TYPE A Diet

If you care for the info, feel free to read. But since it is so long you may only want to read it unless you or someone you know is a TYPE A. TYPE O was discussed in my previous post. If you haven't checked it out in a few days, you should look the posts over because I have updated a lot.
Specifics on As:
The First Vegetarian
Reaps What He Sows
Sensitive Digestive Tracts
Tolerant Immune System
Adapts Well to Settled Dietary and Environmental Conditions
Responds Best to Stress with Calming Action
Requires Agrarian Diet to Stay Lean and Productive

TYPE A - that's my blood type! We As thrive on vegetarian diets. It is also better for us (and I'd say everyone) to stay away from refined and overly processed foods. We are naturally predisposed to heart disease, cancer and diabetes. But, with giving our body what it needs and can use and not be harmed by we do not have to endure those issues.

FOODS THAT ENCOURAGE WEIGHT GAIN:
Meat - poorly digested, stored as fat, increases digestive toxins
Dairy Foods - inhibit nutrient metabolism, increases mucous secretion (which we already do more as As anyways)
Kidney Beans - interfere with digestive enzymes, slow metabolic rate
Lima Beans - interfere with digestive enzymes, slow metabolic rate
Wheat (in overabundance) - inhibits insulin efficiency, impairs calorie utilization

FOODS THAT ENCOURAGE WEIGHT LOSS:
Vegetable Oils - aid efficient digestion, prevent fluid retention
Soy Foods - aid efficient digestion, metabolize quickly, optimize immune function
Vegetables - aid efficient metabolism, increase intestinal mobility
Pineapple - increases calorie utilization, increases intestinal mobility

MEAT -
Face it, meat is just no good for and can't be dealt with well by As. But take it slow. Add fish and take some time. BUT, "Stay completely away from processed meat products such as ham, frankfurters, and cold cuts. They contain nitrites, which promote stomach cancer in people with low levels of stomach acid - a Type A trait."

Avoid:
Bacon, Beef, Buffalo, Duck, Goose, Ham, Heart, Lamb, Liver, Mutton, Patridge, Pheasant, Pork, Rabbit, Veal, Venison, Quail

SEAFOOD -
Seafood is tolerable, but white fish should be avoided - it contains a lectin that can irritate the digestive tract. To get full nutrients from seafood, you should bake, broil or poach it. Here is an interesting tidbit regarding breast cancer, "If you are a Type A woman with a family history of breast cancer, consider introducing snails into your diet. The edible snail contains a powerful lectin that specifically agglutinates and is drawn to mutated Type A cells for two of the most common forms of breast cancer...This is a positive kind of agglutination; this lectin gets rid of sick cells."

Avoid:
Anchovy, Barracuda, Beluga, Bluefish, Bluegill bass, Catfish, Caviar, Clam, Conch, Crab, Crayfish, Eel, Flounder, Frog, Gray Sole, Haddock, Hake, Halibut, Herring (fresh and pickled), Lobster, Lox, Mussels, Octopus, Oysters, Scallop, Shad, Shrimp, Sole, Squid, Striped bass, Tilefish, Turtle

EGGS AND DAIRY -
"Most dairy products are not digestible for Type As - for the simple reason that Type A blood creates antibodies to the primary sugar in whole milk - D-galactosamine." So if you must have milk, don't do Whole milk products. Naturally TYPE As produce more mucus, to protect their too friendly immune systems. Dairy products greatly increase mucus production and excess mucus is not good - bacteria live off of it.

Highly Beneficial:
Soy Cheese, Soy Milk

Avoid:
American Cheese, Blue Cheese, Brie, Butter, Buttermilk, Camembert, Casein, Cheddar, Colby, Cottage, Cream Cheese, Edam, Emmenthal, Gouda, Gruyere, Ice Cream, Jarlsberg, Monterey Jack, Munster, Parmesan, Provolone, Neufchatel, Sherbert, Skim or 2% milk, Swiss, Whey, Whole milk

I recommend replacing the oh so tasty ice cream with frozen yogurt. =]

OILS AND FATS -
Highly Beneficial:
Linseed (Flaxseed) Oil, Olive Oil

Avoid:
Corn Oil, Cottonseed Oil, Peanut Oil, Safflower Oil, Sesame Oil

NUTS AND SEEDS -
These are an important source of protein for As. Peanuts rock! - because they contain a cancer-fighting lectin. And for those of you As with gallbladder issues, try using nut butters rather then the whole nuts.

Highly Beneficial:
Peanuts, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin Seeds

Avoid:
Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Pistachios

BEANS AND LEGUMES -
Highly Beneficial:
Aduke, Azuki, Black, Green, Pinto,and Red Soy Beans, Lentils (green, red and domestic), Black-eyed peas

Avoid:
Copper, Garbanzo, Kidney, Lima, Navy, Red, and Tamarind Beans

No garbanzo beans.....do you know what that means? Not hummus - that is the most difficult thing for me, hands down!

CEREALS -
Highly Beneficial:
Amaranth, Buckwheat

Avoid:
Cream of Wheat, Familia, Farina, Granola, Grape Nuts, Wheat Germ, Seven grain, Shredded Wheat, Wheat Bran

BREADS AND MUFFINS -
"The Type A guidelines for breads and muffins are similar to those for cereals and grains. They are generally favorable foods, but if you produce excessive mucous or are overweight, these conditions make whole wheat inadvisable. Soy and rice flour are good substitutes for you."

Avoid:
English muffins, High-protein bread, Wheat Matzos, Multi-grain bread, Pumpernickel, Wheat bran muffins, Whole wheat bread

GRAINS AND PASTA -
Highly Beneficial:
Buckwheat, Oat Flour, Rice Flour, Rye Flour, Soba Noodles, Artichoke Pasta

Avoid:
White Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, Semolina Pasta, Spinach Pasta

VEGETABLES -
These are so vital! But get them in as raw a state as possible - that will give you all the benefits you can receive from them. Garlic is so good for not only TYPE As, but all blood types! "It's a natural antibiotic and immune system booster, and its good for your blood."...."And, of course, tofu is the staple of the Type A diet. Tofu is a nutritionally complete food that is both filling and inexpensive."

If you want the highly beneficial list, ask me for it, it is kind of long. That's a good thing though!

Avoid:
Cabbage, Eggplant, Lima Beans, Mushroom, Olives (all except green), Peppers, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Yams

FRUITS -
Highly Beneficial:
Most of them!

Avoid:
Bananas, Coconuts, Mangoes, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Oranges, Papayas, Plantains, Rhubarb, Tangerines

JUICES AND FLUIDS -
An interesting recommendation -
"Type As should start every day with a small glass of warm water into which they have squeezed the juice of one-half lemon. This will help you reduce the mucus that has accumulated overnight in the more sluggish Type A digestive tract and stimulate normal elimination."

Highly Beneficial:
Apricot, Carrot, Celery, Black Cherry, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Prune, Water (w/ lemon)

Avoid:
Orange, Papaya, Tomato

SPICES -
Highly Beneficial:
Barley Malt, Blackstrap Molasses, Garlic, Ginger, Miso, Soy Sauce, Tamari

Avoid:
Capers, Gelatin, Black, Cayenne, Peppercorn, Red Flakes and White Pepper, Vinegar, Wintergreen

CONDIMENTS -
Avoid:
Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Pickles, Pickle Relish, Worcestershire sauce

MISC BEVERAGES -
Highly Beneficial:
Coffee - decaf and regular, Green Tea, Red Wine

Avoid:
Beer, Liquor, Seltzer Water, Soda of all types, Black Tea - regular and decaf

There are exercise and supplement recommendations as well. If you are an A and want that, give me your email address and I will email it to you! Remember that if a certain food in a food group is not listed, that means it is neutral to your body. Does no harm but does not have highly beneficial qualities. But don't not eat neutral foods! You need a balance so you have to eat the highly beneficials and neutrals. Don't let this scare you! Start at one place and go from there. It takes time and don't expect change to be immediate! =]