Metabolic Type. Your metabolic type is based upon your oxidation rate—the rate at which you turn your body’s fuel, food, into energy. In the 1970s Dr. George Watson, a psychologist, identified two types of oxidizers: fast and slow. I refer to them as fast and slow burners. What these two categories of people have in common is that neither uses energy efficiently.
Metabolic Type;slow burner,fast burner
The slow burner doesn’t process food quickly enough (due to under-active adrenals and thyroid), whereas it is speedily converts to energy in the fast burner (who has overactive adrenal and thyroid glands). The slow burner gravitates toward simple carbohydrates, sodas, and sugary foods for energy and tends to binge on starches. Generally, the appetite is poor and there is a dislike for protein-rich foods and fats.
The fast burner, on the other hand, will feel hyper, anxious, and irritable without sufficient fat and protein in the diet. A fast burn-er’s appetite is generally strong, with a preference for heavy meats, and his emotional state is often characterized by peaks and valleys as energy levels fluctuate. While the slow burner tends toward poor circulation, low blood pressure, and dry skin, the fast burner is usually warm, perspires easily, and has high-normal to high blood pressure.The slow burner does best on a diet emphasizing protein and, to a lesser extent, carbohydrates—although carbohydrates should not be consumed in excess. Protein can increase metabolism by 30 percent, while a pure carbohydrate meal increases it only 10 per-cent. Animal proteins of the lean variety (cod, tuna, eggs, and poultry) should be consumed as part of two meals each day. Purine-rich proteins, such as organ meats, are to be avoided and fat intake should be modest, as it will slow the metabolism further.
The fast burner will find a diet emphasizing fat and protein to be optimal. The heavier meats should be favored, and beef, lamb, venison, or cold-water fish should be eaten with every meal. These foods add substance and help balance out the highs and lows of the fast burner. Fats help slow down the overactive metabolism. Purine foods can be eaten freely. Both fast and slow burners should avoid processed carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, bagels, muf-fins, and crackers.
Not all people fall into these two categories. Some are normal or mid-range burners. They are generally able to maintain a desirable weight, due to their metabolic efficiency, whereas weight gain can be a problem for both the fast and slow burner. Eating in such a way as to restore metabolic balance helps to normalize weight and eliminate disease conditions.
These days, metabolic type can be determined through hair analysis. Questionnaires can also help a person determine his oxidation rate, as can increased awareness of the body and its response to food. The questionnaires beginning on this page will assist you in establishing your metabolic type and help in formulating a more personalized dietary plan. Answer “yes” or “no” to each of the following questions.
Start With your metabolic type.
Once you know whether you are a fast or slow burner, you can modify your diet based upon blood type and ancestral heritage. If you do not have all Of the informa- tion, work with the information you have. Use the 40/30/30 eating plan as a point of departure, regardless of other factors, and modi- fy your diet according to what you know about ancestry, metabol- ic type, and blood type. To obtain the full benefits of the 40/30/30 formula, you will need to follow it at every meal and at snack time as well. This is not a difficult task once you grasp the “how to” Of applying the con- You will find meal planning guidelines to help you achieve.
The appeal of the 40/30/30 plan is that it avoids extremes of too much or too little in terms of macronutrient percentages. Diets that are extreme are appropriate for some individuals, and for these people, high percentages of macronutrients may be the answer to their dietary needs. But diets should only be h’m- porary diets. In the long run, they may push the individual past the point of balance into imbalam-e And for those who are already out Of balance, an extreme diet Will push them further out of balance. This can be very damaging. The Standard American Diet is approximately a 51 / 37/ 12 for, mula—51 percent refined carbohydrates, 37 percent saturated and “bad” fats, and only 12 percent protein.
The protein content is inadequate in relation to the overabundance of fat and carbohydrates- For good health. you need to bring this into balance and switch to quality foods. The stabilization of blood sugar that results from proper macronutrient balance helps control hunger and allows you to function optimally on less food (and therefore fewer calories) than you would normally consume. The advantages for weight control are There is also the potential benefit Of increased longevity, animal studies have repeatedly correlated reduced food intake with increased life span. When macronutrient consumption is balanced, reduced food intake does not correlate with hunger: Satiety is more readily achiewed naturally.
