Dr. Kathy Maupin discusses the considerations and implications of type O blood. Topics include appropriate diet and exercise, as well as what diseases patients with type O are more prone to.
We have been discussing various blood types for the past several podcasts because they can be bio-markers in keeping you healthy. This week, we are going to talk about Blood Type O, the most common, the oldest (in an evolutionary sense), and the most universal for blood transfusions.
Your blood type determines what your cells fight. If a patient receives blood that has different antigens in it, their body will attack those antigens. If you get a transfusion of the same type of blood that you produce, this does not happen because your body recognizes those antigens as being a part of you. That is why it is important to get the same blood type as the type that you have. When that is not possible, you can receive Type O negative because all types will accept it, due to the fact it does not have any antigen markers that signal “enemy.â
Type O individuals generally have more stamina and are less likely to develop cancer and certain types of bacteria. This information is useful in a statistical sense for general health care, but it is not predictive for a single individual. We can give you information about foods you should eat and foods you should avoid, and about your general health status and stamina. This information cannot be used as a guaranteed way for you to avoid certain illnesses or bacteria. There are too many other factors that would go into an individual prediction for you alone. For example, illnesses such as Crones disease and autoimmune disorders (such as high triglycerides) can cluster among Type Oâs. However, many Type O’s do not get these disorders.
Another statistical warning for Type O’s is that they have a greater risk of developing disorders such as depression, bipolar disease, and schizophrenia. Again, these are mass-database numbers and do not mean that you will have these illnesses. But again, there are things that you can do in terms of eating and exercising that can help minimize your risk and maximize your lifestyle choices for good health.
Type O’s generally have more problems if they try to follow a Vegan diet. That is because many of the carbs that Vegans fill their diet with are bad for type O’s. O’s should try to avoid foods such as wheat, corn, and rice. They should eat peanuts and not cashews or pistachios. Flax seed, pumpkin seed, and walnuts are good for O’s to eat as well.
Remember, there are multiple elements that you have to balance in your life to be healthy. Knowing your blood type can help you select exercise and diet choices that can improve your chances of being and remaining healthy.