Blood Type Diets: How Eating For Your Blood Type Works

Eating for Your Blood Type

The blood type diet theory was first mentioned in 1996 by a naturopathic physician named Dr. Peter D'Adamo. It has grown in popularity amongst the health and weight loss community, similar to the keto diet and Ozempic. However, this diet uniquely proposes eating for your blood type by selecting foods supposedly compatible with A, B, AB, or O, claiming that doing so can improve health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. 

The theory suggests that natural evolution caused our ancestors to develop distinct digestive systems based on their environments and available foods, leading to recommended food for your blood type that may be easier to digest or absorb.

However, there is not currently enough scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of eating according to blood type. This diet's positive results may be attributed to adopting healthier eating habits in general. Consulting board-certified nutritionists and expert health coaches can help you discover whether there is any value in trying to eat right according to your blood type and provide guidance on other healthy eating habits you can incorporate for overall wellness.

What Are the Different Blood Types?

Blood types are genetically determined, meaning patterns can be traced through ancestry. The four main blood type groups are:

• Type A
• Type B
• Type AB
• Type O

Each blood type is unique because specific antigens are found on the surface of its red blood cells. As their names suggest, blood type A has A antigens on its blood cells, B has B antigens, AB has both A and B antigens, and O has neither A nor B antigens. These antigens ultimately influence immune responses and interactions with specific proteins, such as lectins. 

How Does the Blood Type Diet Theory Work?

The blood type diet is based on the idea that the four primary blood types mentioned above have unique digestive characteristics due to their ancestor’s dietary patterns and the food available where they lived. The diet advises people to eat foods similar to those of their ancestors to improve their health.

For example, if one blood type is believed to have ancestors from an area with abundant poultry, it is assumed that they ate a large amount of chicken and turkey, to the point that their stomachs subtly evolved to comfortably digest white meats and absorb more nutrients from them than red meat, which may not have been available in that area. In this example, the blood type diet theory would agree that even present-day people with the same blood type could experience health benefits if they ate chicken and turkey like their ancestors.

Lectins’ Role in the Blood Type Diet Theory

A key component of the blood type diet theory involves lectins, proteins found in various foods that can bind to carbohydrates. Some lectins are believed to interact differently with each blood type, which means they may affect digestion and nutrient absorption. 

For instance, certain lectins may cause agglutination, or clumping, of red blood cells in specific blood types, potentially leading to adverse health effects. By selecting foods supposedly compatible with one's blood type, the diet aims to minimize negative lectin interactions, thereby improving digestion and overall health.

Since this diet claims various​​ health benefits, it became especially popular among older individuals because it is harder to lose weight as you age or maintain your health in general.

Which Foods Should You Eat for Your Blood Type? 

According to Dr. D'Adamo's blood type diet, each blood type has specific foods that are recommended and foods that should be avoided. Check out the following breakdowns to better understand what this diet proposes, but you should remember that following these recommendations may not be the best way to achieve your health and wellness goals.

Type A

Type A is known as the agrarian type, and it is considered to have an optimal diet that focuses primarily on vegetarian foods.

Some foods that the blood type diet theory claims are beneficial for people with type A blood are:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Tofu
• Soy milk
• Seafood
• Turkey
• Eggs
• Whole grains

Some examples of foods that this theory believes can have a negative impact on people with type A blood are:

• Lima beans
• Tomatoes
• Eggplant
• Garbanzo beans

Type B 

Type B is known as the nomadic type, and it is theorized to benefit from a diet that emphasizes dairy.

Some examples of foods that this theory claims are favorable for people with type B blood are:

• Meat
• Fruits
• Dairy
• Seafood
• Whole grains
• Green vegetables

Some foods that Dr. Peter D'Adamo believes can be disadvantageous for people with type B blood are:

• Chicken
• Corn
• Soy
• Lentils

Type AB

Type AB is considered the enigma type, which is speculated to thrive on a mixture of foods from the type A and B diets discussed above.

Some examples of foods that this theory believes are ideal for people with type AB blood are:

• Dairy
• Tofu
• Lamb
• Fish
• Whole grains
• Fruits
• Vegetables

Some foods that the blood type diet theory lists as unfavorable for people with type AB blood are:

• Chicken
• Corn
• Bananas
• Fava beans

Type O

Type O is considered the hunter type, which is recommended to consume a diet that concentrates on animal proteins.

Some examples of foods that Dr. Peter D'Adamo believes are beneficial for people with type O blood are:

• Red meat
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Fish
• Eggs
• Vegetables

According to the blood type diet theory, some adverse foods for people with type O blood are:

• Wheat
• Soybean oil
• Peanuts
• Kidney beans

Does Eating for Your Blood Type Truly Work? 

While the blood type diet has become incredibly popular over the last couple of decades, little scientific evidence supports its efficacy. Although some research indicates that certain blood types may be predisposed to specific medical conditions, there is no conclusive evidence that dietary choices based on blood type result in particular health benefits. However, there is also insufficient research to prove this diet is entirely ineffective.

Nevertheless, any perceived advantages of the blood type diet may actually be credited to healthier eating patterns overall rather than blood-type-specific food selections. Each of the different blood type diets centers around predominantly eating healthy, nutrient-dense foods, which are universally beneficial regardless of blood type.

For example, many of the diets mentioned above advise people to eat unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables, which tend to be lower in calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol than other options. Since there are ties between fatty, high-calorie foods with cholesterol and weight gain, the blood type diet may inadvertently lead to weight loss by steering people away from them. As a domino effect, people may get fewer headaches and pains because weight loss can lower blood pressure, and high blood pressure may cause uncomfortable symptoms.

What To Do Instead

Since the benefits people feel from eating according to blood type may actually be traced back to other sources, it is best to find a diet that works best for you, not what was believed to work for your ancestors. Instead of trying to eat right according to your blood type, try one of the Weight Loss & Metabolic Reset programs or Flexible Weight Loss programs from re:vitalize. Each program is designed to meet the personalized needs of that specific member—no program is the same. We can conduct a Body Composition & Metabolic Age Analysis using biometric impedance technology to remove the guesswork out of what foods and micronutrients will suit you best.

Optimize Your Daily Diet and Nutrition with re:vitalize

Many people swear by eating according to blood type. You can even find specific food for your blood type online, along with potential benefits. However, any positive results you may experience from eating for your blood type are likely attributable to consuming healthier food in general, considering there is insufficient scientific evidence supporting otherwise. Nevertheless, just because there may not be a way to eat right according to your blood type doesn’t mean you should lose hope—you may still benefit from eating healthy, unprocessed foods.

Although blood type diets may not be as effective as Dr. Peter D'Adamo once claimed, there are still ways to adapt your diet to meet your unique needs. At re:vitalize, we offer personalized holistic weight loss programs tailored to the individual’s health benchmarks and wellness goals. We implement cutting-edge BioScan™ technology, which uses key biomarkers to identify optimal nutrients for that specific individual’s weight loss and well-being.

Schedule a virtual or in-person consultation with re:vitalize to learn more about our unique, time-tested programs.