Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.
Introduction
Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.
HIPPOCRATES FOOD HAS THE potential to heal and strengthen our physical bodies, support our recovery from injury and illness, and potentially change our genetic destinies. Not only does food provide sustenance and nourishment, it provides an opportunity for creative expression and community, whether through developing new recipes or ways to prepare a certain food or in sharing a meal with others. When I wrote Eat Right 4 Your Type in 1996, I explored the connections between blood type and diet, and outlined specific nutritional programs for each blood type. Since its publication more than fifteen years ago, I have continued to research and write about the role that foods play in our lives, and I have tried to create support materials and guidance for people who follow the Blood Type Diet. In 1998, I wrote Cook Right 4 Your Type, which acted as a handbook for my readers, providing recipes, cooking tips, and planning guidelines to help navigate the process of food planning and preparation. I always wanted to take this further as I felt there was an aesthetic quality about food and food preparation that should be reflected in a book, not just with great recipes but also with beautiful, four-color photography that celebrates food.
About three years ago, I met Kristin OConnor. Although she came to see me as a patient, our conversation turned to following the Blood Type Diet, cooking, food preparation, and the work she was doing as a personal chef, food stylist, and food blogger. I was impressed by her dedication to nutrition and healthy eating, and with her ability to simplify the food-preparation process, which for some people can be quite daunting. Over the ensuing months, as we worked together as doctor and patient, our conversations returned again and again to food. I felt that I had found in Kristin the perfect person to collaborate on a book project that would blend the scientific concepts of the Blood Type Diet with the artistry of cooking to create visually stunning cookbooks specifically designed for each blood type. Kristin has a passion for the Blood Type Diet that is unparalleled, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the food lists for each of the blood types.
She is creative and resourceful, and she appreciates and respects the need for food to both taste delicious and be nourishing. For the past year, I have been enjoying the recipes included in the books, and I have to say that Ive been knocked out by how delicious they are. They are also easy to prepare, as I know most of us have limited hours in the day for food planning and preparation. The recipes contained in these books are suitable for individuals or families, as well as for special events and entertaining. Additionally, there are helpful food preparation tips, suggestions for how to organize your kitchen, food storage guidelines, and suggested resources that can make meal planning and preparation easier. My goal has always been to provide accessible information that is easy to incorporate into daily life, and I believe that Kristin has accomplished this.
These cookbooks represent new food and healthy lifestyle possibilities for my readers; they combine the science behind the Blood Type Diet with Kristins expertise as a chef and believer and follower of these concepts, and package them in a beautiful, four-color format. The recipes contained within are appropriate for your blood type and compliant with the food lists, and they are delicious and made with lovelove of food, love of health, and love of sharing this with others on both Kristins and my part. I invite you to join us on the continued journey of personalized living. I am confident that you will find a trusted companion in these cookbooks, and one who will make your life richer and healthier as you experiment with the recipes that were developed specifically to be right for your type.
Type AB at a Glance
TYPE AB IS the rarest and newest blood type, found in only 5 percent of the population. The AB blood type evolved out of Types A and B coming together.
As a result, those with type AB are fortunate enough to have the strengths of both blood types, but also bear some weaknesses from each parent blood type as well. ABs dietary profile stems from low stomach acidity, inherited from Type A, which results in slower digestion. Therefore, Type AB, a limited meat eater, benefits from eating multiple, small meals throughout the day, and from separating meats and carbohydrates. This strategy will aid in digestion, help balance insulin, and promote weight loss. Some foods that are highly