When you think about the reasons you are not losing any weight, most people blame a slow metabolism, genetics, bad eating habits, lack of physical activity and so on for their inability to slim down. Yet, they rarely take into account that the underlying contributor to their weight issues is their blood type. Dr. Peter D'Adamo, a naturopathic physician, has devoted his life's work to making sure that people eat right for their blood type and garner the health benefits from doing so. He draws on the history of our ancestors to achieve optimal health.
Although weight loss is not the main focus of the diet, it is a welcomed side effect. Supposedly, when eating in harmony with your blood type, you will also lessen your risk for heart disease, liver damage, diabetes, cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Obviously, you will need to find out if you are type A, B, AB or O prior to beginning the program. After all, that is what will determine what you should be eating and what foods you need to avoid at all costs. Follow the blueprint for your blood type and you can start improving your health and losing weight within a couple of weeks.
According to Dr. D'Adamo, protein-like compounds found in foods called lectins react with different blood types. While the lectins in chicken might have little influence on someone with Type O blood type, it can be detrimental to a Type B. These tiny molecules cause blood and other body tissues to stick together. This process runs direct interference with digestion, metabolism and immune function, leading to illness, lack of energy and obesity.
If you buy into the science behind D' Adamo's Blood Type Diet, then you will have no problem believing that these effects can be reversed by changing the foods you eat. Foods are divided into three groups: beneficial, neutral and avoids.
Type A: Cut out meat products, whole fat dairy products, peppers, tomatoes, and tropical and citrus fruits.
FOR EXAMPLE: Beef inhibits proper gastric function or blocks assimilation, among other things.
Type B: Avoid chicken, bacon, ham, and shellfish. Limit consumption of beef, wheat, rye, tomatoes and corn.
FOR EXAMPLE: Chicken contains lectin or other agglutinin.
Type O: Avoid eggs and dairy foods, breads and pastas made from wheat, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, corn, cauliflower, leeks, yucca, and potatoes.
FOR EXAMPLE: Bread made from wheat contains lectin or other agglutinin, acts as a metabolic inhibitor and contains components which can modify known disease susceptibility.
Type AB: Eliminate smoked or cured meats and cut back drastically on beef, wheat, corn, tropical fruits, oranges and bananas.
FOR EXAMPLE: Bananas contain lectin or other agglutinin.
Although the diet may seem quite scientific, in reality there is little research supporting the claims of Blood Type Diets.
