This because the COVID-19 virus binds to cells slightly differently based on blood type.

( Note: Since this article was first published over a year ago, more research has added to the notion people with type A blood may have a higher risk of infection. Guggenheim also thinks this may describe the anecdotal decrease in risk of severe COVID-19 disease in people with type O blood. The proteins present in type A and type B blood may cause more 'blockage' or 'thickening' in the veins and arteries, leading to an increased risk of clotting and heart disease. People in the same study with type A and B blood were 51% more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis and 47% more likely to develop a pulmonary embolism, which are severe blood clotting disorders that can also increase the risk of heart failure.Ī reason for this increased risk, according to Guggenheim, might have to do with inflammation that happens in the bodies of people with type A, type B or type AB blood. While the increased risk is small (types A or B had a combined 8% higher risk of heart attack and 10% increased risk of heart failure, according to one large study) the difference in blood clotting rates is much higher, per the AHA. According to followers of the blood type diet, blood type (A, B, AB or O) is said to be an important tool for understanding how someone reacts to various types of food, although there’s not strong evidence that this is true. 'In short, it's almost like the body has evolved around its environment in order to protect it as best as possible,' Guggenheim said. A blood type diet is one that makes health and nutrition recommendations based on your unique genetic individuality. While our blood can't keep up with the different biological or viral threats going around in real time, it may reflect what's happened in the past. People with type O blood may get sicker with cholera, for example, while people with type A or B blood may be more likely to experience blood clotting issues.

Douglas Guggenheim, a hematologist with Penn Medicine.

People with type O-negative blood are considered ' universal donors' because their blood doesn't have any antigens or proteins, meaning anyone's body will be able to accept it in an emergency.īut why are there different blood types? Researchers don't fully know, but factors such as where someone's ancestors are from and past infections which spurred protective mutations in the blood may have contributed to the diversity, according to Dr. The ABO system is the best known way of classifying blood types.

Diet based on blood type o negative