Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals obviously believes in the adage that you are what you eat. The Pro Bowl wide receiver has undergone a radical diet change that he hopes will help him extend his NFL career.
Fitzgerald, 29, began the Genotype diet, a concept based on cutting out certain foods depending on an individual’s blood type, this summer.
“The older you get, you start fine-tuning what works for you and what doesn’t work for you,” Fitzgerald told Yahoo! Sports. “You stick on the things that you know work and can help you have that longevity that you are looking for.
“A couple of friends of mine had tried it and I wanted to do something different. I have been on it three months and I feel great.”
The Genotype diet is the creation of naturopathic physician and author Dr. Peter D’Adamo. As with most dieting fads, the routine has met its share of controversy as well as attracted a loyal legion of disciples.
Critics claim there is little scientific evidence backing up D’Adamo’s claims that a diet structured around blood type can greatly enhance the way foods are processed and improve factors such as alertness and general well being.
However, Fitzgerald is an adamant believer and insists that overhauling his eating habits have not only helped him feel healthier, but increased his overall level of performance – though his pass-catching numbers don’t back up those sentiments. He has 14 catches for 181 yards and one touchdown reception – his third-lowest yardage total in the first three games during his nine-year career.
“There are certain things that I do – I don’t eat chicken or pork,” Fitzgerald said. “I stay away from red meat a lot; I eat fish most of the time. I think it makes me feel cleaner, not just body wise. I feel good.
“They take your blood, our blood types are all different. I am B+, so we digest some things better than others and some things we don’t digest well. So for instance, tomatoes. For me the acid has a kind of allergic reaction to my blood type.
As a result, Fitzgerald has stopped eating tomatoes and other favorite foods.
“Chicken … I am a black man, we love our chicken, but I don’t eat it anymore,” Fitzgerald said. “My genotype means I don’t process it as well as other things. But I eat lamb twice a week, that is a super food for me.
“My energy levels are off the charts, I can run all day, I breathe well and I sweat a lot so the toxins and impurities come out of my body. I stay away from too much sugary drinks, I just drink a lot of water and pee a lake pretty much.”
