In Defense of the Blood Type Diet

[shelley]

I've vacillated back and forth on this theory - sometimes I agreed with it, sometimes I did not. But after years of research, polling people, and actual application of its tenets, I'm finding it is much more accurate than other diets that proscribe/recommend certain foods, and many members have stated they feel better when following the guidelines for their blood type. The ones who seem to benefit most are the Type O's (high protein) and Type A's (vegetarian).

Unlike other diets that proscribe/recommend certain foods, from Ayurvedic to Metabolic Typing to Atkins to you name it, the Blood Type Diet has these two major points in its favor:

1. It can point to an actual genetic marker (blood type) for the reason why some foods are good or bad for us. Other diets rely on guesses and questionaires (metabolic), they cannot point to what exactly in the body triggers or causes us to be "fast oxidizers" or whatever.

2. The way they test the food and our blood's reactions to food is repeatable and observable by anyone with blood and a microscope. Yes this test is done outside of the body, but it's done to red blood cells, and these can behave the same way in a test tube as they do inside the human body for several hours. This is much different then say, allergy tests, because you can't put the whole immune system inside a test tube.

The trick to doing this diet right is knowing how to prioritize your food choices. For instance, let's say you have a blood type that says wheat germ oil is no good, but you're very very deficient in Vitamin E. I say go for the wheat germ oil. Same with cod liver oil. Some foods are "beyond dosha" and "beyond blood type" depending on your symptoms and goals.

Dr. D'amo says you only have to follow the diet 70% of the time to be healthy, and only need to follow the diet 100% if you're symptomatic. That fits in with my philosophy of having 80% good foods and 20% fun foods when in the maintenance stage.

So the Vital Health Management System suggests you find out what your blood type is, make a list of foods to accent (the beneficial ones), foods to partake (neutral) and foods to avoid (harmful/negative). You can check the lists of foods for your Dosha too, but chances are those recommendations aren't as solid.

What IS solid about Ayurvedic recommendations is how to PREPARE foods so they are more appropriate for your dosha. For instance, being a typical Vata, I can never eat raw broccoli unless I wish to be socially inappropriate, but I can have broccoli soup no problem. And eating rich dairy foods with ginger tea or sprinkled with cardamom prevents mucus formation. All of those digestive type guidelines really work. And Ayurvedic lifestyle guidelines are fantastic, such as Pitta people avoiding hot, direct sunlight and taking lukewarm or cold showers.

For more information on the Blood Type diet/lifestyle recommendations, visit their homepage:

http://www.dadamo.com/

[J F]

Shelley, I went ahead and ordered the blood type test from that website you linked to. I will notify you via email the results once the test arrives. I'm curious to know if I'm a red meat "type" since I love to eat the stuff so much. LOL Also, because I tried eating more vegetarian a few times in the past, and all it did was leave me craving rare bloody meat and greasy chicken skin. LOL

*contemplating that I was a T-Rex in a former incarnation.

[shelley]

ooOOooo! this should be interesting!

[spicegirl]

hi shelley,

when i was 19 i had blood food allergy tests (yikes, 20 years ago!). i stopped eating the foods and felt incredible! i mean incredible!!!

i like what you say about the blood type diet, but wonder what you mean about the food allergy tests. i get the gist that you can't replicate what happens in the body in a test tube. but, are you saying that those tests aren't that valid?

i just had blood allergy tests done again and am about to get the results this week. i'm anxious to compare them to my blood type foods.

BTW, i'm be positive (b+ LOL)

Have a wonderful day!!!
spicegirl

[shelley]

Most allergy tests are semi-valid, but it's still very worthwhile to run them, don't get me wrong! Getting rid of the foods our bodies object to is very powerful, as you've found. And it can be SO difficult to find these foods ourselves.

An allergy test will discover most of the foods you will pretty much always be sensitive too, but they will also find temporary sensitivities. I know people whose results included jsut about every food under the sun because they had leaky gut at the time of the test.

When you have leaky gut, you get an immune response to just about everything because just about everything ends up in your bloodstream in a large molecule form rather than a digested form. So the body has to break it down before it clogs your arteries. This is an immune response that is only a temporary one, not a true allergy response, yet the test cannot make that distinction, so they end up thinking they're allergic to citrus, eggs, you name it, when in fact they are not.

That's just one example of several. Best to either do multiple tests or use kinesiology or do a rotation diet to be sure.

[J F]

I notice on the book says for all types to avoid coconut oil, save for Type O non-secretors, who just have it listed as "neutral". I'm having a hard time believing the negatives outweigh the positives where coconut oil is concerned. LOL

[shelley]

Yes, that's an interesting one! but as with any diet that proscribes certain foods, the creator specifies that you only have to follow the guidelines 70% of the time for good health.

Still, many cultures have had very little contact with coconuts for generations, so it would make sense that their bodies wouldn't exactly know how to identify and categorize it properly.

[J F]

True, but it lists pork as a universal no-no, as well. Despite it's more squicky characteristics, pork has been a staple in European diets for generations, for example. Not that I eat it anymore, but back in the day, I was the queen of bacon. LOL

It also warns me specifically to avoid things such as cinnamon and avocados, two things I loooooooove. (sigh) Might have to cut back a bit, but I'll never give either up completely.

By the way, I'm B+. Makes sense why I eat red meat, dislike beans, and don't care to eat too much chicken, though the skins remain a favorite of mine. My mother is an A+ and can't fathom how I can eat a steak without gastric distress. Now I can tell her why. LOL

Interesting site! I might order the book.

[shelley]

Well the problem with pork in the US is that pigs are fed corn and soy because it's cheap, but it really taints the meat. Sigh. I'm not entirely sure of the specifics, but Sally Fallon talks about it.

European pork is different from ours, fed different, or at least used to be. I ate pork loin or "pork saddle" several times when I was in Europe and it's an entirely different experience, it really is.

[J F]

Okay, anyone who knows their blood type should check this site out. It's very interesting. I had my blood allergy testing done and came out in the clear save for a nasty huge allergy to brewer's yeast. (likely a candida imbalance) However, there are certain foods that I've always felt "meh" or "no" about, and interestingly enough, those show up under my blood type as "avoid".

Examples:

When I was really ill last Fall, I suddenly became very sensitive to lots of foods that I never had a visible problem with, before. I'd get blisters in my mouth and throat. I'd get (and still get often enough) a sensation that my sinuses and throat were tight as a drum, kind of like the feeling of tightness you get in the throat just before you start crying, only worse. Many of those reactions are dying down, becoming less frequent or less severe, but they still tie neatly with the guide. I'm impressed, fascinated actually.

When I eat chicken soup, I don't notice trouble, and, as stated before, I'll eat chicken skins like candy (sorry to induce vomitting in the vegetarian readers). But, whenever I have, say, a chicken breast or a leg on it's own, I always get this feeling of mild physical shock for about a half hour afterward. It's hard to describe. I just feel "stressed" somewhere deep in the recesses of my system. Nothing major, only noticeable to me. So, I never ate much chicken growing up. But, give me a juicy beef burger with mustard, lettuce, onions and pickles and whoooo boy. I've got energy for HOURS.

I'm wondering if this occaisional jaw inflammation I get, which I've suspected was tied to wheat, corn and sugar consumption (though I don't show up as wheat, corn or sugar allergic) has to do with the fact that for B types, wheat is flat out rejected. LOL I never had this issue before, but since cleansing, I have become more reactive to certain things. Wheat in moderation, say once per week, is fine. Wheat, corn and sugar every day for a few days straight, and suddenly I am retaining water and can't sleep on my stomach, because the pressure of the mattress against my jaw causes it to swell painfully and wake me up. Then my teeth don't fit right until it subsides. Real pain in the butt.

One thing I'm sure you will disagree with, Shelley, is the suggestion for all types save for B's to avoid vinegars and cider vinegars. We all know the benefits of good ACV and of good vinegars in general, so that's one of those "beyond blood type" things as you say, I imagine. Of course, I don't have ACV in large quantities each day. I have a tsp. or two per day, spead out in cleansing drink, or with my juice, or in salad dressing. Or I add a bit to my soup stock at the start to help sulfates get extracted from the bones.

It's just totally fascinating to read this site and see the connections. Everyone take a look! It's cool.

Thanks for posting this, Shelley! It's been a real eye opener.

P.S. Despite my appreciation for red meat, my cholesterol is stellar. My doctors have always marveled and asked what I did to keep it so low. LOL

[Shawnamarie]

I am a bit curious about this, too. I spent some time browsing the forums today to get some information. I am an O+ so should be eating a lot of red meat. According to these principles, I could benefit from eating it daily! Can this really be good?

All of the other things seem to match up....grain intolerance, some fruit intolerance, etc.

[J F]

Best indicator is to see how you feel by adding it daily for a bit. If you are concerned with clogging your gut, take some ginger root regularly, fresh is best. I eat meat at nearly every meal and my tongue is pink as a rose.

[J F]

Shawnamarie, one thing I forgot to mention is my portions. I have about 1.5-2oz serving of meat when I have meat meals. That's about the size of 1/2 to 2/3 of a deck of cards. So, the idea of experimenting taking in more meat in your diet doesn't have to be a scary prospect. You don't have to slap a big ribeye on your plate. Whenever I grill a steak, I assume that steak will last me 2-3 meals. So, I'll have it for dinner, then for breakfast the next morning or lunch. So long as I don't leave it as leftovers for too long. Now, I'm not a large person. A person's size and activity will better dictate how much meat in their diet feels right. I also substitute some red/white meat meals for egg meals or dairy meals such as cottage cheese or kefir or something like melted mozzarella on whatever. And, I eat a lot of veggies.

[shelley]

Yep, when your blood type is right for meat, you end up with a very clean tongue after meat meals. It's fascinating. When I eat a bit (2-4 ounces) of high-quality steak (usually prepared with lots of pepper, the French way) with a green salad, I get a very clean tongue and a very healthy appetite the following morning. I feel energized, but my stomach says quite clearly it's ready for more food, which is rare for me being a Vata.

[J F]

Ya, that's the funny thing about a meat meal! I love a good herbed/spiced grilled steak with a baby green salad with vinnaigrette on the side. I feel so balanced afterward. Then, a few hours later, or if I've eaten it for dinner, I wake up the next morning and am HUNGRY. So, I just take that to mean the steak ain't clogging anything and sitting stagnant in my gutt anywhere, cuz I'm EMPTY.