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

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