MAY-JUNE 2000

Ear right 4 your type It is now common knowledge that our food choices directly affect our well being and our weight. However, there are so many conflicting nutritional information, that it is easy to get lost in the nutritional maze. How can a person determine which nutritional advise to follow or which diet to adopt? According to Peter J. D’Adamo, author of the book: Eat right 4 your type, our sex, hair colour and dietary regimen cannot be chosen. They were all determined by our genetic heritage thousands of years ago. In fact, as we chose foods today, the same foods that are beneficial to one blood type, may be harmful to another. Furthermore, as each blood type is predisposed to certain diseases, foods may act as a catalyst for disease, or the opposite, it may slow down the degenerative process. Hence, it is crucial to choose the appropriate foods. As you do so, you will improve your biological, medical and nutritional profiles. According to your specific blood type, you will be able to adjust your choices of exercise, foods and relaxation methods. In turn, your natural forces will be optimised. The most ancient is the O type (O for origin). Dating as far as forty thousand years before Jesus-Christ, humans hunted for their food. They quickly learned to make weapons and tools for their survival.As they were able to dominate on the animal kingdom, their population exploded. Meat or animal protein was their main staple. The digestive characteristics of individuals with type O developed at this stage of human evolution. Type A or agriculturist (farmer) appeared in Asia or the Middle-Orient about fifteen to twenty thousand years before Christ. At this time, man evolved from being hunters and pickers to farmers; a more civilised way of life. Raising cattle and cultivating cereals drastically changed their way of life. They were now able to ensure their livelihood, group as communities and settle permanently. These lifestyle changes along with the new foods introduced in their diet provoked genetic mutations of their digestive tracts and immune systems. They started tolerating cereals and other grown foods. The “A” type was born. B type stands for Barbarian. It appeared about ten to fifteen thousand years before Christ, when man migrated north, to Asia. They captured and domesticated cattle. Meat and dairy products were their main staples and their southern cousins considered the use of dairy product quite barbaric! AB type is the modern one. It is very rare. Only 5% of the world’s population has this blood type. Dating ten to twelve thousand years ago, this group inherited the characteristics of both A and B types. Persons with this blood type are blessed with very strong immune systems. Individuals form type A carry the anti-B antibody. They agglutinate blood from type B and reject it. Persons with type B carry he anti-A antibody and reject type A blood. A person from type A can’t give blood to a person with type B and vice-versa. Persons from type AB do not produce antibodies against other blood types. They are called universal receivers. However, they carry antigens A and B rejecting all other blood types. So, they can only give blood to persons of the same type as themselves. Persons form type O produce antibodies anti-A and anti-B. They agglutinate blood form types A, B and AB. They can only receive blood from type O but since they do not carry the antigens A and B, they can give blood to all blood types. They are universal donors. It has been observed that certain foods caused the same agglutination process as foreign antigens. Rarely did those foods agglutinate all blood types at the same time. A food could be harmful to one blood type and beneficial to another. The foods that you eat induce different blood chemical reactions according to your genetic heritage. As surprising as it may sound, your modern end of the twentieth century digestive and immune systems still prefer foods that your blood ancestors consumed. The blood chemical reactions triggered by what ate require proteins called lectins which are present in foods. These lectins possess agglutinating properties allowing two organism to bind together naturally. Our bile duct surface cells are garnished with lectins which intercept parasites and bacteria. These undesired invaders use their own lectins to stick to slippery membranes, just like suction-grip holders. When you ate a food item containing lectins which are incompatible with your blood antigens, these lectins target an organ or system (kidney, liver, brain, digestive system, etc...) and start to agglutinate the blood cells in that area. Once a harmful lectin settles in a specific area, it acts as a magnet on the surrounding cells. They bind together and are doomed for intestinal elimination in an irritable colon or a cirrhotic liver. They can block normal kidney blood flow and cause other harmful consequences. Be reassured, one mustn’t flee form all lectins. They are so prevalent in modern foods (legumes, seafood, nuts, seeds, vegetables, dairy products) that it is almost impossible to avoid them all! Ideally, you should be knowledgeable of the foods which are harmful for you in order to avoid them. Per example: gluten, (the most studied lectin) found in wheat and other cereals, acts on the small intestinal mucous membranes of persons of the type O. It provokes painful irritations and inflammation. However, it does not have this effect on persons from the type A. As you can see, the same food may be harmful to one and fine for another. Foods are listed in three categories. Very beneficial: these foods are very beneficial. They act as body medication Neutral: these items act as food in the body Avoid: these foods act as poisons in the body As soon as you can, prefer foods from your very beneficial and neutral categories. The latter contains beneficial nutrients for your health. Sonia Faggion Bibliography: Eat right 4 your type by Peter J. D’Adamo.