Review: Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type!
The “Eat Right for Your Blood Type!” diet, by naturopath Dr. D’Adamo, is to dieting as astrology is to astronomy. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. The non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest called it “as scientific as a horoscope.”
Despite the general consensus from qualified professionals, I am still seized by a very powerful urge to tear my hair out every time I pick up “Eat Right for Your Blood Type!” This diet is a perfect example of how the ridiculous, when presented in print, somehow becomes acceptable and plausible.
This diet is also a good one to use when illustrating the confusion between cause and effect; for some people of certain blood types, the “Eat Right for Your Blood Type!” diet will work. But it’s not because of some unique tie-in between your blood type and your diet. It’s simply because the diet in question is a sensible one; moderate in calories and low in refined grains and starchy carbohydrates.
The crux of “Eat Right for Your Blood Type!” is quite simple: D’Adamo postulates that your blood type evolved a certain way, and it is the determining factor in what you should be eating. Each of the 4 diet plans specific to each blood type (O,A,B, and AB), are carefully formulated to avoid foods containing the “protein lectins” incompatible with it. According to D’Adamo…
“… when you eat a food containing protein lectins that are incompatible with your blood type antigen, the lectins target an organ or bodily system (kidneys, liver, brain, stomach, etc.,), and begin to agglutinate blood cells in that area”.
Michael Klaper, M.D., had this to say about that statement…
“For me what really pushes the “blood type” theory beyond the limits of believability is D’Adamo’s postulation that lectin proteins on some foods cause blood agglutination in people of certain blood types who are “not genetically/evolutionarily suited” to eat those foods. Agglutination is a very serious, and potentially life-threatening, phenomenon, whereby the red cells in the bloodstream stick together, forming irreversible clumps.”
Unfortunately, D’Adamo offers no proof or documentation of any sort to quantify his statements. There is no peer reviewed data to validate any of his theories, no credible references of any sort.
The best he can do is state his theory is valid because he himself has done tons of research to prove it so. In other words, we are not to question this theory, but to accept it at face value (the almost total lack of footnotes in the book, especially to validate the many general statements, is particularly alarming).
At one point in his book, Dr. D’Adamo claims to be in the eigth year of a ten year trial testing the blood type diet on reproductive cancers and showing impressive improvements in life expectancy. Well, “Eat Right” was published in 1996, and to date, there has been no published study showing anything of the sort. Also, the cost of such a properly conducted trial would be significant for even the major drug companies: if such a trial existed, where did D’Adamo get his funding, and why haven’t the results been shared with the world?
Several experts have gone on record in published journals refuting D’Adamo’s theory of blood type mutation; other clinical data simply contradicts his theory (see Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 14, 399-411, Rev. Bras. Hematol. Hemoter). Not surprisingly, this further damages the credibility of his argument.
Perhaps even more disturbing is the fact that the symptoms attributed by D’Adamo to “lectin agglutination” mirror the symptoms of many other diet-related disorders—yeast overgrowth, nutritional deficiencies, bowel toxicity, allergies, heavy metal toxicity, hyperinsulinemia, prostaglandin imbalance and so on.
In other words, this is at best, only a theory… and one on very shakey ground, at that.
Believe it or not, D’Adamo even goes as far as to predict personality traits and establish exercise programs on the basis of blood type. For instance, he indicates blood type A’s exceed psychologically at planning and networking, and are decent, and law abiding people.
Unbelievable.
The problems don’t end here; there are some serious issues with D’Adamo’s theory linking blood type with diet. For instance…
D’Adamo postulates that blood type A evolved sometime between 25,000-15,000 B.C. in response to the domestication of livestock and farming. Blood type A, for example, apparently allowed people to “better tolerate grains and other agricultural products”.
What’s the problem with this? There are two…
First, most experts agree that mankind made the jump from hunter-gatherer to farmer about 6-10,000 years ago. On the outside, this switch-over began no earlier than 15,000 years ago, at which time the last ice age was drawing to a close.
The significance of this?
Well, geneticists theorize that it takes many thousands of generations to bring about any sort of significant genetic evolutionary response. In other words, our switch from hunter gatherer to farmer happened much too recently in our history for it to have resulted in the evolution of a new blood type. Since blood type A obviously evolved as a result of some other stimuli, D’Adamo’s theory is a bust.
As a reader, one can feel D’Adamo grasping at straws as he develops his theory for blood type B, which evolved in the Himalayans “perhaps” as a result of climactic change.
Here’s another BIG problem… if blood type mutation and evolution is not consistent with dietary changes (D’Adamo suggests B is a result of climatic change, not diet), why would it make sense to use blood type to best determine what we eat?
When it comes to actual diet advice itself, D’Adamo doesn’t fare much better.
In fact, he consistently provides recommendations that are totally incorrect;. For instance…
Type B’s are encouraged to eat rice cakes (pure carbohydrate with a glycemic rating of pure glucose), which are perhaps the dieter’s worst enemy. Peanuts, on the other hand, are said to cause hypoglycemia for type Bs. But we know peanuts have a very low G.I. (glycemic index) rating, and don’t generate fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Statements like this totally contradict what we know to be true, and must be validated with some sort of proof or reference. Again, D’Adamo provides none.
Believe it or not, the entire book is jam-packed with similar misinformation, generalities, and information that is just plain wrong.
Despite this, around 50% of those trying “Eat Right for Your Blood Type!” will experience positive results, but certainly not because D’Adamo’s theory is correct. Here’s why…
In North America, the predominant blood type is type O. Just under 50% of the Black/People Of African descent population is type O, while the Caucasian population comprises just slightly less (about 45%).
D’Adamo’s blood type O diet focuses on restricting breads and grains, while increasing lean meat, poultry, and fish. This will effectively place the dieter on the “cusp” of ketosis, similar to a modified Atkins diet. It will also eliminate vacillating blood sugar levels, encourage lean muscle growth, and stimulate weight loss. In short…
The plan for type O will work, simply because it sticks to proven diet fundamentals, NOT because there’s a link between blood type and food consumption. Don’t make the mistake of confusing cause and effect here.
If your blood type is anything other than type O, you’ll be lucky to achieve anything on this diet.
Despite the lack of clinical evidence validating Eat Right For Your Blood Type, my review has generated more than its fair share of angry visitor feedback over the years.
“Who are you”, some ask, “to question D’Adamo’s theory? Are YOU a doctor?”
My answer is always the same…
No, I am NOT a medical doctor, and neither, as a matter of fact, is D’Adamo. Secondly, using the prefix “Dr.” in front of your name does not allow you to make broad, sweeping generalizations, present statements that contradict established theories and practices and promote your own theories without providing one iota of supporting evidence. The onus is on D’Adamo to prove his theory is valid. I have simply pointed out the obvious: none of his theories have any supporting evidence, and there are plenty of credible qualified professionals who contest his conclusions.”
You don’t need to be a doctor to do that.
To investigate a REAL diet, check out Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat, reviewed here!
Would You Like To Rate And/Or Comment On This Diet? Click Here!
9 Visitors Rated Review: Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type!
Donna on 11 Jan 2009 at 10:35 pm #
If there is one thing I know is that this the man is not promoting a “diet’ but a change in one’s eating habits. All I know is once I was weighing 172lbs and in two weeks of changing my eating habits as recommended I lost 8lbs. And I did not exercise because I hate doing it.
And even when the temptation for the fried chicken came back a week later and I gave in to it I still kept losing weight to the point where I started to panic. And I have tried lots of things to lose it. So don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it. My blood type like most of us in the Caribbean is O.
Editor’s comments: Donna, I see you’ve spent a lot of time reading the review. If you want to check the last couple of paragraphs, you’ll see that I explain exactly why the diet WILL work for type O’s, and it has exactly zero to do with your blood type. Don’t confuse cause and effect here!
Visitor Rating:Lachelle on 01 Feb 2009 at 4:11 pm #
I read this entire article, and I understand the lack of scientific material to back up this “diet”. however, I followed the regimen for Type B religiously, and have lost 15 lbs. I was not terribly overweight to begin with (155, 5′7), and as a Public Health student understand eating healthy and the importance of exercise. I merely tweaked my diet and exercising, and it worked. I don’t know why, but, it did.
Visitor Rating:ruth on 27 Feb 2009 at 1:14 pm #
I feel disappointed that, recently retired, I spent 37 dollars on this book! Im sure you are right. I dont have to eat expensive organic meat anymore but may continue on an Atkins style diet to lose weight. I also like the bible bread which is expensive but will eat less bread. Thanks I needed someone to report what I already had concerns about.
Visitor Rating:Marialina on 10 Mar 2009 at 5:00 am #
I have just read your article. I am blood type B from Northern Europe, I have been on a low fat diet for years because of my cholesterol eating loads of chicken veg.a proper balanced diet but according to DR> Adamo the wrong foods. (I only weigh 65k and am 5′6″ not overweight) to no effect. My stomach was always bloated, I have been unable to eat certain foods like wheat etc.for a long time, reading the book explained a lot for me, tiredness, arthritis at. fib, and after giving up the AVOID food for only a week my system feels different, the bloating has gone down I will have another cholesterol test after 1 month to see if it has helped. If you are right I maybe causing damage by eating the wrong meat……
Visitor Rating:ML Powell on 08 Jul 2009 at 7:46 pm #
For years I have been frustrated with the usual “healthy diet” recommendations. I have always eaten a balanced diet of meat, fish, fruits and veggies of all kinds. I do not overeat. I do not snack. I drink a lot of water and tea, no coffee. I rarely drink alcohol. I made an effort to eat whole wheat or multi-grain breads. etc. I also would swim 2-3 kilometers and run or walk 5-10 kilos a day for extended periods. This, however, did not prevent me from gaining weight at times of high stress. Moreover, reducing my food intake or increasing my exercise did not allow me to lose weight.
So, I began the blood type diet with suspicion and mainly focused on not eating the “better avoid” foods, especially dairy (milk, yogurt and occasional cheese, I stopped eating these), grains except for rice, and potatoes except sweet potatoes, and I switched to drinking more green tea than black. I did not increase my exercise, even though I was exercising at more normal levels instead of the heavy amounts I had in the past. I just don’t have time. So, I was surprised and gratified to find that after a month I started to lose weight for the first time in years and I felt better.
So, I do not know about the science and I certainly am skeptical about the genetic ancestors explanation, but I am persuaded that the metabolic factors related to one’s genetic make-up including blood type may mean that what is very healthy for some people to eat – complex grains or dairy or whatever – are not necessarily the same for everyone. (In fact, I started this after gaining 8 pounds eating lentil soup!) I was also pleased to find that many of the “better avoid” veggies and fruits for my blood type O were foods I did not much care for but had forced myself to eat because they were “healthy” (cucmber, melon,cabbage, yogurt, for example), and I found reasons why I dislike certain foods and drinks that everyone else seems to like…such as coffee or beer.
So, perhaps you are skeptical of the science and perhaps D’Adamo pushes his theories too far. But, this is the first thing that has ever worked for me. By the way, following the avoid and prefer recommendations does not mean eating an unbalanced diet. I still eat as much veggies and fruits as meats and fish, but I changed and limit my starch (as well as some of the fruits and veggies) and get the carbs from the fruits and veggies I eat.
Visitor Rating:babydrum on 19 Jul 2009 at 4:07 pm #
I was really considering doing the diet until reading your very thoughtful review. I didn’t buy into the premise but I wanted to try it for a week to see if it took care of an annoying problem I’ve been having.
One of the biggest complaints I have with the book is sample diet section. He only offers three days worth of sample diets for each blood type and the recipes don’t include foods from the AVOID list.
Keep in mind that he tells us to think of the foods on the AVOID category as “a food that acts like a poison.” I find it more than a little disconcerting that he can’t provide three days worth of menus for my blood type that don’t include food from a list that will be treated as a poison in my system.
In the recipe section, he acknowledges that occasionally there are ingredients in the recipes that appear on the avoid list but “you may be able to tolerate it, depending on your condition and whether you are strictly adhering to the diet.” I had planned to strictly adhere to the diet until I read that.
If it’s optional, then what am I doing? Why am I denying myself Lox when I’m allowed salmon? I think the book is a sham and I’m going to keep looking for something where at least the author takes himself seriously.
Thanks for your thoughtful review.
Visitor Rating:Aaron Bennett on 20 Aug 2009 at 2:11 pm #
I do not see where you get off reviewing something that Dr. D’Adamo has studied for over 20 years. Are you a doctor and if so, what do YOU specialize in. If you haven’t tried it, then I suggest you don’t review it based on other thoughts, including your own. Shame on you for discounting a good diet that I have been on for 8 years now. As a type AB, I was 220lbs. My father suggested it, I tried and changed over a years time.
I lost 80 lbs in 2 years. I had to keep it gradual and slow, but it worked. I have been at my ideal weight of 155lbs for 6 years now. I feel better than I did before going on the diet and the energy, the way of thinking, etc has changed my life for the better. My grandmother who is type A, went on this diet and well, she had diabetes before and has been on it for 4 years now. She has pretty much cured her diabetes and is no longer taking any of her high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol meds. Shame on you!
Editor’s comments: Aaron, I can see you spent a LOT of time reading the review. If you did, you’ll see that it’s not just us who disagrees with D’Adamo theories, but plenty of “doctors” as well. Fact is, your positive experience is not a validation of D’Adamo theories – there are numerous reasons why his diet may have worked for you – all having nothing to do with your blood type. Like it or not, D’Adamo cannot present any credible evidence to support his “eat right for your blood type” theories.
Regarding your “doctor” comment. Wow. I already addressed this in the article, but you were obviously too busy preparing to share your opinion, rather than actually reviewing our article to see what the basis for our conclusions were. Here’s what I said about being a doctor…
“No, I am NOT a medical doctor, and neither, as a matter of fact, is D’Adamo. Secondly, using the prefix “Dr.” in front of your name does not allow you to make broad, sweeping generalizations, present statements that contradict established theories and practices and promote your own theories without providing one iota of supporting evidence. The onus is on D’Adamo to prove his theory is valid. I have simply pointed out the obvious: none of his theories have any supporting evidence, and there are plenty of credible qualified professionals who contest his conclusions.”
Visitor Rating:Lee on 16 Oct 2009 at 1:06 pm #
I often wonder what type of person it takes to slander someone such as you do here. Wouldn’t it be better, albeit more believable to just present the facts? And who’s to say your facts are any more reputable than Dr. D’Adamo’s? Anyway, I see you present an alternative to D’Adamos diet and I’m sure it’s the real deal and we need not look any further or, did we just uncover the real motive behind this article, sigh.
You can say what you want but for me, following D’Adamo’s eating guidelines produce the expected results; my body feels great, not sluggish, full, weighted down and I lose weight. Not sure what he’s tapped into but .. it works. According to his sales, I suspect it does for others as well. One thing is for sure, the majority of the populace will quickly abandon something that does not and I just don’t see that to be the case with this.
Anyway.. didn’t someone once say .. a man with an experience beats the one with an argument.
I suggest you give this a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Editor’s comments: Sigh. We give up. Really, who can argue with statements like “who’s to say your facts are any more reputable than Dr.D’Adamo’s?”
The point, Lee – had you actually READ the review you would have undoubtedly noticed this – is that D’Adamo doesn’t have any evidence upon which to base his theory. No published studies of any sort. Nothing even remotely resembling “facts.” Nien. Nyet. Nada. That’s precisely the argument. And we’re not the only ones who think so – READ the review, and see.
Additionally – again had you READ the review you would have noticed this – there are numerous reasons why the diet will work, but absolutely none of them have anything to do with your blood type. It’s largely because you’ve become selective about your food choices and are eating a largely whole foods diet.
The fact that the diet worked for you is not evidence that the “bood type theory of dieting” works (see above). And, remember… personal commentary is always anecdotal, and there’s always that pesky “placebo effect.”
Instead of accusing us of slander, why not do something useful; like post some links to the published clinical data or some credible scientific evidence that validate D’Adamo’s theories. Maybe, in the course of your research, you’ll discover the real purpose of this web site.
Visitor Rating:Anne-Maree Nye on 31 Oct 2009 at 4:34 am #
I have followed this Eat Right for your blood type for some time now and find it’s working for me. Foods that I hated as a child are the one not suitable for my blood type – I’m O Positive and feel like a new person.I was always sick with flu like systems, headaches, upset stomack, bloating, headaches, bad skin generally a walking sick case – now feel like a new person, none of the above symptoms and no more sick days.Took some time, however, slowly but surely all the symptoms disappeared, however I did get worse before I started to get better – cleansing process took place – I think what ever works for you, just go for it and do it – if I eat food/drink now and it makes me feel nauseous/sick or generally unwell, then I don’t eat/drink it – I don’t get sick any more
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