| Does Blood Type Determine Dietary Needs? The theory that dietary needs can be determined from your blood type has been proven false numerous times and yet, books and articles expounding on this idea live on. Granted, blood analysis can provide information about some nutritional needs. Identifying blood type just isn’t one of these useful analyses. Likely, someone you know has heard about the blood type diet theory and believes it. Should the topic come up, be sure to let others know the claim is fake science. The excerpt below from the Wikipedia article on ‘Blood Type Diets’ summaries the situation. “The blood type diets are fad diets advocated by several authors, the most prominent of whom is Peter J. D'Adamo. These diets are based on the notion that blood type, according to the ABO blood group system, is the most important factor in determining a healthy diet, and each author recommends a distinct diet for each blood type. The consensus among dietitians, physicians, and scientists is that these diets are unsupported by scientific evidence. The underlying hypothesis of blood type diets is that people with different blood types digest lectins differently and that if people eat food that is not compatible with their blood type, they will experience many health problems. On the other hand, if a person eats food that is compatible, they will be healthier. That hypothesis is, in turn, based on an assumption that each blood type represents a different evolutionary heritage. Based on the ‘Blood-Type’ diet theory, group O is considered the ancestral blood group in humans so their optimal diet should resemble the high animal protein diets typical of the hunter-gatherer era. In contrast, those with group A should thrive on a vegetarian diet as this blood group was believed to have evolved when humans settled down into agrarian societies. Following the same rationale, individuals with blood group B are considered to benefit from consumption of dairy products because this blood group was believed to originate in nomadic tribes. Finally, individuals with an AB blood group are believed to benefit from a diet that is intermediate to those proposed for group A and group B. Is a fact, there is no scientific evidence to support the blood type diet hypothesis and no clinical evidence that it improves health.” So, why does a diet based on blood type work for some people despite the false premise? In fairness to the book, it does recommend a diet that is somewhat better than the deficient Standard American Diet (SAD). Also, some fueled by false belief and willpower can find success regardless of the diet – at least for a while. In essence, the premise of a diet based on blood types as a guide for nutrition is a gimmick to sell books. Sadly, pseudoscience sells well and often tops the charts. For a detailed explanation of problems with the book, read the article by Julie Daniluk, “Does the Eat Right for your Blood Type Diet Really Work.” Fad diets claiming an underpinning of science are not new. Unfortunately, recognizing flaws in fake science can be challenging short of a Ph.D. in biochemistry, nutrition and more. Short of having these credentials, a good place to look for expert advice is a book’s one-star reviews. Often, the one-star reviews come from technical experts that know fake science when they see it. While what we eat is important for health and wellbeing, exercise is also important. Like diet, exercise sometimes needs a little pizzazz to keep it interesting. If tantalized by the thought of a morning adventure, then join me Saturday morning. It’s a 7:00 am adventure in being alive that you can brag about all day. Nancy Neighbors, MD Huntsville, Alabama The Art of Baloney Detection Carl Sagan offers reminders about the many types of deception we are inundated by in “The Fine Art of Baloney Detection.” As he explains, deceptions may come from paid product endorsements, pseudo scientists, psychics, politicians, and inadvertently from just about anyone sharing information from the internet that hasn’t been verified. His advice is a nice summary of what we learned in school (if we were awake) although that may have been many years ago. Sagan’s reminder is timeless advice. Baloney vs. Bologna Perhaps you are wondering, is the correct spelling ‘Bologna’ or ‘baloney?’ Bologna is a type of sausage made of ground meat that has been cooked and smoked. Baloney is an early 20th-century American coinage derived from bologna that means nonsense. Interestingly, in American English, the pronunciation is often the same for both words. Is bologna baloney? As you have probably read, processed meats like bologna have been linked to increased risk of cancers, diabetes and heart disease. A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) classified processed meat as carcinogenic. No need to despair, just read Joy McCarthy ‘s article, “How to choose a healthier lunch meat, and 6 key ingredients to avoid.” |