Eat Right for Your Type: The truth about the blood type diet

Eat Right for Your Type is authored by Peter J. Adamo. Use your blood type to determine which foods you should be eating. When you eat foods that agree with your blood type, you reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, infections, and liver disease. Type A people had ancestors that were farmers, therefore you should be a vegetarian and avoid meat and dairy products. Type B had ancestors that were nomads, therefore you should eat red meat and fish. Type O had ancestors that were hunters and gatherers, therefore you should eat lots of animal protein and little carbohydrates. Type AB, had mixed ancestry, therefore you should eat a combination of Types A and B.

Pro Review: from a past visitor to chasefreedom.com

Pros

Eat Right For Your Type isn’t just for those who want to lose weight. It also helps with energy level, mood, and healing from chronic illness. Many people who gave it a three-week trial are still on it after several years, because they find that it improves their health and well-being.

The reviewer who said it was dangerous was really out to lunch. How could it be dangerous? You just eat natural, healthy foods - no drugs, surgery, or starvation required. It must be one of the safest options around.

There are some limitations on food choices. (This is where the infamous food lists enter into the picture.) For instance, as a type O, I’m advised not to eat eggplant, corn, or cheddar cheese. But I can eat zucchini, rice, and goat cheese. There are hundreds of acceptable foods for each blood type, including a range of fruits, vegetables, grains, fats, and lean proteins.

It has a scientific basis. Yes, it all seems unlikely at first. But did you know that your blood type is expressed in all of your body’s cells, not just in your blood? Or that it’s been known for years that different blood types have different risks of disease (e.g. A’s get more stomach cancer, while O’s get more ulcers)? Or that mainstream doctors are becoming more interested in the role of lectins in food intolerances? People who think this diet is preposterous should look into the scientific evidence that’s referenced in the book, and on Dr. D’Adamo’s web site.

It’s also becoming apparent (from media reports and anecdotal evidence) that different diets work for different people. Some succeed on high-carb, low-fat diets; others do better with high-protein, low-carb diets. Some thrive on vegetarian diets, while others have a harder time going meatless. But why? Eat Right gives a plausible explanation.

No need to go hungry. You’re allowed to eat as much as you want (although meat should be limited to 4 oz. portions). You can also snack as often as you like.

It’s reasonably priced. Eat Right for Your Type is based on natural, fresh foods. These tend to cost more than processed foods, which are made with wheat or corn fillers. But you don’t need to buy prepared meals, pills, or potions -- just good-quality groceries. And if you can’t afford the book, the food lists are posted on the Web, so you can try it for free.

Cons

You’ll need to cook most meals from scratch, since processed foods tend to contain no-nos for your blood type. But the amount of time and effort you put into cooking depends on you. If you eat to live, you can survive very well on simple meals, like stir-fries or steamed fish and vegetables. If you live to eat, and miss your favorite gourmet dishes, you can try adapting them with substitute ingredients like rice flour and soy milk.

Social eating. This is likely to be your biggest challenge. Many restaurant meals, especially fast foods, contain ingredients that aren’t right for your blood type. Eating out will get easier as you learn which dishes and ethnic cuisines are your best bets. (E.g. salads and steak for O’s; vegetarian and Indian for A’s; seafood and Japanese for everyone.)

Also worth noting: You don’t need to follow the diet 100% of the time for it to work. Dr. D’Adamo suggests 75%-80% compliance for most people. So you can have forbidden foods now and then. This makes family gatherings and dinner parties a lot easier.

Final suggestion: Try Eat Right For Your Type for a few weeks, then write your own review. It is available in book form or online, offered by eDiets. Learn more.