“Blood group” diet: what to think of this food diet?

November 25, 2022December 1, 2022 Stephen PaulWeight Lose Obesity

Among the fanciful diets, one particularly arouses curiosity: the diet based on blood type. Its creator says that to stay healthy, or even lose weight, you should eat foods that are “compatible” with your blood type, and banish those that are harmful to it. So, what are the principles of this diet and above all, would the blood group diet be as beneficial to health as claimed?

Index

What is the principle of the blood group diet?

Origin

The “blood type” diet was invented in 1996 by Peter D’Adamo, an American naturopath, following research carried out by his father James D’Adamo, also a naturopath . The latter, in the 1950s, had observed the reactions of spa guests following a vegetarian diet low in lipids, and had found that this type of diet was not suitable for everyone. He had then studied the relationship between blood group and diet, in order to determine which diet was best suited to each individual. His study postulate was as follows: since the blood is the main vector of nutrients in the body, it must have an influence on their assimilation.

In the 1990s, Peter D’Adamo propagated his father’s ideas and, more generally, the concept of the “blood group” diet, by publishing the book 4 Blood Groups, 4 Diets. The diet was then officially born.

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Several principles come to articulate the thought of D’Adamo:

Each type of blood has its own chemical composition, the antigens of which differ. Thus certain food chemical compounds can stimulate these antigens and therefore cause damage to the body.
Group O would be the only blood group present in the time of hunter-gatherers. Group A would have appeared at the same time as the discovery of agriculture (agrarian profile). Group B would be typical of nomadic peoples. Finally, group AB would be a hybrid between groups A and B, which appeared last in the history of humanity.
Each blood type should consume foods in accordance with the associated ancestral diet. The foods would therefore be qualified as beneficial, neutral or to be avoided for each blood group.
Diet should be accompanied by physical activity. Its nature would also depend on the blood group.
The “blood type” diet could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes , nervous system diseases, rheumatological, gastric and intestinal conditions. It would also be favorable to maintaining a healthy weight.

What to eat according to your blood group, according to this diet?

It is difficult to draw up an exhaustive list here of beneficial, neutral and avoidable foods for each blood group. Indeed, the grids corresponding to each blood group specify in detail each vegetable, fish, fruit or cereal recommended or not recommended ⁽¹⁾ . For the sake of simplification, we will therefore give a brief overview of the specificities of each blood group, with examples of foods.

Blood group O, the hunter-gatherer

Beneficial foods : seaweed, seafood, fish, red meat, certain cruciferous vegetables (kale, kale, broccoli), certain vegetables (artichoke, chard, beets, spinach, salad), olive or flax oil, certain fruits ( fig, plum).
Tolerated foods : poultry, rapeseed and sesame oil, certain fruits (apricot, lemon, watermelon, grape) and vegetables (asparagus, carrot, celery, zucchini), certain legumes (coconut or cornille beans), sprouted wheat.
Foods to avoid : cereals (wheat, corn, buckwheat, oats), dairy products , certain legumes (white beans, lentils, kidney beans), peanuts, cashews, pistachios, certain vegetables (eggplant, potato, mushroom), certain fruits (orange, strawberry, melon).
Beverages allowed : water, tea , red wine, white wine, beer.

Blood group A, the agrarian

Beneficial foods : green vegetables (artichoke, crucifers, leek), seafood, certain fruits ( pineapple , lemon , plum, cherry, fig, apricot), certain cereals (rice, soybeans, amaranth, rye, buckwheat), olive, linseed oil.
Foods tolerated : fish, poultry, certain fruits (pear, kiwi, blackcurrant), certain vegetables (asparagus, zucchini, radish, cucurbits, fennel, onion), certain cereals (barley, spelled, quinoa, kamut), goat’s milk, yogurt , algae.
Foods to avoid : shellfish, wheat, cow’s milk products, meat (pork, beef, lamb), certain vegetables (potato, eggplant, tomato), certain fruits ( banana , melon, orange), certain legumes (chickpeas, white and red beans).
Beverages allowed : water, green tea, red wine, recommended fruit and vegetable juices, white wine, cider.

Group B, the nomad

Beneficial foods : meat (game meat, rabbit, lamb), fish , fresh and goat cheese, olive oil, certain legumes (mogettes, red beans), certain cereals (spelt, oats, rice, millet), certain fruits (banana, pineapple, grape), certain vegetables (crucifers, eggplant, carrot, sweet potato).
Neutral foods : beef and veal, linseed oil, certain oilseeds (almonds, walnuts, pecans, chestnuts), certain legumes (broad beans, flageolet beans, peas, white beans), spelled, certain vegetables (celery, lettuce, cucurbits , fennel, potato), certain fruits (apricot, strawberry, raspberry, mango, blueberry, peach, apple , pear).
Foods to avoid : poultry, shellfish and certain fish, blue cheeses, peanuts, rapeseed, sunflower and sesame oils, hazelnuts, certain legumes (lentils, chickpeas, coconut), cereals (wheat, barley, corn, buckwheat, rye, soya ), certain vegetables (artichoke, pumpkin, tomato), certain fruits (pomegranate, persimmon, prickly pear).
Beverages allowed : water, green tea, red wine, beer, white wine, cider.

Groupe AB, the enigmatic

Beneficial foods : meat (lamb, rabbit, turkey), fish, yogurt, fresh and goat’s cheese, olive oil, certain oilseeds (peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts), certain legumes (mogettes, green lentils, coconut beans), certain cereals (oats, spelt, rice, rye, oats, millet), certain vegetables (eggplant, green crucifers, sweet potato), certain fruits (pineapple, fig, kiwi, grapefruit , plum).
Neutral foods : skimmed milk, soy, peanut, rapeseed, flaxseed oils, certain oilseeds (almond, cashew, pecan, Macadamia, pine nuts, pistachio), certain legumes (peas, broad beans, beans, white beans, red lentils ), certain cereals (amaranth, whole wheat), vegetables (except those specified below), fruits (except those specified below).
Foods to avoid : meat (beef, poultry except turkey, game, veal), fish, shellfish, butter, cream, whole milk, blue cheeses, rapeseed, sunflower, corn and sesame oils, hazelnuts, certain legumes (lentils, chickpeas , butter beans), cereals (soya, wheat, barley, corn, buckwheat, kamut), certain vegetables (artichoke, pepper, chilli, Jerusalem artichoke), certain fruits (pomegranate, persimmon, orange, guava, mango).
Beverages allowed : water, green tea, red wine, beer, white wine, cider.

Additional Recommendations

The “blood type” diet holds that certain foods are toxic to all individuals, regardless of their blood type. These include coconut, avocado , rhubarb, pork, strong alcohol, sodas , coffee, white sugar, salt .

As for sports activities, the precepts of the blood group diet recommend:

Intense physical exercise for holders of blood group O – running, boxing, athletics.
Moderate physical exercise for group B – biking, hiking, swimming .
A calm physical exercise for group A – yoga , Pilates, Tai Chi.
Mild to moderate activities for group AB (hybrid of A and B).

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the “blood group” diet?

Advantages

Diet encouraging to invite to his table foods that we sometimes know little (food curiosity).
Restricted consumption of refined foods and banishment of strong alcohol and fast sugars.
Possible weight loss.
In principle, there is no problem in achieving the feeling of satiety , the “blood type” diet not being a low- calorie diet .

Disadvantages

The health effectiveness of the “blood type” diet is absolutely unfounded or supported by science, as evidenced by a 2013 meta-analysis of 16 different studies on this subject ⁽²⁾ .
The starting premise is unfounded, as are the categories associated with each blood group. The “blood type” diet is therefore more a matter of belief than science.
Exclusive diet, which can lead to frustration, negative social repercussions, cardiovascular and renal diseases (group O), transit disorders (group O and B).
Deficiency in calcium, vitamin D, fiber, vitamins of group B and magnesium for group O (like any high protein diet ).
Iron and protein deficiency for group A.
Lack of fibre , vitamins of group B and magnesium for group B.
Diet that can be dangerous in the long term, because it does not take into account pathologies and/or intolerances.

The “blood group” diet, what do you think of it in the end?

The blood group diet would therefore not only have no scientific basis, but would also not guarantee better health or lasting weight loss. To lose weight permanently , doctors continue to advocate a varied and balanced diet, without particular exclusion of food groups, except for processed products and the abuse of sugar, salt and saturated fats.

Stephen Paul

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Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.