Angela Joy Health & Fitness

By:Angela Ciroalo

Did you know that your blood type can determine how well your body can digest and store certain foods? It can also determine how you react to illness, the behaviors that you express, and the foods that you like.

Naturopathic physician, researcher and lecturer Dr. Peter D’Adamo discovered this observation which led him to study the connection between a person’s blood-type and the diseases or illnesses that they contract.

As a result of his findings he authored the book “Eat Right for Your Blood Type,” outlining where each blood type originated, how the blood types came about, and the characteristics of each blood type.

Dr. D’Adamo explains how our ancestors lived, ate and communicated influenced our health today.

Blood Type A
Out of the four different blood types—O, A, B and AB—blood type A is the only one that is suggested to consume a fully vegetarian diet.

Dr. D’Adamo explains that those who are blood type A will fair best when they are not consuming meat or dairy.

Furthermore it is important that blood type As consume food in a natural, pure, fresh and organic state.

“I can’t emphasize enough how this critical dietary adjustment can be to the sensitive immune system of Type A,” Dr. D’Adamo states in his book. “With this diet you can supercharge your immune system and potentially short circuit the development of life threatening diseases.”

History of Blood Type A

Blood type A was the second blood type created after the original blood type O. Blood type A was created between 25,000 and 15,000 B.C. in either Asia or the Middle East.

During this time, environmental conditions were changing causing the diet and lifestyle to change along with it—hence the birth of a new blood type, blood type A.

Some of the changes some became a part of daily living included agriculture and animal domestication as well as the adaption to living in stable communities with permanent living structures.

Dr. D’Adamo explains that do to these changes the eating habits, lifestyle, digestive tracts and immune system of the inhabitants also changed.

Furthermore, due to the strength of the people who were blood type A, the survival rate increased, outliving many blood type Os. Dr. D’Adamo explains that the immune system of blood type A people was very strong, therefore allowing those who held the blod type to increase and multiply.

Blood type A was able to survive disease like the plague, cholera and smallpox far better than blood type O. Therefore, blood type A did not become extinct and continued to increase as the inhabitants spread into western Europe.

Blood Type A Profile:
Those who are blood type A are known as the original cultivators. Their ancestors reaped what they sowed, meaning they became farmers and consumed fresh foods rather than hunters who consumed meats. As a result, they followed a vegetarian diet consisting of fresh produce and grains.

Blood type As have a difficult time when consuming meat and dairy due to the sensitive digestive systems that they developed.

Therefore, blood type As thrive from fresh, whole foods grown from the land. They are in fact quite opposite of blood type O and will feel sluggish when they consume meats.

One of the reasons for this is that a blood type A person has naturally acidic blood. Therefore, when foods that are acidic enter the blood stream, negative reactions occur. This is very different from a blood type O person whose blood is more alkaline and can digest and assimilate acidic foods without any problems.

Dairy is also avoided, along with meat, because blood type A rejects the sugar in milk. When milk is consumed a blood type A person will have difficulty digesting the milk sugar and issues may occur.

Furthermore, the consumption of milk will often create the production of mucus. Blood type As are known to produce more mucus than other blood types and when dairy is ingested mucus levels increase—often causing respiratory problems, allergic responses, and infections.

As far as the consumption of grains goes, blood type As can consume them, however they must be conscious of the amount they eat. Grains are also acidic and if eaten in excess can cause muscle tissues to become overly acidic.

In sum, the agrarian diet (blood type A diet) recommends a high carbohydrate diet made up of fresh fruits and vegetables with low amounts of fats.

Foods to Avoid:
Foods that encourage weight gain in blood type As include; meat, dairy, kidney beans, lima beans, and wheat when eaten in abundance.

Foods that are particularly suggested to refrain from eating include processed meats and processed or packaged foods.

Foods to Consume:
Foods that encourage weight loss include; vegetables oils, soy foods, vegetables, and pineapples.

Additionally, specific foods that will benefit a blood type A person include;

• Nuts; peanuts, peanut butter and pumpkin seeds.
• Oils; linseed or flaxseed oil and olive oil.
• Dairy; soy cheese and soy milk.
• Beans; black, green, azuke, red soy, pinto, lentils, black eyes and azuki
• Cereals; amaranth and buckwheat.
• Breads; essene, Ezekiel, rice cakes, soy flour, and sprouted wheat bread.
• Grains and pastas; buckwheat, oat, rice and rye flour, soba noodles, and artichoke pasta.
• Vegetables; artichoke, beet leaves, broccoli, carrots, chicory, collard greens, dandelion, escarole, garlic, kale, onions, parsley, spinach, and much more
• Fruits; apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, dried figs, lemons, pineapple, grapefruits, plums and prunes

Risks of Diseases:
Those who are blood type A are more susceptible to heart disease and cancer. However, when following the suggested blood type A diet, risk of disease decreases.

For more information on the Blood Type A Diet, refer to Dr. D’Adamo’s book, “Eat Right for your Blood Type, The individualized Diet Solution to Staying Health, Living Longer and Achieving Your Ideal Weight” and visit Dr. D’Adamo’s Blood Type A online profile.