Blood Type AB

Blood Type ABThe Enigma

  • Modern merging of A & B Types
  • Chameleon-like response to changing environmental & dietary conditions
  • Sensitive digestive system
  • Overly tolerant immune system
  • Responds best to stress spiritually, with physical verve and creative energy
  • An evolutionary mystery

 

The Type AB Diet – Overview

Blood type AB is less than 1000 years old.  It is very rare (2-5% of the world’s population), and biolgically complex.  Type AB’s carry antigens for both A & B, and the diet is a fusion of the two, sometimes like one and then like the other.  In general terms, a food which is bad for either of Type A or B, will most likely be unfavourable for type AB as well.  There are some exceptions, such as tomatoes, which both Type A & B cannot tolerate, yet type AB can eat with no ill effects.

Foods below are presented under their broad headings as either beneficial, neutral or avoid.  Try to eat as many of the beneficial foods as possible, the neutral foods to fill out your diet and avoid the rest as often as possible.  Following the diet accurately will lead to benefits within 1-2 weeks of greater energy, reduction in symptoms of illness and fat loss (should that be necessary for your body).

Stress Profile

 

Stress is a highly personal experience, and what is incredibly stressful for one person may not create any problems for another.  How we deal with stress is more important than the absolute level of stressful events that occur in our lives.  Your blood type influences how you deal with stress and should guide your stress management techniques.

Type AB’s tend to react to the first stage of stress (threat or alarm) intellectually.  This over-intellectualising can lead to anxiety, irritability and hyperactivity if unchecked.  Ongoing stress for a Type AB will eventually weaken the immune system and lead to a increased susceptibility to infectious illness, heart disease and cancer.  You will not cope well with continued confrontation or exposure to stress, as Type AB’s require time alone to process and deal with life events

You will benefit from approaching stressful situations calmly and using techniques to reduce the overexcited nerves.  Negative stress can be countered with ‘quieting’ techniques, such as Yoga, Tai Chi or meditation.  Other moderately intense activities such as hiking, bicycling or brisk walking are also beneficial, so long as you mind is engaged by the activity.  However, intense, competitive exercises will only leave you drained and more stressed than before you began.

 

Exercise

 

Type AB’s should exercise at least 3-4 times per week to get the best results.

Exercise Duration (minutes) Frequency per week
Tai Chi 30-45 3-5
Yoga 30 3-5
Martial Arts 60 2-3
Golf 60 2-3
Cycling 60 2-3
Brisk Walking 20-40 2-3
Hiking 40-60 3
Brisk Walking 30-40 2-3
Dancing 30-45 2-3
Swimming 30 3-4
Aerobics 30-45 2-3
Stretching 15 3-5

 

Weight Loss

 

When it comes to weight gain, Type AB’s reflect the mixed inheritance of their A & B genes.  This can lead to difficulties, for instance, they have low stomach acid (Type A) yet are adapted to eating meat (Type B).  Meat requires good stomach acid levels to digest, so it is often poorly digested, which can lead to weight gain.  For weight loss, consumption of meats should be restricted and supplemented with vegetables and tofu.  Foods such as beans, corn, buckwheat or sesame seeds will interfere with insulin regulation and lead to weight gain.  Like Type B, type AB should avoid wheat products when trying to lose weight, as the lectin in gluten can cause insulin imbalances.

Foods increasing Fat Loss Foods interfering with Fat Loss
Tofu Red meat
Seafood Lima beans
Green vegetables Seeds
Kelp Sweetcorn
Dairy products Buckwheat
Alkaline fruits Wheat
Pineapple

 

 

Meat, Offal, Poultry and Game

 

You will benefit from some animal protein, but because of lower levels of stomach acid, need to be cautious in terms of portion size.  Type AB’s find it easier to digest meats in smaller quantities, especially those that are in the beneficial column.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Lamb Liver – calf, chicken, pig Bacon Heart
Mutton Pheasant Beef Partridge
Rabbit Buffalo Pork
Turkey Chicken Poussin
Duck Quail
Goose Veal
Ham Venison

Seafood

 

Seafood is an excellent source of protein for type AB.  You should avoid flat fish such as sole and plaice and also crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters and oysters.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Cod Abalone Salmon Anchovy
Grouper Bluefish Scallop Barracuda
Hake Carp Shark Clams
Mackerel Catfish Smelts Conch
Mahi mahi Caviar Schnapper Crab
Monkfish Crockers Squid Crayfish
Pike Herring – fresh Swordfish Eel
Porgy Mussels Frog’s legs
Red fish Haddock
Red Schnapper Halibut
Rainbow trout Herring – pickled
Sailfish Lobster
Sardines Octopus
Sea trout Oysters
Shad Plaice
Snails Prawns
Sturgeon Sea bass
Tuna Smoked salmon
Sole
Striped bass

 

Dairy Food and Eggs

 

For dairy foods, Type AB’s are similar to B.  They can enjoy a full range of dairy foods, which are beneficial for their systems.  The major factor to watch out for is the excess production of mucus, which may aggravate sinus, asthma or ear problems.  If this is the case, you will need to reduce dairy until this improves.

Eggs are an excellent source of protein for type AB’s.  They are high in cholesterol however, so some caution should be exercised if your cholesterol levels are already high.  Often, high cholesterol is related to other factors besides how much you consume in your diet, and your practitioner will guide you on this issue.  One technique you may try is to eat two egg whites (protein) to every one egg yolk (cholesterol).

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Cottage cheese Cheddar cheese Munster cheese Blue cheese
Feta cheese Edam cheese Nufachatel cheese Brie
Goat’s cheese Emmenthal cheese Quark Butter
Goat’s milk Fromage frais Skim milk Buttermilk
Kefir Gouda cheese Soy cheese Camembert
Mozzarella cheese Gruyere cheese Soy milk Ice-cream
Ricotta cheese Jarlsburg cheese Whey Parmesan cheese
Milk Yogurt Provolone cheese

 

 

Oils and Fats

 

You will benefit from introducing olive oil to your diet.  You can use one tablespoon every second day in cooking or salad dressing.  Ghee (clarified butter) can also be used as a cooking oil.  Avoid using sesame, sunflower or corn oils which are harmful to your digestive tract.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Olive oil Canola Corn oil Safflower oil
Cod liver oil Cottonseed oil Sunflower oil
Ghee Sesame oil
Linseed (flaxseed) oil

 

Nuts and Seeds

 

Nuts and seeds present a mixed picture for type AB.  They may be eaten in small amounts, and with caution.  Although they can be a good source of nutrients, many contain lectins that interfere with insulin regulation.  Conversely, Type AB shares Type A’s preference for peanuts.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Chestnuts Almonds Hazelnuts Sesame seeds
Walnuts Brazil nuts Poppy seeds Sunflower seeds
Cashew nuts Pumpkin seeds Tahini
Hickory nuts
Macadamia nuts
Pine nuts
Pistachios

 

Beans and Pulses

 

Similar to seeds and nuts, beans and pulses are a mixed bag for Type AB.  Lentils, navy and pinto beans can provide quality nutrition, however kidney and lima beans can be harmful.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Lentils – green Broad beans Aduki beans
Navy beans Cannellini beans Black beans
Pinto beans Green beans Black-eyed beans
Soya beans Lentils – brown, red Chickpeas
Peas – green, sugar snap Kidney beans
Tamarind beans Lima beans

 

Cereals

 

Generally you will do well on grains, even wheat.  You may however have to limit wheat consumption as it can be acid-forming in excess.  It is also not advised if you are trying to lose weight, as it negatively effects metabolism.  If you suffer from mucus-forming conditions such as asthma or sinus, then you should experiment with wheat levels to see how much you can tolerate.  You must avoid buckwheat and corn.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Millet Amaranth Buckwheat
Oat bran Barley Cornflakes
Oatmeal Cream of rice Cornmeal
Ricebran Familia
Puffed rice Granola
Rye Shredded wheat
Spelt Wheat bran
Wheat germ

 

 

Bread, Crispbread and Muffins

 

The recommendations for breads and muffins are similar to cereals and grains.  Generally they are beneficial foods for you, but you should minimize wheat products if trying to lose weight or suffering excess mucus.  Soy and rice flour are useful substitutes.  Avoid cornbread and corn muffins.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Brown rice bread Bagels Cornbread
Fin crisps Durum wheat bread Corn muffins
Millet bread Gluten-free bread Polenta
Rice cakes Multi-grain bread
100% rye bread Oat-bran muffins
Ryvita crispbreads Pumpernickel bread
Soy flour bread Spelt bread
Wasa bread Wheat bran muffins
Wholemeal bread

 

Grains and Pastas

 

You will benefit more from a diet rich in rice than pasta, although pasta 1-2 times per week is fine.  Again, avoid corn and buckwheat in favour of oats and rye.

 

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Oat flour Bulgar wheat flour Quinoa Barley flour
Rice flour Couscous Self-raising flour Buckwheat flour
Rice flour Durum wheat flour Semolina pasta Soba (buckwheat)
Rice Gluten flour Spelt flour Tapioca
Rye flour Graham flour Spinach pasta
Wild rice Plain flour Wholemeal flour

 

Vegetables, Sprouts, Soya Products and Fresh Herbs

 

Fresh vegetables are a crucial source of protective antioxidants and phytochemicals which reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.  Type AB’s should consume 3-5 serves of vegetables per day, and just about all of the vegetables are acceptable.  Unlike other blood types, you are able to consume tomatoes without harm due to the particular makeup of your blood type.  Like Type B, you must avoid sweetcorn and any corn-based products.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Alfalfa sprouts Asparagus – cultivated Avocado
Aubergine (eggplant) Bamboo shoots – enoki Broad beans
Beetroot Bok choy – porcini Chilli pepper, jalapeno
Beetroot leaves Brussel’s sprouts – portobello Capsicum
Broccoli Cabbage – chinese, red, white – shiitake Globe artichokes
Cauliflower Carrots – tree oyster Jerusalem artichokes
Celery Chervil Okra Mung bean sprouts
Collard greens Chicory Olives – greek, green, spanish Olive – black
Cucumbers Coriander Onions (all) Radishes
Dandelion greens Courgettes Potatoes Radish sprouts
Garlic Daikons Pumpkin Sweetcorn
Kale Endive Radicchio
Mushrooms: maitake Escarole Rappini
Mustard greens Fennel Rocket
Parsley Ginger Seaweeds
Parsnips Horseradish Shallots
Sweet potatoes Jicama beans Swedes
Tempe Kohlrabi Spinach
Tofu Leeks Squash
Yams Lettuce (all) Swiss chard
Mangetouts Tomatoes
Mushrooms: Turnips
– abalone Water chestnuts
– chantarelles Watercress

 

Fruits

 

Type AB inherits mostly Type A preferences for fruits.  You will benefit most from alkaline-forming fruits such as grapes, plums and berries which will balance any acidity from grains in your diet.  You should avoid tropical fruits, such as mangoes and guava, but pineapple is an excellent choice as it boosts digestive powers.  You will need to avoid oranges, as they are irritants to Type AB’s and interfere with digestion and absorption.  Grapefruit or lemon is an alternative if you want to include citrus in your diet.  Banana lectins will be problematic for you, and you may wish to substitute other high-potassium fruits such as apricots, figs or melons.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Cherries Apples – crenshaw Bananas
Cranberries Apricots – christmas Coconuts
Figs – dried, fresh Blackberries – honeydew Guava
Gooseberries Blackcurrants – musk Mangoes
Grapes (all) Blueberries – spanish Oranges
Loganberries Boysenberries Nectarines Persimmons
Plums (all) Dates Papaya Pomegranates
Elderberries Peaches Prickly pears
Grapefruit Pears Rhubarb
Kiwi Pineapple Star fruit
Kumquats Plantains
Lemons Prunes
Limes Raisins
Lychees Raspberries
Melons: Redcurrants
– canang Strawberries
– cantaloupe Tangerines
– casaba Watermelons

 

Juices and Other Fluids

 

You will benefit from starting each day with the juice of ½ a lemon squeezed into a small glass of warm (from the kettle) water.  This will cleanse mucus from the digestive system and stimulate liver function.  You can follow this with a dilute glass of any other juice from the beneficial list if you like.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Black cherry juice Apple cider Orange juice
Cabbage juice Apple juice
Carrot juice Apricot juice
Celery juice Cucumber juice
Cranberry juice Grapefruit juice
Grape juice Other vegetables in list
Papaya juice Pineapple juice
Prune juice
Tomato juice
Water (with lemon juice)

 

Spices, Dried Herbs and Flavourings

 

You should use sea salt or kelp in place of regular salt as it is beneficial for your system to keep sodium levels low.  The iodine in kelp has positive benefits in terms of metabolism and weight control.  It is best to avoid peppers and vinegar as they are stomach irritants.  You can use lemon juice and olive oil as an alternative to vinegar in salads etc.  Garlic can be used generously, for it’s flavour and also immune system benefits.  You may consume sugar and chocolate in small amounts.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Curry powder Agar Dill Saffron Allspice
Horseradish Arrowroot Garlic Sage Almond essence
Miso Basil Honey Salt Anise
Parsely Bay leaf Maple syrup Seaweed Barley malt
Bergamot Marjoram Spearmint Capers
Brown rice syrup Mint Soy sauce Cayenne pepper
Caraway seeds Molasses Sugar Cornflour
Cardamom Mustard – dry Tamarind Corn syrup
Carob Nutmeg Tarragon Chilli powder
Chervil Paprika Thyme Gelatine
Chives Peppermint Turmeric Pepper – black
Chocolate Pimento Vanilla – white, ground
Cinnamon Rice syrup Vinegar: Tapioca
Coriander Rosemary – balsamic Vinegar – white
Cream of tartar – cider
Cumin – red wine

 

Condiments

These are not recommended for any blood type, but Type AB in particular needs to avoid all pickled condiments, including tomato sauce (ketchup).

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
None Jam (from acceptable fruits) Tomato sauce (ketchup)
Mayonnaise Pickles
Mustard Relish
Salad dressing (no vinegar) Worcestershire sauce

 

Herbal Teas

 

You will benefit from herbal teas that enhance immune function and protect against cardiovascular diseases.  Alfalfa, aloe, burdock, Echinacea and golden seal are immune boosters.  Hawthorn, green tea, ginger and ginseng can be used to protect the heart and blood vessels.  Dandelion and strawberry leaf will enhance iron absorption and reduce the likelihood of anaemia.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Alfalfa Catnip Raspberry leaf Aloe
Burdock root Cayenne Sage Coltsfoot
Echinacea Chamomile Sarsaparilla Cornsilk
Ginger Chickweed Spearmint Fenugreek
Ginseng Dandelion St John’s Wort Gentian
Green tea Dong quai Strawberry leaf Hops
Hawthorn Elderflower Thyme Linden
Licourice* Golden seal Valerian Mullein
Rose hip Horehound Vervain Red clover
Parsley Yarrow Rhubarb
Peppermint Yellow dock Senna
Shepherd’s purse
Scullcap

* licourice can have effects on blood pressure and certain medications in high doses.  Discuss this with your physician before using.

Beverages

Red wine is beneficial for your blood type due to it’s positive cardiovascular benefits.  A glass or two of red wine most days is believed to reduce cardiovascular disease.  One or two coffees per day can also be beneficial as it increase stomach acid secretions and enhances digestion.

Highly beneficial Neutral Avoid
Coffee – decaf, regular Beer Distilled spirits
Green tea Soda water Soft drinks
Wine – red, white Tea – decaf, regular

 

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