Title: Eat Right For Your Blood Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living longer

& Achieving Your Ideal Weight. Dr. Peter J. DAdamo with Catherine Whitney Rationale/Claim: According to the author of this book, there is a chemical reaction between a persons blood and certain foods. Dr. Adamo explains that these chemical reactions are due to lectins, which are proteins found in food. Lectins can have adverse or favorable effects depending on the blood type. Ultimately these lectins, when having an adverse reaction with a specific blood type, agglutinate the blood. This is to say that lectins cause blood clots to form. In the long run, lectins contribute to our bodys immune system. When an individual is eating incorrectly for their blood type, they have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to various diseases. They also experience a multitude of other symptoms which he attributes to various illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome or even cancer, which do not have a well-known etiology. Diet and exercise are both extensively covered in this diet book. When Dr. Adamo discusses weight loss, he attributes the change in diet and the following loss in weight to the bodys clearing of toxins and fats. There are specific foods to avoid, ones that are ok but to not overindulge on and ones that are great for keeping you healthy. Exercise is highly recommended, but he does get very specific about which programs are best for which blood type and for those who are one blood type to stay away from anothers plan. The author does support his claim with scientific evidence, his and his fathers. He goes into extensive detail about his fathers work and the discoveries in this field that he made and how he has chosen to follow in his fathers footsteps. He brings up various other studies and discusses their contribution, but without any sources to back up his claim.

Overview of diet: Upon analyzing two-sample meal plans for the Blood-type O and AB it appears that both diets are lacking in some micronutrients. The diet for a type O individual is sufficient in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. The suggested meal plans are rich in meat, whole grain bread, spinach and a

variety of other vegetables. However this diet is lacking in calcium and iron, though this is a high protein diet the amount of meat suggested is very little and not enough to meet the recommended nutrient needs. The diet for type AB individuals however is sufficient in vitamin C and iron, but lacking in vitamin A and calcium. A typical meal plan for these individuals includes whole grain bread, egg, tofu and a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables, but not in greens such as spinach. Since the diets recommended vary drastically from each blood type, one type may be lacking in calcium and iron while another is eating a sufficient amount. None of the blood-type diets, besides type B, which is the most varied diet, are balanced and providing adequate amount of all the macro and micronutrients. It is suggested that all individuals, depending on their bloodtype eliminate certain foods from their diet, due to the nature of the interaction between antibodies, lectins and blood cells.

Blood-Type O 2-day Diet Sample

Calories (kcal) Calories from Fat (Kcal) Calories from Saturated Fat (Kcal) Fat (g) Saturated Fat (g) Protein (g) Carbohydrates (g) Dietary Fiber (g) Total Sugars (g) Cholesterol (mg) Water (g) Vitamin A (RAE) Vitamin C (mg) Calcium (mg) Iron (mg) 1436.49 314.33 112.22 35.04 12.47 97.36 202.76 31.27 107.54 312.28 2238.88 868.26 177.24 449.54 9.85 20.80% 25.69% 53.51% (% total kcals)

Blood Type AB one day sample

Calories (kcal) Calories from fat (kcal) Fat (g) 1102.87 193.58 21.62 (%) Total Kcals

19.29%

Saturated Fat (g) Protein (g) Carbohydrates (g) Dietary Fiber (g) Total sugars(g) Cholesterol (mg) Water (g) Vitamin A (RAE) Vitamin C (mg) Calcium (mg) Iron

4.17 70.47 132.43 14.97 75.61 454.12 1378 283.69 2148.42 542.14 35.65

27.95% 52.52%

Is it well-rounded and sustainable? In the Dr. DAdamos Eat Right for Your Type book he claims that everyone should eat for their specific blood type (book). The diets are based on when the blood types evolved (book). Type O evolved first and therefore these individuals should stick with a high protein diet and eliminate wheat and other grains (book). Type A evolved next when our hunter-gather society started to establish themselves and farm their own food, therefore, these individuals need to consume a vegetarian diet that is high in carbohydrates and low in fat. Type B evolved last when these established farmers started wandering the land and eating a variety of foods. Those with Type B blood can thus eat a variety of foods and supposedly this is the only blood type that can eat dairy products (book). With the diet restrictions that DAdamo suggests in this program it would be medically unsound to remain on the specific diet for your blood type long term. The diets for Blood Type O and A are very limited and as suggested and recommended by DAdamo these individuals have to cut out many of the major food groups(1). Therefore, many essential vitamins and minerals that we obtain through our diet in meat, grains and dairy will be eliminated and the individual can become deficient in calcium leading to osteoporosis, folate, B-vitamins, and iron which can lead to anaemia. In terms of weight loss, DAdamo does not specifically address the matter. He does not recommend this diet as a weight loss remedy. Therefore, he does not address long-term maintenance after losing initial weight, instead DAdamo suggests that everyone should be on their specific diet for their blood-type for the rest of their life Otherwise, when you eat foods that are evolutionary inappropriate it can lead to chronic disease.

Again, DAdamo does not directly attribute this diet to weight loss; however, he does suggest a complete life-style chance and therefore tells each individual what to eat for their type and what kind of exercises to engage in. He does not address behavior modification whatsoever. He suggests a different type of exercise routine for each blood type. Type Os should engage in vigorous exercise and can handle high intensity aerobic activities (book). Type As on the other hand should not engage in difficult exercise, but instead should do gentle exercises like yoga and golf. Type Bs can engage in moderate exercise such as swimming, biking, hiking or walking. Critical Comments: Total calories from a sample meal plan only equate to 1100 1400 calories for both Type O and A, which is not adequate calories for the average person. The foods that DAdamo suggests that people need to eliminate from their diet based on their blood type there would definitely be feelings of deprivation and with the total calories that are suggested in a daily meal plan is not adequate enough and will lead to definite feelings of hunger and starvation. For the Blood-type O, DAdamo suggests that they eat a high protein diet therefore these individuals will have adequate protein intake, with an average of about 97 grams a day. (see sample above) For the Blood-type AB, however, DAdam suggests a vegetarian diet. These individuals will not get an adequate amount of protein on an average day when following a suggested meal plan. As shown above a sample meal plan only provides an individual with 70 grams of protein a day. DAdamo does not give any suggestions on behavior modification techniques nor does he address the issue that it may be difficult for some to change their eating habits into what he suggests and eliminate entire food groups from their diet. The Eat Right for Your Type diet suggests eliminating all processed foods from the diet including, crackers, cookies, candy, chips, soda as well as grains, meat, and dairy for some. By eliminating all of these foods each individuals is decreasing their calories and will ultimately and initially lose weight.

Are enough protein and carbohydrate provided to meet protein needs and prevent ketosis (about 100 grams of carbohydrate for the average-sized person)? Does it appear to be nutritionally adequate, balanced, varied, palatable, easy to follow, etc.? What is the cost of this diet (e.g. special formula to buy; special foods that need to be purchased, etc.)? Add other comments as well. Overall Conclusion: Overall critique (compared to guidelines + recommendations discussed in class, would you recommend this diet?- why or why not?, is it a safe diet?, is there any cause for concern?, is this diet a realistic long-term solution to weight loss?, etc.) References DAdamo PJ, Whitney C. (1996). Eat Right For Your Blood Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight. G.P. Putnam Sons, New York NY. http://www.vegsource.com/klaper/diet5.htm http://www.dadamo.com/science_writings.htm