No single diet theory can address all aspects of our individuality, and only a fool would claim that soy, red meat, grains, coconut oil or anything else is universally good or universally bad for everyone.

For example, people who are blood type O appear to derive significant benefit from a diet including hormone and antibiotic free meats and poultry. There is a very basic physiologic reason for this: those with type O blood have almost three times the levels of an enzyme in their intestines called ‘intestinal alkaline phosphatase’ (IAP). [1]. This enzyme performs two very important functions in the body. First, IAP splits dietary cholesterol into smaller fragments, allowing for their proper breakdown. Second, IAP enhances the absorption of calcium from the diet. Now you’d think this was cutting-edge, late-breaking news since it is obviously of tremendous interest in these nutrigenomic times. However, the first observations were made over four decades ago.[2]

In addition to these two critical functions, IAP is an important influence on the ability of the digestive tract to heal. Thus in most of our type O patients (44% of the population) we see a marked improvement in their IBS, colitis and Crohn’s disease when they increase their protein and cut back on their carbohydrates. [3]

Blood type B makes considerable amounts of IAP as well, but type A’s make very little. This probably explains why most studies that have looked at heart disease and blood type show a significantly higher rate of problems with blood type A individuals. These folks really should follow a Mediterranean-type diet.

Later studies showed that type A not only secreted almost no alkaline phosphatase in their intestines, but whatever little they did secrete was in and of itself inactivated by the presence of their own A antigen. [4]

Thus, we have here one of the strongest indications for the long term benefit of a low-fat diet in type A, both with regard to the susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, and (although not mentioned here) their additional susceptibility to cancer. Following the type A eating plan, with its emphasis on a healthy fats, low animal protein and the avoidance of foods high in phenylalanine, is the best method to maximize digestive efficiency in type As, lower their level of intestinal dysfunction, and to influence their susceptibility to cardiovascular disease.

Serum and cells are main components of blood. It was noted by Karl Landsteiner, a physician at University of Vienna in Austria long time ago that some sera caused the red blood cell to agglutinate. Dr. Karl’s observation leads to the development of the ABO blood group system. In order to understand blood typing, it is essential to define antibody and antigen. Antibodies are known as immunoglobulin, it is found in serum, whose function is to combat invaders by binding themselves to antigen. Antigen is substance found on the surface of red blood cell, which, when introduced into organism that does not have antigen, it leads to production of antibody. The ABO blood group system is the most important blood type system. Classification of human blood can be divided into type A, type B, type AB and type O. These blood types have certain elements that can make them unique from one another. Because of this difference, one doctor had an idea and he started an international craze when he tried to prove that even in dieting, one plan does not fit all. Eventually, that type of diet was born.

Background

Dr. Peter D’Adamo, a neuropathic physician takes his groundbreaking 15 years of research to the public when he wrote his book Eat Right for your Type. It is all about blood type diet.He used customized programs that will work with genetic makeup in order to maximize health and weight loss as well prevents diseases. His book cites the work of glycobiologist and biochemist who have researched blood groups, implying that their research supports blood type theory.

What is Blood Type Diet?

Blood type diet is a nutrition plan based on blood type. Dr. D’Adamo claims that that diet will not only bring weight loss but can also assist in achieving overall good health status. According to the doctor, a chemical reaction occurs between blood and food we eat. This reaction is said to be caused by a factor called Lectins. Lectins are a type of protein found in food has agglutinating properties that can affect the blood. If the food we eat contains lectins that are incompatible with blood type antigen, the lectins target any organ or body system and begin to agglutinate in the said area. Lectins can cause different problems, especially if they are specific to particular blood type. Fortunately, most lectins are not life threatening, as 95% of it is completely absorbed and sloughed off by the body.

What Are The Different Diets For Each Sort?

Dr. D’Adamo added that it is the restoration of natural genetic rhythm. It will work because it follows logical, clear, scientifically researched plan based on individual cellular profile. The following are some samples of food for each blood type as suggested by Dr. D’Adamo.

Type O

Dr. D’Adamo believed that blood group O is the hunter or the earliest human blood group. This is the reason that people with type O blood should eat the kind of diet the earliest human ate. They are also called carnivores. The diet recommends that this group should eat a high protein diet. They are allowed to eat meat, fish, vegetables and fruits. It is also advised to limit the intake of grains and beans. They are discouraged to eat wheat, beans, corns, cabbage, brussels sprouts and cauliflower. It is also useful to eat different kinds of seafood, red meat, liver, spinach and broccoli as it helps in weight loss.

Type O Food List

• Recommended: meat, fish, vegetables and fruits
• Not Recommended: wheat, beans, corns, cabbage, brussels sprouts and cauliflower
• Recommended for weight loss: seafood, red meat, liver, spinach and broccoli

Type A

Dr. D’Adamo believed that blood group A is the cultivator. They are believed to be the second oldest blood group, appearing about 25000-15000 BC, when human settlements appeared as farming developed. They are also called herbivores. This blood type diet allowed them to consume vegetables, seafood, tofu, beans, grains, legumes and fruits. However, they are prohibited to eat meat, dairy products, kidney beans, lima beans and wheat. Foods that are beneficial to weight loss are vegetables, pineapples, vegetable oil and soy foods.

Type A Food List

• Recommended: vegetables, seafood, tofu, beans, grains, legumes and fruits
• Not Recommended: meat, dairy products, kidney beans, lima beans and wheat
• Recommended for weight loss: vegetables, pineapples, vegetable oil and soy foods

Type B

Dr. D’Adamo believed that blood group B is the nomad or sometimes called omnivores. They are believed to emerge between the periods of 15000-25000 BC. They are associated to have strong immune system and digestive system. Dr. D’Adamo concludes that people with this kind of diet should eat a balance diet. Their blood type diet consists of meat, dairy products, beans, grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. It is discouraged to consume peanuts, corn, sesame seeds, lentil and wheat. Foods that can aid in weight loss in this blood type diet are eggs, greens, liver and tea.

Type B Food List

• Recommended: meat, dairy products, beans, grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables
• Not Recommended: peanuts, corn, sesame seeds, lentil and wheat
• Recommended for weight loss: eggs, greens, liver and tea

Type AB

Dr. D’Adamo believed that blood group AB is the enigma or the most evolved type. In terms of dietary requirements, this blood type group is a mixed between blood type A and blood type B. Their blood type diet consists of meat, seafood, dairy products, beans, legumes, grains, tofu, fruits and vegetables. It is not recommended for their blood type diet to eat red meat, kidney beans, lima beans and corn. Foods that can help in weight loss are seafood, dairy, greens, tofu and pineapple.

Type AB Food List

• Recommended: meat, seafood, dairy products, beans, legumes, grains, tofu, fruits and vegetables
• Not Recommended: red meat, kidney beans, lima beans and corn
• Recommended for weight loss: seafood, dairy, greens, tofu and pineapple

List Of Foods – What To Eat For Your Kind

Gelband, a former competitive swimmer, says he discovered the Blood Type Diet® about 7 years ago when a client, a British DJ who is famous on the international nightclub circuit, told Gelband that his doctor recommended that he go on the Blood Type Diet®. Gelband decided to give it a try.

The excercise guru Justin Gelband

“I read the book and started looking at how it works,” Gelband said, “I cut out the avoids, limited the neutrals and loaded up on the beneficial foods. Almost immediately, I had more energy, better digestion, I was leaner and I felt better.”

His own experience prompted him to implement the Blood Type Diet® with “the girls” as he calls them, the models and actresses that he regularly trains.

“I tell them to find out their blood type and buy the book and everyone loves it. They feel better, their skin looks better, they have better digestion and their metabolism gets quicker. Many of them are type O and can’t have dairy or grains – when they cut those out, they feel better.”

Recently Gelband was interviewed for an article on the website Yahoo.com, where he mentions that his clients, the Victoria’s Secret models, follow the Blood Type Diet®. “I got a lot of flack for it on their message board,” he says, “but I feel like saying to these people, ‘How do you know that it doesn’t work until you try it?’” Good point!

Gelband says he doesn’t believe in diets – he believes in finding the right foods that work with your body. “The thing that I like about this (Eat Right 4 Your Type®) is that there is no diet, it just says – these are the foods that are good for you and work with your body. It’s teaching you to eat properly.”

Learning to eat properly is something that Gelband is passionate about, he says that Americans eat far too much processed food and thinks that restaurant portion sizes are far too large. “How can they expect you to eat properly when they give you such huge portions? How do you rationalize that?”

He says that even the organic restaurant around the corner from his New York City studio is guilty of this. “I asked the chef, ‘Why do you give people such a huge platter of food?’ I don’t want to eat 1,200 calories in one meal. Just eat smaller portions that include a little fat, some protein and good carbs.”

In both exercise and with food, Gelband echos Dr. D’Adamo’s mantra of individuality, “Everyone is different. What’s good for you is not right for the next person.”

Source:

• Right 4 your type’s January 2011 Newsletter

In relation to that my own story, I’d love to share with you regarding what Dr. Ann Quasarano, my favorite naturopath, talked about the relation between fertility and your blood type. I believe the following explanation are very useful key for those having problem of infertility.

Happy Pregnant Mom

The decision to have a baby is a happy one for most couples. But for some, the road to pregnancy can be a bumpy one. According to the CDC, 10% of the total reproductive age population experiences some type of difficulty in conceiving a baby. In our lifetime, science has made incredible gains in reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization, which assists couples in their dream of having a child.

One factor that is often overlooked is blood type. Research has shown that some of the problems associated with fertility result from some form of blood type incompatibility; either between the mother and her fetus, or between the mother and the father. Why would this occur? As you probably already know, each blood type has a chemical marker called an antigen. These blood type antigens protect your body against foreign intruders, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. When the antigen encounters a harmful foreign intruder, it creates antibodies against it. The same thing that happens with viruses, bacteria, and food, can also take place when trying to conceive – the body responds by producing antibodies to the sperm or fetus and inhibits conception.

Several studies conducted over the past 40 years have concluded that infertility and habitual miscarriage may be the result of antibodies in the woman’s vaginal secretions reacting with the blood type antigens in the man’s sperm. In one of these studies, it was determined that the preponderance of miscarriages were of type A or type B fetuses, caused as a result of incompatibility with type O mothers who produce anti-A or anti-B antibodies.

What the scientists seem to be missing is that these anti-blood type antibodies are often the result of provocations produced by eating the wrong foods for your type. By eating foods that are beneficial and avoiding foods that trigger the antigen-antibody reaction, you create a hospitable internal atmosphere for conception and the fetus to thrive and grow.

Mom and healthy baby

Blood type incompatibility is, obviously, not the only reason couples may experience infertility, nor does the blood type diet magically resolve all fertility problems, but it makes good sense to approach pregnancy in an optimal state of health. Following the diet right for your type can help to put you on the road to good reproductive health – hopefully, the only bump will be the one on your belly!

Source:

• Right For Your Type®, February 2011 Newsletter

“Some people say, ‘I want to slim down’ or ‘I want to bulk up’ or whatever they want to do with their body. As long as they follow their diet, they are capable of accomplishing that. It’s perfect! Everyone gets exactly what they are looking for.”

He first learned about the program from his mother, who practices Holistic Detoxification, Colon Therapy and is also a Massage Therapist. “She had gone to see Dr. D’Adamo and when she came back, she handed me Eat Right 4 Your Type®and said that I have to start eating differently,” Des explains, “I am blood type O and had been eating closer to my mother’s type A vegetarian style.”

Excercise right for your blood type

Des always thought red meat was unhealthy and would ultimately cause cancer. Once he started to learn about blood type and digestion, he began to gradually follow the type O diet. The real turning point came a year and a half ago when he went to Italy to train an athlete for a fencing tournament.

“She was badly out of shape and needed help. This was when I first tested the GenoType® Diet. She and I are both Explorers, so we both followed the same eating program. I cooked all the food and trained her twice a day and by the end of ten days, everyone was wondering what I had been doing! She looked completely different in such a short period of time – it defied logic. From that day forward, I was hooked.”

Here are some Blood Type specific workout tips from Des.

Blood Type O – I prescribe heavy lifting and anything where they can do short bursts of extreme energy. For cardio, lift lighter weights without letup for a 15 minute burst. I work them as hard as they can and then break for a few minutes.

Type O sample workout:

For exercise that tones, try circuit training. It’s an amazing form of cardio that combines calesthetics and weight lifting and keeps your heart pumping hard the whole time. The more exercises you can string together, the better. Use light to medium weights. Learn to keep your heart rate up and you will find that you can easily cut down lots of body fat that will be noticeable right away. Be sure to eat lots of beneficial food after these workouts or you will find yourself wanting to crash and sleep for an hour afterwards.

An example of a circuit would be:

• Body weight squats (You may add a dumbbell or two or a barbell if you’d like to make it more difficult.)
• Pushups
• Bicep curls – 24 reps

Take a 2 minute break then start over.

It is rarely intense enough for blood type O’s, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t need a break from time to time, particularly when it comes to heavy weight lifting. When you want to get more weight up, be sure to stay very hydrated, have many meals throughout the day and when you are lifting, take the extra time for those breaks and you’ll find that you are able to get a bit more weight up on that next set.

Blood Type A – The major focus here is STRESS MANAGEMENT. I give blood type A’s the kettle bells, boxing, simulated martial arts and so on. If they are on their own, gardening and carpentry also work miracles. That makes up their cardio and strength training. On lighter days, I keep it mostly to core work and bodyweight movement with some light running involved.

Type A sample workout:

I find that boxing, slow body weight exercises that involve focused breathing (yoga, tai chi, etc.) and kettle bells are some of the best ways to help a blood type A focus while burning lots of calories. It seems that the more you are able to concentrate on the “task at hand” the easier it is to cope with your stress levels. Boxing, yoga, tai chi, and kettle bells can have a very large impact on the posture of your body, check with a personal trainer for using proper form to avoid injury.

Another idea is to do some house work, construction, help someone move or some intense garden work. If you find that your exercises have been exhausting you, perhaps it is time to slow down and quiet your mind.

Blood Type B – This depends on their GenoType quite a bit. If they are a Gatherer, I’ll stick mostly to balance work and keeping them centered and focused. That keeps the pain down and allows them to burn lots and lots of calories. My favorite activity for other B’s is to take them out on a long, slow bike ride for two or three hours – after the ride is over, I swear it looks like they just did full-body liposuction!

Type B sample workout:

• 20 mile bike ride
• Elliptical machines – 45 minutes on a random setting
• Standing tricep extensions, bicep curls, shoulder presses on one foot – 25 lb. dumbbells (for men) or 10 lb. dumbbells (for women), keep the repetitions above 15 times for each arm to tone out. Lift one leg off the ground and continue doing these exercises.
• Stand on the Bosu Ball or some other unstable surface with one leg (weights not needed, but they do make it more fun).

Keep the balance work as intense as possible. I believe that everyone should do balance work, but it seems to have a much larger effect on blood type B’s than the rest of us. Typically a blood type B who is following these exercise suggestions will feel very good and energized after these workouts.

Blood Type AB – I haven’t had as much experience with this blood type. I am still learning about them, after all, they are the rarest blood type! But I’ve found that almost anything but heavy lifting seems to suit them well.

Type AB sample workout:

Combining the mental clarity of a Type A and the Balance of a Type B is the way of the AB.

One day, you might do yoga, the next go for a long bike ride, the following day practice some Tai Chi, perhaps followed with some light boxing or preferably martial arts and the next day go into the gym and do standing tricep extensions with a very slow and controlled pace. The goal is to not make it too intense. Keep it balanced, moderate and breathe with every movement.

Focused breathing techniques to quiet your mind and focus you before some balance work is a great way to center yourself and prepare your body for what is to come. Finish off your exercise with stretching and breathing to calm your body and relax your mind.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects million of people everywhere, about half a million people in the US only, each year. It’s thought that there are many more cases, including those who have a milder form of SAD, who don’t seek treatment. Often called the winter blues, SAD sufferers become depressed when the winter season rolls around. Below are a few suggestions for avoiding SAD this winter:

• Spend some time outside every day.
• Supplement with vitamin D3 (our Phyto D 2000™ is an excellent source).
• Avoid simple carbohydrates, sugars, and alcohol.
• Sit under a full spectrum light for at least 15 minutes daily.
• Eat right for your (blood) type.
• Exercise daily. Get at least 20 minutes per day (walking, yoga, bicycling, or vigorous exercise depending on type).
• Socialize—get out of the house and spend time with friends and family.

Symptoms of SAD

• Afternoon slumps with decreased energy and concentration
• Carbohydrate cravings
• Decreased interest in work or other activities
• Depression that starts in fall or winter
• Increased appetite with weight gain
• Increased sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness
• Lack of energy
• Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
• Social withdrawal

When to see a doctor

A visit to your health care provider will look for other causes of the symptoms and confirm the diagnosis. A psychological evaluation may be needed for more severe depression.

Source:

• D’adamo  Newsletter, December 2010

In a study presented at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine Conference in Denver, the researchers at Yale and Albert Einstein College of Medicine measured levels of a chemical called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in 560 women undergoing fertility treatments and found that those women with type O blood had chemical signs linked to low egg numbers.

The control group had an average age of 35 and those with O blood type were found to have higher levels of FSH – almost twice the levels of women with the blood type A antigen. This is significant as high levels of FSH are thought to be an indicator that a woman’s ovarian egg reserve is diminishing – which can reduce a woman’s chances of conception once a woman reaches her 30s and 40s.

“This is significant as high levels of FSH are thought to be an indicator that a woman’s ovarian egg reserve is diminishing – which can reduce a woman’s chances of conception once a woman reaches her 30s and 40s.”

Although researchers at Yale and Albert Einstein College of Medicine could not identify a specific reason for this association, Dr. Peter D’Adamo provided this insight, “A significant number of infertility cases are the result of immunologic hostility between a person’s blood type and the environment.”

Dr. Peter D’Adamo has researched the connections between blood type, genetics, and disease susceptibility for more than 30 years and supported his findings with extensive scientific documentation. In his book, Eat Right for Your Baby, published in 2003, Dr. Peter D’Adamo discussed the vital connection between blood type and fertility, pointing out that, “Type O’s tend to suffer from hormonal and metabolic disorders, which are a major impediment to fertility.” As nutrition has an overarching affect on health and hormonal stability, Dr. Peter D’Adamo makes nutritional recommendations unique to each of the four human blood groups to promote fertility and a healthy pregnancy.

Source:

• Dr. D’Adamo’s Newsletter for December 2010

In an actual placebo-controlled, double blind study (the scientific gold-standard so to speak) an extract of elderberry fruit has been shown to be effective for treating influenza B. What this research showed was that people using the elderberry extract got better much quicker (more than 70% were better after 2 days and over 90% of people completely resolved the infection within 3 days). In contrast, the people given a placebo often needed as much as 6 days to feel well.

Why does elderberry work? Well, the researchers found two reasons really. People taking the elderberry were able to produce higher anti-haemagglutination titers to influenza B (meaning their immune system essentially performed better and they now have a higher level of recognition should this “flu” return). And, elderberry inhibits neuraminidase (yes, that is the same neuraminidase that scientists are spending millions of dollars designing drugs against).

An important question that has not been answered yet is…will elderberry work as well against influenza A strains? I don’t have a definitive answer for you on this yet, but based upon its method of action, its in vitro ability, and my clinical observations, the answer is probably yes. Our patients taking the elderberry, blueberry, cherry and apple concentrate mixture, seemed to pass easily through this past “flu” season.

The one word of caution I leave you with is that when it comes to daily use of elderberry, more is not always better. Large doses will lead to nausea. If you are trying to avoid a “flu” a small amount daily might help. I recommend elderberry especially for type B’s and AB’s because of their general susceptibility to the virus. For treatment we use 2 tablespoons 3-4 times daily for adults and less for children depending upon their body weight.

So, the final key point is…next “flu” season remember your friendly elderberry!

Source:  Dr. D’Adamo’s October 2010 Newsletter.

• We all know that immunity begins in our gut. By eating foods that are right for your type, you are taking the most important step to staying healthy. Step up your consumption of beneficial foods and remove any foods to be avoided  from your diet.
• Stress lowers immunity. We can’t completely avoid stress, but take a few moments to slow down – find 10 minutes a day to just sit and close your eyes, do some deep breathing or meditation.
• Exercise boosts immunity! Find an exercise that is right for you and stick with it. I love going for a brisk walk in the cool fall evenings as the sun is setting, it’s a great way to wind down the day and enjoy the beauty of the season.
• Avoid refined sugars and saturated fats. Although you may be eating right for your type, sometimes these find a way of sneaking into our diet – be vigilant.
• Take a quality vitamin and multimineral supplement and a proven immune-enhancing product like ARA or ProBerry.
• Follow good cough/sneeze etiquette. Wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your face.

Your immune system, when working properly, has a remarkable ability to fight off the flu and colds. Even if an infection does gain a foothold, it’s usually just a matter of time before your immune system mounts an effective counter attack!

Your immune system, when working properly, has a remarkable ability to fight off the flu and colds. Even if an infection does gain a foothold, it’s usually just a matter of time before your immune system mounts an effective counter attack!

• Source: Dr.Ann Quasarano’s October 2010 Newsletter

I’ve often wondered why some people retain their mental acuity well into their senior years and others seem to experience a decline in mental function in their forties and fifties. Until recently, scientists believed that the answer lay solely in genetics and that little could be done to control the timing and rate of decline. But according to some new studies, developmental and environmental factors could be even more important.

Scientists have isolated a number of factors that contribute to premature aging and brain deterioration. These include: Mitochondrial damage, impaired circulation, hormonal deficiency, chronic stress, nitric oxide impairment, injury, tumors, and nutrient deficiency.

As your reference, Dr. D’Adamo has identified brain power superfoods that provide the maximum nutritional support to fight many of the conditions associated with aging. Below are the top 12 Brain Power Super Foods for each blood type.

Source:

• Dr. D’Adamo’s  September Newsletter