INDEX
- What is the blood type diet? What’s it about?
- How you do it? What are the principles?
- What to eat and what not to eat
- Is it reliable? Works?
The description of the blood group diet is for informational purposes only; the author dissociates himself from any theory on the subject and limits himself to a comment contained in the last paragraph.
What is the blood type diet? What’s it about?
The blood type diet is a nutritional regimen with health and slimming purposes .
Conceived and promoted by the Italian-American naturopath Dr. Peter D’Adamo, this diet is based on the theory that the blood group can heavily affect the relationship between food and metabolism.
As we will see, there is no evidence to support this hypothesis and, on the contrary, some researches have totally refuted any validity of affecting the state of health in a specific way or in any case independent of other factors such as weight loss and motor activity.
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How you do it? What are the principles?
The creator of this diet assumes that the differentiation of blood groups in humans occurred during the course of Darwinian evolution.
In some way, the blood group should represent the genetic trace of an innate predisposition towards a certain type of diet , behavior and motor activity (including sport).
According to D’Adamo, some foods contain particular proteins , called lectins , capable of influencing different blood groups (A, B, AB and 0).
Note : lectins are not lecithins (mixture of phospholipids contained mainly in soy and egg yolk with emulsifying properties ), but proteins.
Each person, in relation to their blood group, is shown to be intolerant towards some lectins.
These peptides , once introduced into the body through food, would be able to attack red blood cells by “agglutinating them” (a term usually used for the specific reaction of agglutinin antibodies ).
According to D’Adamo, taking these “enemy” lectins with the diet is equivalent to undergoing a small transfusion from a donor with a different blood type.
Such damage would explain the epidemic of food intolerances and disorders related to certain dietary choices.
This is how – from the pages of his first book “Eat Right 4 Your Type”, published in 1997 – Dr. D’Adamo launches a real appeal to the whole world:
“stick to my blood type diet and digestive problems , fatigue and even some chronic ailments will be just a memory.”
What to eat and what not to eat
For the reasons we have described above, according to D’Adamo, to set up a healthy and effective diet it is necessary to take into account the blood group, to modify certain variables while respecting one’s physiological inclinations.
Let’s see how.
Differences between blood groups
Blood group 0
Group 0 is the progenitor of the various blood groups.
It is typical of hunters, characterized by an athletic body and with a strong predisposition to foods of animal origin ( meat ).
These subjects would therefore benefit from the so-called high-protein and ketogenic diets , such as the Paleodieta .
On the other hand, dairy products , legumes , cereals and derivatives, such as bread , pasta , rice , beans , chickpeas , etc. are not recommended.
People with blood type zero would have a greater tendency to celiac disease .
Just like true primitive hunters, these people should regularly engage in heavy physical or sporting work activities characterized by the massive commitment of short-term strength and speed.
Blood group A
Group A is typical of farmers.
In the evolutionary history of man, this sustenance activity appeared late, but led to a radical change in the collective diet.
Carriers of blood group A benefit from a diet rich in plant foods , including vegetables , fruits , cereals, legumes and pseudocereals (other grains); on the other hand, the consumption of meat must be limited.
They too must avoid dairy products.
Assuming that the farmer’s job “should be” less heavy than the hunter, it is advisable to associate the diet with a significant amount of “relaxing” or in any case not too demanding physical activity ( golf , yoga , etc.).
Blood group B
Group B characterizes nomadic populations.
The main characteristics of these populations are the very strong immune system and a generally effective digestive system.
These people should be the only ones who can safely consume dairy products.
The only foods not recommended are those rich in preservatives and simple sugars .
Given the tendency to move frequently, during which there is a lot of time to think, light physical activities with an important mental component, such as tennis and walking, would be more suitable.
Blood group AB
finally, the AB group is described as “the enigmatic” and is at the top of the evolutionary ladder.
From a dietary and sports point of view, the enigmatic is halfway between group A and group B. He can therefore consume all foods in moderation, without exaggerating with dairy products.
Is it reliable? Works?
The blood group diet is a food system founded on principles of “questionable” scientific correctness .
Let’s see why.
Let’s clarify: what are blood groups?
As explained in depth in the article “the blood group”, for more than a century it has been known that there are four different blood groups, called respectively A, B, AB and 0.
- The subject carrying the AB blood group is the most fortunate since, being devoid of specific antibodies, it can eventually receive bloodfrom donors of type A, B, AB and 0 (for this reason, it is defined as universal receiver).
- The opposite is true for those with group 0, who can only receive blood of the same type, but can donate it to everyone (universal donor).
- The individual of group A can instead receive blood from groups A and 0, while the blood of type B is compatible only with groups B and 0.
If these combinations are NOT respected, the antibodies present in the plasma (agglutinins) attack the red blood cells of the transfused blood, neutralizing them (agglutination reaction) and forming small lumps that occlude the blood vessels causing very serious damage to the body.
Is the blood type diet a scientifically based system?
The problems with the blood type diet begin when we go deeper into its scientific assumptions.
According to the results of some independent, published and recognized studies, the various types of lectins are contained in the vast majority of foods at the same time, and would therefore not be able to selectively attack a single blood group.
Furthermore, the activity of these substances is very often nil and the fact that they can bind to cells does not automatically mean that they can cause agglutination.
Without bothering illustrious scientists and incomprehensible theories to non-experts on the subject, to dismantle the alleged benefits of the blood group diet just think for a moment about the prohibition of consuming dairy products (except for group B, which in Italy represents only 8- 10% of the population).
These foods, which we could not define as fundamental, are nevertheless very useful. Great contributors of calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, vitamin A and high biological value proteins, dairy products are now more sustainable than meat and fish, and allow the vegetarian population to avoid deficiencies and sub-optimal levels for various nutrients .
In addition to a low-dairy diet, individuals with blood type 0 are advised to eat plenty of protein foods with their diet. In addition to being scarcely sustainable (both ecologically and economically), such a choice is also “not very sensible”. Each organism has a minimum consumption of glucose which, if deriving from carbohydrates, offers a lower digestive and metabolic impact.
The same can be said for subjects belonging to blood group A; the excessive consumption of fibers in fact hinders a correct nutritional absorption, also due to the conspicuous pool of anti-nutrients to which it is related.
To remedy these dietary deficiencies, D’Adamo suggests and encourages the consumption of goat milk and derivatives for all . This is a recommendation in total contrast to what is stated on dairy products.
The excessive restriction of animal products suggested to group A could also cause suboptimal levels of EPA and DHA, iron , and most importantly, vitamin B12.
The coup de grace comes from the statistical studies that blatantly deny the theories of this diet.
Since the subjects of group B can safely consume dairy products, it is expected that among the people belonging to this blood group the incidence of intolerances to milk is lower. It is a pity that this hypothesis is not minimally confirmed by the statistical data currently available.
