you should limit your consumption of wheat and avoid wheat bran and wheat germ. Avoid wheat altogether if you have inflammatory problems such as arthritis and easy build-up of mucus in the respiratory tract. Wheat and corn can make some type As gain weight; in this case it is better to avoid these two grains.
Of all the blood groups you can enjoy grains most, but eat them in moderation. In our society we tend to eat too many grains and cereals – too much bread, pasta, cakes and cookies. They are a convenient and quick way of getting food in our systems: bread is quickly cut, pizza is easily stuck in the oven and pasta is cooked in no time. Many people eat these foods several times a week – if not every day – when they should be eating vegetables and healthy protein. So beware! Change your habits now for the sake of your health.
All this being said, grains do have health benefits. They complement legumes and the two provide all the amino acids needed to make up a complete protein. Legumes are low in the amino acids, methionine and cysteine; grains are low in lysine. Grains are a good source of fibre (although we tend to forget that vegetables are too), minerals and B vitamins.
You may eat sprouted grains, as sprouting destroys the lectins that normally should be avoided. Sprouted grain Essene bread is a particularly good source and is beneficial for all blood groups (for more information on Essene bread see page 10).
Nuts and Seeds
These are another protein source that have the added benefit of fibre and minerals. Walnuts have a detoxifying effect in the intestines and are a good source of linolenic acid (omega-3 oil), a fatty acid lacking in our diet. Flaxseeds (linseeds) contain the highest amount of linolenic acid of all the seeds and are rich in lignans that, once converted in the intestines, have anti-cancer properties. The omega-3 oils are effective in lowering cholesterol levels and treating inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and eczema. Flaxseeds have been shown to improve women’s hormonal cycles, increasing the progesterone/estrogen ratio and encouraging ovulation and healthy ovaries. Try grinding flaxseeds in an electric coffee grinder (cleaned of all traces of coffee). They can then be sprinkled on your food or you can also add them to a glass of water or juice. Keep them in the refrigerator for no longer than five days. Flaxseeds, ground or unground, are an excellent remedy for constipation. Peanuts, which are actually a legume, contain a lectin that may have anti-cancer properties. Include peanuts in your food choices. They are a good source of protein.
Madeleine
Blood Type A
Age 88
At 85 I decided it was still not too late to seriously follow Dr D’Adamo’s method of eating according to one’s blood type. During most of my life I’ve suffered from allergy problems: runny nose, itchy eyes and, most often, a lack of energy. I had wondered at one time if wheat may have been the source of the problem, but convinced myself that it was unlikely.
I read and reread Dr D’Adamo’s book Eat Right 4 Your Type. At first I was convinced that my blood group was type O since I felt I shared many of the characteristics that went with that blood type. I started cutting out wheat and most cereals and I felt better. Eventually I had a blood test which revealed to my surprise that I was type A. The difference in food choices between group O and group A made all the difference to my total feeling of well-being. I started cutting down on meat and adding more soya products to my meals. Along with my multi-vitamin, my health practitioner advised me to take an extra vitamin C and a vitamin B complex, and added vitamin B12 plus some Gingko Biloba. From then on my stress response calmed down and I started sleeping soundly – this was new to me as I had not been sleeping well for years. I exercise daily outside (weather permitting), practise Qi Gong breathing and relaxation movements, garden, cord my wood, knit, read and get the best out of cable television. My life is very full.
Today, at 88, I feel so well, with a high energy level and a joy and enthusiasm for life. Giving up some favourite foods – even some fruit and vegetables – has been very worthwhile. It is always so good to hear friends greet me with “You look so well!”
Milk Products
As with blood type O, milk products should only play a small part in your diet. You can, however, have a bit more than type Os. As is the case with all types, signs of excess mucus in the respiratory system should alert you to reducing your consumption. Cow’s milk products are largely to be avoided. Goat’s and sheep’s milk products are better for you. However, nothing in this range of foods can be said to be beneficial. When you read about blood types B and AB you will see that they are the only groups that derive any benefit from milk products.
Vegetables
All blood types benefit from eating plenty of vegetables. They are the basis of a healthy diet. Ensure they are as fresh as possible and eat them every day for lunch and dinner – raw or cooked, juiced, in salads, in soup – and as a snack. You will find information about the tremendous benefits of eating these health-giving plants in the recipe section. As you cannot count on milk products for your calcium, make calcium-rich, green leafy vegetables such as kale, spring greens (collards), turnip greens and dandelion leaves a regular part of your diet.
Avoid tomatoes as they contain a lectin that is detrimental to the type A system. When you make salad dressings, replace the commonly used vinegar with lemon juice. Your sensitive stomach lining will be grateful. Avoid all types of pepper. The best oils for salads are flaxseed, olive and walnut oils. Avoid cotton seed, peanut and corn oil. Give flavour to your dressings with fresh herbs, tamari (Japanese soy sauce) and plenty of garlic. If you have a problem digesting garlic this may mean your liver has difficulty doing its job as a detoxifier. In this case garlic isn’t the problem, your liver is. See a nutritionist or naturopathic doctor to help sort this out.
Fruits
Vegetables and fruits are similar in their nutrient content. They are our best source of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants. Fruits generally have a higher sugar content than vegetables. However, this comes in the form of fructose, which raises blood sugar levels much less rapidly than sucrose – the sugar found in table sugar and refined carbohydrates such as white flour. This is an important difference. Fruit can help maintain balanced energy levels, while refined sugars can make them fluctuate wildly.
If you wish to lose weight eat a piece of fruit 30 minutes before your meals. This practice has been shown to moderate appetite and encourage weight loss.
Not all fruits are good for you. Oranges are too acidic for your sensitive stomach – many of my type A patients have noticed this on their own. You should also avoid tropical fruits such as bananas, guavas, mangoes, coconuts and papayas.
Marie
Blood Type A
Age 58
The blood type diet appealed to me on an intellectual level. I realised that since childhood I had a very strong attraction and appetite for foods that I should be eating. I was happy to see this is actually being confirmed by a scientific approach to foods. I always had a repulsion for red meat.
If I go off the diet I immediately feel digestive and physical heaviness, abdominal and general bloatedness and it takes my body several days to eliminate the offending food. In the past I would go to seminars on personal development where the food that was served was vegetarian with plenty of wheat in its
