The Blood Type Diet - Type AB Weight Loss Plan

Do you respond to stress with spirituality and creative energy and have an overly tolerant immune system? These are some characteristics of people with type AB blood. This plan suggests that your blood type provides the blueprints in your body that determine eating habits, food aversions, allergies, medical conditions, and even the ability to metabolize food and burn calories. If you eat according to what your blood type prefers, the idea is that you can perform at optimal levels and lose weight in the process.

Different foods introduce substances into the body called lectins. Depending on your blood type, certain lectins are welcomed by your immune system, while others aggravate it. The theory here is if you only eat foods that contain compatible lectins, then your body can remain balanced and at a healthy weight.

What makes The Blood Type Diet - Type AB different?

This is a very unique approach to weight loss that requires particular attention to detail and demands a lot of the dieter. In the end, though, they recommend you lose weight by cutting out processed foods and limiting portion size.

What is The Blood Type Diet - Type AB Weight Loss Plan?

This diet was created by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, a second-generation naturopathic doctor. He and his father have compiled information on blood types for decades and have applied this research to create very specific guidelines for diet, exercise and supplement use. By eating according to your blood type, the Blood Type Diet promises to help you avoid infections and disease, eliminate toxins and lose weight.

Type AB blood is considered very rare and is the "newest" blood type, appearing somewhere in the past ten to twelve centuries. People with type AB blood (type AB's) share the immune capabilities of both type A and B bloods. This makes them less prone to allergies and other autoimmune disorders, but also makes some immune characteristics conflict, thereby making type AB's " complex and unsettled." Type AB's can enjoy many foods that are not allowed for people with other blood types.

Type AB's burn calories most efficiently when the body is in an alkaline (or basic) state. Therefore, they should avoid large amounts of wheat because it is believed that wheat gluten makes body tissues more acidic. This claim (and numerous others) are based on history, ancestry, evolution and some scientific evidence.

Each Blood Type Diet has a strict regimen that includes meal planning (with three days of sample menus and recipes), supplement advice, and stress, exercise and personality profiling. Lists of foods (labeled "highly beneficial," "neutral" or "avoid") that encourage weight gain and loss are provided, as are tables and lists to help you organize food options and how often you should be eating certain foods (for example, type AB's should consume cereals and grains only 2 to 3 times a week).

A registered dietitian designs sample menus and recipes for you on the Blood Type Diet.

The menus are offered in "standard" and "weight control" forms (weight control just means less food at each meal). Recipes are low calorie and include natural and whole ingredients (no pre-packaged foods on this diet!). Dishes include Tofu Omelets and Carob Chip Cookies. Sugar and chocolate are allowed in small amounts, but dieters are instructed to use them as they would condiments. Alcohol is not recommended for initial weight loss.

During maintenance phases, white wine, red wine and beer are considered "neutral" and are allowed in moderation. Distilled alcohol is never allowed.

A typical day on the "weight control" menu looks like:

Breakfast: 1 slice of Ezekiel (sprouted) bread and 1 poached egg

Lunch: tabbouleh with grapes

Snack: honeydew melon with a scoop of cottage cheese

Dinner: broiled salmon with fresh dill, stir-fried vegetables and mixed fruit salad

What are the weight loss expectations?

The goal of the Blood Type Diet is to optimize health and body performance through food choices and corresponding exercise regimens. Weight loss results are said to be noticeable within two weeks, but how much is not specified.

Is exercise promoted?

Type AB's respond to stress intellectually (not physically), and therefore respond better to calming and meditative activities such as yoga. Type AB's should exercise 2 to 4 times a week for anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the activity. Recommendations include: tai chi, yoga, golf, swimming and dance.

Are supplements recommended in the Blood Type Diet - Type AB?

Various vitamin and herbal supplements are recommended; however vitamins and herbs that can benefit one blood type may be harmful to others. The supplement focus for type AB's includes supercharging the immune system and strengthening the heart. Recommended supplements include antioxidants like vitamin C, selenium and quercetin. Milk thistle is also recommended for liver cleansing.