The Blood Type Diet

The popularity of Facebook quizzes is a pretty good indication that people enjoy learning about themselves through short descriptions. As a student of psychology, I have studied several personality and psychological tests from the Rorschach to MMPI to Myers Briggs Type Indicator. I have spent a lot of time learning about the MBTI and find it very helpful in understanding communication and relationships. Many people take the MBTI during college at some point. The MMPI is one of the tests most often used when evaluating for the courts. Less scientific tests are often used for Human Resources departments. In Japan, the most popular personality measure is blood type; they use it for everything from employment to dating to marketing.

According to blood type personality descriptions, those with blood type A are said to be perfectionists, smart, sensitive, and cooperative. They often keep emotions to themselves. They are said to have difficulty with anxiety, sleeping, and tension. Those with blood type B are said to be ambitious, thoughtful, empathetic, non-confrontational, flexible, and balanced. Those with blood type AB are said to be charming, popular, easy-going, non-conformist, and fun. Those with blood type O are said to be intuitive, independent, leaders, daring, focused, active, and able to manage stress.

Physically those with blood type A are said to have immune systems sensitive to stress and low stomach acid making animal proteins difficult to digest. Those with blood type B are said to be more prone to disorders like lupus, multiple sclerosis, hypoglycemia, and chronic fatigue. Those with blood type AB are said to be a combination of the active A and the sensitive to stress B with low stomach acid that causes animal protein to be stored as fat. Those with blood type O are said to be well developed physically and have strong immune systems, but need vigorous daily exercise. They also have low levels of iodine which regulates thyroid functions.

Dr. Peter D’Adamo has written a book entitled Eat Right 4 Your Type, also known as the Blood Type Diet, which explains how to shape your diet based on your blood type. He states that doing so can help your body create a natural defense against disease and also naturally maintain a healthy weight. He suggests that those with blood type A should eat a vegetarian diet due to their difficulty with animal proteins.

Dr. D’Adamo suggests those with blood type B should avoid foods like wheat, corn, lentils, tomatoes, and peanuts, which can cause a drop in blood sugar. He also suggests those with blood type B avoid chicken and eat more goat, lamb, rabbit, and venison.

He suggests that those with blood type O eat saltwater fish, kelp, and bladder wrack (a seaweed).

Finally, he suggests that those with blood type AB avoid caffeine, alcohol cured meets, and instead choose green vegetables, tofu, and seafood like mahi-mahi, salmon, and tuna. He also suggests that those with blood type O eat smaller meals more frequently.