Blood Type Diet Research Paper

Could the way we should be eating be affected by our blood types? According to many scientists and dieticians, the answer is yes. There has not been very much official research regarding the topic, however, the results from the few experiments that have been conducted are astonishing. One dietician in particular named Peter J. D’Adamo has put together diets specifically pertaining to each of the four major blood types. Peter J. D’Adamo, ND has created the very first ever Blood Type Diet.

He has also written a book entitled Eat Right for Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight and created his own website. He is also a naturopathic doctor which means he studies alternative medicine based on a belief in vitalism, the belief that a special energy called vital energy or vital force guides bodily processes. The reason he believes in the Blood Type Diet is because he believes that blood types may affect the digestive system. The Blood Type Diet is based off of the believe that some foods may be good for one blood type and dangerous for another.

He states that blood type determines susceptibility to disease and how one should exercise. Most of his reseach is based off of lectins – abundant and diverse proteins found in foods. He says they have agglutinating properties that affect your blood. When you eat a food containing protein lectins that are incompatible with your blood type antigen, the lectins target an organ or bodily system and begin to agglutinate blood cells in that area. At least 5% of the lectins you consume are filtered into the bloodstream. The first type D’Adamo talks about is the blood type O.

He says that those with the blood type O should eat lean meats, poultry, and fish. His diet gives them restrictions on grains, breads, and legumes. He also advocates vigorous exercise for those with this blood type. The next blood type he goes on to talk about is blood type A. He claims that those with this blood type do best with primarily vegetarian diets. He says to lean towards soy proteins, grains, and organic vegetables. Those with blood type A should get gentle exercise. Those with the blood type B tend to have a diet that is almost a mix of the two previous diets.

He prescribes low-fat dairy, meat and produce and cautions to avoid wheat, corn, and lentils. He recommends moderate exercise. The last blood type D’Adamo sets up is blood type AB. He recommends seafood, tofu, dairy, and most produce. He says to avoid chicken, beef, and pork and prescribes calming exercises such as yoga. The most important thing D’Adamo pushes is the claim that one diet does not fit all. The right diet for one’s blood type comes down to lectins. Each blood type digests these food proteins differently. He claims that foods fall into three categories per blood type: beneficial, neutral, and avoid.

Those on the Blood Type Diet should take care to follow these guidelines. Many other dieticians are understandably apprehensive about such a radical approach to dieting. They mostly tend to believe the diets have good general recommendations. They don’t however, see enough evidence to totally support the Blood Type Diet. They also don’t believe that there is a connection between blood types and diseases. One scientist and dietician named David W. Grotto, RD, LD claimed that the Blood Type Diet was “Obscure and lacking in science. ”