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Pistachios are a healthy and tasty snack between meals. The delicious nuts contain many healthy ingredients. We’ll show you which ones.

Pistachios are healthy: the ingredients

Pistachios are delicious and have a long list of healthy nutrients. This includes:
Potassium (with 1005 mg vs. 393 mg almost three times as much as bananas!)
phosphorus
beta-carotene
Vitamin B6
thiamine
magnesium
These and other ingredients contribute to the fact that pistachios are very healthy:
Because pistachios have high bioavailability, the nutrients in the nuts are very easily absorbed in your stomach.
Pistachios have a lot of antioxidants and are therefore particularly anti-inflammatory. The nuts increase the level of the important antioxidant lutein in the human body, which is why they are also extremely good for your eye health.
The polyphenols and tocopherols in the small green seeds are even said to prevent cancer and heart disease.
If you want to lose weight, pistachios are an ideal snack for you: they have a lot of unsaturated fatty acids, amino acids and proteins, which has been proven to fill you up faster and help with weight loss. In one study, they significantly helped some overweight subjects with their diet.
But keep in mind that pistachios are very nutritious: 100 grams contain over 600 kilocalories. Therefore, you should not overdo it with them and rather consume them in smaller amounts if you want to lose weight.
Pistachios help with diabetes: they reduce triglycerides in the body, which are usually very high in diabetic patients. Intestinal bacteria, which are directly associated with type 2 diabetes, are said to be regulated by pistachios. Another study was even able to demonstrate a positive effect on blood sugar levels.
In general, pistachios have a good influence on your intestinal microbes. The short-chain fatty acid butyrate produced by the bacteria can not only prevent indigestion, but also prevent colon cancer.
Pistachios are high in healthy fats. The unsaturated fatty acids in nuts not only help you lose weight, they are also good for your heart and cholesterol levels. They have been shown to lower the unhealthy LDL cholesterol in your blood. Even young men who were already following a healthy Mediterranean diet were particularly good at pistachios: they also noticeably lowered their cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Pistachios and their risks

Although pistachios do not have any particularly harmful ingredients, they can become downright toxic if stored incorrectly: the investigative Swiss television program for consumer protection “Kassensturz” tested pistachios together with the sister station “À Bon Entendeur”. They discovered a high level of aflatoxins in half of the 14 different pistachio packs.

If pistachios are not stored dry, they can be attacked by mold. These convert into the dangerous, hepatoxic mold toxin aflatoxin. It can severely damage the liver and even lead to lung cancer.

Since pistachios are only dried slowly in the sun in Iran, for example, the risk of mold is high. The gentle process preserves the nutrients better and intensifies the taste, but unfortunately the moisture also makes the nuts more susceptible to mold. Of course, this can also happen in industrial production as soon as they are not stored dry enough.

In addition, the consumer protection magazines report that pesticides were also found in the tested products. For the most part, however, they are below the legal limit values ​​– with the exception of two products: one Ültje product exceeded the legal values ​​by a full 200%. However, Ültje blames this infestation on uneven distribution in the load. High levels of both aflatoxins and pesticides were also found in a Geneva market product.

Even if the products from the market often help small farmers or importers, they often mean less control than with large food manufacturers.

Background information on healthy pistachios

We know the pistachio as a tasty, green nut with a hard shell and a crunchy core. However, this nut is the stone fruit of the pistachio tree. More than 10,000 years ago, pistachios were cultivated in the Middle East, especially in Syria. There they are still a delicacy today, part of the long cultural history of many countries throughout the area:

For a long time, the pistachio was considered an exclusively royal delicacy that was withheld from the “common people”. But over time, it spread among travelers, merchants, and common folk. Because of its long shelf life and high nutritional value, it was popular with everyone. Over the years they conquered the entire world and came to us during the Middle Ages. The largest cultivation areas are found today in Iran, the USA, Turkey and China.

With us, the pistachios are mostly roasted and salted and eaten directly as a snack. In the Middle East, Asia and the Balkans, it is processed into a wide variety of delicious sweets: halva, baklava, maamoul or kunafah. These sinful pastries are usually created and processed with lots of sugar, honey, syrup and rose water. The pistachio serves both as a basic ingredient and for refinement. You can find many of these in oriental grocery stores.

But pistachios are also processed into various sweet specialties in Italy: the addition of pistachios gives the Sicilian almond pastry Pasta di Mandola an incredibly intense taste. Amaretti, cantuccini and cannoli are also often refined with pistachios.

Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices. The Ceylon cinnamon variety is not only delicious, it is also considered to be particularly healthy. But is that really true?

Ceylon cinnamon is obtained from the bark of the Ceylon cinnamon tree. The tree originally came from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) – hence the name. Today, however, Ceylon cinnamon is also grown in other regions of South Asia, such as the Seychelles and Madagascar.

Although Ceylon cinnamon is probably the best-known type of cinnamon, we mainly get the Chinese variety Cassia cinnamon in this country. Because it is cheaper and has a stronger aroma. If you buy cinnamon sticks, you can recognize real Ceylon cinnamon by the fact that the sticks are fine-leaved and consist of several thin layers.

How healthy is Ceylon cinnamon?

The interesting components of cinnamon are the essential oils, of which the cinnamon bark contains up to four percent. The so-called cinnamaldehyde has the largest share in this. This substance gives Ceylon cinnamon and the other varieties their characteristic aroma. The remaining components of the essential oils are partly different for the two types. This applies, for example, to these two substances:
Eugenol: While Ceylon cinnamon contains up to ten percent of the substance, cassia cinnamon contains almost zero. Eugenol is one of the polyphenols that are known as cell-protecting antioxidants. A study on cell cultures and rats confirms that eugenol has an antioxidant effect. However, the study does not show whether this substance also has a positive effect on the human body. Nor can she explain how eugenol works in conjunction with the other ingredients in Ceylon cinnamon.
Coumarin: Here it’s the other way around: according to Foodwatch, cassia cinnamon contains about 200 times more coumarin than Ceylon cinnamon, and Stiftung Warentest came to a similar conclusion. The substance is considered liver-damaging if you ingest too much of it. Cassia cinnamon contains so much that you already reach the recommended maximum limit with two grams of it per day.
Since Ceylon cinnamon contains significantly less coumarin than cassia cinnamon, it is healthier, at least in larger amounts.

There are many studies that have examined cinnamon itself and have found different positive effects – for both varieties. The following two reviews summarize some study results:
A 2014 review cites studies concluding that cinnamon is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial. It is also said to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s. However, just as in the case of eugenol, human clinical trials are lacking.
Another review looks at studies looking at whether cinnamon can lower blood pressure. The available studies seem to confirm this, but the authors of the review come to the conclusion that there are too few studies to clearly demonstrate an antihypertensive effect.
Overall, there is a lot of evidence that both Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon are healthy, even if there have been too few clinical studies to date. Because it contains a lot of coumarin, you should only use it very sparingly – especially if children are eating with you.

Watermelons are not only refreshing on hot summer days, but are also very healthy. In terms of sustainability, however, things are not looking so rosy for the watermelon.

Watermelon: The Healthiest Nutrients

Plenty of water and nothing else? The name “watermelon” leads to a small fallacy. It is true that watermelons consist largely of water – namely up to 95 percent. But that doesn’t mean the fruit has nothing to offer nutritionally. On the contrary, the watermelon is a very healthy snack that also contains some important nutrients such as minerals and vitamins.

These key nutrients make watermelons healthy:
Lycopene: This phytochemical is an antioxidant that supports the immune system. As such, lycopene destroys free radicals that can cause cancer. It can also prevent cells from changing unnaturally. Watermelons contain a lot of lycopene with 4532 micrograms per 100 grams. For example, other fruits such as pineapple and apple do not contain this substance at all. The riper the watermelon, the more lycopene it contains.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A is found in watermelon in the form of carotenoids. Carotenoids are the pigments responsible for the yellow, red, or dark green color of food. Vitamin A is important for keeping eyes healthy, skin regenerating and hair growing. There are 245 micrograms of beta-carotene in 100 grams of watermelon. The apple cannot keep up with its 27 micrograms of beta-carotene per 100 grams of fruit.
Citrulline: Nutrients are not only found in the red flesh of the fruit, but also in the white flesh under the skin. This is considered the source of the amino acid citrulline. In the body, citrulline is converted into the amino acid arginine, which causes the blood vessels to dilate and blood flow is facilitated. This is good for heart and vascular health. US researchers have also found that arginine also has a potency-enhancing effect on men. Watermelon is one of the richest sources of citrulline.
Potassium: Potassium is important to transmit stimuli that muscles and heart send out. The mineral is also involved in regulating cell growth, blood pressure and the acid-base balance. Potassium also influences the release of certain hormones (e.g. insulin) and is important for carbohydrate utilization and protein synthesis. There are 112 milligrams of potassium in 100 grams of watermelon, which is rather low in comparison. 100 grams of apple also have a similar potassium content.
Caution: If you have a very sensitive stomach, watermelon should not be consumed in large quantities. Because the pulp contains bitter substances that could possibly lead to stomach problems. On the other hand, bitter substances are also very healthy

More than just water: nutritional values ​​of watermelon

Because they contain so much water, watermelons are considered particularly figure-friendly.

These are the nutritional values ​​of 100 grams of watermelon:
Calories: 31
Protein: 0.5 grams
Fat: 0.3 grams
Carbohydrates: 6.3 grams
Despite its sweetness, the watermelon contains relatively little sugar, namely around 6 grams. In comparison, bananas have a very high sugar content with 17 grams of sugar per 100 grams of fruit.

Please do not throw away: watermelon skin and seeds

Even the inconspicuous parts of the watermelon are healthy:
Peel: The peel of the watermelon is edible and contains a lot of dietary fiber that makes you feel full. It also contains amino acids that help the body build muscle, as well as some vitamins. You can simply nibble the peel or grate it and add it to the salad, pickle it, or use it to make smoothies. If you want to eat the peel, you should use watermelons from controlled organic cultivation.
Kernels: The kernels contain vitamins A, B and C, as well as unsaturated fatty acids and iron, magnesium and calcium. You can of course simply eat them or dry them first and then grind them and stir them into smoothies or yoghurt as a powder. Reddened, the seeds make a crunchy topping for the salad.

The healthy radishes are known to us as a spicy ingredient in many salads. But the spicy root vegetables can taste much more than just good.

A radish is a healthy root vegetable that belongs to the cruciferous family. Its botanical name is Raphanus sativus, but the vegetable is also sometimes simply called “radish”. The tuber, which is related to the radish, has a slightly pungent taste. It gives salads a light spiciness.

The most famous and commercially available variety of radish only measures up to four centimeters in diameter, is round, white on the inside and wine-red on the outside. However, there are different varieties of radishes, some of which are cylindrical, cone-shaped, or even white on the outside and reddish-pink on the inside.

Radishes grow quite quickly: they germinate after a week and can already be harvested after a few weeks. If you grow radishes yourself, you shouldn’t wait too long before harvesting them, otherwise they will become woody and taste unpleasant.

Cruciferous vegetables (lat: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae) are known to have positive health effects. But how healthy are radishes really?

Radishes and their healthy active ingredients

Radishes are 94 percent water and only have 14 calories. So you don’t have to worry about your preference for the spicy tuber starting.

The following main components make the root tuber so healthy:
potassium
folic acid
vitamin C
calcium
beta-carotene
mustard oil
The mustard oils contained in radishes are responsible for both the pungent taste of the tuber and numerous positive effects on your health.

The active ingredients in radishes have a healthy effect on your body in the following ways:
Anti-inflammatory: According to a study, radishes and other radishes are said to reduce the levels of inflammation in your body.
Diabetes: Positive effects were repeatedly observed in patients suffering from diabetes: radishes increased the antioxidants and reduced free radicals in the body. They regulate your blood sugar levels by inhibiting glucose absorption in your gut and have been shown to reduce your blood sugar.
Gastrointestinal problems: radishes are said to neutralize stomach acid. Therefore, they are said to help with occasional heartburn. However, if you have chronic problems with stomach acid, you should consider making lifestyle changes.
Gallstones: The mustard oil glycosides in radishes and radishes convert to mustard oil isothiocyanates in your body. A study has shown that these substances from black radish have a positive effect on the gallbladder: the active substances detoxify it and help to eliminate gallstones. This can also lower your cholesterol levels since cholesterol can build up in the bile.
Heart: Your heart also benefits from the reduction of “bad” cholesterol in your body: too high a cholesterol value increases the risk of arteriosclerosis. Additionally, several studies suggest a direct link between mortality from heart failure and low consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as radishes.
Liver: According to an analysis of various studies, the substances in cruciferous vegetables protect liver cells in liver diseases (such as liver cirrhosis). They are also said to be able to prevent liver cancer.
Cancer: According to a study, radish extract triggers faster cell death in cancer cells. The US National Cancer Institute explains that cancer research is very much focused on the study of cruciferous plants, since the substances they contain could even prevent the development of cancer cells: mustard oil isothiocyanates have been able to prevent lung cancer and esophageal cancer in animal experiments.

How does a rice diet work? And how useful is it? We explain how you can lose weight with rice and what the risks are behind this slimming diet.

Rice Diet: How it works

For the rice diet, you should use whole grain or wild rice instead of white rice, which contains many calories but few vitamins. This is how the principle of the rice diet works:
You should consume 60 grams of rice per meal. The diet is divided into three phases.
In the first week you vary your rice dishes with applesauce, salad or apple pieces.
Fruit and vegetables are also allowed from the second week.
From the beginning of the third week, fish and lean meat can also be part of your diet. (But beware: for the sake of the environment, when it comes to meat and fish, less is more.)
In addition to this strict variant of the rice diet, a looser form is also conceivable, in which you can eat your rice together with fruit and vegetables right from the start.
What both forms of diet have in common, however, is that they avoid salt, sugar and high-fat foods.
Drink as much water and herbal teas as possible.

These nutrients are contained in rice

We have compiled the most important nutrients contained in rice:
Magnesium and Potassium: These nutrients are important for the muscles. They also strengthen bones and teeth.
Iron: is important for oxygen transport and strengthens the immune system.
Zinc: strengthens the immune system and ensures problem-free wound healing.
Overview of the nutritional values ​​for 100 g of uncooked brown rice:
Calories: 352 kcal
Carbohydrates: 72.3 g
of which sugar: 0.3 g
Protein: 7.4 g
Fat: 3.0g
Fiber: 3.0 g

Why does rice help you lose weight?

The basic idea of ​​the rice diet: You don’t lose body fat. The high water-binding capacity of the grain means that excess water is flushed out of the body. The grain and potassium contained in whole grain rice in particular support the effect. The weight loss is noticeable after a very short time.

How useful is the rice diet?

Nevertheless, the diet carries some risks: Deficiency symptoms can occur because you only consume a few nutrients and vitamins. In addition, you only consume a small amount of protein, which can have a negative effect on the protein-dependent metabolic processes in the body. Last but not least, a rice diet can quickly become monotonous.

You should also be aware that rice mainly comes from Asia and therefore travels a long distance. A few types of rice are also grown in Europe. When buying your rice, pay attention to the country of origin of the respective rice variety.

The strict form of the rice diet is generally not recommended. If at all, you should only do them for a very short period of time. For a more moderate diet, it is important to ensure a varied diet with many different types of fruit and vegetables.

In order to do something for your figure in the long term, it is worth paying attention to a balanced diet and sufficient exercise instead. In this way, you can keep your desired weight for a long time and you don’t have to worry about any risks.

Alfalfa sprouts often end up as a topping on the salad. Here you can find out whether the small seedlings are really that good for your health.

Origin and active ingredients of alfalfa sprouts

Alfalfa sprouts are the germinated seeds of a popular forage crop, lucerne. Alfalfa is a legume and originally comes from Asia, where it has been cultivated for many centuries. The name alfalfa means something like “father of food”, which is very apt given the many nutrients it contains. The alfalfa sprouts contain, among other things:
lots of plant-based protein
Vitamin A, strengthens eyesight and skin
Vitamin B1 and B6, important for the nervous system and a well-functioning metabolism
In addition to the immune system, vitamin C also promotes fat metabolism
Vitamin E protects the body from free radicals
essential amino acids such as tryptophan and tyrosine 7
lots of magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc and phosphate
Furthermore, alfalfa is characterized by the large amounts of antioxidants and chlorophyll. Antioxidants also help scavenge free radicals, while chlorophyll balances acid-base balance.

Saponins for a strong immune system

Perhaps one of the greatest health benefits of alfalfa sprouts is their high saponin content. Saponins are particularly useful for the intestines because they have an anti-inflammatory effect and strengthen the intestinal flora. According to some studies, saponins can also prevent some cancers and ensure a strong immune system.

These modes of action are also attributed to saponins:
Saponins ensure that harmful bacteria are combated and bacteria that are beneficial for the intestinal flora are encouraged to grow.
Saponins bind cholesterol in the intestine. As a result, they do not get into the bloodstream as quickly.

Alfalfa sprouts as a remedy for autoimmune diseases

In autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus, the body’s own defenses turn against the body. The antibodies then inflame the tissue and organs. In medical tests, these symptoms could be reduced by saponin. Therefore, alfalfa sprouts might actually be helpful for treating such diseases.

Preparation of alfalfa sprouts

It is best to always buy organic alfalfa sprouts. But you can also easily draw them yourself. After you have briefly rinsed the fresh sprouts with water, you can use them in many different ways:
Sprinkle raw sprouts on bread with cream cheese or hummus for a healthy topping.
Mix alfalfa with some quark and you have a delicious dip for vegetable sticks.
Top off a tasty salad with a few alfalfa sprouts.

Isotonic drinks are designed to provide athletes with energy and important minerals in a particularly effective manner. However, only a few of the commercially available isotonic drinks can do this – and there are healthier alternatives.

For many people, isotonic drinks are part of sport, after all they are supposed to supply the body with energy, liquid and sweated-out nutrients. In particular, the electrolytes sodium, potassium and magnesium are lost when you sweat.

Your body usually has a certain level of these minerals. When a drink has the same concentration, it is said to be “isotonic”.

Isotonic drinks: how they work

In order to understand what is special about isotonic drinks, you have to deal with the phenomenon of “osmosis”. Imagine a cell in the human body: It is separated from the environment by a cell membrane. On both sides of the membrane is water (after all, we are mostly made of water) in which minerals such as sodium are dissolved. If the concentration of these minerals is different on either side, this is compensated for by drawing water to the side with the higher concentration. This process is known as “osmosis”.

Now let’s apply this to an isotonic drink: since it has the same nutrient concentration as our body, it can pass through the digestive tract without the body having to dilute it with water. With a hypertonic drink (e.g. cola) it would be different: the body would have to compensate for the high nutrient content by diluting the cola with water in the digestive tract. This would temporarily remove liquid from the blood and the digestive tract would have to work harder.

Isotonic drinks, on the other hand, get into the blood quickly and easily. There the contained sugar and the electrolytes are transported to the cells. Isotonic drinks quickly provide energy and important minerals.

Isotonic drinks: do you need them?

According to experts, as long as you only exercise moderately (i.e. less than about an hour at a time) you do not need isotonic drinks – it is sufficient if you quench your thirst with water.

The situation is different in competitive sports: if you do intensive sports for several hours, you should fill up your electrolyte stores. Studies also show that sugar helps maintain performance.

It is a popular kitchen vegetable because of its pungent aroma, but is radish also healthy? Here you can find out everything about the nutritional values ​​and side effects of the root.

Radish not only gives your dishes a pleasant spiciness, it is also healthy thanks to its valuable ingredients. Whether raw as a crunchy snack or in a salad: the root vegetable is a real all-rounder.

These nutrients make radish healthy

The radish owes its pungent taste primarily to the mustard oils it contains. It has been proven that these kill pathogens such as bacteria and viruses and thus play an important role in a strong immune system. They should also be able to strengthen the liver, bile and digestion. But radish contains even more substances that make it healthy.

Vitamin C: With 200 grams of radish you have already covered half of your daily vitamin C requirement. The root vegetable is therefore an important support for your body’s defences.
Vitamin B1 and B2: Your body needs vitamin B1 or thiamine to break down carbohydrates, while vitamin B2 supports various metabolic processes.
Flavonoids have a positive effect on the immune system and are said to help with certain cardiovascular diseases.
Bitter substances: In addition to mustard oils, radishes contain numerous bitter substances that have an antibiotic, cholagogue and expectorant effect.
Potassium ensures that the stimulus transmission of the muscles works properly. The mineral also has a positive effect on cell growth and blood pressure.
Sodium transmits movement impulses from the nerve tracts to the muscles. If you have a sodium deficiency, you often have to struggle with headaches and nausea.
Magnesium plays an important role in your body’s fat burning process.
Calcium is a must for strong teeth and bones and also regulates the acidity of your body.
In addition to calcium, phosphorus is one of the most important components of the skeleton and strengthens the cells.
Iron transports oxygen in the blood and strengthens your immune system.
Already knew? The mustard oil in radishes causes more bile to be produced in your liver. In this way, fat digestion is stimulated. If you suffer from bloating caused by bile problems, eating radish in moderation can provide relief. However, it is best to talk to your doctor beforehand.

Radish as a healthy fitness vegetable?

Radish is not only full of healthy ingredients, according to Austria’s public health portal, it is also very low in calories with 15 calories per 100 grams. The root vegetables also contain hardly any carbohydrates (about 2 grams per 100 grams). This makes radish a healthy low-carb snack for in between meals. To do this, you must first wash the radish thoroughly. Then cut it into thin slices and sprinkle some salt on top to draw out some of the water from the radish. Complete!

The mustard oils in radishes can bring another advantage. Their sharpness is supposed to boost fat burning and help you lose weight. Especially in the black radish you can use the mustard oils as cough syrup!

When you should give up the healthy radish

As healthy as radish is, the spicy mustard oils are not digestible for everyone. If, for example, you often complain of stomach problems after eating, you should rather eliminate radish from your diet: According to the DocJones health portal, the mustard oils in radishes can irritate your stomach lining. So it is better to switch to more stomach-friendly vegetables. Furthermore, too much radish can loudly lead to flatulence. If you have gallstones, DocJones also advises not to eat the root vegetables.

The assumption that rowan berries are poisonous persists. We explain the actual connections and how you can use rowan berries.

Rowanberries are not poisonous

According to the Nature Conservation Union, the bright red rowan berries along the way are not poisonous – but you should only eat the tart wild fruits cooked. This is because the bitter parasorbic acid becomes easily digestible sorbic acid.

A special form of the rowan berry from Eastern Europe is the Moravian, also known as the sweet mountain ash. The bitter-free cultivar has such a high sugar content that you can eat it straight from the tree. Its berries are up to 1.3 centimeters thick. Moravian also grows here and is actually one of the most popular rowan berries.

The very sour and bitter-tasting fruits of the local mountain ash are rich in vitamin C (80-100 milligrams per 100 grams of berries). According to the Federal Center for Nutrition (BZFE), rowan berries also contain provitamin A, which is important for the visual process after it has been converted into vitamin A in the body. It also contains essential oils and fiber such as the gelling agent pectin.

A puree of rowanberries (see instructions below) is said to help against loss of appetite and indigestion. In folk medicine, rowan berries are also known to help with colds, gout and rheumatism.

For a long time, rowan berries had another medical benefit: a certain type of sugar, sorbose, used to be used as a sugar substitute for diabetics. Today it is produced industrially as sorbitol.

Non-toxic: rowanberry jam

Rowanberries ripen in October. According to conservationist Sönke Hofmann, the best time to harvest is after the first frost, as the fruits develop their sweet and tart aroma afterwards. You can boil the red rowanberries with apples and lots of sugar to make them edible.

However, if you wait too long, you can be unlucky that the animals have already eaten most of the berries.

You can make the following delicacies from rowanberries, as confirmed by the Federal Center for Nutrition:
You can use the berries to make jam or jelly for your breakfast.
you can make a sweet rowanberry syrup or juice yourself.
If you want to make a special drop, a liqueur or brandy made from rowanberries would be an innovative idea.
A chutney made from rowanberries, for example, goes well with a soft cheese. You can use onions, tomatoes, raisins and peppers in it.
Rowanberries also taste good in pastries and cakes.
For rowanberry puree, you should soak the fruit in water with a dash of vinegar overnight. You can then pass them through a sieve and mix them with mild-tasting fruits such as apples, quinces or pears. Cinnamon and cardamom are suitable spices.
You can also add the dried berries to fruit or herbal teas.

The blood type diet is based on the assumption that people can tolerate different foods depending on their blood type. The idea sounds interesting – but is there any scientific evidence that the blood type diet works?

In the 1990s, the American naturopath Peter J. D’Adamo invented the blood type diet. It is based on the assumption that our blood group is decisive for which foods we tolerate better and which less well. How can this work?

The four blood groups 0, A, B and AB differ in that different antigens are found on the red blood cells. According to D’Adamo, certain proteins from food, the lectins, couple to different antigens, causing the blood to “clump”. This increases the risk of many diseases. So the blood type diet means that you avoid foods whose lectins bind to the antigens in your blood. This should make you healthier and slimmer.

Blood group diet: which foods for which blood group?

According to the blood type diet, you tolerate the foods best that your ancestors ate when the blood type was created. This results in this list according to the blood group diet:
Blood type 0: According to D’Adamo, this blood type originated in the Stone Age when people lived as hunters and gatherers. Accordingly, you should eat a lot of red meat and fish, as well as a lot of fruit and vegetables. On the other hand, you should avoid cereals, legumes and dairy products. This diet is similar to a high-protein, low-carb Paleo diet.
Blood type A: This blood type is said to have emerged when people settled down and began to grow crops and other crops. That means you eat vegan for the most part, fish is also allowed every now and then.
Blood group B: Blood group B is said to have originated with the nomadic peoples of Asia. Accordingly, meat, dairy products, fruit and vegetables are on your menu.
Blood group AB: Your diet corresponds to a balanced mixed diet.
The classifications according to D’Adamo are in some cases much more precise, for example one blood group allows one type of fish and another allows that type of fish.

Does the blood group diet work? The state of research

There is scientific evidence that suggests a concept like the blood type diet might make sense:
A 2012 study came to the conclusion that the risk of developing certain diseases depends on blood type.
Nine years earlier, a review found that the way your body absorbs and processes nutrients is linked to your genes.
Is this evidence that the blood type diet works? No – neither publication shows that there is a connection between your diet and your health based on your blood type.

In fact, there is no evidence that the blood type diet works. In a systematic review study in 2013, scientists from the Belgian Red Cross looked for sources that prove that the diet works. You haven’t found a single meaningful study. Your review also prompted the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) to write in a press release that the blood group diet lacks any scientific basis. The University of Toronto even published a study in 2014 concluding that there is no connection between your health and your diet that depends on your blood type.

According to the current state of research, his theory of how the blood groups came about is also wrong. In 2012, scientists analyzed the genomes of several primate species and concluded that blood types have existed for millions of years.

Blood Type Diet: Interesting, but not recommended

You can probably lose weight if you follow the blood group diet: depending on your blood group, the selection of foods you can eat is very limited. This means that you will find it difficult to integrate the blood type diet into everyday life and you will probably eat an unbalanced diet. Therefore, experts advise against using the blood group diet, regardless of the scientific situation. If you eat a balanced diet and mainly eat seasonal vegetables and fruit, you will get all the nutrients your body needs.