When talking about a healthy digestive system, it is natural and ordinary to
mention probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms commonly consumed
as part of fermented foods such as yogurt and other dietary supplements.
Probiotics help improve intestinal balance by inhibiting pathogens and toxin
producing bacteria. Recently, however, scientists have discovered that
probiotics also help alleviate chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases as well
as prevent and treat pathogen-induced diarrhea, urogenital infections, and
atopic diseases.
In addition to probiotics, however, recent studies are now also focusing on
the role of blood typing and its relationship with probiotics in improving
digestive health. Many bacteria in the digestive system use a person’s blood
type as their preferred food supply. When bacteria in the digestive system
are in balance with the individual’s blood type, the individual will experience
healthy digestion and will have a balanced immune function.
The following excerpt from the article, “Probiotics: Why Blood Type Matters”
written by Gregory Kelly and Peter D’ Adamo summarizes the relevance of
blood typing with friendly bacteria and a healthy digestive system:
1. Blood type antigens are actually prominent in the digestive tract and in
about 80% of individuals, which are also prominent in the mucus that
lines the digestive tract. Because of this, many of the bacteria in the
digestive tract use an individual’s blood type food supply. It has been
estimated that someone with blood type B will have up to 50,000
times more of some strains of friendly bacteria than those with either
blood type A or O.
2. Some strains of beneficial bacteria have a specific bacterial activity
directed against a person’s blood type.
3. There are specific blends of prebiotics, foods that provide special
growth factors for probiotic bacteria, which are right for each type.
Adamo also said in a 2010 article that blood group and secretor status of an
individual play “important roles in conditioning the overall characteristics of
the digestive tract, including influencing the appearance and frequency of
many strains of bacteria.”
The significance of a person’s blood type to his or her digestive system has
resulted to the birth of the Blood Type Diet, a nutrition plan based on an
individual’s blood type. This specific type of diet is popularized by Adamo,
claiming that the diet will not only bring about weight loss but could also
impact allergy and infection resistance; thereby, achieving overall good
health. While the results of the Blood Type Diet is not yet verified, Adamo
claims that blood type, with its digestive and immune specificity, is a window
to an individual’s probable susceptibility to or power over disease.
Indeed, blood typing has become more than a personal identifier. It has now
become focus of not eating healthy, but also a significant component of
achieving a healthier digestive and immune system. It is true that one
cannot change his or her blood type. On the other hand, knowledge on its
effect and impact will help in obtaining a healthier life.
