Here's what you must eat to remain healthy, according to your blood group (2024)

ISSUE DATE: Jun 20, 2016 | UPDATED: Jun 17, 2016 16:31 IST

Madhuri Ruia
Nutritionist and pilates expert, Mumbai
The blood type diet, is a diet therapy propounded by noted naturopathic physician Dr Peter D'Adamo, who during the course of his research applied the insights of the uniqueness of the human body in terms of cells and DNA to different blood types O, A, B and AB.

He propounds that various blood types exhibit key genetic factors that impact our overall health. There are those who are more susceptible to colds and coughs, some lose weight without much effort while others struggle even on the toughest of regimens. Some are prone to digestive disturbances, chest allergies and there are others who have tendencies for high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. Those with Type O, for instance, have a lower risk of heart disease but a higher possibility of stomach ulcers. Type A women seem to have a higher rate of fertility, while their male counterparts have a higher risk for bacterial infections.

Types AB and B both appear to have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The blood type diet espouses that different blood types react differently even to the stresses we face in the course of our everyday lives. Type A people appear to have higher levels of the alarm hormone cortisol, a hormone that they release in excess when faced with stressful situations. Type O, on the other hand, have higher levels of the flight or fight hormone adrenaline when they are faced with stressful situations.

Clearly, as far as diets go, the one size fits all principle does not hold water especially with this blood diet type. Even as far as exercising is concerned, it can of course be argued that while in pre and post workout nutrition, how much water one drinks, the quality of sleep and the overall level of fitness is indispensable for exercise-however, according to Dr D'Adamo, blood types also influence how well one can exercise. This is because exercising, even moderately, could lead to an increase in the levels of stress hormones such as catecholamines and cortisol. Type A that is affected by stress would be better off performing yoga or pilates and gentle stretching. Type O, on the other hand, could respond better to strenuous training because of their milder stress response. Choosing an exercise regime according to your blood type in addition to the diet could help regulate the body's metabolic processes so that there is a significant improvement in blood lipids and increased urinary excretion of cortisol.

What you can eat
TYPE A
People who have the blood type A are better off being vegetarian, according to Dr D'Adamo, especially if they wish to lose weight. Natural, organic produce primarily suits Type A and helps them to build strong immunity and protect themselves from life-threatening diseases. Organic cereals and pulses such as brown rice, finger millet, nachni, bajra and jowar, quinoa and couscous, amaranth (rajgira), fresh vegetables like broccoli, mushroom, peppers, lady finger and spinach and other leafy greens as well as legumes will be good for Type A. Egg or seafood or skimmed paneer can be added for protein nutrition. So, people with Type A go ahead and make a nachni wrap with multicoloured vegetables and tofu or hummus or a feta cheese dip with finger veggies, or have water chestnut chat or apple with almond butter.

TYPE B
Type B must avoid glutenous grains such as wheat and buckwheat, besides tomatoes, peanuts and sesame seeds. For those who enjoy seafood, they can try salmon, sardines, pomfret and mackerel and even lamb. Type B people can happily have oats, millet, sugar-free muesli, cottage cheese, and eggs. Vegetable such as sweet potato, spinach and berries, and fruits like watermelon are also a healthy list for them. They can have watermelon juice with granola or some baked fish with oatmeal sauce and cottage cheese and saute spinach, or enjoy strawberry sorbet with almond ice.

TYPE AB
Type AB's are more evolved and they can have a wide variety of foods such as salmon, lentils, kidney beans, bacon, asparagus, beetroot, pumpkin, corn, broccoli, brown rice, lamb, coconut, quinoa, rye, tomato and red lentils. Food choices for them include lentil pilaf, with stir-fried veggies, coconut rice with fish curry, rye crackers with salsa and feta cheese dip. They can also have fig and mint salad with cherries and cranberries without any guilt.

TYPE O
Type O people digest protein and fat better than other blood types. They can have chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, turkey, seafood, beef, spinach, sweet potato and broccoli, pineapple, poached pears and pumpkin, walnut, beans, buckwheat, pinto beans and pumpkin seeds. Grilled or roasted chicken with stir-fried vegetables and sweet potato mash, spinach buckwheat roll with marinated tofu with beet salad are also good for them.