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Metabolic Typing: The Key To Improving Metabolism


Metabolic Typing is the science of discovering the fundamental way in which your body produces energy from your food, in other words, the explanation of why "one person's medicine is another’s poison."


One of the basic principles of Metabolic Typing is that protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, which are transported by the blood, are best absorbed and utilized by the cells in your body at the ideal blood pH level of 7.46. Below this figure the blood is too acidic, above this figure the blood is too alkaline. The more your pH deviates from the ideal, the less efficient will be the conversion of food to energy.


The second principle of Metabolic Typing is that any nutrient can be acidifying or alkalizing, stimulating or inhibiting, depending on your metabolic type.


The benefits of eating according to your metabolic type are not just weight loss. Metabolic Typing is used by healthcare practitioners to help many conditions, including the following: weight problems, chronic fatigue, allergies, chronic pain, diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatologic disease, just to name a few.


Determining individual metabolic type:


These variables are analyzed to determine your individual metabolic type:



  1. Oxidative Rate- This is generally the most important dominant variable. This tells us how quickly or slowly you metabolize (or oxidize) food. A modified glucose tolerance test is done. After fasting for 12-15 hours, you will be given 50 grams of carbohydrate in the form of a fruit drink. Your blood sugars are then taken with a fingerstick test every half-hour for ninety minutes. The extremes of oxidative rates are seen in diabetes (slow oxidizer) and hypoglycemia (fast oxidizer).




  2. Blood, Urine, and Saliva pH- Protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, are transported by the blood, are best absorbed and utilized by the cells in your body at the ideal blood pH level of 7.46. Below this figure the blood is too acidic, above this figure the blood is too alkaline. The more your pH deviates from the ideal, the less efficient will be the conversion of food to energy. A reduced ability to feed the body on a cellular level causes cascading imbalances and eventually an breakdown that a doctor can hang a diagnosis on. The hip bone is indeed connected to the thigh bone.


  3. Autonomic Nervous System Dominance- The ANS is the part of the nervous system that controls everything that occurs automatically, from blood pressure and blood flow to breathing and blinking. For instance, you do not tell yourself to breathe or increase your heart rate during exercise. Your body just performs these functions automatically. The extremes of ANS dominance are the Type A personality who is always on the go (sympathetic or adrenaline dominant) versus the Type B personality, laid back person who needs a boost to get them out of bed (parasympathetic or acetyl-choline dominant).


  4. Blood Type- Most people know the importance of blood typing with regards to receiving a blood transfusion. Likewise, foods can cause agglutination because of the presence of lectins on their cell surfaces. Lectins are sugar-binding proteins that agglutinate or clump cells. Foods contain different lectins. Your blood type will help determine what foods may not be beneficial for you because of lectin incompatibility. This is usually the variable responsible for not being able to eat certain foods that might otherwise be considered very healthy.


  5. Body Type- Body Type refers to where you tend to gain weight. Certain hormone systems are considered dominant depending on your Body Type. The four Body Types are classified as gonad, thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary. This is the reason why some people gain weight in the hips, while others are extremely skinny, but have that little pouch around the middle. Sometimes Body Type can be determined just by appearance. For example:




    Area of Weight Gain

    Body Type

    Hips

    Gonad

    Abdomen

    Thyroid

    All over athletic build

    Adrenal

    "Baby fat"

    Pituitary




  6. Candida Infection- Candida fungus is present in soil, therefore it is on the food that is eaten every day. When you take an antibiotic, not only are the bad bacteria destroyed, but the good bacteria in the intestines that protect you from candida infections are also destroyed. This is why so many people have candida infections. This is often why so many people have candida infections. This is often the first condition that needs to be corrected when trying to regain your health. Candida or fungus feeds on sugar and simple carbohydrates. For this reason, people with this condition often have uncontrollable cravings for sugar and carbohydrates. Therefore it is imperative that the "food source" for the candida is limited in order to get rid of the condition. Presence of candida is determined by a blood test.

How many metabolic types are found among people? The number ranges from two to ten types. The most commonly used theory among researchers, however, is that there are three metabolic types: slow, fast, and mixed.

Define your own metabolic type using the questionnaire in the Table below. Highlight the characteristics that fit you most closely and count the total score under each column. With any particular entry, if you fall between fast and slow metabolism, highlight both. In choosing the answers, keep in mind that you are assessing your current actual condition, not a past or desired one.


Self-Assessment of your Metabolic Type:



Body build, appearance, and physiological functions

Nos.

Fast Metabolism

Slow Metabolism

1

Broad shoulders, full-chest, and good strength

Pear-shaped, curvy, with weaker upper body or small and very slim

2

Ears are pink or red, darker than the skin of the face

Ears are pale, lighter than the skin of the face

3

Eyes are very moist, even tears appear

Eyes are dry

4

Eyes are often itching, even though there is no cold or allergy

Eyes are rarely itching, if there is cold or allergy

5

Face color is pink, ruddy, flushed

Face color is pale, sallow

6

Face complexion is bright, shiny, radiant

Face complexion is pasty, chalky, dull

7

Nose often is too moist, even tends to run

Nose often is too dry

8

Pupil’s diameter is equal to or smaller than the width of the iris ring around it

Pupil’s diameter is larger than the width of the iris ring around it

9

Fingernails are thin, even weak and brittle, can be easily bent over

Fingernails are thick, strong, and hard

10

Skin, more often in the winter, especially on fingertips and heels, cracks for no reason

Skin on fingertips and heels, even in the winter, never cracks

11

Skin itches often, especially the scalp, arms, or calves

Skin itches rarely, even the scalp, arms, and calves

12

Goosebumps, even on the arms and legs, rarely appear

Goosebumps, especially on the arms and legs, appear easily and often

13

Dandruff on the scalp often forms, especially after eating animal fats

Dandruff on the scalp never forms, even after eating animal fats

14

Weight is usually gained in the upper body

Weight is usually gained in the belly

15

Saliva in the mouth is too much in quantity, with a tendency for drooling

Saliva in the mouth is too little in quantity, often dry mouth

16

Dislikes the heat, does best in cool or cold weather

Often feels cold, does best in warm or hot weather

17

Coughs easily and often, especially soon after eating or at night, even when not sick

Does not cough, unless when sick

18

Strong reaction to insect bites or stings, including swelling, pain, itching, bruising, redness, and takes long time to go away

Weak or mild reaction to insect bites or stings, and goes away quickly

19

Easily and often gags

Rarely or never gags

20

Brief sneezing attacks, especially after eating, not associated with colds or allergies

Almost never sneezes, unless having cold or allergies



Psychological characteristics and behavioral traits

Nos.

Fast Metabolism

Slow Metabolism

21

Hard-driving, hyperactive, and ambitious personality

Laid back, even-tempered, and easy-going personality

22

Often is impatient, irritable, anxious, in a state of nervousness, excitability

Often experiences depression, apathy, fatigue, exhaustion

23

Deals with many things at once

Approaches problems one at a time

24

Extroverted, socializes easily with people, loves company

Introverted, feels awkward at social gatherings, prefers being alone

25

Loves to eat; food is a big or central part of life

Rarely thinks about food; eats more because has to than because wants to

26

Eating sweets before bed interferes with sleep or even causes insomnia

Eating sweets before bed does not interfere with sleep or cause insomnia

27

Eating heavy food like meat, fowl, and cheese improves sleep

Eating heavy food like meat, fowl, and cheese disrupts or worsens sleep

28

Has insomnia caused by the need to eat something before going to bed or after waking up in the middle of the night

Rarely or never experiences that kind of insomnia

29

Skipping meals causes negative symptoms like feeling worse, getting irritable, jittery, weak, tired, with a lack of energy

Skipping meals does not bother much, can easily forget to eat

30

Often wants to snack between meals (typically three meals a day)

Rarely or never wants or needs snacks



Dietary preferences and food reactions

Nos.

Fast Metabolism

Slow Metabolism

31

Strong appetite, out of control

Poor appetite, under control

32

Does not feel thirsty, unless after eating salty foods

Gets thirsty easily and often, even if salty foods were not eaten

33

It is hard to fast on juice or water

It is easy to go a long time without food, even fast

34

Loves salty foods, even craves them

Foods salted only lightly are best

35

Loves sweet foods, even craves them

Sweet foods seem too sweet, eating them may even throw out of balance

36

Likes sour foods such as pickles, sauerkraut, lemons, yogurt, even craves some of them

Generally does not care for sour foods

37

Going four hours without food results in a jittery or weak feeling

Can easily go more than four hours without food

38

A high-protein meal gives a sense of increased energy and well-being

A high-protein meal results in a sleepy or lethargic feeling

39

A high-carbohydrate meal with fruits, vegetables, pastry, or candy results in feeling worse and does not satisfy

A high-carbohydrate meal with fruits, vegetables, pastry, or candy satisfies and gives sustained energy

40

Prefers fatty foods over sweets

Has aversions to fatty foods

41

Drinking coffee results in a jittery, nervous, hyper, nauseated, and shaky feeling

A cup of coffee starts the morning off just right

42

Feels good or better after eating red meat

Eating red meat decreases energy and well-being

43

Gaining weight is due to eating many carbohydrates like bread, pasta, fruits, and vegetables

Eating meats and fatty foods leads to weight gain

44

Eating sweet foods gives a quick lift followed by a sudden drop of energy

Eating sweet foods gives a feeling of sustained well-being and lasting energy

45

Fruit juice between meals can make light-headed, jittery, shaky, and hungry soon after

Fruit juice between meals satisfies and nourishes well until next meal


Total score:

Total score:



Add the two totals, subtract the lower score from the higher one; then divide the result by the number of questions answered and multiply by 100 percent. If the result is less than 33 percent, your metabolism is moderate, if you come up with more, it is either fast or slow, depending on which score was higher.


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