A blood type B diet can be a life-changing alteration for people who have this type of blood.
Few people give much thought to what their blood type is, and might only do so when a hospital emergency arises or should a nurse happen to mention their type when giving blood.
But blood is more than the liquid life force running through our veins—it may be the key to determining how to best feed the body for optimal health.
A blood type diet is unlike any most people are likely to have encountered.
There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Antigens are what determine the type of blood you have; interestingly enough, people with blood type O have no antigens, which is a handy way to remember it.
In 1996, naturopathic physician Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo wrote a wildly popular book, Eat Right for Your Type. The foods you eat for your blood type will obviously depend on which type you have, and each list for the four main types is very different.
It should be noted, however, that Dr. D’Adamo’s claims have not been substantiated by the medical community, and the links made between blood type and incidence of disease are considered tenuous. Before embarking on any major dietary change, it’s always best to talk to your doctor first. With that in mind, let’s take a look at Dr. D’Adamo’s diet for blood type B.
Dietary Guidelines for Blood Type B
According to Dr. D’Adamo, those with blood type B are considered The Nomad, that is, if you trace their lineage far enough, you’ll find that they are descended from ancient nomadic tribes and thus have specific dietary needs. These people have strong immune systems, a tolerant digestive system, and are the most flexible in available dietary choices among all the blood types; they can also eat a lot of dairy.
A blood type B diet food list warns against eating corn, buckwheat, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts, and sesame seeds because these will cause weight gain. Below are two tables outlining the foods that are beneficial and the foods that should be avoided if your blood type is B.
Blood Type B Diet Chart: Foods to Avoid
| Vegetables | Fruit | Dairy | Poultry | Meat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artichokes | Avocados | American cheese | Chicken | Heart |
| Corn | Coconuts | Blue cheese | Cornish hen | Horse |
| Pumpkins | Persimmons | Ice cream | Duck | Pork |
| Radishes | Pomegranates | String cheese | Goose | Sweetbreads |
| Rhubarb | Prickly pears | Grouse | Turtle | |
| Tomatoes | Star fruit | Guinea hen | ||
| Partridge | ||||
| Quail/Squab |
Blood Type B Diet Chart: Foods to Eat
| Vegetables | Fruit | Dairy | Poultry | Meat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beet greens | Bananas | Cottage cheese | None | Beef |
| Beets | Cranberries | Cow’s milk | Calf liver | |
| Broccoli | Grapes | Farmer cheese | Goat | |
| Brussels sprouts | Papayas | Feta | Lamb | |
| Cabbage | Pineapples | Goat cheese | Mutton | |
| Carrot | Plums | Goat’s milk | Rabbit | |
| Cauliflower | Watermelons | Mozzarella | Turkey | |
| Eggplant | Paneer | Veal | ||
| Peppers | Yogurt |
Vegetables to Eat and Avoid for Blood Type B
There are very few vegetables that type B blood people cannot eat, so be sure to sample from a wide selection and get three to five servings a day of fresh vegetables.
Vegetables to Eat
Vegetables to Avoid
- Artichokes
- Corn
- Olives
- Pumpkins
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Tomatoes
Fruits to Eat and Avoid for Blood Type B
As with vegetables, there are very few fruits for those with blood type B to avoid, so be sure to get at least two servings a day. Pineapple can be especially good for those who experience bloating from meat and dairy.
Fruits to Eat
Fruits to Avoid
- Avocados
- Coconut
- Melon
- Persimmons
- Pomegranates
- Prickly pears
- Starfruit
Dairy Products to Eat and Avoid for Blood Type B
Blood type B is pretty much the best blood type to have where food is concerned because there are so few restrictions, and that goes for dairy too. The primary sugar in the type B antigen is the same sugar found in milk, which makes digesting dairy products easy for this blood type.
Dairy to Eat
Dairy to Avoid
- American cheese
- Blue cheese
- Ice cream
- String cheese
Poultry, Meat to Eat and Avoid for Blood Type B
With regards to poultry, those with type B have to give up chicken, and this one thing might be the most difficult to do in North America because chicken is so commonly consumed. This goes for other forms of poultry such as Cornish hen, duck, goose, and partridge.
Meats to Eat
- Beef
- Buffalo
- Calf liver
- Goat
- Lamb
- Mutton
- Rabbit
- Turkey
- Venison
Meats to Avoid
- Chicken
- Cornish hen
- Duck
- Goose
- Grouse
- Guinea hen
- Heart
- Horse
- Pork
Lifestyle Recommendations for Blood Type B
Blood type B diet and lifestyle recommendations largely have to do with managing and avoiding stress and stressful situations.
- Tai chi and yoga are great for this group, to balance out their more physical natures; intense physical activity should be done three times a week.
- Be sure to get plenty of sleep and use visualization techniques to further reduce stress.
Sources for Today’s Article:
D’Adamo, P.J., Eat Right for Your Type (New York: Putnam, 1997), 14, 144, 149, 160–162.
“Types of Food to Avoid for B Positive Diet,” SF Gate web site; http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/types-foods-avoid-b-positive-blood-type-9805.html, last accessed April 11, 2016.
Cusack, L., et al, “Blood Type Diets Lack Supporting Evidence: A Systematic Review,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2013, doi:10.3945/ajcn.113.058693.