Metabolic Typing - the Right Diet For You

What is the right type of diet for you?

There is no single diet that is right for everyone - but there is a diet that is perfect for you.  There is an ideal balance of  the ‘macronutrients’ – proteins, carbohydrates, fats – which suits your body’s specific biochemistry.  Adjusting your eating patterns towards the balance of foods appropriate for your metabolic type can bring about noticeable improvements in body and mind. 

Eating the wrong foods may cause unpleasant temporary symptoms such as lack of energy, irritability, depression, sweet cravings or indigestion.  The long term effects of an unbalanced diet can be much more serious, and result in chronic disease.

What is the history of metabolic typing? 

The concept of using individual diets for individual people is not new.  The ancient Greeks and Romans recognised individual food requirements.  Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic doctors have for thousands of years recommended individual dietary variations based on different constitutional types. 

The advances in nutritional science of the past century have led researchers to develop increasingly sophisticated systems for identifying unique individual dietary needs.  William Wolcott – author of The Metabolic Typing Diet is now considered to be the authority on this subject.  This book is a very readable analysis of the deeper principles involved in metabolic typing and provides clear advice on how to individualise your own eating patterns.

One important thing that William Wolcott has highlighted is that the same food may cause different patterns of metabolic balance (or imbalance) in different people.  Additionally, two people displaying similar disease symptoms may need distinctly different diets to return to health.  Therefore it is important not to blindly follow popular diets.  Even drugs and herbs can have markedly differing effects on different people and should be taken in consultation with a good naturopath or doctor.

What do you need to know? 

The most important distinction to make in regard to your personal biochemical needs is whether you are a Carb Type, a Protein Type or a Mixed Type.  Here are the specific proportions of carbs/proteins/fats recommended for each metabolic type:

            Carb Type:       25% Protein / 15% Fat / 60% Carbohydrate

            Mixed Type:     30% Protein / 20% Fat / 50% Carbohydrate

            Protein Type:    40% Protein / 30% Fat / 30% Carbohydrate

What metabolic type are you?

These proportions should be seen as a guide only.  Each of us will have a unique metabolic type which corresponds with some point on a continuum between Carb Type and Protein Type.  Wolcott’s book includes a questionnaire by which you can determine your metabolic type.  You can also find a constantly updated and more accurate version (there is a charge for this) on Dr. Mercola’s website: www.mercola.com/mttest.htm 

There are many variables involved in these tests.   My opinion is that you can establish your own metabolic type simply by experimenting with different food combinations and paying close attention to your body.  Read on to learn more!

William Wolcott recommends that in order to optimise your weight, prevent or heal from chronic disease, increase energy and concentration, retain a youthful appearance and just feel better in general, the most effective way is:

I would add that you may first need to learn which foods fall into which category.  Few foods are pure protein, pure carbohydrate or pure fat.  They are usually a mixture.  However, for simplicity of understanding, most foods are categorised into one of these three groups according to their predominant composition. 

Determining Your Metabolic Type

Your physical appearance and character is unique to you.  Isn’t that wonderful?  Well, your insides are also unique!  The way you digest, absorb and create energy from food differs from even your own family members.  Therefore you need to learn about yourself.  How can you do this?  By ‘listening to you body’.  This means paying close attention to your own experience of different foods. 

In particular you need to pay attention to how you feel from the time you eat a meal until two hours later.  If you feel sleepy 30 – 60 minutes after you eat, this is a clear sign that you may be eating the wrong types of foods (or too much!).  This typically happens when we eat too much refined carbohydrate foods – however for some metabolic types protein rich, fatty foods can have this effect.  Many teachers notice a post-lunch slump in attentiveness from their students.  Workplace managers may be aware of a similar pattern in their staff.  The most common reason for this is unbalanced food choices – breads, pastries, pasta, cakes and soft drinks are the main culprits.  Most people, even Carb Types, need to eat a greater proportion of protein with each meal to feel satisfied and energised.

After meals, use the following chart as a guide to whether you are making good food choices:

 

Right Macronutrient Ratio

 

Wrong Macronutrient Ratio

Feel satisfied, not hungry or over-full

Feel physically full, but still hungry, or get hungry again soon

No food cravings – especially not for sweets

Have food cravings, especially for sweets, and feel that something was missing from you meal

Feel like energy has been restored

Fell tired, lacking energy – or too ‘hyper’, bouncing off the wall

Mind is clear, attentive and sharp

Difficulty concentrating, feel ‘spacey’ – the mind is racing out of control

Feel happy!

Feel down, depressed, apathetic – or irritable and short-tempered

Any disease symptoms are either unchanged or improved

Disease symptoms worsen

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