Could our blood type influence what we can and cannot eat? Well, I certainly think so.
Dr. Peter D’Adamo, author of Eat Right For Your Type has built his controversial diet on the premise that our genetically inherited blood type influences the chemical reaction that occurs when we eat food. As a result, some foods are more genetically suited to certain blood types and as blood types have evolved over the years, so have the types of food that humans consume. Different parts of the world have different blood types. Different parts of the world eat different foods. Evolution. It’s all very interesting.
The diet doesn’t just stop at food though, it also extends to what kind of exercise best suits you, what type of personality traits you may or may not have and what diseases you could be predisposed to.
To me, it makes sense. But I don’t think it’s the be all and end all. Rather, I think it’s a great tool to be used in conjunction with conscious eating habits. By this I mean listening to your body; what is one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. What feeds you ideally might not sit so well with me. What foods work for YOU?
Here’s a brief rundown on the different types…
Type O: Strong, self-reliant and goal-oriented. Likes intense physical exercise such as running or aerobics. Strong immune system but low tolerance for new diets and new environments. Risk for inflammation, arthritis and ulcers but less chance for cancer. Diet profile suited to red meat, vegetables and fruit and avoidance of all grains and dairy.
Type A: Cooperative, sensitive and settled. Adapts well to change but a more vulnerable immune system and sensitive digestive tract. Likes calming and centring exercises such as yoga or tai chi. Risk for heart disease, cancer and Type 1 diabetes. Diet profile suited to vegetarian or vegan with a mix of vegetables, grains, beans and fruit.
Type B: Nomadic, flexible and creative. Likes moderate exercise with a mental balance such as hiking or swimming. Strong immune and nervous systems with no natural weakness. Risk for Type 1 diabetes, auto-immune disorders and rare viruses. Diet profile suited to omnivorous including meat, dairy, grains, vegetables, beans and fruit.
Type AB: Rare, mysterious and highly sensitive. Likes a combination of calming and moderate exercise. Most adaptable type, designed for modern life with the combined benefits of A and B. Sensitive digestive tract and risk of heart disease, cancer and anemia. Diet profile suited to a mixed diet of meat, seafood, dairy, beans, grains, vegetables and fruit.
Does this make sense to you and your body?
When I first heard about the Eat Right For Your Type diet I was about 14 and my best friend’s Mum was well into the swing of it. I didn’t really understand the premise behind it all back then, but I do remember reading that as I was an O blood type, I was more inclined to eat red meat and susceptible to wheat intolerance. Which made sense to me, as I crave meat often and unless I want to feel like I am 7 months pregnant, I avoid wheat at all costs.
I also remember my friend’s Mum making the most delicious carrot and ginger soup from the recipe section of the book, which I have recreated often over the years. So now whenever I think of the diet I think of meat and ginger and carrot soup! This is my current version, with the addition of cauliflower (because I am obsessed with it at the moment) and toasted walnuts to add a crunchy, nutty factor.
NOTE: I actually forgot to add the walnuts to the soup before I photographed it – oops! So you’ll need to use your imagination here. And don’t leave them out, they make the soup something special!
Roasted Carrot, Cauliflower and Ginger Soup with Toasted Walnuts
You will need
6 medium carrots
1/2 head cauliflower
4 stalks celery
5 shallots, sliced
1/2 cup ginger, grated
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/3 cup walnuts
2 tbsp coconut oil
500ml water or vegetable stock
What to do
To toast walnuts:
In a frying pan on medium heat, toast walnuts in 1 tsp coconut oil for a few minutes or until lightly browned. Reserve.
To make soup:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Chop carrots, cauliflower and celery coarsely and coat in coconut oil.
Spread vegetables out on baking tray and roast for 25 minutes or until cauliflower begins to brown.
Meanwhile, in a frying pan on medium heat, sauté ginger, garlic and shallots in 1 tsp coconut oil for 5 minutes or until softened.
Combine the roasted vegetables, water (or stock) and sautéed ginger mixture in a large saucepan and blend with a stick blender or transfer to a high-powered blender in batches.
Top soup with toasted walnuts and enjoy!
Serves 4
Have you tried eating for your blood type before? Let me know in the comments!
Mmm mmm this soup not only looks easy peasy but totally delicious too!
I find validity in the theory, although I think it is the “ideal”. By this I mean, for example, when I eat pomegranates (which are avoid for my type AB blood), I suspect I am getting health benefits from pomegranates, but I am also setting off a very minor immune response to the pomegranate lectins (I can tell because I start getting phlegmy and coughing to clear my throat after eating them). My theory is that despite the negative effects of some foods on certain blood types, they are still overall beneficial to health, even if it may require some bodily energy to deal with the problems they cause.
For example, (I hate to break it to you Claire :), but cauliflower is an AVOID for Blood type O’s… I don’t mean to ruin your wonderful-looking cauliflower soup you’ve got here; in fact I think it may not be as big of a problem as D’Adamo states. Maybe cauliflower may cause some small problems chemically as pomegranates do for me, but I think overall, their health benefits may outweigh their problems. This of course, is a level of relativity, as some foods may be more harmful than other to a certain blood type, and in that case, probably should be avoided. Anyways, I hope that makes sense, I hope my 2 cents resonates, as I have tried it for myself. I certainly think there is validity to his theory (he has quite a bit of scientific lectin research to back it up), however, I think it is a scale of relativity, and some healthy foods i.e. cauliflower should not be avoided by type O’s (unless your body really is telling you) because their benefits outweigh their problems. At the end of the day I think it’s all about self-experimentation and listening to your body. Science and research is all theory, but feeling and listening to your body is the only reality. Thanks for your thought-provoking article Claire 🙂
Today, while I was at work,my cousin stole my iphone and
tested to see if it can survive a 40 foot drop, just
so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPadd is now destroyed
and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share itt with someone!
I am pretty sure that cauliflower is not good for type O blood type. I am O as well.