And mostly I find myself gnawing on green veggies and rare meat. It just tastes better to me. And running is a favourite pass time.

Intense.

[DarkxNight]

This is a really interesting article, but now I am curious in more detail so all this information is for types, what about positive and negative in the blood types does that hold any significance as well?

[sphynxcatvp]

I actually have a book called "You Are Your Blood Type" somewhere in my stash of reading matter.

Never gave it much thought for acurracy, though I do find it amusing. Type O's are recommended to be primarily meatatarians, eh? How many in the vampire community are Type O I wonder? Would be interesting to see...

[HElium]

This makes a bit of sense to me, I am type O- and the list is dead on. Too bad most of my favorite things are on the negative list, but those are the things I have so much trouble digesting.