Have you noticed that some diets work well with some people and not so much for others? Could it be linked to willpower or the person’s preference? Perhaps you’ve tried an array of diets and wondered why they didn’t work.

On top of all that, there are the never-ending diet trends. One day, we’re told you should eat meat, the next, you shouldn’t. Or, you should only eat fish. Add more vegetables. Don’t eat too many leafy greens because they’re less beneficial than we thought. How can you know what’s best for you?

According to Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo, your blood type can tell you. That’s right. Your blood type determines what kind of nourishment you need. This is called the Blood Type Diet, and it might be the solution you’ve been searching for this whole time.1 It’s one that’s loved by celebrity trainers and Victoria’s Secret models alike, so you might find yourself falling for it, too.2

Let’s dive in.

Behind the Blood Type Diet

Dr. D’Adamo discovered the Blood Type Diet when he found that certain blood types responded better to some foods. D’Adamo is a naturopathic physician and believes food is medicine.3 In his research, he found that people with blood type A had more diseases associated with overeating meat. Conversely, people with blood type O do well when they eat a lot of meat, but their bodies tend to have trouble with carbohydrates.

That’s when D’Adamo formulated the hypothesis that each blood type should have its own eating program. He knew that many diet plans didn’t always reflect the uniqueness of the individual. For instance, some dieticians say that a high-protein diet can steal calcium away from the bones. But, D’Adamo notes that type O’s have an enzyme that can process protein and receive calcium. In other words, type O’s protein processing is unique from other types and requires a high-protein diet. At the same time, type A’s don’t have the enzyme that processes calcium from protein. 

That’s why some food groups don’t work for everyone. You need one that’s special to you, and the Blood Type Diet is designed to cater to your needs.4

The Benefits

So, what do you have to gain from going on the Blood Type Diet? Well, it’s something you could potentially lose: excess weight. According to D’Adamo’s website, of 6,000 people who participated in this type of eating, about 75% of them lost weight. That translates to three out of four people who did the Blood Type Diet lost weight.5 Additionally, people experienced better digestion, less stress, improved mood, and more energy and mental clarity. Some of the types are more prone to cancer, so going on the Blood Type Diet could help lower those chances.6

More than that, D’Adamo says many people have been cured of serious diseases after going on the diet. He shared one particular story about a patient who had a skin autoimmune disease called Pemphigus.7 The disease causes blisters, and it’s deadly. The patient was a vegetarian and even won national vegetarian trivia awards. However, he was only getting sicker. He disagreed with Dr. D’Adamo’s idea for the Blood Type Diet, but he didn’t want to die over being vegetarian. He decided to give Dr. D’Adamo’s diet a try and switched over to meat since he was type O. That decision saved his life. His Pemphigus went into remission, and muscles that steroids had destroyed even grew back.

No matter where you are on your health journey, eating for your blood type could help you achieve the healthiest version of yourself.

The Type Breakdown

Here’s D’Adamo’s analysis of all the blood types and what he recommends for each.

Type O

As previously mentioned, type O has a unique enzyme that processes protein and takes in calcium.8 The best foods for this type are organic meats, healthy fats, vegetables, and fruits. People with type O don’t process carbs as well and tend to store them as fat. More than that, carbs in type O can cause inflammation and auto-immune issues. Here’s more on what’s suggested for type O’s to eat.9

In response to stress, people with type O build up adrenaline. It’s helpful then to exercise at least three to four times a week. This exercise should challenge both the muscular, skeletal, and cardiovascular systems. Out of any other type, type O’s benefit the most physically and mentally from exercise.

Type A

Type A’s are essentially the opposite of type O’s. Unlike type O’s, type A’s do not process animal meat or fat very well, and they have more diseases associated with animal products.10 Instead, they thrive off carbohydrates and a more vegetarian diet with plant proteins. Here are more recommendations for people with type A to eat.11

This type produces more cortisol than others. Type A’s need to focus on stress-reducing exercises like stretching, pilates, and Tai Chi. They want to be mindful that they’re not raising their cortisol while working out, which could happen during high-intensity interval training (HIIT).  

Type B

While type O’s and A’s are opposites, type B strikes a balance between the two.12 Some good foods for people with type B are animal products like lamb, venison, goat, rabbit, eggs, and low-fat dairy. Green vegetables are also beneficial. Foods that type B should limit are corn, lentils, wheat, buckwheat, tomatoes, peanuts, and sesame seeds. These foods can cause weight gain and a drop in blood pressure. Additionally, chicken can be a problem because it negatively impacts the bloodstream. You can learn more about diet recommendations for people with type B here.13

Type B produces cortisol similarly to type A; however, people with type B experience physical effects from stress. Dr. D’Adamo recommends exercise that is both mentally and physically challenging, such as tennis, hiking, golf, and martial arts. Type B’s can be more creative and easygoing, so they should try to lean into those areas. When living healthily, type B is the most fit and mentally balanced out of all the types. Dr. D’Adamo also notes that type B’s are statistically the tallest of all the types!

Type AB

This is the rarest of all the types. Type AB has a mix of both Types A and B, as you can imagine.14 Type AB does well with tofu, seafood, dairy, and green vegetables. Fish, such as salmon, tuna, mahi-mahi, red snapper, and sardines, are especially good. Dairy like yogurt and kefir are also beneficial, but type ABs should avoid smoked or cured meats. These can cause issues in the stomach acid, which could lead to cancer. Type ABs should also be mindful of combining certain foods, such as protein and starchy vegetables. More recommendations for type AB are here.15

According to Dr. D’Adamo, type AB is similar to type O and type B in response to stress. Like type O, type AB produces more adrenaline, but like type B, it also experiences the physical effects of stress. Dr. D’Adamo recommends combining calming exercises and physical challenges for type AB, such as devoting some days to aerobic exercise and others to stretching or Tai Chi. 

Conclusion

There’s a reason why the Blood Type Diet is popular among Victoria’s Secret models. It’s shown to have positive results among thousands, from weight loss to healing diseases. With the Blood Type Diet, you can feed your body what it needs to live your best life.