
In other words, diets rich in whole, unprocessed foods - like those encouraged in the blood type diets - improved health. PLOS One’s review found that while some followers of the diet did report improved cardiovascular biomarkers, the results were independent of their respective blood types. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition’s 2013 review did not find any quality studies to prove that following the blood type diet will decrease the risk of disease or improve overall health. This is why some blood types cannot tolerate transfusions from others.īut there’s currently no evidence to support the idea that your blood type affects how you respond to certain foods. They can trigger an immune response when they encounter another immune system. The difference in blood types boils down to the antigens, or proteins, present on the surface of red blood cells (A or B). They say following their blood type diet improved their allergies, energy, weight loss, and conditions like pain and cancer.īut do the health claims behind the blood type diet hold up? What does the science say?įirst off, it’s helpful to know what your blood type means. The author’s website lists anecdotal success stories and book reviews from supposed followers of his eating methods. The website boasts 10 million users in its community. D’Adamo’s book has sold 7 million copies. Those with type AB blood should eat dairy, tofu, fish, lamb, grains, fruit, and vegetables.Ĭlaim: Eating foods based on your blood type will improve your overall healthĭr. Type AB: Finally, he calls type AB “the enigma,” the most recently developed type. Type B people should avoid gluten and nightshades. Type B: Type B is “the nomad,” referencing groups who sought different climates. These blood types should follow a mostly plant-based diet, though poultry and some fish could be beneficial. Type A: Type A, “the agrarian,” appeared when agriculture developed. It also avoids grains and dairy, which were less common before farming. Type O: He called O the oldest of the types, or “the hunter.” The food list resembles a paleo diet high in lean protein and vegetables. According to his theory, each of the blood types should follow the following diets:

D’Adamo argued that the four basic groupings of blood types, A, B, AB, and O, were synonymous with how people found food in different periods of history. But is eating according to your blood type a smart way to eat? Let’s look to the science. Whether using birthdate and time (astrology), personality ( Enneagram, Myers-Briggs), or, well, blood type. It falls right in line with the human desire to categorize. He wrote that lectin protein in certain foods might react negatively with antigen proteins in different blood types. Peter D’Adamo, a naturopathic physician, claimed so in his 1996 New York Times bestseller “Eat Right 4 Your Type” (updated in 2016). OK, so you heard the hype… is there a way to “eat right” for your blood type? Dr.
