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Blood Type B Diet Foods

Dr. Peter D'Adamo popularized the concept of blood type diets through his book "Eat Right 4 Your Type." He asserts that human populations have adapted to changing conditions over time and, as a result, have positive or adverse reactions to foods rooted in those periods. Type B is an adaptation of Type A, which thrived on agricultural products and a mostly vegetarian diet. According to D'Adamo, by developing animal husbandry and domestication, Type B introduced dairy products and some meats into the human diet.

  1. Type B

    • Balance is the key word for Type B, D'Adamo says. Type B, he claims, developed in the vicinity of the Himalayas among people driven from the agriculture of the lower savannahs. Type B evolved as a mutation of Type A, possibly triggered by the shift in climate conditions. Without enough arable land for agriculture, Type B became dependent on herding and raising animals. This is reflected in the diet with the inclusion of limited meat and dairy tolerance not present in the older blood types.

    Protein

    • While striving for an overall balance, Type B should get its protein from both meat and dairy sources. The best are the savory red meats like lamb, mutton, venison and rabbit, while chicken and pork should be avoided. White fish such as cod, salmon, flounder, halibut, sole and trout are also beneficial. With the exception of the very processed cheese varieties, most dairy products are beneficial for Type B, including cottage cheese, milk and yogurt.

    Carbohydrates

    • Virtually all fruits and vegetables are acceptable for Type B. The only vegetables to avoid are those with stomach irritating lectins, which includes tomatoes and corn. Beneficial fruits include pineapples, bananas, grapes, plums and cranberries. Fruits to avoid include coconuts, pomegranates and starfruit. The move away from the plains had an adverse effect on its tolerance of grains, says D'Adamo, so Type B should be more selective in this category. Avoid most wheat and flour products in favor of oatmeal, rice, spelt, and sprouted grain breads. Legumes, like beans, lentils, garbanzos and peas, should also be avoided.

    Fats

    • Most oils come from seeds that contain lectins, which Type B is advised to avoid. This means canola, corn, cottonseed, peanut, safflower, sesame and sunflower oils should not be in a Type B diet. Nuts are not particularly beneficial to Type B either, but, in the interest of balance, they are allowed with the exception of cashews, filberts, pine nuts, pistachios and peanuts.

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