Potential Risks of the Blood Type Diet
The Blood Type Diet isn’t inherently unsafe, just potentially unhelpful. “The greatest risk would just be wasting your time and effort — you’re guessing [what your body needs] and it can be frustrating when you don’t see the results that you’re expecting,” says Connell.
However, it does lack an evidence base, and depending on your personal dietary needs, it has the potential to leave you lacking in some areas.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Connell says this is a risk with the Blood Type Diet. “Some of the diet types eliminate food groups, and Type O eliminates dairy altogether, so you could possibly get into an issue if you’re not supplementing,” she says.
As your body changes, so do your needs, and this plan doesn’t account for that. “Our blood type is something that never changes. But yet, from your twenties to your forties, you may go from being healthy to being overweight with diabetes,” Connell says.
“A woman who is in her twenties compared to a woman who’s maybe postmenopausal in her sixties are going to have not only different needs in terms of their calories and their metabolism, but different needs for calcium and vitamin D and iron during those stages of life,” she says.
Lack of Scientific Evidence
In the nearly 30 years since its development, the Blood Type Diet has failed to generate solid scientific backing as a true vehicle for a personalized diet choice. In fact, a systematic review published in 2013 highlighted the lack of evidence to substantiate D’Adamo’s claims.
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