Blood Type O

Blood Type O: The Hunter

• Meat-eater
• Hardy Digestive tract
• Overactive immune system
• Intolerant to dietary and environmental changes
• Responds best to stress with intense physical activity
• Requires an efficient metabolism to stay lean and energetic

The Type O Diet – Overview

 

Type O’s thrive on intense physical exercise and animal protein.  Their digestive tracts retain the memory of their high animal protein hunter-gatherer lifestyle.  The combination of high-protein and low carbohydrate foods would have kept these people in a state of mild ketosis, where the body burns fats and protein for energy.  The combination of frequent physical activity and ketosis would have made for a lean, mean hunting machine, which is the ideal body composition for type O.

Standard dietary recommendations generally counsel against the consumption of too much animal protein due to the saturated fat content.  Modern farming techniques have lead to a dramatic increase in the levels of saturated fat, hormones and antibiotics in meat.  For the type O diet to be healthy, it is important to choose the leanest meat possible, and preferably to eat wild meat (game) or newer, organic/free range meats which are becoming available.

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 O’s have the immediate and physical response of their hunter ancestors – it goes straight to your muscles.  It permits a rapid and explosive response of physical energy to stressful events.  Type O’s become physically charged up in stressful situations, and if they are unable to relieve the energy it can lead to negative effects on your health.  Intense physical exercise is a key to Type O health, it balances the hormones, relieves muscle tension and maintains a healthy body weight.  If you want to lose weight, you must engage in regular, highly physical exercise, which acidifies the muscle and accelerates fat burning.

The downside is that if you don’t express your stress through physical activity, you may eventually be drained by the strong hormonal responses your body generates.  The exhaustion phase of the stress response may lead to depression, fatigue or insomnia, as well as physical conditions such as asthma, arthritis and continual weight gain.

Exercise

 

Type O’s should exercise vigourously at least 4 times per week to get the best results.

Exercise	Duration (minutes)	Frequency per week
Aerobics	40-60	3-4
Swimming	30-45	3-4
Jogging	30	3-4
Weight Training	30	3
Treadmill	30	3
Martial Arts	60	2-3
Cycling	30	3
Brisk Walking	30-40	5
Dancing	40-60	3
Roller blading/skating	30	3-4

Weight Loss

The major culprits in weight gain for type O’s are bread, wheat and pulses.  The lectins in gluten (the protein in wheat) interfere with insulin production and your ability to metabolise food for energy.  It is like putting diesel in a race car, it clogs the engine and prevents it working efficiently.  Type O’s that have failed on other diets will often lose weight just by eliminating wheat from their diets.

Foods increasing Fat Loss	Foods interfering with Fat Loss
Seafood, kelp & iodised salt (iodine)	Wheat and sweet corn (insulin production)
Red meat	Kidney & navy beans, lentils
Kale, spinach and broccoli	Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower
Liver	Mustard greens

Meat, Offal, Poultry and Game

 

You can eat lean beef, lamb, turkey, chicken or fish as often as you want to.  The more stress you are under, or the more demanding your exercise regime, the more often you should consume protein.  Be aware of portion sizes – try to consume no more than the size and thickness of the palm of your hand at any one meal.

Highly beneficial	Neutral	Avoid
Beef (including mince)	Chicken	Bacon
Buffalo	Duck	Goose
Heart	Partridge	Ham
Kidney	Pheasant	Pork
Lamb	Poussin
Liver – calf, chicken, pig	Quail
Mutton	Rabbit
Oxtail	Turkey
Sweetbreads
Tripe
Veal
Vennison

Seafood

 

Seafood is an excellent, low fat source of protein.  Cold water fish, which are rich sources of Omega 3 fats, such as cod, mackerel, tuna and salmon are beneficial for inflammatory diseases like arthritis, eczema and asthma.  Type O’s often have under-active thyroid function, and the iodine in seafood is very beneficial.

Highly beneficial	Neutral		Avoid
Cod	Abalone	Mussels	Barracuda
Hake	Anchovy	Oysters	Catfish
Halibut	Carp	Prawns	Caviar
Mackerel	Clam	Redfish	Conch
Schnapper	Crab	Scallops	Herring – pickled
Perch	Crayfish	Sea Bass	Octopus
Pike	Eel	Sea Trout	Smoked salmon
Rainbow Trout	Frog’s legs	Shark
Salmon	Grouper	Smelts
Sardine	Haddock	Snails
Sole	Herring (fresh)	Squid
Striped Bass	Lemon sole	Tuna
Sturgeon	Lobster
Swordfish	Monkfish

Dairy Food and Eggs

 

Type O’s should severely restrict their intake of dairy products.  Your system is not designed to metabolise them correctly and there are no beneficial foods in this group.  Many people of African and Asian descent are lactose intolerant, and should eliminate milk altogether.  Soy milk and soy cheese are a good, high protein alternative.  It is important to take a multi-mineral supplement that is high in good quality calcium, especially if you are a female type O.

Highly beneficial	Neutral	Avoid
None	Butter	Blue cheese	Gruyere cheese
	Feta cheese	Brie	Ice cream
	Goat’s cheese	Buttermilk	Jarlsburg cheese
	Mozzarella cheese	Camembert	Skim milk
	Soy cheese	Cheddar cheese	Munster cheese
	Soy milk	Cottage cheese	Parmesan cheese
	Eggs	Crème fraich	Provolone cheese
		Edam cheese	Neufachatel
		Emmenthal cheese	Ricotta cheese
		Fromage frais	Whey
		Goat’s milk	Yogurt
		Gouda cheese

Oils and Fats

 

Type O’s respond well to oils.  Generally you will not need to add a lot of oil to your food, as you will be getting significant amounts from your protein foods.  What oils that you do use should generally be the monounsaturated types, such as olive oil, which may help to lower cholesterol.  Margarines are a source of Trans-fatty acids, which interfere with your body’s ability to use fats for health.  They should be avoided, even if they are made from oils that are otherwise beneficial to you.  Have the oils in liquid form only.

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

Nuts and Seeds

 

Nuts can be a reasonable source of protein, quality fats and minerals for Type O’s.  They should not however be consumed in large quantities in place of meats.  People trying to lose weight should also avoid nuts until they have achieved their desired weight.  Type O’s are prone to bowel disorders, and those who have problems here should probably consume nut butters/pastes rather than whole nuts, to avoid irritating the lining of the bowel.

Highly beneficial	Neutral		Avoid
Pumpkin Seeds	Almonds	Pecans	Brazil nuts
Walnuts	Almond butter	Pine nuts	Cashews
	Chestnuts	Sesame seeds	Peanuts
	Hazelnuts	Sesame butter	Peanut Butter
	Hickory nuts	Sunflower seeds	Pistachios
	Macadamia nuts	Tahini	Poppy seeds

Beans and Pulses

 

Beans and pulses are not an important part of the Type O diet, although some may be eaten in moderation.  If you are of Asian descent, then you will tolerate these foods better than other Type O’s because Asians have become culturally accustomed to them.

Highly beneficial	Neutral		Avoid
Aduki beans	Black beans	Green beans	Kidney beans
Black-eyed beans	Broad beans	Lima beans	Navy beans
Pinto beans	Cannellini beans	Green peas	Lentils – brown, green & red
	Chick-peas	Sugar snap beans	Soya beans

 

 

 

 

Cereals

 

Type O’s do not tolerate wheat products at all, and they should be eliminated completely from the diet.  The lectins in gluten react with the blood and also the lining of the digestive tract, interfering with the proper absorption of beneficial foods.  They also interfere with the regulation of insulin and are the primary culprits in weight gain amongst type O’s.

Highly beneficial	Neutral	Avoid
None	Amaranth	Cornflakes
	Barley	Cornmeal
	Buckwheat	Granola
	Cream of rice	Weetbix
	Millet – puffed	Wheat bran
	Oat bran	Shredded wheat
	Oat meal	Avoid any cereal containing corn or wheat
	Rice bran
	Rice – puffed
	Spelt

Bread, Crispbread and Muffins

 

Since most bread and muffins contain wheat, they should be avoided.  If you are used to starting your day with toast or cereal, you may find it takes a little while to adjust.  Even gluten-free breads can eventually cause problems, as the Type O system is not assimilated to handle grains.

Those breads that are neutral should be consumed in moderation, and make sure that you check the ingredients for corn and wheat products.

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

Grains and Pastas

 

There are no grains or pastas that are highly beneficial for Type O.  Most pasta is based on wheat and should be avoided.  Gluten-free pastas made from buckwheat or rice flours are suitable for the occasional pasta dish.  Do not replace animal and fish foods with grains.

 

Highly beneficial	Neutral	Avoid
None	Buckwheat, barley and rye flour	Couscous
	Rice and spelt flour	Durum wheat flour
	Quinoa	Gluten and Oat flour
	Rice and rice noodles	Plain & self-raising flour
	Soba (buckwheat) noodles	Semolina pasta
	Tapioca	Spinach pasta
	Wild rice	Wholewheat flour

 

Vegetables, Sprouts, Soya Products and Fresh Herbs

 

There are wide ranges of vegetables that are suitable for Type O, and you should eat them liberally.  There are a few groups however, that should be minimised or avoided altogether.  Some members of the mustard family (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and mustard greens) interfere with thyroid hormone production, which is potentially lower in Type O’s anyway.  Some members of the nightshade family (potato, eggplant) can lead to arthritic conditions as their lectins lead to an inflammatory reaction in the joints of Type O’s.

Highly beneficial	Neutral		Avoid
Beetroot leaves	Asparagus	Mushrooms:	Alfalfa
Broccoli	Bamboo shoots	– abalone	Avocado
Collard greens	Beetrots	– chanterelles	Cabbage – chinese
Dandelion leaves	Broad beans	– enoki	– red  – white
Endive	Carrots	– porcini	Cauliflower
Garlic	Celery	– portobello	Eggplant
Globe artichokes	Chervil	– tree oyster	Mushrooms:
Horseradish	Chicory	Peppers  – green	– cultivated
Kale	Chili peppers jalapeno	– yellow	– shiitake
Leeks	Coriander	Radicchio	Mustard greens
Okra	Courgettes	Radish	Olives:
Onion	Cucumber	Rocket	– black
Parsley	Daikons	Shallots	– greek
Parsnips	Dill	Spring onions	– spanish
Peppers – red	Fennel	Squash	Potatoes – red, white
Pumpkin	Ginger	Swedes	Sweetcorn
Seaweeds	Green olives	Tempe / Tofu
Spinach	Lettuce – iceburg, cos, butterhead	Tomatoes
Sweet potatoes	Mesclun salad mixture	Water chestnuts
Swiss chard	Mung bean sprouts	Watercress
Tapioca		Yams
Tunips

Fruits

Fruits should be consumed liberally on the Type O diet.  They are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre, and can be a replacement for grain based carbohydrates (biscuits, breads etc).  Foods that have a high mould level such as rockmelon and honeydew should be avoided, as should foods that have a high acid content like citrus.  Finally, type O’s tend to be sensitive to coconut and should avoid foods containing coconut.

Highly beneficial	Neutral		Avoid
Figs – fresh, dried	Apples	Loganberries	Blackberries
Plums:	Apricots	Lychees	Coconuts
– green	Bananas	Mangoes	Melon:
– purple	Blackcurrants	Melons – canang	– rockmelon
– red	Blueberries	– casaba	– honeydew
Prunes	Boysenberries	– Crenshaw	Oranges
	Cherries	– Christmas	Plantains
	Cranberries	– musk	Rhubarb
	Currants	– Spanish	Strawberries
	Red dates	Nectarines	Tangerines
	Elderberries	Papayas
	Gooseberries	Peaches
	Grapefruit	Pears
	Grapes:	Persimmons
	– green	Pineapples
	– purple	Pomegranates
	– red	Prickly pears
	Guava	Raisins
	Kiwi	Raspberries
	Kumquats	Star fruit
	Lemons	Watermelons
	Limes

Juices and Other Fluids

 

Type O’s do better on vegetable juices than fruit, due to the alkalinity which is beneficial for your digestive system.  It is best to avoid fruit juices with a high sugar content such as apple.

Highly beneficial	Neutral		Avoid
Black cherry juice	Apricot juice	Grape juice	Apple cider
Pineapple juice	Carrot juice	Grapefruit juice	Apple juice
Prune juice	Celery juice	Papaya juice	Cabbage juice
	Cucumber juice	Tomato juice	Orange juice
	Cranberry juice	All other vegetables that are neutral

Spices, Dried Herbs and Flavourings

 

Some herbs and spices are particularly beneficial for Type O’s, such as kelp or iodised salt in small quantities (for the iodine content).  While sugars, honey and chocolate are not detrimental to you, they should also be consumed in small amounts, especially if you are trying to lose fat.

Highly beneficial	Neutral			Avoid
Carob	Agar	Corn syrup	Peppermint	Cinnamon
Cayenne	Allspice	Cream of tartar	Pimento	Cornflour
Curry	Almond essence	Cumin	Rice syrup	Nutmeg
Seaweeds (kelp)	Anise	Dill	Rosemary	Pepper – ground
Turmeric	Arrowroot	Garlic	Saffron	Vanilla essence
	Barley malt	Gelatin – plain	Sage	Vanilla pod
	Basil	Honey	Salt	Vinegars
	Bay leaf	Horseradish	Soy sauce
	Bergamot	Maple syrup	Spearmint
	Brown rice syrup	Marjoram	Sugar – brown
	Capers	Mint	Sugar – white
	Caraway	Miso	Tamari
	Cardamom	Molasses	Tamarind
	Chive	Mustard – dry	Tarragon
	Chocolate	Paprika	Thyme
	Cloves	Peppercorns
	Coriander	Chilli flakes

Condiments

 

There are no beneficial condiments for Type O.  If you must have mustard and salad dressing, use a small amount and stick to low-fat, low-sugar varieties.  Avoid all pickled foods as they irritate your stomach lining and are indigestible.  Even though you can have tomatoes occasionally, you should avoid tomato sauce as it contains vinegar.  You can freely use olive oil, lemon and garlic.

Highly beneficial	Neutral	Avoid
None	Jam (from acceptable fruits)	Tomato sauce / ketchup
	Mustard	Mayonnaise
	Salad dressing	Pickles
	Worcestershire sauce	Relish

Herbal Teas

 

Recommended herbal teas are those to maintain your system and minimise the weakness of your blood type.  For Type O’s this involves the digestive and immune systems

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

Beverages

There are few beverages that are suitable for the Type O diet.  Soda water, beer and wine are all acceptable in moderation. If you drink coffee daily, you should gradually cut down until you are able to avoid it altogether.  Stopping suddenly will lead to headaches and irritability.

Highly beneficial	Neutral	Avoid
Soda water	Beer	Coffee – decaf & regular
Mineral water	Wine – rd, white & rose	Distilled spirits
Filtered water		Soft drinks
		Tea – black, decaf, regular

– See more at: http://whitsundayhealthclinic.com/old/blood-type-o/#sthash.B1c0cS3s.dpuf

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