Can your Blood Group Type Decide your Diet Type?

An important parameter that appears on your identity card, license card, any medical documents etc- is “blood group”.
It is important to know your blood group becomes important when we have to donate blood or if we ourselves need a blood transfusion.

Blood Groups and Individualization

So, as there are different types of blood groups, it is assumed that there is a link between personality traits, dietary requirement, and pattern, and diseases that people are prone to, with respect to their blood groups.
But there is no strong evidence that supports these theories of blood group type and related factors.
Therefore not all, but few people might get better fitness by following some dietary guidelines about foods to include/ exclude depending on the blood group type.
The theory was introduced in the year 1996, by naturopathic physician Dr. Peter D’Adamo. He is also the author of the book “Eat right for your type”.

Blood Groups and Food types

According to Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s :

Blood group ‘A’:-

People who belong to this blood group have a sensitive immune system. So, they are supposed to take more of natural foods, mainly vegetarian foods.

Foods to include in more amounts-

Fruits:- apple, guava, pomegranate, fig, muskmelon, pear, pineapple, all types of berries etc.
Vegetables:- beet, lettuce, cucumber, onion, pea, pumpkin, spinach etc.
Dairy products:- curd, ghee, toned milk, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, low-fat cream, soya milk, almond milk, tofu.
Nonveg:- egg, chicken, turkey.
Cereals:- ( whole grains) Rice, pearl millet, finger millet etc
Pulses & legumes:- lentils, moong,urad (black gram) etc.

Foods to eat in fewer amounts:-

Fruits: -banana, mango, orange, papaya.
Vegetables :- cabbage (red/white) ,eggplant (brinjal),mushroom, all types of olives ,pepper (green/yellow/red) , potato,sweet potato, tomato.
Dairy products:- blue cheese, butter, buttermilk, cow’s whole milk, paneer.
Nonveg- fish, mutton, other types of meat.
Cereals:- wheat (gluten-containing foods)
Pulses & legumes:- red beans, kidney beans, lima beans.

Blood group ‘B’:-

People with this blood group show a tendency to adapt with changing atmosphere. In diet, they can get a perfect balance with vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods, so both are required.

Foods to include in more amounts-

•  Fruits:- apple, papaya, guava, watermelon, pear, pineapple, orange, berries etc..
•  Vegetables:- green leafy vegetables, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower/broccoli, lettuce, cucumber, onion etc..
•  Dairy products:- curd, cow’s milk, soya milk, almond milk, buttermilk.
•  Nonveg:- beef, mutton, egg, turkey.
•  Cereals:- ( whole grains) oats,quinoa,rice, jowar, bajra, ragi etc..
•  Pulses & legumes:- broad beans, kidney beans, lima beans, red beans, navy beans etc..

Foods to eat in fewer quantities:-

• Fruits:- avocado, pomegranate.
• Vegetables:- olives, pumpkin, radish, tomato.
• Dairy products:- tofu, ice-cream, blue cheese.
• Nonveg- chicken, duck, pork.
• Cereals:- maize, barley, wheat, rye.
• Pulses & legumes:-moong,lentils,urad dal (black gram).

Blood group ‘AB’:-

This blood group has a mixture of A &B genes. People with this blood group might experience a few digestive problems. It is assumed that there is low secretion of stomach acid in these people.

Foods to include in more amounts-

•  Fruits:- apple, fig, apricot, papaya, watermelon, pear, pineapple, peach, berries etc..
•  Vegetables:- green leafy vegetables, beet, cabbage, tomato, cucumber, potato, pumpkin, pea, carrot, cauliflower/broccoli, lettuce etc..
•  Dairy products:- curd, paneer, cow’s milk, toned milk, almond milk, ghee.
•  Nonveg:- mutton, fish, egg, turkey.
•  Cereals:- ( whole grains) rice, jowar, bajra, ragi, oats etc..
•  Pulses & legumes:- moong,lentils,red beans,navy beans etc..

Foods to eat in fewer quantities:-

• Fruits:- avocado, pomegranate, banana, mango, orange, guava.
• Vegetables:- olives, pepper, mushroom, radish.
• Dairy products:- tofu, ice-cream, blue cheese.
• Nonveg- chicken, crab, beef.
• Cereals:- maize, noodles.
• Pulses & legumes:-black gram (urad dal), kidney beans, lima beans.
• Liquids mainly:- tea, coffee, soda, alcohol.

Blood group ‘O’:-

People with blood group “O” have a better capacity to digest non-veg foods (animal proteins). A “high protein diet” is advised for them.

Foods to include in more amounts-

•  Fruits:- Apple, Fig, Kiwi, Apricot, Papaya, Watermelon, Pear, Pineapple, Peach etc..
•  Vegetables:- Beet, Cabbage, Tomato, Cucumber, Sweet potato, Pumpkin, Green leafy vegetables, Green Peas, Carrot, Cauliflower/Broccoli, Lettuce etc..
•  Dairy products:- soya milk, almond milk, ghee, feta cheese, mozzarella cheese, tofu.
•  Nonveg :- mutton, fish ,egg, chicken,crab,turkey.
•  Cereals:- ( whole grains) rice, Finger Millet, Pearl Millet, oats etc..
•  Pulses & legumes:- moong dal, red beans, black gram (urad), lima beans, soybean etc..

Foods to eat in fewer quantities:-

• Fruits:- avocado, blackberry, orange, strawberry.
• Vegetables :- cabbage ,cauliflower, eggplant(brinjal), olives,mushroom,potato.
• Dairy products:- cow’s milk, toned milk, yogurt, buttermilk, blue cheese, ice cream, paneer, parmesan cheese, provolone cheese, ricotta cheese.
• Nonveg- pork, bacon, ham, goose.
• Cereals:- maize, wheat and wheat products.
• Pulses & legumes:-lentils, kidney beans, navy beans, copper bean, tamarind bean.
• Liquids mainly:- green tea, soda, alcohol(beer, red wine ).

These were few recommendations by Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s but unfortunately, there is no strong evidence that supports the theory that by following this diet pattern a person can lose excess weight or can avoid diseases.
Although, including a good amount of protein sources, complex carbohydrates and vegetable, fruit intake is any way helpful to maintain fitness!

Another dimension to the concept of correlation of blood group and dietary pattern could be understanding blood groups that are considered as “at risk” for certain diseases.

A few studies (published in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) were conducted to understand this correlation and diseases.

Highlights:-

• Hypertension:- High blood pressure disorder is seen more in people with blood group type “B”; while “AB” blood group individuals are having the lowest rate of this problem.
• Hyperlipidemia:- blood groups “A” & “B” are prone to increased levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol & triglycerides; while “AB” is protected from this disorder.
• Diabetes mellitus:- blood group “O” has the lowest risk of developing type 2 DM; while blood group “B” shows the highest risk, followed by “AB” blood group type.

With this information, we know that its better to plan a diet in such a way that it prevents or reduces the risk of diseases for respective blood groups.

Here are few tips for all the individuals irrespective of the blood groups:-

• Avoid smoking, alcohol, any other harmful addictions.
•  Avoid junk food, packed readymade foods, prefer natural foods!
•  Try to take a healthy balanced diet which includes good sources from all food groups.
•  Stick to traditional recipes.