The Blood Type Diet Cookbook. Lucy Degremont

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 levels – insulin and glucagon – to work in harmony.

      Some people are very sensitive to the protein/carbohydrate ratio and would benefit from ensuring this ratio is balanced at every meal and snack. For breakfast you may start out by replacing bread and the usual jam with bread and cheese or bread with a scrambled egg. For lunch and dinner always eat one of your good sources of protein with plenty of vegetables and some grains. Here is a visual tip to help balance protein and carbohydrates. Fill one quarter of the surface of your plate with protein (meat, fish, fowl or eggs) and the rest with mainly vegetables and a little rice or other grain. If you eat legumes at a meal, avoid grains as legumes are half protein and half carbohydrate. I find this way of balancing a meal is useful in helping my patients to balance their blood sugar levels and promote insulin efficiency.

       Michel

      Blood Type B

       Age 54

      It is not possible for me to state categorically that my good health and controlled weight are essentially due to the blood type diet; to my general care about what I eat and how, to the few nutrients that complement my diet, or to my good nature. Yet despite long work days, nights that are often too short and a fair amount of urban stress, I feel better than ever and now get through the winter without the usual cold.

      What I can say with certainty is that (at least to me, a type B) following the blood type diet has neither become constraining, inconvenient nor cumbersome. I just choose the right thing when I have the choice. Every time I have no better choice at hand, or from time to time when I just feel strongly like it, I derogate without guilt. My guidelines are to be cautious about the foods that form the basis of my diet. Thus no one needs to notice and I don’t feel constrained either. I should even add that the blood type diet makes a quite lively and interesting topic for discussion around the dining table.

       Your Immune System needs Support

      I have found some of the most resistant bacterial infections in my B patients. As a precaution against any micro-organisms taking hold in your body eat plenty of the foods that have been shown to boost immunity. Vegetables and fruits in general are great for this, as is green tea (see page 161). Garlic is especially good, so add it to your salad dressing every day. Onions have potent antibacterial and antiviral activity – Russian scientists have extensively studied this effect. Chilli peppers, cayenne pepper and horseradish have also been shown to help with infections. And don’t forget, you are in the lucky group that is able to eat yogurt with its immune-stimulating power.

      You should also ensure you consume a reasonable amount of fat in your diet and, above all, that you get the right ones. Eat fatty fish such as mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon; and use flaxseed oil and walnut oil in your salads. They will all provide beneficial omega-3 oils.

blood type ab: general food recommendations

      Unlike the other blood types, AB was not part of the evolutionary process but is the result of the mixing of types A and B. Type AB has been around for only about 1,000 years and makes up a mere five per cent of the population of the planet.

      The French psychologist, Leone Bourdel, once described type AB as “the richest of the four temperaments as it possesses the advantages of the other three, but it is also the victim of its incompatibilities and is made of contradictions and incoherence”. In terms of food choices this same pattern shows up. Type AB is complex, sometimes resembling an A, sometimes a B and at other times it resembles its far away blood type ancestor type O.

      I have noticed that several of my type AB patients have, on their own, adopted some eating habits that tie in with the findings of the research into blood type eating. They tend to have smaller meals which are easier to digest, they eat meat in reduced quantities, enjoy a good breakfast that includes some form of protein, and stick to regular mealtimes. All these steps ensure type ABs feel better and have more energy.

       Meat and Poultry

      With regard to digesting meat you resemble type A – your stomach acid tends to be low and digestive enzymes are lacking. Limit yourself to occasionally eating lamb, turkey and rabbit. When it comes to chicken, duck and guinea fowl you resemble type B and should avoid them.

       Seafood

      If you are not used to eating fish, increasing your intake of this valuable source of protein will significantly improve your diet. The A in you may make you prone to high cholesterol levels and eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids will help prevent and reduce this cardiovascular risk factor. The best fish for you are mackerel, sardines, tuna, herring and salmon (wild if possible). You can also eat fish that are not rich in fatty acids, as these contain other elements that benefit the cardiovascular system. You may eat mussels and scallops but avoid other shellfish.

       Soya Products and Legumes

      Tofu and tempeh are easily digestible protein sources for you. Legumes and lentils can be enjoyed almost every day, although you must stick to the ones without detrimental lectins. Lentils, broad (fava) beans, cannellini beans, white beans, pinto and northern beans are on your list. They provide a good source of complex carbohydrates and fibre. Legumes contain phytosterols and fibre that have cholesterol-lowering and cancer-protective effects. In addition, legumes encourage good bowel