Blood Typing–A Key to a Healthy Lifestyle

Blood typing refers to a technique that determines the specific type of blood an individual has. It identifies the particular agglutinogens, antigens or proteins that are present on the surface of red blood cells. Agglutinogens come in two types, the type A and type B, which are chemically distinct from one another. Through this technique, the blood types can be grouped into four types, A, B, O, and AB.

In addition, blood typing identifies the presence of another protein called the Rh factor on the surface of the red blood cells. Those who have this substance on their blood are grouped under Rh+ or positive while those who do not have this are considered Rh- or negative. Combining Rh with a specific agglutinogen, an individual who is type B with the Rh protein on the surface of his or her blood is said to be type B positive.

Can the specific blood type dictate the kind of diet an individual should have?

It is good to know the specific blood type that each individual has in order to determine the kind of diet that matches with the blood. Scientific studies revealed that some proteins in food can react differently with each blood type. A type of proteins called lectins exhibit agglutinating properties that can trigger different health problems when they agglutinate in any organ of the body. Individuals who are sensitive to lectins may suffer from severe intestinal damage, which disrupts digestion, causes loss of proteins and retards growth. Lectins have the potential to block glucose uptake and insulin receptors, which may lead to celiac disease and support the growth of harmful bacteria. In addition, these proteins can trigger several immune reactions such as IgG, IgM, and IgE as well as lymphocyte mitogenesis, an induced mechanism of cell division.

Some probiotics or beneficial bacteria can also potentially trigger hemagglutinin activity similar to the effects of lectin, which may be blood type-specific. This happens because blood type antigens are also present in the digestive tract, particularly in the mucus along its lining. Most of these good bacteria utilize the blood type to determine the kind of food that they need. Blood type-specific polyflora of probiotics should be matched with the kind of prebiotics that could further enhance the growth of these beneficial bacteria.

Furthermore, previous studies have shown that excessive amounts of probiotics may stimulate the formation of high titer isoagglutinins. This kind of substances could lead to haemolytic reactions in recipients with blood type A and B because donors who have probiotics in their diets might possess high titer isoagglutinins.

Knowledge of blood typing is extremely important in the case of newborn babies. They have a sterile gut, which later becomes the home of bacteria during the first few months outside their mom’s womb. Usually, these bacteria have terminal sugar structures on their membrane, which match the A and B agglutinogens found on red blood cells. Once it recognizes the antigens on bacteria, the newborn’s immune system produce antibodies, the anti-A and anti-B isoagglutinins, that act against the bacterial sugars, which results to a cross reaction with the red cell antigen.

Thus, understanding the particular blood type and the specific nutritional diet that matches with it is important for the overall well-being of an individual, young and old alike.

 

Blood Typing, Probiotics, and Healthy Digestive System

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.