4 Blood Types - 4 Diets

Philosophy

If you follow your blood type diet, your metabolism will adjust to its normal level and you'll burn calories more efficiently; your digestive system will process nutrients properly and reduce water retention. Diet principles are based on the book "Eat Right For Your Type"

Our View

Does it meet the basic food groups? Not quite. The blood type O diet emphasizes meats and discourages the consumption of various grain products and dairy products. The blood type B diet includes very little dairy and virtually excludes all meats. Type A and Type AB diets appear to include all food groups.

What about balance and variety? For any of the different blood type diets, balance and variety may be difficult to achieve because of the numerous restrictions of various food items. Each diet has its own large list of foods that the author recommends to avoid. This limits the amount of foods you can include in the diet and therefore limits the variety of your diet. The type O diet is especially unbalanced because it recommends a high intake of meat proteins, and a low intake of breads, cereals, pastas and legumes, as well as a very low intake of milk and other dairy products. The type B diet is also unbalanced because it excludes almost all dairy products and meat proteins.

Risks? Excluding meats like in the type B diet may cause inadequate intake of quality protein, iron, zinc and complex B vitamins. Limiting dairy products like in the type O and Type B diet may cause an inadequate intake of calcium and various other vitamins and minerals. Excluding grain products like in the Type O diet may cause inadequate intakes of specific B vitamins and iron.

Our Comments

• Following this diet requires radical lifestyle changes.
• Each blood type has a very different diet; different foods are recommended or restricted depending on your blood type. Unless, each member of your household has the same blood type, it will be very difficult to prepare meals for your family. Not to mention the extra frustration.
• This diet encourages several food items to be purchased at the health food store. You may see your grocery bill increase dramatically.
• The author states that certain food items will promote weight gain, while others will cause wt loss. Remember it's the amount of total calories that you consume in a day that will determine whether you gain, lose or maintain your weight.
• This diet recommends taking specific vitamin and mineral supplements for each blood type. A healthy well balanced diet should not require the use of supplements to meet your needs. Plus, remember, the vitamins and minerals that come from foods are the one's that the body absorbs and uses the best.
• In this diet certain foods are said to act like poisons in the body. According to Canada's food guide for healthy eating there are no bad foods, least of all poisonous foods.
• The author states that different blood types need different forms of activity, or exercise, to cope with their stress responses. It's true that exercise is great for many different reasons but remember a good form of activity or exercise is one that you enjoy doing and that you can do on a regular basis.