LivingDiets based on blood group

Diets based on blood group

 

Now that summer and heat are approaching, the innumerable miracle diets that make you lose weight “easily and quickly” are resurfacing. Among them, popular for about two decades, is a diet known as the “blood type diet.” But is there evidence that this type of diet works? What does science have to say about all this? It’s quite fascinating to know if the benefits being sold on the blood type diet have a scientific basis or are just misconceptions, so let’s explore the truths about the blood type diet.

What are the blood groups?

Surely you know that there are several blood types, what you may not be so clear about is how they are classified. The blood group is a classification system of human blood , and two forms of classification can be differentiated that complement each other. The first is known as ABO , and is based on the type of antigens that a person’s red blood cells possess. In this way, a person with A antigens on their red blood cells, and anti-B in their plasma, will be of blood group A. If, on the contrary, the antigens are of type B and anti-A, their blood group will be B. , while if you have both antigens (A and B) you will have type AB blood group, and if you have no antigens on your red blood cells but anti-A and anti-B in your plasma, you will belong to group 0 (zero ).

On the other hand, there is another classification system based on Rhesus factors, or more commonly known as Rh . The Rh is another type of antigen that may or may not be linked to the blood, so that if the person has this type of antigen, it will be labeled as Rh positive, while if it lacks them, it will be Rh negative.

Knowing this we can differentiate 8 blood groups in total : A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, 0+ and 0-.

What is the blood group diet?

It is a type of diet based on the hypothesis that each person should consume certain foods and perform certain exercises depending on their blood group , with the aim of achieving “ultimate health and well-being”. What supports this hypothesis is that people with different blood groups digest certain proteins differently, so if a person consumes food “suitable” for their blood group they will be healthier, but if, on the contrary, they consume something “incompatible ” with your blood type, you will experience many health problems.

In turn, it supports the assumption that each blood group represents an evolutionary inheritance , so that those who have group 0, the most “ancestral” blood group according to the proponents of this hypothesis, should eat a diet rich in animal proteins, like our ancestors the hunter-gatherers. As for group A, more prosperous, they should follow a vegetarian diet, since it is assumed that they arose as a result of the agrarian era, while those in group B, by “originating” in nomadic peoples, would have special benefits in consumption. of dairy.

This type of diet has been defended by several authors, among which Peter J. D’Adamo stands out, the naturalist who originally developed this dietary plan in 1996. However, although there are several studies related to the benefits of the group diet blood for health, there is no scientific evidence to show its benefits .

Although there is no plausible scientific connection between diet and blood type, advice on such diets is not inherently harmful. Furthermore, among other things, they encourage the disapproval of processed foods and sugary drinks that lead to many serious health outcomes. Therefore, it is not surprising that there are many people satisfied with this type of diet despite the lack of scientific evidence.

Below we will explore some of the benefits suggested by studies by Peter D’Adamo and his father, James D’Adamo, and what other studies suggest. What do you think!

Build immunity against diseases

The naturopath has claimed that the blood group diet has a tendency to promote immunity against disease and illness, and to increase inner protection . Basically, what happens is that it eliminates processed foods from the nutritional plan and encourages the consumption of healthy foods, including proteins and vegetables. These healthy foods promote gut health and support immunity. Therefore, a diet based on blood group guarantees the consumption of foods that help reduce inflammation and improve general health and the immune system.

However, other studies maintain that any diet that eliminates processed foods promotes gastrointestinal health and strengthens immunity against certain diseases. Research supports that processed food can affect immunity and lead to serious diseases, such as obesity, hypertension, depression and metabolic syndrome, so avoiding food will promote better health. Therefore, there is currently no evidence to suggest that blood type diets are especially beneficial to human health.

Improves mental and emotional health

Peter D’Adamo also suggests that a person is more likely to be happy and clear-headed when eating a blood-type diet. In addition, its proponents also suggest that it can be beneficial because it helps the production of neurotransmitters, hormonal balance, sleep and other important physiological processes. In short, this type of diet “leads the person to feel more motivated, to improve their self-care, to have more power and to be more mentally healthy.”

Now you may be wondering how is this possible if this diet does not have any scientific evidence? Well, basically, because any healthy diet , together with the promotion of physical exercise, improves the mental and physiological health of a person , but it has nothing to do with following, or not following, a diet based on your blood group. The fact is that the more quality the diet has, the better the mental and emotional health, since a healthy and balanced diet tends to reduce anxiety and depression.

Even a simple diet that excludes unhealthy ingredients and encourages fruit and vegetables leads to a healthier life. In short, there is also no scientific support to suggest that the blood type diet is more beneficial than any other healthy diet.

Prevents many serious diseases

According to naturalist Peter D’Adamo, people who eat a diet based on their blood type are less likely to suffer from serious illnesses , such as asthma, migraines, diabetes, cholesterol or high blood pressure, among other conditions.

And we return to the same as before. It is proven that many diseases are caused by the consumption of junk and processed food, which contains refined grains, additional sugars and additives. Eliminating junk and processed food from our usual diet makes the person less prone to numerous diseases, since processed foods cause stress, inactivity, poor intestinal health and hormonal imbalances.

Therefore, any diet that avoids these types of foods, that encourages the consumption of vegetables, fruits and proteins, in addition to suggesting balanced nutrition, keeps you away from countless medical conditions. In this sense, the blood group diet does not play any significant role .

conclusion

There is no correlation between blood type and how well digestion or body chemistry works. In other words, there is no plausible scientific evidence linking blood groups with a certain type of diet . That is not to say that D’Adamo’s advice on what foods to eat or avoid cannot be useful for many people and to avoid numerous pathologies.

Diets based on blood type can have favorable effects on the body, since it encourages the fact of avoiding processed foods and sugary drinks, in addition to the fact that it is not a diet that is harmful to health. But we must not forget that these favorable results have nothing to do with each person’s blood type, but with eating a healthy diet free of “junk food”.

However, some of the advice on this type of diet could be harmful . For example, D’Adamo recommends the consumption of dairy products for people with a type B blood group, and we must not forget that there are people with dairy intolerances. Well, the naturalist recommends that these type B intolerant people should also incorporate dairy products into their diet, only more slowly so that the body “gets used” to these foods. And this is a real problem, since these people lack lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose into useful components for the body. Because of this, their intestinal cells are unable to process dairy products, and they can end up with severe bouts of abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.

References:

Brown, J. (2013). Effect of a Vegetarian-like Diet on Blood Coagulation and Other Health Parameters in Blood Types A and O: An Evaluation of the” Blood Type Diet” [Thesis for the Degree Master of Science]. Arizona State University. https://keep.lib.asu.edu/_flysystem/fedora/c7/72507/tmp/package-UKFajE/Brown_asu_0010N_12536.pdf

Cusack, L., De Buck, E., Compernolle, V., & Vandekerckhove, P. (2013). Blood type diets lack supporting evidence: a systematic review. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 98(1), 99–104. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.058693

Nagra, M. (2019). The Blood Type Diet: Science or Fiction?. Center for Nutrition Studies. https://nutritionstudies.org/the-blood-type-diet-science-or-fiction/

Wang, J., García-Bailo, B., Nielsen, D. E., & El-Sohemy, A. (2014). ABO genotype, ‘blood-type’ diet and cardiometabolic risk factors. PloS one, 9(1), e84749. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0084749

 

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