Leading ladies like Courtney Cox and women for their hot bodies like Miranda Kerr (Victoria’s Secret model) follow this specific diet plan, so you might have heard of it in the news or in magazines. We’ve broken down all the essential facts about the Blood Type Diet here.
1. What is the Blood Type Diet?
This diet uses your blood type (O, A, B, or AB) to determine what you should be eating. There are different foods that you can eat or that you should avoid depending on your blood type.
2. History of the Blood Type Diet
Naturopathic doctor Dr. Peter D’Adamo started this diet based on the premise that eating foods that are right for your blood type will make you lose weight, feel better, and keep away illness and disease. He explains some of the history and details of the diet in his interview here on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.
3. Do You Lose Weight on the Blood Type Diet?
There are a lot of people that lose weight on this diet, and many of them are high-profile celebrities. Because this diet is a ‘whole foods’ diet and cuts out processed food and a lot of sugar, nutritionists do agree that it seems healthier than the ‘standard American diet’ (S.A.D.) Because of this, you could definitely lose weight on this diet.
4. What Foods You Can Eat on the Blood Type Diet:
The foods you can eat on this diet depend on your actual blood type. Here’s a summary of D’Adamo’s recommendations for each type:
Type O blood:
High-protein diet with lean meat, poultry, fish, and vegetables.
Try to avoid grains, beans, and dairy.
No processed foods.
Type A blood:
Meat-free vegetarian diet based on fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, and whole grains.
Priority on organic and fresh food.
No processed foods.
Type B blood:
Green vegetables, eggs, organic meat, low-fat dairy.
Avoid corn, chicken, wheat, buckwheat, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts, and sesame seeds.
No processed foods.
Type AB blood:
Eat a variety of healthy food in moderation. Focus on tofu, seafood, dairy, and green vegetables.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and smoked or cured meats.
No processed foods.
5. Reviews and Concerns with the Blood Type Diet:
Many scientists and doctors think that there’s not enough evidence to support any of these grand claims. There hasn’t yet been enough scientific research or studies done on this theory.
According to a review of this diet by the NYU Medical Center:
The type A and O diets are extremely restricting, eliminating whole groups of food. Doing this is an easy way to cut down on calories and is, therefore, likely to lead to some initial weight loss. But in addition to eliminating calories, you are also eliminating vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients. In fact, Dr. D’Adamo recommends specific supplements for each blood type to make sure you meet all your nutrient needs.
