The blood type diet: How to eat right according to your blood type.

Blood Type Diet: A Guide to Eating Right According to Your Blood Type

Have you ever wondered if your blood type could influence the foods you should eat? That’s the idea behind the blood type diet, a nutrition theory that claims your ABO blood type (A, B, AB, or O) determines how your body digests food, absorbs nutrients, and even manages weight.

Overview

Proponents of the blood type diet believe D’Adamo’s claims that “eating for your blood type” can improve your energy, digestion, and overall wellness. However, there’s a lack of scientific evidence behind doing so, especially when it comes to claims that certain foods are harmful to people with different blood types.

So, what’s the deal? Does blood type affect diet requirements, or is this just another fad? We’ve examined the ins and outs of the blood type diet, including recommended foods to eat and avoid, and whether research supports its claims.

What is the Blood Type Diet?

The blood type diet is an approach to nutrition that became popular in the 1990s by a naturopathic physician named Dr. Peter D’Adamo. It still makes its rounds today via headlines, books, and podcasts about it.

The core idea is simple: your blood type (A, B, AB, or O) affects how your body responds to certain foods. Your blood type is defined by specific markers on your red blood cells called antigens, which are what determine whether you have type A, B, AB, or type O blood.

According to the blood type diet plan, tailoring your food choices to your blood type can improve digestion, metabolism, weight management, and even long-term health.

The Logic Behind It

The central theory has to do with lectins, a type of carbohydrate-binding protein found in many plant foods, like legumes, seeds, and nightshade vegetables. The idea is that lectins may interact differently with each blood type, purportedly promoting inflammation, slowed digestion, or metabolic effects.

The blood type diet is built on the idea that your ABO blood group shapes how your body interacts with food.

According to this theory, each blood type evolved at different points in human history, which explains why people with certain types may thrive on specific eating plans:

Blood Type O, considered the “hunter-gatherer,” is linked to early human ancestors who relied heavily on animal protein.

Blood Type A, the “agrarian,” emerged when farming began, favoring vegetarian diets or plant-based diets.

Blood Type B, the “nomad,” is said to tolerate dairy products and a wider variety of foods.

Blood Type AB, a more modern blood type, supposedly combines the benefits (and restrictions) of A and B.

While the concept of eating right for your blood type is intriguing, it’s important to know that scientific research hasn’t confirmed these claims