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Journalism of Courage
Knowing your blood type can help your nutritionist fix the right food chart for you
Most dieticians want to know your blood group before they chart out a diet plan for you. If that leaves you stumped,flip through Eat Right 4 Your Type,a book published in 1996 by a naturopathic physician in the US,Dr Peter J DAdamo. Aldamos contention that your blood group tells a lot about the kind of food you should eat has grown in popularity since and is followed assiduously by dieticians in major metros in India.
While white meat may help one blood type lose weight,red meat can help the other blood type. By adding foods that suit your blood group and cutting down on those that dont,you could maximise the benefits of an exercise or diet regimen.
“Group A people,for instance,lose weight if they eat fruits and vegetables. But that should not mean they begin excluding other foods from their diet as they are needed for nutrition,says Dr Sakshi Chawla,senior dietician,Fortis,Noida. Since this diet does not take into account cultural factors like vegetarianism,it is best followed in moderation.
Here is the list of the foods that suit a particular blood type:
TYPE O
If you have this blood type and love meat,you are one lucky carnivore. “People with this blood group are natural meat-eaters. They should stick to a diet rich in protein and low in carbs,says Dr Chawla. So,red meat is not a sinful food for them. “Their bodies cannot properly metabolise a high-carb diet,so if they dont stick to a meat diet,they will end up putting on a lot of weight,says Dr Chawla. This blood type should cut down on wheat,milk and other dairy products as they can lead to lower immunity. Vegetarians need not fret as they can take all types of fruit and vegetables.
TYPE A
Meat is not good for this blood type. “They are more prone to diabetes,heart diseases and cancer,all of which are worsened with a diet consisting mainly of meat, says nutritionist Shikha Sharma. If you fall under group A,a vegetarian diet will keep you healthy. Vegetables,foods made of soya and pineapple help you lose weight. Seafood,however,is not off-limits for this group type.
TYPE B
This is the most common blood type in India and one with the least dietary restrictions. So if you have this type,you are free to have everything,in moderation. The only problem with this type is that their immune system is quite weak compared to other groups,says Dr Chawla. The only foods that you need to avoid are processed foods and this is the only blood type which can easily digest milk and dairy products. Green vegetables,eggs and tea are the foods that will make you lose weight. Corn,peanuts and wheat should be avoided when you are trying to lose weight,and only small amounts of foods rich in carbs should be eaten.
TYPE AB
This is a rare blood group and people who fall in this category should have a combination of foods that are recommended for blood types A and B. Diets for blood group A and B are quite different from one another and thats why this blood types diet is tricky,says Sharma. Over time,you will find out which foods are easily metabolised and which are not. For instance,vegetables may help one person with this blood group and red meat another. Its only with time and some experiments that people in this group find out what foods suit them.u
