Okay, you are not really a big fan of “dieting,” and neither am I, because generally speaking, experience tells me that Diets Don’t Work.
Period!
First of all, I have to ask the question……
……..what is the blood type diet?
At first glance I see it has been around for quite a while now, however, as at the time of writing I am unable to find any convincing scientific evidence that it actually improves your health…….it’s an interesting hypothesis if that’s what interests you.
It looks to me like another fad diet so it is probably no more successful for long term weight loss (and keeping the weight off – the true test) than any of the other diets doing the rounds which leads one to ask, what are the blood type diet health benefits?.
The video above is a pretty good guide for you to draw some conclusions from so make sure you watch it.
Well seriously, we all know just how important a good eating plan is, especially if you want to live a long and healthy life, be bodily fit and free from all those nasty lifestyle diseases.
Simply hearing the word “diet” can leave images of chewing on celery and going all day on an empty stomach or turning to some kind of fad diet that you really don’t want to be on.
Sticking to a diet is easier said than done and during your holidays, that healthy diet will probably jump right out the window or when we go out with friends, we forget all about the diet.
So……have you actually even heard of the Blood Type Diet?
It’s another one of those questions from one of my Active Ageing clients where I had to say, “Yes, I’ve heard of it but can’t give you an honest appraisal of it without doing some research first.”
And that’s what I went away and did.
One of the first things I noticed when it comes to the Blood Type Diet is that one of the biggest benefits would be the fact that you’ll be losing weight (if you follow it to the t) – and that has to be a good thing, right?
Here are 10 points I pulled from varying sources around the web that may be helpful for you:
1. Do you Have an Achievable Weight Loss Plan?
This diet recognizes the variability in metabolism of people with different blood types, and recommends the foods that will ensure they are absorbed by the body without piling on the fats or the unwanted weight.
Any weight loss plan will surely benefit from having the Blood Type Diet incorporated into it.
By eating only the foods that are compatible with your blood type, you will have better chances of losing weight, and keeping it off.
2. Recognize your Varying Rates of Metabolism
People have varying rates of metabolism.
Some simply metabolize faster than others, and this is also dependent on the macro-nutrients being processed in your own system.
3. Learn to Recognize Your Body’s Response to Different Foods
People have varying responses to certain types of food. There are people who develop adverse reactions to some foods, for example, dairy or nuts.
Meanwhile, there are also those that have no issues whatsoever with whatever they eat.
Some people are lactose-intolerant, while others are hypoglycemic, which means they have to watch their blood sugar levels at all times and eat only those foods that will not cause any sudden or irregular spikes or drops.
4. Do You Have a Medical Condition?
People may already have pre-existing medical conditions, allergies or food intolerances that prohibit them from enjoying certain types of foods, even if their blood type is compatible with them.
5. Stick to a Specific Diet
A huge reason why you weigh more than you should is because you eat too much.
Sticking to a specific diet, such as the Blood Type Diet, will help you choose only the foods that will be most beneficial to you and will be compatible with your body’s specific digestive needs.
6. Know the Food Classifications for Your Blood Type
As you may already know, there are four blood groups, and the Blood Type Diet states you should only eat foods suited to your specific blood type.
From what I can gather from my research and for the purposes of the application of this diet, it is important to note that the pioneers of the Blood Type Diet (which was created by naturopath Peter J. D’Adamo) named and categorized all foods into 16 different food groups.
• Dairy (eggs, milk, cheese)
• Meats (pork, poultry)
• Seafood (fish, shellfish)
• Vegetables Fruits Legumes (beans, peas)
• Oils and fats (i.e. linseed oil, olive oil, sesame oil, peanut oil)
• Nuts and seeds
• Baked goods (breads, muffins, crackers)
• Cereals (barley, oats, corn flakes, puffed rice)
• Grains (wheat, rye, millet)
• Pasta (flour, buckwheat, noodles)
• Juices (fruit juices and concentrates)
• Condiments (dips, jams, jellies, pickles, relishes and dressings)
• Spices (sauces, syrups, dried spices)
• Herbal teas Other beverages (coffee, other non-herbal teas, sodas, wine, beer, liquor)
Nothing really new there is there?
7. Recognize the Benefits
Here is a brief overview of how you can achieve overall good health with this diet.
• It (supposedly) effectively prevents obesity. I’m sure you know the rules here?
• It allows you to get rid of body fats and toxins that are often the cause of various illnesses and diseases.
• It bolsters your immunity to protect you against common infections, viruses and bacteria.
• It effectively kills the free radicals that cause the rapid deterioration of cells and aging.
• It promotes healthier skin, hair and bones.
• Acne breakouts and other skin problems are addressed directly by eating the right foods for you, depending on your blood type.
It reduces the risks of the following conditions:
• Various types of cancer
• Various cardiovascular diseases
• Liver problems
• Diabetes
8. Question: Is the Blood Type Diet Restrictive?
From time to time it appears that people ask “Is the blood type diet restrictive?”
The promoter of the diet’s answer to that is no.
No, of course this diet is not restrictive. This is one question that will understandably be asked by many and that is perfectly fine.
Does this mean that you should only limit the foods you eat to the ones that are allowed for your blood type?
The answer is NO.
If your goal is to lose weight or to improve your overall health, it is not advisable to completely cut out specific foods.
Striking the right balance is still the key to any weight loss plan.
Eat any type of food; it’s just a matter of taking them in moderation and managing the portions accordingly. I don’t have a problem with that line of thinking.
9. Understanding the Role of Your Immune System
The immune system is considered to be the main barrier between your body and that of outside invaders that can compromise your health.
That is its main role: to protect you from these harmful agents.
How does it do it, you ask?
The immune system operates just like a sensor, sniffing out and identifying antigens, or those substances that act as chemical markers.
It is these antigens that the immune system reacts to, and it does that by producing antibodies that are specifically meant to battle that identified antigen.
Antigens are actually any substance that triggers a reaction from the immune system, so they may also be foreign substances found in the environment, such as chemicals, viruses or bacteria.
But antigens may also be formed inside the body, usually in the form of tissue cells and bacterial toxins.
As such, you can expect the human body to already have antigens, and each blood type, with its own unique chemical structure, also has its own unique antigens.
Upon detection of these antigens, the immune system then produces antibodies, which will specifically target those substances that they have been designed to destroy.
The antibody will then stick to the antigen, and agglutination takes place. This means that the substances or antigens are clumped together, and the body will then find it easier to eject or eliminate them. But the agglutination process is not without complications.
When blood agglutinates or sticks together, you will likely feel fatigue and experience headaches, digestive problems and different skin issues, to name just a few.
10. The Old Adage – Never Give Up When it Comes to Weight Loss
When it comes to the Blood Type Diet, or any diet or lifestyle change for that matter, you must never give up………if something works for you then keep going with it because we are all different (thank goodness).
The minute you do give up, it all goes out of the window.
So don’t get tempted by the evil enemy – junk food.
You need to have powerful motivation.
Mind you, when it comes to dieting, this isn’t something that happens overnight – it is okay to take gradual steps to change your diet.
For example, start out with drinking water instead of soft drinks (soda).
Pick a food group of your diet type and try that out. This small and gradual process will make it easier for you to stick to that healthy diet.
I have written a lot more on weight loss and and why diets don’t work.
I know many people have found this article about the elusive weight loss success factor very helpful so I recommend you have a read……..I hope you find it helpful too. It has two parts so make sure you read both the articles.
My Final Conclusions
So there you have it – the 10 most interesting thoughts I found from my research into the Blood Type Diet.
And do I think the diet works and is it a worthwhile weight loss programme for you to try?
Well, unless someone can convince me otherwise, I am more than happy to stick with the WebMD summary of the Blood Type Diet which in their final wash-up they say, “On the Blood Type Diet, you’ll avoid processed food and simple carbs. That may be enough to help you lose some weight. But any weight loss on this diet has not been linked to your blood type.
There’s also no research proving that this diet can aid in digestion or give you more energy.
If the Blood Type Diet intrigues you, consider this: The science is stacked behind traditional recommendations for healthy eating and/or weight loss — not restrictions based on the type of your blood.”
The reason I review these different dietary ideas is because hopefully someone out there will find the information useful and help them in their pursuit of a richer and healthier lifestyle.
If it works for you and you are happy with the outcome, then keep doing it and don’t stop.
Cheers – John – your Active Ageing Mentor and Coach.
P.S. Help a friend to better health – like and share. Thanks.
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