The Blood Type Diet was invented by Peter D’Adamo and promotes the idea that people should eat according to their blood type. The Blood Type Diet aims to lower weight and risk of disease and strengthen the body.

Principle of the Blood Type diet

The Blood Type Diet is guided by the principle that your blood group determines how your body deals with different nutrients. The Blood Type Diet holds that each blood group has its own antigen marker (i.e. substances the body views as different) which can react differently to certain foods. This then leads to health problems.

The Blood Type Diet also believes that the digestive system is also linked with your blood type. By modifying your diet, your body can digest and absorb food more efficiently. This then helps you lose weight.

Lastly, the Blood Type Diet holds the theory that each blood type evolved at different times throughout history. In order to benefit from this knowledge, people should eat a diet based on our ancestors.

For instance, Type O blood is said to be the oldest blood type. Therefore, people with Type O blood should eat a diet that the earliest humans ate, which is a diet rich in fat and protein.

What are you allowed to eat on the Blood Type diet?

This depends on your blood type. Generally, the Blood Type Diet recommends eating natural food. Each blood type has a detailed list on what can be eaten:

• Type O: According to the Blood Type Diet, Type Os require a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet as humans were primarily hunter-gatherers when the blood type evolved.
  
  Type O people are permitted to eat meat (particularly red meat), fish and olive oil. Eggs, nuts, fruits and vegetables are permitted in moderation.
  

• Type A: Type A blood apparently evolved after Type O, when humans became farmers. The Blood Type Diet recommends that Type A people eat a vegetarian diet based on nuts, seeds, beans, cereals, pasta, rice, fruit and vegetables.

• Type B: Type B blood apparently evolved as humans became nomadic. Therefore, people with Type B blood should follow a vegetarian diet similar to Type A, but with occasional serves of meat and dairy products.
  
  
• Type AB: Type AB blood people should eat a combination of food recommended for Type A and Type B blood.

What is forbidden on the Blood Type diet?

• Type O: Dairy products and grains.
  
  
• Type A: All forms of meat and dairy products.

There are no food restrictions with Type B and Type AB blood people. The Blood Type Diet also encourages people not to eat junk food.

Pros and Cons of the Blood Type diet

Aside from suggesting dietary changes, the Blood Type Diet also recommends physical exercise. For instance, people with Type O blood are encouraged to take running as a regular activity.

The Blood Type Diet also encourages people to remove junk food from their diets. Eating natural food is also recommended, which can help detox the body over time.

However, there are many flaws with the Blood Type Diet. The main flaw is that the theory is not based on scientific fact. There are no studies to support the claim that a blood type influences a person’s digestive system.

The Type O and Type A diets both lack food from major groups – especially dairy products, which can affect a person’s calcium intake. A lack of calcium can cause osteoporosis and other bone problems. The Type A diet lacks iron, which can cause fatigue problems in the long run.

Finally, the Blood Type Diet requires a person to already know their blood type, and this usually requires a blood test.

Daily and Weekly Blood Type Diet Plans

There are no daily or weekly plans for the Blood Type Diet. The Blood Type Diet is intended as an indefinite lifestyle choice than a specific method to lose weight.

Expected Weight Loss on the Blood Type Diet

The Blood Type Diet does not specify average weight loss, but weight loss is common.

Blood Type Diet Rating

Ease: 2/5 – The most difficult part of starting the Blood Type Diet is finding out your blood type.

Balance: 2/5 – The diets for Type B and Type AB blood are reasonably balanced. Diets for Type O and Type A blood, on the other hand, are not.

Maintenance: 2/5 – Generally the diet is easy to maintain, as it does not encourage limiting calories. People with Type O and Type A blood may have long-term health problems from the diet.

Overall: 2/5

More Information

Get a free personalized Blood Type Diet Profile from eDiets.com.