Eating for Your Blood Type: A+ & A-

All of us are individuals in our own right. Every individual’s genetic make-up is unique, but at the same time, there is a common thread between people.

This common thread is the blood group. It is through this blood type that every individual shares something in common with their ancestors of yore, and the same characteristics that make up a particular blood group have been handed down from one generation to the next.

Given this background of genetic heritage, differences have been seen in people with different blood types. O type people have different characteristics than A type folks and vice versa.

In this article, we will talk about blood group A and the best diet for this group.

A brief history of type A

Type O people are the meat eaters of the human race. One reason for this was that Cro-Magnon man had little or no knowledge and access to fruits and vegetables. Over time, however, humans made their way out in search of food and migrated to Asia and Europe. Livestock and grain cultivation found its place in the food chain, and people could now let go of their nomadic ways and settle down in one place.

Food now took on very distinct identity in the form of carbohydrates.  Genetic alteration took place so that the nutrients could be better absorbed and so, blood type A was born. The biological changes that took place then can be seen in the 21^st century too.

Dietary habits for blood type A

Blood type A has low levels of hydrochloric acid and alkaline phosphatase but high levels of a digestive enzyme called intestinal disaccharide, which means animal protein is not easily digested, but carbohydrates are. This also indicates that type A best suits a vegetarian diet. Food eaten must be pure, organic, and as fresh as possible.

Meat eating type A’s should eliminate the more toxic foods from their diet. A good diet will ensure that your immune system gets plenty of charge to fight for itself. By nature, Type A people have sensitive immune systems.

Stress is very typical for blood type A. They have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which makes them react to stressful situations. Symptoms that could occur due to stress are disturbed sleep patterns and brain fog during the day. To ensure the cortisol levels are under control, do the following:

• Limit sugar, alcohol and caffeine intake
• Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals

Blood type A people should also ensure that they limit exposure to:

• Crowds
• Loud noise
• Negative emotions
• Smoking
• Strong smells or perfumes
• Overwork
• Violent movies
• Lack of sleep
• Extreme weather conditions (hot or cold)

Foods that blood type A should eat are:

Vegetables

• Alfalfa Sprouts, Artichoke (Domestic, Jerusalem),Beet Leaves, Broccoli
• Carrots, Chicory, Collard Greens, Dandelion, Escarole, Garlic, Horseradish
• Kale, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce (Romaine), Okra, Onions (Red, Spanish, Yellow)
• Parsley, Parsnips, Pumpkin, Spinach, Swiss chard and Turnips

Vegetable oils

• Extra virgin olive oil

Deep ocean seafood

• Carp, Cod, Grouper, Mackerel, Monkfish, Pickerel
• Red Snapper, Rainbow Trout, Salmon, Sardine, Sea Trout
• Silver Perch, Snail, Whitefish Yellow Perch

Legumes (beans and peas)

• Aduke, Azuki, Black, Green, Pinto beans
• Lentil Beans, Black eyed peas

Grains

• Artichoke Pasta, Buckwheat Kasha, Soba Noodles
• Oat, Rice and Rye flours

Nuts and seeds

• Pumpkin seeds and peanuts

Fruits

• Apricots, Berries (Black, Blue, Boysen, Cran, Cherries), Figs (Dried or Fresh)
• Grapefruit, Lemons, Pineapple, Prunes, Raisins

Cereals

• Amaranth, Buckwheat and Kasha

Breads, muffins, and crackers

• Essene Bread, Ezekiel Bread
• Manna Bread Rice Cakes

Juices

• Apricot, Black Cherry, Grapefruit
• Pineapple, Prune, Carrot, Celery

Spices

• Barley Malt, Blackstrap Molasses, Garlic, Ginger
• Miso, Soy Sauce Tamari

Condiments

• Mustard

Herbal Teas

• Alfalfa, Aloe, Burdock, Chamomile, Echinacea, Fenugreek
• Ginger, Ginseng, Green Tea, Hawthorne, Milk Thistle
• Rose Hips, St. John’s Wort, Slippery Elm, Valerian

Miscellaneous Beverages

• Coffee (Water Decaf, Regular)
• Green Tea and Red Wine

Blood type A should try and avoid the following, because these are the foods that will upset their digestive system and cause upsets:

• Strong red meats
• Crustaceans
• Dairy products and eggs
• Wheat products
• Vegetables like: Cabbage (Chinese, Red, White), Eggplant
• Lima Beans, Kidney Beans, Mushrooms (Domestic, Shiitake), Olives (Black, Greek, Spanish)
• Peppers (Green, Jalapeno, Red, Yellow), Potatoes (Red, Sweet, White), Tomatoes and Yams

Also try to limit your intake of these foods:

Fruits

• Banana, Cantaloupe, Coconut, Honeydew
• Mango, Orange, Papaya, Plantain, Rhubarb, and Tangerine

Fats and Oils

• Canola Oil, Corn Oil, Cottonseed Oil
• Peanut Oil, Safflower Oil and Sesame Oil

Nuts and Seeds

• Brazil, Cashew and Pistachios

Beans and Legumes

• Copper, Garbanzo, Kidney, Lima, Navy, Red and Tamarind Beans

Other beverages

• Beer, Liquor, Seltzer Water
• Soda (Club, Cola, Diet, etc.)

Source: Be Well