The Blood Type Diet Cookbook. Lucy Degremont

and have started racing again. I am scoring excellent results and recently won a race against a team of younger cyclists. If I go off my diet my body is quick to remind me of my misdemeanour. If, for example, I have a cup of coffee before a race I get cramps in my legs.

       Nuts, Seeds and their Oils

      Nuts and seeds should be a regular part of your diet. They are a source of essential fatty acids, protein and minerals. I consider the most valuable ones to be walnuts and flaxseeds (linseeds). Walnuts contain linolenic acid, a valuable omega-3 fatty acid rare in our modern diets. Eat freshly-cracked walnuts and use walnut oil in salads, but do not cook with it. If you heat it, the valuable fatty acid will be damaged. Flaxseeds are a very valuable seed, much used by practitioners of natural medicine. They contain lignans that are transformed in the gut into substances that have anti-cancer effects and that can regulate hormone levels during the menopause or in cases of premenstrual syndrome. Its essential oil, linolenic acid, has anti-inflammatory effects (type Os have a tendency toward inflammatory conditions) that relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, etc. Flaxseeds have also been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease. They also contain a mucilage that is very effective against constipation.

      I recommend that my patients make regular use of walnuts and flaxseeds and their oils. A convenient way of eating flaxseeds is to grind them in an electric coffee grinder (cleaned first, of course!) and sprinkle 1–3 tablespoons on salads or stir through yogurt or apple sauce. Always choose cold pressed oils, as these retain their fatty acids intact. The only cold pressed oil that withstands the heat of cooking is olive oil. Use the other recommended oils for your blood type in salads.

       Monika

      Blood Type O

       Age 53

      Before trying the blood type diet I had been suffering from constipation, a white tongue and pain in my arms and legs for 10 years. I had been taking herbal infusions and plant supplements with no significant improvement. On consulting a naturopath I was also advised to include cheese and grains in my daily meals. I followed this regime for several years but my problems persisted.

      When I met Karen her first question was: “What is your blood type?” Like many others I was surprised to hear that my blood type could have a bearing on my diet. After giving her my meal plans she said “wheat and milk products are not for you”. These were precisely the foods I included regularly in my meals. I also needed to eat red meat – something that I was previously advised to avoid. I followed the blood type diet and took appropriate supplements. The result? Just two months later I felt a substantial improvement. In addition, my cholesterol level – which was slightly elevated with my previous diet – is now well within the normal range.

       Grains

      Grains should not be a regular part of your diet, although you do have a certain degree of tolerance for some types of grains. You can eat small amounts of rice, rye, millet, spelt, oats, kamut and buckwheat. Wheat, corn and barley (and for some, oats) can encourage weight gain. They are also very often held responsible for various inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. However, you can eat sprouted grains as in Essene bread (also called sprouted wheat bread). Although it is made with wheat, the sprouting process destroys the lectins that normally should be avoided. Essene bread is beneficial for all blood types.

       what is Essene bread?

      The name Essene comes from a Jewish sect that lived in the time of Jesus Christ, and in the same region. The Essenians led a very austere life and believed in the importance of “live” food. They made a special kind of bread from sprouted grains that they baked, or rather dried, in the sun. Today Essene bread is baked in a slow oven. In France, Essene bread is made with sprouted wheat, rye, spelt or kamut. The consistency, appearance and taste bear little resemblance to normal bread. It is moist and slightly sweet. Handle with care because it tends to break. If you wish, you may lightly toast it; in this case it is best cut into thick slices. Among my patients some love this bread and others would much rather do without it. It is highly digestible and works wonders if you are constipated.

       Milk Products

      Cheese and yogurt made from cow’s milk, and cow’s milk itself, should be avoided. Nevertheless you may eat goat’s and sheep’s cheese (2oz/60g) and yogurt once or twice a week. If you need to lose weight or suffer from any type of inflammatory disease such as asthma, eczema or arthritis, or if you have a tendency to produce mucous in the respiratory tract, avoid dairy products altogether until your condition has improved. You may then find your body is able to tolerate small amounts again.

      If you are concerned about not getting enough calcium remember that cows do not drink milk and yet produce milk that is very rich in calcium. Where does it come from? From their vegetarian diet. Here are some foods that are good for your blood type and that contain more calcium, weight for weight, than whole milk: green leafy vegetables (collard leaves, kale, turnip leaves, dandelion greens), figs, almonds, sunflower seeds, kelp, dulse, tofu and watercress. Broccoli, sesame seeds and walnuts also contain good amounts. If you feel you are not getting sufficient calcium because you are not making these food choices often enough, it would be wise to take a calcium supplement. If you are pregnant or breast feeding definitely take a supplement.

       Legumes and lentils

      The general tendency for several years now has been to recommend that people reduce their consumption of red meat and obtain more protein from vegetable sources. To provide complete protein, eating a combination of legumes and seeds, legumes and grains, or legumes and milk products was recommended. This, again, may seem good if you only consider nutrition from the point of view of the foods. If your blood type is O, this is definitely not a good way to get your protein. Your body needs meat – good lean organic meat, just like the kind your blood type ancestors ate. You can eat two or three portions of legumes a week but do not use them as a replacement for meat in your diet. You can also eat soya products such as tofu, but again do not rely on soya as a main source of protein.

       Anne

      Blood Type O

       Age 36

      When I was diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis, I consulted a nutritionist on the advice of my osteopath. The food recommendations I was given were based on the blood type diet. By following this approach I didn’t expect to heal myself but simply to reduce the negative effects that certain foods can have on the body.

      I had been eating huge amounts of milk products, plenty of grains and very little vegetables and protein. I paid great attention to the quantities I was eating but was still having trouble controlling my weight. Almost every day I suffered from gas, bloating and constipation. I also regularly experienced an irrepressible need for sugar. Following the blood type diet has significantly changed my relationship with food. I have discovered the pleasure of choosing my food and cooking it. I feel much less tired in spite of my illness and medical treatment, and many of my symptoms have disappeared. The grey circles under my eyes have almost completely gone, and the texture of my skin has changed for the better.

      I thought it would be difficult and constraining to follow this dietary discipline but little by little the desire to eat cakes and biscuits, sweets and rich meals has disappeared and I have rediscovered a healthy taste for food.

       type o: health issues

      The blood type diet is not the answer to all ills and following it will not give you complete protection from disease. But it is a powerful means of setting the stage to allow your body to perform to the best of its ability. The basic ideas that underpin the blood type diet tie in very well with research being done into how nutrition influences the way our genes express themselves.

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