Want to improve your health? Try the blood type diet. According to Peter J. D'Adamo, N.D., author of Eat Right 4 Your Type, you could lose weight and improve your digestive system by following your blood type-specific diet.

The cornerstone of blood-type dieting is that each of the four blood types (O, A, B, AB) has a detailed list of foods that should be avoided, based on the premise that each blood type has its own unique antigen marker that may trigger a negative reaction with certain foods. In addition, people of different blood types have varying levels of stomach acidity and digestive enzymes, which account for the differences in tolerance for certain foods.

It is believed that each blood type is linked to an increased risk for certain health concerns, such as high blood pressure, thyroid problems and allergies. Therefore, eating foods that nourish each blood type can safeguard health, while eating the wrong foods can cause cellular inflammation, sluggish metabolism and even illness. The reason: Foods contain proteins called lectins, and each blood type has evolved to accept certain lectins as nourishment and reject others as invaders.