Eat Right 4 Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution [Hardcover]

Let me get a few things out of the way before reviewing the book itself. I've been on the Blood Type O diet for 9 months now and have lost 30 lbs. To give you some background I started a new job in a new industry about 3 years ago and had gained nearly 25 lbs due to the long hours and free snacks and dinners (which I ate because I was working 60-90 hours a week) - in addition to the 20 lbs I had gained since getting married almost 7 years ago. Both my wife and I searched for a diet that would work for the both of us. My sister and her husband had some success with the Atkins diet, but it seemed too stringent for us. It was my wife who suggested this diet and I admit to being sceptical.

After reading the book I searched the internet for further information about Dr. D'Adamo's research. Not much came up other than the "official" website. Does this mean that Dr. D'Adamo is wrong or that his book is just another diet clothed in new language? Perhaps, perhaps not. And therein lies a caution I would give you: be careful not to glorify this diet or Dr. D'Adamo beyond it, or his, relative worth. I've met many people over the years who have tried a variety of diets with varying degrees of success. Many tend to dismiss the diet if it doesn't work for them and, on the other hand, present it as the one-and-only true diet if it does work.

My criteria for deciding whether or not to try the Blood Type diet was twofold: 1) is it a radical diet that emphasizes one or two types of food to the exclusion of all else or does it recommend a balanced intake of a variety of foods, which in my opinion is the right way to go and 2) is it something that I can incorporate as a lifetstyle change rather than being a fad. In my opinion, and my experience, the answer is yes to both. However, I would also say that your success with this diet may be different as I believe a number of psychological factors are also applicable, to any diet e.g. willingness to follow a regime and a recognition of when it is ok for them personally to "cheat".

The book itself provides information about the different diets and, in general terms, why they work. Dr. D'Adamo doesn't provide details of his research - though he does describe some case studies, again in general terms. While that isn't the purpose of the book the fact that you virtually can't find the information if you wanted it is a little disconcerting. It provides a few recipes, but you should buy the supplemental recipe books if you have trouble creating them on your own. The first three chapters cover general information about Dr. D'Adamo's approach and the next four cover diets for each blood type. Chapters on the individual diets give some background information and then a list of foods categorized as Highly Beneficial, Neutral, and Avoid. At least for the Blood Type O diet a list of the foods that encourage weight loss and a list of foods the contribute to weight gain are also given.

I gave this book 3 stars for a couple of reasons. The lack of further detailed information about the research leading to his conclusions and the contradictory categorization of foods that are beneficial, neutral, and to be avoided throughout the "series" of Blood Type books. The end results is that I have lost 30 lbs and have been able to keep it off. But I must also give myself some of the credit for being able to make the lifestyle change necessary to make it happen.

When I first heard about this blood type diet, I thought it was nothing but a scam. Boy was I wrong. For the past year I have suffered from terrible indigestion and acid reflux and was eating TUMS every day. Then one day I suspected that wheat was contributing to my digestive problems so I started researching wheat intolerance and came across this book. Since I was so sick and frightened of getting stomach cancer like my mother, I figured I had nothing to lose by trying Dr. Adamo's recommendations for blood type O (which I am). Was I surprised at the positive changes that have occured to my overall health. No more daily doses of TUMS. Even my arthritic joints feel better. My college education was focused on science and research and I work in research and development so I understand fully the need to demonstrate scientific proof of a theory. As far as the science behind Dr. Adamo's theories, I am not convinced that he can prove his hypothesis. His questionable science doesn't matter to me because I feel better and that is all the proof that I need. I used to be a vegetarian and now I embrace eating high quality meat and poultry from animals raised locally in a humane and free roaming environment. I especially enjoy the local buffalo meat which is high in Omega 3's. As a type O, I was never programmed to be a vegetarian. Even though I ate organic, non-processed food, I was still sick when I ate like a vegetarian. What a difference. The foods that I find particularly problematic are wheat, corn and potatoes. I've learned to substitute spelt flour, amaranth flour, quinoa flour and rice flour and I still managed to lose weight. Amazing.

I am nearly 63 years old. I have followed many DIETS throughout my life time because for most of my life I have been fighting all those extra pounds. Several worked, some did not. I realize now that it was because they are DIETS. Several years ago I swore I would never buy another DIET book. One day, and I still do not know where the inspiration came from. I found myself sitting at the computer with a compulsion that I needed to buy this book. I had seen it previously but paid it scant attention. Now for some reason, I NEEDED THIS BOOK. It arrived within days. I spent several weeks giving, from my cupboards, unwanted food away and trying to find the foods that were suggested as beneficial. And so I began. It is very restricting. All the things I loved, I found, did not love me. But I was determined to give it a fair trial. I did not want to feel extreme fatique, frequent indigestion, and aching joints and muscles anymore. Within a week and a half I was feeling more alive than I had felt in years. I was walking with confidence. I felt like my vision was clearer and I had more energy. I lost 22 lbs. (Dr. documented) in less than 3 months. I do not crave anything and I feel it is because the food I eat is satisfying me. BELIEVE ME - I AM A FOODAHOLIC and I say AM because it is no less compulsive than being an alcoholic. Once one, always one. Just like I am a smoker but I haven't smoked in 17 years. I do now and again have something I am not supposed to have but I will tell you I pay for it by feeling sluggish and tired. I have sung its praises to several people but they find it too restricted. But just make a list of beneficial foods (no matter what they are) and eat them everyday. Make a list of neutral food and eat lots everyday. Make a list of Poison Foods and keep it with you all the time. READ LABELS. Don't say you can't before you start. I am the most unlikely person to succeed, loving food as I do. If I can do it anyone can. EXAMPLE OF COMPROMISE: I love noodles. I often said I should have been born Italian. I had to have noodles 3 or 4 times weekly. I am supposed to stay away from wheat, even wholewheat. COMPROMISE: Now I eat brown rice noodles and I am satisfied. You can do it. Concentrate on the foods that you can eat and eat lots but don't eat after 7 PM and drink water. I hope someone reads this and benefits. I am not looking at this as a DIET. This is a way of life for me. Good Luck to all open-minded, free-thinking souls. To the closed minds of the planet. Dieting is not a science, exact or otherwise.