For years I questioned the connections between the immune system, diet, and disease. Through medical school and countless weekend seminars, I learned about some of the most intricate workings of the human body. Through practice and experience, I learned how we maintain our health and wellness. It's commonly understood by most Patients, Health and Wellness Coaches, and Health Professionals that our daily diet has an effect on our overall health and well being. Never did I hear exacting statements and scientific proof that explained HOW and WHY. Nutrition classes in schools teach about vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, but information is constantly changing and often quickly outdated when it comes to how and why food affects our health.

Even long before I went to chiropractic school, I wandered from "here to there" wondering what the best "diet" might be. Obviously I'm talking about a nutrition regimen with a long-term health and wellness goal, and not necessarily about a diet to lose weight. Over the course of 12 years I tried every diet I learned about: the McDougall Diet, Fit For Life, Macrobiotics, The Atkins Diet, Fasting, even vegetarianism for 2 1/2 years! You name the diet and I probably tried it!

In 1996 a colon therapist I met told me that O blood types were mucous producers (I'm O positive), and said there were great differences in blood types. I searched long and hard to find the books she told me were out there, and the book I finally found was by Dr. James D'Adamo called One Man's Food is Another Man's Poison. Dr. D'Adamo was a Naturopathic physician who practiced in Canada for decades. In the pages of his book I learned about his observations that there's a direct correlation to human blood and diet! Each of his chapters was followed by an anecdotal story describing people from all walks of life who followed his suggestions and rid themselves of some of the worst health problems known to humans. I was excited to learn about these observations, and to apply them in my life and in my practice.

In January 1997, a patient and friend of mine (whom I told about blood type and diet) told me he had seen a book on the subject at a local department store. I was sure he was mistaken, as Dr. D'Adamo's original book, printed in 1981, was long since out of print. It took me 3 months to find a copy through a used book store search! I asked my patient to pick me up a copy, and sure enough a few days later, I was holding a copy of Dr. Peter D'Adamo's (son of James) book Eat Right For Your Type.

The book was full of new information about how and why blood type and diet are correlated. It also contained detailed information about each of the four blood types A, B, AB and O. There were easy to use guides so people could remember which foods were best for their blood type, and they could greatly improve their health and wellness just by following them. The book blew me away. It was obvious to me that Peter had taken his fathers decades of observations and positive patient results and done the scientific research to back it up. He expanded the content and produced a book that I think, in time, will outshine most of the thousands of other health books that come and go every year.

Stay tuned! See my next lens for my Summary of the Concept of Blood Type and Diet.