Knowing your blood type can help your nutritionist fix the right food chart for you
Most dieticians want to know your blood group before they chart out a diet plan for you. If that leaves you stumped, flip through Eat Right 4 Your Type, a book published in 1996 by a naturopathic physician in the US, Dr Peter J D’Adamo. Aldamo’s contention that your blood group tells a lot about the kind of food you should eat has grown in popularity since and is followed assiduously by dieticians in major metros in India.

“The theory is based on the idea that each blood group has its own unique antigen-marker (a substance that the helps the body recognise an alien element in the system) and this marker reacts badly with certain foods, leading to all sorts of potential health problems,”says nutritionist Shikha Sharma. The level of stomach acidity and secretion of digestive enzymes is linked with your blood type. Consequently, by following a diet designed specifically for your blood type, your body digests and absorbs food efficiently.

While white meat may help one blood type lose weight, red meat can help the other blood type. By adding foods that suit your blood group and cutting down on those that don’t, you could maximise the benefits of an exercise or diet regimen.

"Group A people, for instance, lose weight if they eat fruits and vegetables. But that should not mean they begin excluding other foods from their diet as they are needed for nutrition,”says Dr Sakshi Chawla, senior dietician, Fortis, Noida. Since this diet does not take into account cultural factors like vegetarianism, it is best followed in moderation.

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