Re: Blood Type Diet

[Guest guest]

Hi le,

See http://www.newlifeforhealth.com/DietBookReviews.html for an available

Review. Some excerpts from the Blood Type Diet Review below (Dr. D'Adamo's

comments in bold, mine follow):

Point-Counterpoint

· " It became clear to me that since each person was housed in a special

body with different strengths, weaknesses, and nutritional requirements, the

only way to maintain health or cure illness was to accommodate to that

particular patient's specific needs. " (p. xiii)

Although it is evident that people have different strengths and weaknesses,

there is no evidence that normal healthy individuals have different nutritional

requirements. To lump the opinion that people have individual " nutritional

requirements " in the same sentence and in the same breath with the first two

givens ( " different strengths, weaknesses " ) is a subtle, but persuasive, method

or presenting one's unproven opinion as fact.

· There had to be a reason why there were so many paradoxes in dietary

studies and disease survival. There also had to be an explanation for why some

people were able to lose weight on particular diets, while others were not; why

some people retained vitality late in life, while others deteriorated mentally

and physically. " (p. xiii)

There are reasons for the " paradoxes in dietary studies " . First of all,

nutrition is an " infant " science. When researching the unknown or little

understood in science, at first studies inevitably yield conflicting results.

It is only when a question has been looked at for a longer period of time (and

other studies eliminate confounding factors and replicate conclusions) that the

truth is determined. . .

· " The key to the significance of blood type can be found in the story of

human evolution . . . This evolutionary story relates directly to the dietary

needs of each blood type today. " p. iii)

Dr. D'Adamo uses the evolutionary theory as one of the foundational arguments

for his whole approach using the Blood Type Diet. As surely-stated as he makes

it throughout his book, one would perhaps be led to believe that evolution is no

longer a theory! Dr. D'Adamo's claims in the early stages of his argument and

book that evolution is proof for his claims about what the human body prefers is

intriguing at best, but certainly open to question. For one thing, Dr. D'Adamo

excludes about 1/2 or more of his readership by making the assumption that

everyone ascribes to the theory of evolution. Furthermore, even if we take

evolution as a " given " (and certainly in our society we are taught of its merits

throughout our education, so I am not surprised that Dr. D'Adamo makes this

assumption), he sounds as if he " knows " how blood types evolved--was he there?

Was his father who taught him these " facts " there? Etc. They are presented as

fact, but should rightfully be presented as theory.

· " I will tell you about the ancient trail of the evolution of blood

types (as riveting as the story of human history) . . . (p. xviii)

Evolution of blood types? Dr. D'Adamo presents a theory, and the reader should

be aware that they are following the recommendations of someone who has built a

diet based on this theory. If the foundational premise is wrong, the

recommendations will be of no value, or worse yet, harmful. . .

Chapter 2

Blood Code: The Blueprint of Blood Type

· " Most people think of blood type as an inert factor, something that

comes into play only when there is a hospital emergency. But now that you have

heard the dramatic story of the evolution of blood type, you are beginning to

understand that blood type has always been the driving force behind human

survival, changing and adapting to new conditions, environments, and food

supplies. " (p. 17)

Dr. D'Adamo makes the predictable subtle " argument " for his theory. First he

presents the theory which he bases his argument on as fact, and then leads us to

" understand " that the whole premise of his dietary recommendations are indeed

fact while they are still theory! Do you see how subtle it is? " Now that we

have heard the dramatic story of the evolution of blood type " --where did we

" hear " this from? his first chapter? Are his own statements about things

supposed to convince us that it is now fact upon which we should believe his

entire recommendation? If the foundation is wrong, then the recommendations

will likely be wrong. It is important to understand where an " expert " is coming

from--it cannot logically be overlooked! Dr. D'Adamo subtly glides us along to

our " own " next conclusion-- " . . .you are beginning to understand that blood type

has always been the driving force behind human survival . . . " --I " understand "

no such thing based on the theories presented thusfar! I would need a LOT more

evidence from a LOT more sources to " understand " this unproven claim. . .

· " Type O's don't find dairy products and grains quite as user friendly

as do most of the other blood types because their digestive systems still have

not adapted to them fully. " (p. 52)

Wrong again. This Type O does quite fine on dairy products and finds grains

extremely " user-friendly " !!!

· " You will lose weight initially on the Type O Diet by restricting your

consumption of grains, breads, legumes, and beans. " (p. 53)

Although Dr. D'Adamo goes on to explain a metabolic theory for this supposedly

unique-to-Type O phenomenon, the truth is that everyone loses weight initially

with a restriction of starches because each carbohydrate molecule lost from the

body results in 3 molecules of water lost. It is a well-known fact that initial

weight-loss with carbohydrate restriction is due mainly to water loss (it is

quickly regained). Additionally, cuisines around the world are based on a

majority of calories from starch, so a focus on restricting grains, breads,

legumes and beans will most often result in a lower-calorie diet. Not exactly a

rocket science weight-loss recommendation. Finally, with enough carbohydrate

restriction ketosis can occur which can result in appetite suppression,

contributing yet further to weight-loss.

· " I have seen overweight Type Os, who had been unsuccessful with other

diets, quickly lose weight solely by eliminating wheat from their diets. " (p.

53)

Dr. D'Adamo is simply stating the obvious--whenever a dietary component is

eliminated (especially one like wheat which constitutes a large proportion of

most American diets!) there will be a simple caloric reduction. It is the

reduced calories that lead to weight-loss, not any of the supposed attributes of

the food. Furthermore, even if individuals who have been unsuccessful with

other diets (which is everybody because diets don't work!) do lose weight

initially, this does not assure that they will not find the same fate at the end

of the Blood Type Diet.

· " Foods That Encourage Weight Gain " (p. 54)

He might as well have said " Foods to Avoid " by using the " weight-gain " phrase!

Anyway, the list includes such healthful foods as wheat, corn, kidney beans,

navy beans, lentils, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and mustard greens.

Making lists of " good " and " bad " foods (a popular trend among self-professed

nutrition " experts " and best-selling book authors) is a concept which has proven

more negative in terms of reinforcing diet mentality, food and body image

obsessions, and incorrect understanding of the big picture of optimal health and

nutrition, the goal of which is most readily achieved by encouraging a variety

of foods.

Any suggestion to limit variety goes counter to overwhelming evidence to the

contrary about the benefits of increasing the variety of our diets.

Dr. D'Adamo is to be congratulated for keeping his lists much shorter than other

currently popular fad diet book authors, however, indirectly he is encouraging

restrictiveness by first having the reader decide which Blood Type Diet (and

concommitant food lists) they should be paying more attention to. It's the same

old diet concept repackaged: . . .

It is noteworthy that Dr. D'Adamo keeps his " avoid " lists rather short, and his

neutral lists rather long. In this way, there is really no noticeable affect of

the nutritional losses. However, I am somewhat more concerned with the lifelong

bondage individuals will feel they must keep to these " OK " and " not OK " food

lists. It is a restrictive mentality, a form of misplaced " discipline " , and

will likely prevent many from reaching the freedom around the abundant blessing

of food. . .

Chapter 5

Blood Type A Plan

· " The Type A Diet: Type As flourish on vegetarian diets--the inheritance

of their more settled and less warlike farmer ancestors. " (p. 97)

Everyone will flourish on a healthy, appropriately-planned vegetarian diet as

the one Dr. D'Adamo prescribes for Type A's. However, to particularly attribute

the benefit to only certain ancestors of the Type A's is theoretical,

highly-unsubstantiated information.

· " But it is particularly important for sensitive Type As to get their

foods in as natural a state as possible: fresh, pure, and organic. " (p. 97)

Again, beneficial for everyone. . .

· " Wheat is a mixed factor in a Type A Diet. While Type As may eat

wheat, they have to be careful not to eat too much of it or their muscle tissue

will become overly acidic. " (p. 98)

Again, for everyone, it is not recommended to eat too much of any one food

category.

· " In addition to eating a wide variety of healthy, low-fat foods and

balancing vegetables and grains, Type As need to highlight certain foods for

their beneficial effects. " (p. 98)

Again, beneficial for everyone to eat a wide variety of healthy, low-fat foods

and balancing vegetables and grains. And again, it is to Dr. D'Adamo's credit

that his " Highly Beneficial " food lists are comprised of particularly

nutrient-dense foods (they deliver a significant amount of nutrients for the

least amount of calories) and that his " Neutral " (allowable) food lists are

lengthy. But the " Highly Beneficial " foods are beneficial for everyone, not

just Type As!

· " To receive the greatest benefits, Type As should eliminate all meats

from their diet. " (p. 99)

Limiting the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) amount of meat (and animal food in

general) would benefit the vast majority of readers. So this recommendation

will likely help a majority of readers. However, it is not necessary to

eliminate all meat from the diet--healthy cultures all over the world eat a

strikingly similar 90% plant:10% animal food diet, the equivalent of

approximately 1 ounce of meat, poultry, or fish per day (or more realistically,

7 ounces/week, perhaps consumed as 2-3 ounces of animal protein 2-3x/week).

Although Dr. D'Adamo recommends his Type A readership be totally " vegan " , he

realizes that most will not be able to achieve that goal, or at the very least

concedes that it will take time. In striving for it they may very well end up

at the optimal diet with a small amount of meat, poultry, and fish. This would

indeed be optimal, but not just for Type As!!!

· " . . . I urge you to look at the Type A Diet guidelines with an open

mind. This is a way you can begin reducing Type A risk factors for heart

disease and cancer in your diet. Having said that, let me acknowledge that it

will probably take time for you to convert to a totally vegetarian diet. Begin

by substituting fish for meat several times a week. When you do eat meat,

choose the leanest cuts you can find; poultry is preferable to red meat.

Prepare meat by broiling or baking. Stay completely away from processed meat

products such as ham, frankfurters, and cold cuts. They contain nitrites, which

promote stomach cancer in people with low levels of stomach acid--a Type A

trait. " (pp. 99-100)

Again, nutrition recommendations which would benefit everyone.

And so it continues through all the Types, until the end . . .

Dr. D'Adamo gives excellent responses to the following questions (pp. 346-9):

· " Are organic foods more healthy than non-organic foods? "

· " Will eating canned food hurt my diet? "

· " Why is stir-frying so beneficial? "

· " Why are vegetable oils so limited on the Blood Type Diet? I thought

all vegetable oils were good for you. "

· " Tofu seems like a very unappealing food. Must I eat it if I'm Type

A? "

· " I've never heard of many of the grains you mention. Where do I find

out more? "

The theoretical information in this book is interspersed with nutriton nuggets,

which make Dr. D'Adamo's theories seem all-the-more credible. The same nuggets

can be found elsewhere, in good nutrition education programs and books, so

readers do not need to swallow them with the same pill as Dr. D'Adamo proposes

in his blood type, philosophical, and evolutionary theories.

Conclusion

· The Blood Type Diets low in calories. In addition, the diets restrict

saturated fat intake and encourage the consumption of fats high in

monounsaturated fatty acids. These recommendations are consistent with

available scientific data regarding diet, obesity, and heart disease. Given the

fact that the diet is low calorie, if followed carefully, this diet should

result in weight-loss. The reason that people lose weight is that the Blood

Type Diet is very low-calorie, not because of the particular affinity of the

individual blood types to Dr. D'Adamo's particular dietary prescriptions.

· The concern is not with what Dr. D'Adamo is asking people to eat, but

rather with what he is asking people to avoid and to believe about their origins

and caretaking, involving their whole being in the philosophy.

· Dr. D'Adamo's explanation that the reason dietary advice is

" backfiring " and not producing the desired results is because we are not

recommending Blood Type-favorable diets to match individual needs. Dr. D'Adamo

demonstrates a complete lack of understanding about reasons for dietary failure,

including

1) The " diet solution " has been too restrictive, leading to

overeating in response to undereating, and

2) Approximately 50% of the overweight population eat in response to

unresolved emotional pain, and are done a huge disservice when given yet

another " solution " to their " problem " while the underlying driving forces of

their eating behavior remains unaddressed. Dr. D'Adamo offers us yet another

" solution " .

· Making lists of " good " and " bad " foods (a popular trend among

self-professed nutrition " experts " and best-selling book authors) is a concept

which has proven more negative in terms of reinforcing diet mentality, food and

body image obsessions, and incorrect understanding of the big picture of optimal

health and nutrition, the goal of which is most readily achieved by encouraging

a variety of foods.

· For individuals who are tempted to believe Dr. D'Adamo's conclusions

about the ill-effects of a high-complex carbohydrate diet (a common refrain in

the protein-mania/carbo-phobia " diet authors " of the last several years) N.E.W.

LIFE recommends reading Dr. Barnard's conclusions from ongoing studies on diet

and hyperinsulinemia, etc. [1998 reference concludes that there is no ill effect

of a high-complex carbohydrate diet, and that the real dietary villains are

high-fat and high-sugar (including alcohol)]. Furthermore, Dr. Reaven, who

originally defined " Syndrome X " and the central role of hyperinsulinemia in

disease, is not even in agreement with these conclusions!

· Dr. D'Adamo is on the right track with his recommendations to emphasize

plant foods (and plant proteins) and reduce animal foods in general. However,

his dietary recommendations are too extreme (low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, and

by default, low-nutrient) and, taken as a whole, the recommendations are far

from healthful.

· Dr. D'Adamo would do better to present the evidence based on the

epidemiological data from healthy cultures around the world, who consume a 90%

plant:10% animal food diet (50% of calories from whole grains, beans, nuts, and

seeds). Let's use healthy cultures around the world as the example for our

model, not man-derived scientific theory and " reason " at our rather ignorant

level of understanding!

· Dr. D'Adamo includes good/helpful nutrition information amongst his

theories. However, this information is not particular to blood types as he

suggests.

· Dr. D'Adamo has interestingly incorporated seemingly limiting diet

recommendations in a way that are not really very limiting at all, except in

total calories and total fat, which will encourage weight-loss in his readers no

matter what they eat! He has used this method of nutrition counseling to

promote his philosophical (theoretical) beliefs, and to sell millions of books

to Americans looking for the " individualized diet " .

Overall Conclusion

Although Dr. D'Adamo presents many healthy diet recommendations in his book,

each of the specific Blood Type Diets is deficient in calories and starch (and

some nutrients, i.e. from nuts and seeds) for optimal health and energy.

Furthermore, his theories are presented as fact and are based on philosophical

information which is of great concern.

The Blood Type Diets will most certainly induce weight-loss if followed

strictly, but are too-low-carbohydrate to support optimal health, energy and

stable blood sugars.

The Blood Type Diet diet is not properly balanced for long-term use, and may be

risky for some people!!!

Again, the Diet Book Reviews (Eat Right 4 Your Type and others) is available at

http://www.newlifeforhealth.com/DietBookReviews.html. Hope that helps!

Diane Preves, M.S., R.D.

N.E.W. LIFE (Nutrition, Exercise, Wellness for LIFE)

www.newlifeforhealth.com

e-mail: newlife4health@..., newlife@...

http://www.linkedin.com/in/newlifedianepreves

http://www.facebook.com/people/Diane-Preves/1357243185

Blood Type Diet

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if any of you have any experiences and/or thought on the blood

type diet. I have a client inquiring about it.

Any thoughts or resources would be greatly appreciated!

TIA!

le LaFata, MA, RD, CPT