Blood Type & Your Diet

Deciding to transition to a healthier lifestyle is difficult.  Like any other decision we make we focus on what other people say and how they feel.  However, we soon discover that it is not about how others feel and how THEIR personal journey is going.  Now, this is NOT to say that some advice is not good advice.  BUT a transition is the time to focus on yourself, personal growth, and getting in tune with your body, mind, and spirit.

Initially, I was completely oblivious to the concept of treating my healthy lifestyle as a trio (mind, body, and soul).  I was focused on losing weight.  That was my ultimate goal.  Right? WRONG! As I am discovering this time around, it is so much more than that.

I was working out, eating better foods, and making healthier decisions.  I felt good, yes, but I had moments where I felt groggy.  As I mentioned before I basically consumed bland foods like chicken and broccoli in order to achieve my weight loss goals.  But I could not understand why my hair was thinning and breaking off at the crown or why my energy level was low during certain times of the day.

Like so many others I felt that once I worked out regularly and ate properly everything else would fall in to place.  I was expecting a, "POOF! You're all better" moment. This was not the case.  So, on my monthly visit with my doctor I shared with him my food diary along with a log of my moods, how I felt at different times of the day, and how my body was feeling overall.  He then shocked the hell out of me and said I was eating the WRONG foods and exercising at the wrong time of day! What the heck?! By this time my doctor was laughing at me because my response was priceless.  Nonetheless, he explained to me that I needed to tailor my diet and exercise routine to my blood type.  According to him there are certain foods I should consume regularly and foods I should avoid OR eat in moderations. Foreign concept to you? YEP! It was to me as well but after a long discussion with him and doing my own research (as I encourage you to do) it made sense!

Many of the functions of your body is contingent upon the flow of your blood.  For instance, healthy hair growth is linked to the blood circulation to your scalp.  So, my hair was thinning and breaking off partly because I was not giving my blood the proper nutrients it needed to do its job and flow properly.  THIS is especially important for all my "natural nazis" out there! You get out of your body what you put in to it! Here are three links for you to get the ball rolling. You can find your blood type and begin your own research.
WebMD-Source #1
Agua4Balance-Source #2
Dr. Oz-Source #3
Buuuuut for the purposes of THIS blog because its mine and ALL about ME (lol), I'm focusing on my Type O Positive family! So! here is the skinny on my blood type.

I am Type O positive--- the oldest blood type. Dr. D'Adamo compares the digestive tract of an individual with Type O blood to that of an individual of ancient times.  WE thrive best on lean meats and should limit our consumption of carbohydrates. This explains my mood and fatigue.  I was consuming chicken but my body needed lean red meats.  Therefore, this is another reason why I am hesitant to adopt a strict vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, hence why I consider myself a part time vegetarian.  Also, individuals with this particular blood type respond EXTREMELY well to workouts. As natural athletes that require regular, vigorous exercise to maintain physical health and emotional balance. They go through the day calmer, more peaceful, and better at problem solving after morning exercise. It was recommended to me that I workout out in the morning due to my body's response to physical activity.  

Type O Diet Needs:
-consume gluten and sugar free foods
-seafood, beef, and nuts are our best source of protein--- NOW, beef does not sit well on my stomach so I opt for lamb.

-Avoid stimulants and physiologically stressful substances such as caffeine, diet pills, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.

-Eliminate junk/processed food, artificial sweeteners, trans fats, anything with chemical ingredients.

-Eat whole, unprocessed foods; choose as many organics as possible.

-Eat more proteins, especially amino acids. Consume lean meats, poultry, and plenty of fish. Avoid carbohydrates (bread and pasta), refined sugars, all dairy, grains (primarily wheat, corn) to ensure weight loss and efficient metabolism.

-If you have allergies, avoid allergens (common allergens: wheat and dairy).

-Eat six small meals a day instead of three to help boost your metabolism and burn fat

Foods Recommended to Avoid:
-dried beans 
-peanuts 
-coffee 
-beer 
-cheese 
-milk
-avocados 
-coconuts 
-oranges
-blackberries 
-cantaloupe 
-grains 
-corn
-mustard 
-vinegar 
-pork
-cashews
-pistachios
-mushrooms

Tips:

• This post is ONLY to spark conversation between you and your healthcare provider.  ALWAYS consult with them before altering your diet.
• Trial and error! Though, there is a recommended diet for your blood type take into account that nothing is always! We are humans but individuals.  Figure out what works for you or what your body responds to best AND stick to it!  For instance, citrus fruits and cashews do not bother me so I still consume them.  However, I no longer eat MOST cuts of pork. I still like bacon but do not buy it and will eat pork ribs when I'm home and my mother cooks it. 
• LOG, LOG, LOG! I cannot stress this enough! Write down everything you eat (good, bad, and UGLY), write down your feelings throughout the day, and write down your physical and emotional (if any) responses to your diet/exercise.
• PLEASE do not attempt to do all of this as once lol. Go slow and do it gradually. 

Have you tailored your diet and exercise routine to your blood type?  If so, how did your body respond?  Were there obstacles?  If so, how did you overcome them?