Expert Article - Final

A Journey to Optimal Health: The Blood Type Diet

A Nightmare Come To Life

Imagine this. 

[Setting: A silent, pitch-dark bedroom. Suddenly, the stillness is interrupted as a child jolts upright in bed, covered in a cold sweat.]

CHILD: [screaming] It's back, the monster! [clenches her abdomen] What is taking over me?

[Days go by, and the child cannot escape the constant abdomen pain that plagues her. Every moment is a struggle, and she feels like she's losing the fight.]

CHILD: [sighs heavily] Am I going to be okay? Will I ever be free of this monster inside me? Or better yet, who will be my saving grace? 

That's what it felt like to suffer from chronic, unknown stomach pain at just eight years old—waking up and suffering from unbearable pain and discomfort every day. Constant doctor appointments, bland foods, and despair characterized 2009. Not a single doctor or X-ray in Los Angeles County had the answer to why I struggled with this pain. The monster had been winning, and as each day passed, I felt more defeated. It was not until mid-March of 2010 when my knight in shining armor, the Blood Type Diet, rode in to save the day and conquer the monster once and for all. I soon said goodbye to a life of suffering and hello to a world of wellness, but with some sacrifices. 

I was once just like you, unaware of my blood type's tremendous impact on my well-being, but now I am urging you to discover the power of this little-known diet. Allow me to guide you on a journey of self-discovery, where you, too, can unlock the key to optimal health and elevate your quality of life. It's time to embrace the power of the Blood Type Diet. 

I will guide you through four subsections:

• The History of the Blood Type Diet

• How to Determine Your Blood Type

• How To Follow Your Blood Type Diet

• Blood Type A

• Blood Type B

• Blood Type AB

• Blood Type O

• Why Should You Try This

History of the Blood Type Diet 

In 1996, Peter D'Adamo introduced The Blood Type Diet based on the concept that one must follow a diet specific to their blood type to achieve optimal metabolic and digestive wellness. (Levy) The Blood Type Diet outlines particular diets for each of the four blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Each diet plan highlights specific foods for each blood type and suggests consuming foods that are not in line with the diet can lead to a range of health problems, including digestive issues, weight gain, and an increased risk of chronic diseases. According to D'Adamo, The Blood Type Diet highlights the anthropological origins of the four blood types and aligns each type with a diet their ancestors would have eaten. Although it has gained popularity over the years, from a scientific standpoint, experts have identified that there needs to be adequate evidence supporting the Blood Type Diet and its benefits (Levy). Even though science has yet to approve the diet fully, I will prove why you should try it.

How to Determine Your Blood Type

Your blood type is determined based on specific antigens in your blood. (Frothingham) There are several ways to discover your blood type, such as ordering a blood test at the doctor's office, donating blood, or purchasing an at-home blood test kit. (Frothingham)

But for now, as we wait for the results, I couldn't move on to the next section without some fun facts:

• O is the most common blood type. About 44 percent of people living in the U.S. have type O blood. (Levy)

• About 42 percent of people living in the United States have type A blood (Levy)

• About 10 percent of people living in the U.S. have type B blood (Levy)

• AB is the least common blood type. Only about 4 percent of people living in the U.S. have type AB blood (Levy)

How to Follow A Blood-Type Diet?

Did we find out which blood type you are yet? If not, I'll wait. But if so, let's get into the specific foods you should and shouldn't indulge in! (Refer to the Appendix to see detailed diet plans)

 

Blood Type A

If you belong to the blood type A family, D'Adamo refers to you as the "agrarians" or "cultivators." (Leech) This means that ancestors with Blood Type A identify with traditional farming and horticultural practices. D'Adamo highlights that those identifying with this blood type can digest carbohydrates very well but struggle to digest animal protein and fat. People who are type A should eat a diet rich in plants and utterly free of "toxic" red meat, which closely resembles a vegetarian diet. (Leech)

Blood Type B

If you belong to the blood type B family, D'adamo refers to you as a part of the "nomads" whose ancestors were known to move around frequently and occupy large areas of land. (Levy) Those with blood type B have a high tolerance to various foods, which means they can achieve optimal health by ingesting a balanced diet with components of all the different macronutrients. If you are Blood Type B, you have one of the most flexible diets. However, the one downside to belonging to this blood type family is that if you love legumes, unfortunately, they don't love you back!  

Blood Type AB

If you belong to the blood type AB family, congratulations, you are a part of the 4%! Those with blood type AB are known to identify as the "enigma." (Leech) They have an advantage over other blood types because they can digest various foods, including animal protein and fat meals. Since type AB is a mixture of blood types A and B, they share the benefits of both blood types. Some of the best fruits and vegetables for this blood type are leafy greens, apricots, cherries, grapefruit, kiwi, lemons, pineapples, and plums. (Levy)

Blood Type O

Finally, most of you welcome home to your blood type O family! Those with blood type O are said to have ancestral ties to hunters who consume a lot of meat, fish, and animal foods. (Levy) Luckily, this family is said to have digestive advantages because they can metabolize animal products better than other blood types. So if you enjoy eating gourmet rib-eye steaks, this blood type is your holy grail. A low-carb diet, high in protein, such as fish, lamb, veal, mutton, and eggs, is optimal for your health. (Levy) To lose weight, seafood, kelp, red meat, broccoli, spinach, and olive oil are best; wheat, corn, and dairy should be. (Shmerling)

Why Should You Try This

I know what you are all probably thinking right now; why would I restrict myself to this diet when I currently feel fine, and it hasn't even been scientifically proven? However, this diet is special in my heart because it changed my quality of life. It not only improved my health but also boosted my energy levels, eased my stomach bloating, and changed how I approach my overall well-being—investing in your health and wellness, especially while young, can pay off immensely in the long run. After all, if we don't take care of our bodies now, when will we?

Appendix

Works Cited

Frothingham, Scott. “How to Find out Your Blood Type.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 18 Aug. 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-find-out-your-blood-type#blood-testing. 

‌Leech, Joe. “The Blood Type Diet: An Evidence-Based Review.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 4 June 2017, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/the-blood-type-diet-review. 

Levy, Jillian. “Should My Blood Type Determine How I Eat?” Dr. Axe, 4 Sept. 2019, https://draxe.com/nutrition/blood-type-diet/. 

Shmerling, Robert MD. “Diet Not Working? Maybe Its Not Your Type.” Harvard Health, 10 Feb. 2022, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/diet-not-working-maybe-its-not-your-type-2017051211678.