Peter J. D'Adamo

“Eat Right For Your Type” is a book that has crossed my path a few times, so I decided to read it.

Author Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo is the doctor who helped develop the idea that different blood types should have different types of diets. The first few chapters are about the history of blood, the evolution of blood, and how knowing our blood type is like a blueprint to who we are.

The first blood type was Type O. I am the second blood type, Type A, which appeared around 25,000 to 15,000 B.C. show more Type A was born in Asia or the Middle East and developed as a response to the changing elements of the environment.

Mutation from Type O, who were hunter-gatherers to Type A, who were grain-agricultural happened rapidly. Type A blood ancestors migrated mostly toward Europe.

“The connection between the blood type of our ancestors and our diet today is because of a protein called lectins,” says D’Adamo. He claims that too many of the wrong type of lectins in the body can cause disease, can cause a person to be overweight, and can cause a general unhealthyness.

The book suggests that if a person avoids certain foods and increases others, the body should naturally be able to fight off diseases (including cancer cells) and be in better shape.

A large portion of “Eat Right For Your Type” is dedicated to the four different types of diets: O, A, B, and AB. Each food group is addressed and suggestions are made as to the foods that are the most beneficial, foods that are neutral, and foods to avoid, as in relation to blood type.

For example, with my Type A blood, I should avoid red meat, wheat, and shell fish. I can indulge in coffee, most vegetables and anything soy. D’Adama also gives suggestions for vitamin supplements and exercises to best handle stress for each blood type.

Another section focuses on medical issues such as vaccinations, allergies, diabetes, infections, reproduction, and cancer. D’Adamo explains why some blood types are more prone to the common cold than others but he also emphasizes the fact that medical research is ongoing in these areas.

D’Adamo explains that certain blood types are at a higher risk for cancer while others have a greater odds for survival. D’Adamo states that lectins act like probes to cancer cells, helping researchers understand the biology of cancer; he believes lectins should be studied more.

I was fascinated by the history of my ancestor’s blood, and I was unaware of the evolution of blood. D’Adamo’s research is reasonable, but I will not be cutting red meat out of my diet anytime soon. I understand now why I should keep a diet that is closely related to my forgoers, but more importantly, I think an overall healthier eating lifestyle keeps a person from disease. show less

Well... I finally finished reading this book only because my library wouldn't let me keep it any longer. I started reading it because I heard a lot of different opinions about Blood Type Diet and wanted to know more about it. While reading this book, I actually tried to avoid foods which are harmful for my blood type. Since I felt pretty healthy before this diet anyways, I did not experience any significant benefits.

This January, a new study came out, which found no scientific evidence for show more the Blood Type Diet whatsoever, except the fact that diets recommended for different blood types are pretty healthy in general and would benefit a person of any blood type. Anyways, now I am back at eating my regular diet and enjoying tomatoes, avocados, chicken, peanuts, some wheat etc. (all the forbidden pleasures!) in a moderation.

Generally, I liked the idea of the Blood Type Diet and some points made by the author seemed very reasonable. However, in my opinion, the book is quite out dated and lacks hard proof as most of the conclusions are drawn from the observational studies (which are quite subjective) and generalizations (something like having a theory and trying to fit it everywhere) rather than objective scientific evidence. Since I have some scientific background, the book seems a little bit repetitive and some explanations are over simplified, but it might be good for someone who has no scientific background.

All in all, I think the Blood Type Diet theory is not a complete nonsense but I do not agree with the author that EVERYTHING about us is determined by our blood type, and living, eating, and exercising by our blood type is the only way to go. show less

What a colossal waste of reading time. But, on the other hand (she had warts), a great list of herbs, grains, supplements, and food groups. Seriously folks, I don't think papaya is a tropical fruit I am willing to give up!

The book which explains - perhaps - why some people thrive on a vegetarian diet, and others on a high-protein one. If the theory is true, the book is a sensible and practical one, with good ideas for increasing health by eating according to blood group. Even if the theory is entirely wrong (as is possible) there are still some good suggestions for general health eating.