Billy Bob Thornton, star of the series 'Landman,' has opened up about his rare health condition and the restrictive diet that accompanies it. The 70-year-old actor appeared on a recent episode of the 'Howie Mandel Does Stuff' podcast, where he discussed his selective eating habits and the reasons behind them.
Thornton revealed that he has type AB-negative blood, which is the rarest blood type in the world, affecting less than 1% of the global population. This condition, he explained, leads to digestive issues and a reduced number of digestive enzymes. As a result, he has adopted a highly restricted diet, avoiding wheat, dairy, and most meats, including pork and beef.
The conversation began when Mandel recalled a snack that Thornton's son, William, once shared with Mandel's son, Alex. The snack consisted of bagels, cream cheese, and ketchup, which Thornton described as a 'hillbilly bagel.' When Mandel expressed curiosity about Thornton's diet, the actor explained his allergies and blood type.
Thornton noted that he grew up with many allergies but used to eat everything, assuming that feeling unwell after meals was normal. He now avoids wheat, dairy, and red meat due to his AB-negative blood type, which he learned about in the late 1980s. This discovery prompted him to eliminate these foods from his diet.
During the podcast, Thornton shared that before the recording, he had only eaten a bowl of blueberries and drunk decaf coffee. He looked forward to enjoying gluten-free chips with dairy-free cream cheese afterward. He also recounted a recent experience with his 'Landman' co-star Sam Elliott, where he discovered an unexpected food combination: grapes dipped in Dijon mustard. Thornton described it as one of the best things he had ever tasted and said it has become a new favorite snack.
Thornton's dietary restrictions are a result of his rare blood type and allergies, which he manages carefully to maintain his health. His openness about these challenges offers insight into the lifestyle adjustments required for such conditions.
