The Blood Type Diet - Type B

Do you respond to stress with creativity and have a strong immune system? These are some characteristics of people with type B blood. This plan suggests that your blood type provides the blueprints in your body that determine eating habits, food aversions, allergies, medical conditions, and even the ability to metabolize food and burn calories. If you eat according to what your blood type prefers, then you will be able to perform at optimal levels and lose weight in the process.

Different foods introduce substances into the body called lectins. Depending on your blood type, certain lectins are welcomed by your immune system, while others aggravate it. The theory here is if you only eat foods that contain compatible lectins, then your body can remain balanced and at a healthy weight.

Since type B blood is considered to represent balance, people with type B blood (type B's) can eat a wide variety of foods without having to consider avoiding entire food groups, as is necessary with some other blood types.

What makes The Blood Type B Diet a different Weight Loss Plan?

This is a very unique approach to weight loss that requires particular attention to detail and demands a lot of the dieter.

In the end, though, they recommend you lose weight by cutting out processed foods and limiting portion size.

What is The Blood Type Diet - Type B?

This diet was created by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, a second-generation naturopathic doctor. He and his father have compiled information on blood types for decades and have applied this research to create very specific guidelines for diet, exercise and supplement use. By eating according to your blood type, the Blood Type B Diet promises to help you avoid infections and disease, eliminate toxins and lose weight.

Type B is believed to have developed somewhere between 10,000-15,000 B.C. near where India is today. Type B blood represents "the most clearly defined geographic distribution" and is found to be very common in ancient Jewish family lines. All of these claims (and numerous others) are based on history, ancestry, evolution and some scientific evidence.

Each Blood Type Diet has a strict regimen that includes meal planning (with three days of sample menus and recipes), supplement advice, and stress, exercise and personality profiling. Lists of foods (labeled "highly beneficial," "neutral" or "avoid") that encourage weight gain and loss are provided, as are tables and lists to help you organize food options and how often you should be eating certain foods (for example, type B's should consume muffins less than once a week).

A registered dietitian designs sample menus and recipes for you on this diet. The menus are offered in "standard" and "weight control" forms (weight control just means less food at each meal). Recipes are low calorie and include natural and whole ingredients (no processed foods on this diet!). Dishes include Yogurt-Herb Cheese and Fettuccine Alfredo. Sugar sweetened foods that contain white sugar, brown sugar, honey or molasses are allowed in moderation. Alcohol is not recommended for initial weight loss.

During maintenance, white wine, red wine and beer are considered "neutral" and are allowed in moderation. Distilled alcohol is never allowed.

A typical day on the "weight control" menu looks like:

Breakfast: puffed rice with goat's milk

Lunch: Lunch: 1/2 cup of water packed tuna and 1 slice of bread

Snack: low fat yogurt with raisins

Dinner: broiled fish with steamed vegetables, roasted yams with rosemary and mixed fresh fruit

What are the weight loss expectations?

The goal of the Blood Type B Diet is to optimize health and body performance through food choices and corresponding exercise regimens. Weight loss results are said to be noticeable within two weeks, but how much is not specified.

Is exercise promoted?

Blood type B requires balanced physical exercise; a combination of aerobic activity with mental relaxation. Type B's also respond well to team and group activities. Type B's should exercise 3 times a week for 30-60 minutes depending on the activity. Recommendations include: aerobics, tennis, hiking, jogging, tai chi, yoga and swimming.

Are supplements recommended on the Blood Type Diet - Type B?

Various vitamin and herbal supplements are recommended; however vitamins and herbs that can benefit one blood type may be harmful to others. The supplement focus for blood type B includes improving brain clarity and focus. The recommended Blood Type B Diet supplements include magnesium, licorice and digestive enzymes.