are a concentrated source of carbohydrate, and type Bs need to watch their consumption of grains and carbohydrates in general. Wheat, corn, buckwheat and rye should be avoided by this blood type. They contain lectins that block insulin activity, thereby disrupting the way sugar is metabolized in the body. Instead of sugar being used for energy it can be stored as fat and cause weight gain. Also, this excess of sugar in the blood can form elevated levels of a type of blood lipids called triglycerides that are also a risk factor for heart disease.
This doesn’t bar you from eating all grains. Try spelt instead of wheat. This ancient grain can replace wheat in nearly every circumstance: pies, cakes, breads, pasta etc. Rice and oats are also very good for you. You may eat sprouted grains. The best source is Essene bread (also called sprouted wheat bread). Although it is made with wheat, sprouting destroys the lectins that normally should be avoided. For more information on Essene bread see page 10.
Nuts, Seeds and their Oils
In our diet we lack one family of oils called omega-3 fatty acids. These are found in walnuts and flaxseeds (linseeds). It is important to regularly incorporate these seeds in your diet. Walnut and flaxseed oils are very prone to rancidity because the omega-3 fatty acids they contain are very fragile and can easily suffer from oxidation. Buy from a reputable manufacturer, keep these oils in the refrigerator and use within six weeks of opening.
There are quite a lot of commonly eaten nuts and seeds that type Bs need to avoid, mainly because of the agglutinating lectins they contain. Avoid peanuts, cashews, pine nuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Avoid all oils made with these nuts and seeds including canola, soy and corn. You can enjoy walnuts, linseeds, almonds, brazil nuts, pecans and macadamia nuts. The best cooking oil is olive oil and for salads choose flaxseed, walnut and olive oil.
Fats and Oils
Nuts and seeds contain some essential fats, and because these fatty acids are “essential” a deficiency can greatly compromise our health. Up until about 50 years ago nuts and seeds were cold pressed in local mills, where people would regularly buy a fresh supply. Today, refined oils are the norm. These may last a long time in the bottle but they have little of the health-giving qualities of cold pressed oils and can have a detrimental effect on health.
It would take many, many pages to write about all the health benefits of fats and oils. Suffice it to say that every cell in the body, in order to function properly, needs the right fatty acids. And given that our cells are what make up our tissues, our organs and ultimately our bodies, should we not be giving them the best possible sustenance? If at all possible avoid industry-made oils and use the best quality cold pressed oils you can find – buy from a reputable manufacturer, keep the oil in the refrigerator and use within six weeks of opening. France is walnut country and cold pressed walnut oil can be easily found. I regularly recommend eating walnuts and using walnut oil in salads. Many people use olive oil in salads but it does not contain essential fatty acids.
Vegetables
All blood groups benefit from eating plenty of vegetables. Along with fruits, 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. In the recipe section you will read about the tremendous benefits of eating these health-giving plants.
Green leafy vegetables such as kale, spring cabbage, spring greens (collards), turnip greens and dandelion leaves should be a regular part of your diet as they contain high levels of carotenoids and magnesium. Avoid tomatoes as they contain a lectin that is detrimental to the type B system. Corn should also be avoided.
Magnesium is a mineral you should be regularly obtaining through your diet. It is needed in high amounts in times of stress. Milk and cheese both contain magnesium, as well as calcium. Kale, however, contains about the same amount of calcium as milk but three times as much magnesium – yet another reason not to overlook those green leafy vegetables.
As a type B your immune system can be your weak point. Protect yourself against bacterial and viral infections by eating large helpings of vegetables. Garlic, maitake and shiitake mushrooms have been shown to boost immunity and you can also find them in capsule form.
Fruits
You may eat just about all fruits available. Vegetables and fruits are similar in their nutrient content and are our best source of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants. Fruits generally have less minerals and a higher sugar content than vegetables. However, the sugar 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. However, if you eat fruit as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack it is wise to eat some form of protein with it in order to maintain good blood sugar levels. You could have a yogurt, a piece of cheese, or some walnuts. Balancing protein and carbohydrates helps ensure more even blood sugar levels.
Seham
Blood Type B
Age 37
The blood type diet has improved a number of health aspects that had been irritating me for years. I now have much better digestion and feel light rather than bloated after meals. I have less fatigue and my energy levels are more constant throughout the day. This diet has also helped me lose some weight. Another slight but nonetheless irritating problem was that I used to spend a good part of the morning blowing my nose. Thankfully I am now rid of my nasal congestion and runny nose.
What Can I Drink?
Green tea should be your number one choice. Apart from the cancer and cardiovascular protective benefits ascribed to it on page 162, green tea also has immune-stimulating effects that are particularly relevant for the sensitive B immune system. Green tea polyphenols, the active ingredient, have been shown to act in two ways to protect against micro-organisms: they enhance the body’s defence mechanisms and act on the micro-organisms themselves, making them less potent. See the food list on page 45 for other suitable drinks for type Bs.
type b: health issues
Weight and Sugar Metabolism
If you have a weight problem it may be enough for you simply to follow your blood type diet, as the lectins in certain foods can disrupt the way your body deals with sugar. These lectins can have an insulin-like effect on the cells. If the cells are continuously stimulated in this way they will transform sugar into fat and store it, instead of burning it as fuel. Too much insulin-like stimulation creates a condition called insulin resistance in which the cells no longer respond to insulin as they should. Dr D’Adamo has found that the lectins in wheat, corn, buckwheat, lentils, sesame seeds and peanuts have a detrimental effect on blood sugar metabolism in blood type B.
Another strategy that is helpful for type Bs is eating enough protein to balance out your carbohydrate intake. This will enable the two hormones that regulate blood sugar
