Allergic Blood Type and Case Study

Blood type B
You’re more likely to suffer severe chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs, including bronchial asthma and are also more susceptible to grass pollen hayfever. ‘The trigger is often in the diet – B-type individuals are very sensitive to a diverse number of lectins, such as those found in chicken, corn, wheat, soy and peanuts,’ says D’Adamo. ‘Chicken also contains a highly allergenic lectin for blood type B.’ What to eat: lean, organic grass-fedred meat, cold-water fish, yogurt, flax oil, olive oil, broccoli, onion, berries, turmeric, green tea. What to avoid: chicken, corn, buckwheat, peanuts, soy beans, lentils, potatoes and tomatoes.

Blood type A
You’re not only prone to inflammation and ear infections (D’Adamo claims A-type children have a 50 per cent higher rate of ear infection), but A-types also tend to produce lots of mucus, particularly after eating dairy products, which can aggravate ear infections and respiratory conditions, such as asthma. A-types also have low levels of digestive enzymes, making it difficult for them to digest animal protein, especially red meat. They are more prone to leaky gut syndrome.

What to eat: soy-based foods, cold water fish, flax oil, olive oil, broccoli, onion, berries, lemon, garlic, green tea. What to avoid: animal protein, fresh milk, and wheat.

Blood type AB
You’re the most resistant group to respiratory allergies but, like A-types, you’re prone to inflammation and over-production of mucus. Plus, like blood type B, AB-types are susceptible to viral and bacterial infections, which can trigger auto immune responses. ‘AB-types are affected by diminished activity of “natural killer cells”, a type of white blood cell that is a first line of defence against infection,’ says Dr D’Adamo. What to eat: soy products, cold-water fish, cultured dairy like yogurt, flax oil, olive oil, broccoli, onion, lemon, turmeric, green tea. What to avoid: chicken, corn, fresh milk products, and red meat.

CASE STUDY
‘The blood type diet cured my intolerances’
Pauline Ryan, 61, from Canterbury, has suffered from food intolerances for many years. She started following the blood type diet in 2003.

‘I have diabetes, which seemed to weaken my immune and digestive system as a few months after I was diagnosed, I started to develop food intolerances. I felt really weak and was getting lots of stomach pains and headaches and seemed to be tired all the time. I finally went to see a naturopath when I just didn’t know what to eat any more as everything I that passed my lips seemed to give me symptoms similar to what you would get if you had IBS, such as stomach cramps, wind and bloating.

‘The naturopath advised me to follow the blood type diet. I’m blood type B, so had to cut out things like chicken, corn, soya, tomatoes, chickpeas, avocado and pork. I was, however allowed to eat dairy foods – something I gave up years before as I thought they were triggering my symptoms.

‘It was hard work at first as the diet is quite strict, and it was important to make lifestyle changes too, like eating regularly and reducing stress levels. I followed it rigorously for a year during which time I lost a stone in weight and gained lots more energy. My gut pain disappeared after three months and the headaches, which I think were linked to the food intolerances, also vanished. ‘I still follow the diet now, although I allow myself some time off during holidays and I feel great. Not only that, but my diabetes can be controlled through being on the blood type diet alone. I’ve more energy now, so have even taken up T’ai Chi. While the diet might not help everyone, it has definitely changed my life for the better.’

Have you adopted an eating plan that’s helped to ease the symptoms of your allergies or food intolerances? If so we want to know! Please write to us