BLOODY EXCITING
Diet
plans based on your blood type could help you emerge healthier and happier
YOU MAY have heard of the blood type
diet plans, which were popularised by Dr Peter D’Adamo when he discovered that
patients with a particular blood group responded differently to specific types
of foods they consumed. His theories – eating foods that fit your blood group
(A, B, O, +ve or -ve and combinations thereof) – were initially met with much
scepticism. Many refused to take it seriously, citing lack of clinical trials
and research evidence. But over the years, more members of the scientific
community are looking into research and analysis of his popular diet plans.
WHAT IT’S BASED ON
The premise of the diet is that
one’s blood group is the reflection of one’s genetic structure. This coding not
only manifests itself through the colour of one’s eyes, height, weight, hair
and other features but also determines the kind of metabolism the person has
inherited. So individuals of a specific blood group are likely to respond best
to specific kinds of foods.
WHAT KIND OF MEALS TO EXPECT
Blood group ‘A’
For group A patients, the
recommended foods include wheat and wheat products. This means more rotis,
bread, pasta, kulchas, bakery products and noodles. It also encourages green
vegetables, teas (especially green tea), light pulses and lentils. But warns
against excess heavy meat (even chicken) and dairy. Fish, in small amounts, and
all fruits are fine.
The blood group ‘B’
Those with a B blood group, on the
other hand, should thrive on milk, curd, paneer and other dairy products – so
long as they choose skimmed or low-fat milk if they follow a less active
lifestyle. It discourages the consumption of chicken but greenlights other
kinds of meat. But wheat products and high glycemic index foods such as rice,
biscuits, sooji and maida are to be avoided. All green vegetable are beneficial
to the blood type and low-sugar fruits work best.
The blood group ‘O’
D’Adamo claims that this is the
earliest human blood group. The blood group O is associated with acidic
constitutions or body chemistries that are more acidic than alkaline. Since the
natural pH of the body should be 7.4 and leans acidic in any case, naturally
acidic constitutions have to work harder to keep the body in balance. So it’s
recommended that people with this blood type stay away from foods that generate
acids upon digestion. They should cut down on non-vegetarian food, pickles,
alcohol, fired foods, dairy and too much wheat and maida. What works better are
all kinds of vegetables (especially leafy ones), rice, potato, black chana, all
lentils, and fruits – especially melons.
Blood group ‘AB’
If your blood is of the AB type, it
has compatibility with the A as well as the B group. As a result, foods of both
blood types suit the body. The only thing to watch out for is the quantities in
which food is consumed. AB types tend to gain weight after their 30s.
Are you +ve or -ve?
Of course, blood groups are as much
about the rhesus factor (+ or -) as the letters that come before it. Not much
is known about how they are affected by diet. But it is advisable that those
with a negative factor avoid dairy as well.
HOW SCIENTIFIC THE PLAN IS
The plan is based on the fact the we
all have a unique genetic structure. The new science of nutrigenetics works
towards understanding how the body functions and looks for clues to how blood
group and genetics are related. A lot of nutrigenetics research links genetic
structure to specific treatments. Eating for your blood group, is therefore the
first step to working out the right nutrition for your DNA. You cannot change
your genes, you cannot escape your DNA destiny, but work with what you were
born with, and you might just adjust to life better.
BTHR120921
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