Your Body Knows Best: The Perfect Eating Plan for Your Blood Type, Ancestry, and Metabolism

In her latest book, nutritionist Gittleman (Beyond Pritikin) asserts that, when it comes to diets, one size does not fit all. With sound logic, data from a number of scientific studies and a wealth of personal experience, the author examines popular eating regimens, including vegetarian, restricted-calorie and low-fat/high carbohydrate, explaining why no single plan can possibly work for everybody. While the different-diets-for-different-bodies idea doesn't break new ground, Gittleman's proposition that an individual's heritage, blood type and metabolism combine to create unique nutritional requirements will sound right to many readers. Mapping out dietary guidelines for each blood type and for metabolic ""slow burners"" and ""fast burners,"" Gittleman gives a particularly stringent list of general ""no-nos"" for everyone (refined sugars, processed carbohydrates, trans fats like margarine). In-depth chapters on carbohydrates, fats, proteins, exercise and medical conditions brought on by nutritional deficiencies add substance to this volume. (Mar.)