The Metabolic Typing Diet
According to the metabolic typing diet, no one diet is
right for all of us. Our metabolisms differ and so
should our diets. The metabolic typing diet offers an
explanation of why high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets
may be right for some people, while high-carbohydrate
diets are suitable for others. Learn about the history
of the metabolic typing diet, what foods to eat on the
diet, strengths of the diet, and precautions to take.
What
Is metabolic Typing
Metabolic typing represents the work of many
doctors, researchers and biochemists over the last 70
years. The basic concept is that everyone is
metabolically unique and “one man's meat is another
man's poison.”
Metabolic Typing is a method for determining
the correct mix on nutrients, (diet) that is specific or
unique to a person. No two people are the same in the
nutritional needs for their cells to operate in a
healthy at a core functional level. Cells need to be
supplied with the correct mix/spread of Fuel,
(nutrients) so they can perform their specific functions
with the best possible health and fuel.
At a cellular level, if they are not getting
the right nutrients then the cells are not able to
function properly. The impact of this poor function then
flows through the body and can end up manifesting into
forms of chronic degenerative diseases and illnesses,
depression, fatigue, allergies and much more.
In so many cases in western countries we see
a wide range of chronic degenerative diseases that in
reality are caused from an incorrect mix of protein,
carbohydrates, fats and oils. This incorrect mix does
not allow our cells to have the correct fuel that they
need to function.
In the western, media educated world where
people so freely adopt viewpoints, it is said that a
diet high in fat, too much red meat, salt, dairy and
many other things is bad for us. This foundation concept
is incorrect. What we have to be aware of is that what
might be a good diet, say high protein diet for one
person can be poison for another person. Its like the
fuel that you put on your car, one car likes one type
while another car like a different type. If you put the
wrong fuel in a car it will perform poorly or not at
all. It’s the same with our bodies, if we do not have
the right fuel, we will perform poorly.
An incorrect mix of nutrition for anyone will
cause poor function and health at a cellular level. The
foundation of knowing your correct Metabolic Typing is
that you will then be able to provide your body with the
right mix of foods, (nutrients) that allows your body to
function, be healthy and operate as it is designed for.
Health
and Wellness Through Metabolic Typing
Modern medicine looks at the condition and seeks
to treat it.
Metabolic typing looks at the person and seeks to
treat them.
Good health is a holistic and over all
wellness that is made by many lifestyle choices.
Metabolic Typing is one choice that can greatly assist
people achieve a high level of health. When the
person is treated correctly, many health problems
resolve on their own. This is an important distinction
to make. When your metabolic type is correctly assessed
and your diet and supplements adjusted accordingly,
optimal health, with prevention and reversing of
disease, can be achieved. Metabolic typing is much more
effective than 'one size fits all' generalised
nutritional approaches.
In this day and age we are trained through
marketing and advertising that if we are not well we
need this drug or that drug. The use of medicines has
developed to a point where people have a pain so they
take a pill. Doctors generally are treating the symptoms
of an illness rather than the foundation causes of a
persons illness or condition.
In the book The Metabolic Typing Diet,
researcher William Wolcott details in depth examples
where people have had chromic illnesses for years, spent
thousands of dollars with this specialist and that to no
end. They still have not found the “Cure” they are
looking for.
He also details results that when people
understand what is the right Fuel Mix for their
metabolic type, cells get the fuel they need. Cells can
then start to function at an optimal level and the flow
on effect throughout the body is huge. People start to
feel better than they have for years, illnesses seem to
go away, allergies dissipate and disappear, people have
more energy. In fact, people feel healthier than they
ever have in their life.
This is because there is a healing of
cellular function at a core level. Each cell can do it
specific function well and the body, mind and spirit all
function better.
The
History of Metabolic Typing
In the 1930's, dentist Weston Price began
expeditions around the world and uncovered the link
between modern eating habits and chronic degenerative
diseases. He studied the differences in diet composition
in different indigenous communities.
He wanted to find out why these indigenous
cultures and the specific composition of their
nutritional intake, (diet), often made up of either high
carbohydrate or high protein content and the fact that
their specific diet created such healthy individuals
with the low rates if any of chronic degenerative
diseases and illness.
In many of these cultures cancer, heart
disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses were
generally unheard of. He also discovered that there was
no one diet that would be healthy for all people --
there was too much variation in climate, local produce,
environmental conditions, heredity, genetics, culture.
In later years, George Watson, Roger Williams,
William Kelley, and others continued research in this
area. They all realised that all people were different
in the nutritional needs for each individual. They also
found that for a cell to function at optimal health and
operation it needed to be fed the correct balance of
nutrients that are right for the persons Metabolic
Typing.
How can I find out my metabolic type?
In the book The Metabolic Typing Diet, researcher
William Wolcott offers a simple home self-test for
identifying your metabolic type. For an accurate
diagnosis, a trained health practitioner can provide a
thorough assessment that may include urine and blood
tests. Wolcott provides three general metabolic types:
Protein types
-- Protein types are fast oxidizers or
parasympathetic dominant. They tend to be frequently
hungry, crave fatty, salty foods, fail with
low-calorie diets, and tend towards fatigue,
anxiety, and nervousness. They are often lethargic
or feel "wired", "on edge", with superficial energy
while being tired underneath.
For a list of
allowable type foods for a Protein Type click here
Carbo types
-- Carbo types are slow oxidizers or sympathetic
dominant. They generally have relatively weak
appetites, a high tolerance for sweets, problems
with weight management, "type A" personalities, and
are often dependent on caffeine.
For a list of
allowable type foods for a Carb Type click here
Mixed types
-- Mixed types are neither fast or slow oxidizers,
and are neither parasympathetic or sympathetic
dominant. They generally have average appetites,
cravings for sweets and starchy foods, relatively
little trouble with weight control, and tend towards
fatigue, anxiety, and nervousness.
For a list of
allowable type foods for a Mixed Type click here
What are the guidelines for the diet?
According to the metabolic typing diet, the three
metabolic types should eat the following foods:
Protein types should eat diets that are rich in
protein, fats and oils, and high-purine proteins
such as organ meats, pate, beef liver, chicken
liver, and beef. Carbohydrate intake should be low.
Carbo types should eat diets that are high in
carbohydrates and low in protein, fats, and oils.
They should eat light, low-purine proteins.
Mixed types should eat a mixture of high-fat, high-purine
proteins and low-fat, low-purine proteins such as
cheese, eggs, yogurt, tofu, nuts. This type requires
relatively equal ratios of proteins, fats, and
carbohydrates.
What are the strengths of this diet?
Unlike other diets that recommend the same plan for
everyone, the metabolic typing diet recognizes that we
are individual. Our metabolisms differ, so our diets
should as well.
The metabolic typing theory may help to explain why some
people do better on a high protein, low carb diet, while
others do better on a high carb diet. Wolcott explains
that the effects of different diets on the metabolic
types:
High Carb, Low Fat Diet
-- This diet is suitable for carbo types. However,
in protein types and mixed types, a high carb, low
fat diet can increase fat storage by increasing
insulin, and lower metabolic rate by breaking down
muscle tissue due to insufficient protein intake,
and may disrupt adrenal and thyroid function.
High Protein, High Fat Diet (e.g. Atkins Diet) -- This diet is suitable for protein types. However, in carbo
types and mixed types, a high protein, high fat diet
can increase fat storage by disturbing cellular
oxidation, and lower metabolic rate by creating a
shortage of glucose caused by low carb intake. It
may also disturb adrenal and thyroid function.
40-30-30 Diet (e.g. Zone diet)
-- This diet is suitable for mixed types. However, a
40-30-30 diet can increase fat storage by disturbing
oxidation. It can lower metabolic rate by creating a
shortage of glucose in carbo types and a shortage of
protein in protein types, both resulting in muscle
breakdown.
Reference
Wolcott W, Fahey T. The Metabolic Typing Diet.
Broadway Books, New York. 2000.
