Every person has a unique biochemical makeup, with different nutritional requirements.  Metabolic typing acknowledges these differences between people and thus optimises your health.  Read on to learn more.

Firstly, metabolic typing is not a diet, per se.  Rather, it is knowledge based on your individual biochemistry.  Your metabolic type is determined through a series of simple tests.  It explains why some people flourish on a certain eating plan while others, on exactly the same foods, do not feel healthy or nourished.

Metabolic Types

Your metabolic type is determined by dominance in one of the two systems involved in energy production.  You can be oxidative dominant or autonomic dominant.  If you are oxidative dominant, you will be a fast oxidiser, a slow oxidiser, or a balanced oxidiser.  If you are autonomic dominant, you either be sympathetic, parasympathetic, or a balance autonomic.  However, there are 9 fundamental homeostatic controls:

• autonomic nervous system type – master regulator of metabolism
• oxidative system type – intracellular energy conversion
• endocrine type – influences food selection relative to weight control
• acid/alkaline balance – reflects homeostasis through pH
• anabolic/catabolic balance – intracellular oxygen metabolism
• electrolyte balance – regulates circulation and osmotic pressure
• prostaglandin balance – regulates inflammatory and immune response
• constitutional type – links constitutional elements of food with metabolism
• blood type – basis for blood type specific food reactivity

The autonomic and the oxidative systems are the two most important systems as they regulate the other seven systems.  Balancing your dominant factor will balance all of the other homeostatic control systems.

Benefits of Metabolic Typing

Metabolic typing can be used for a range of things including:

• digestive and/or bowel problems
• weight control (loss or gain)
• fatigue and energy problems
• high blood fats including high cholesterol
• difficulties with carbohydrate metabolism
• balancing carbohydrate to protein ratios
• allergies and intolerances
• immune enhancement
• maximising nutrition for sport/fitness

Determining your Metabolic Type

To determine your metabolic type, there is two hours of testing in a clinic.  You will be required to fast for six hours beforehand.  Samples of saliva and urine are tested for their pH, and a low dose glucose drink is given with blood samples being taking at timed intervals in order to determine the body’s response.  Other simple tests are also formed.  Once your metabolic type has been determined, you will be provided with information about your metabolic type, including the foods that are good for you and the foods that you should avoid.  The nutrionist or other health practitioner will show you how to adjust your diet so that you know how much protein, fat and carbohydrate you need to suit your metabolism.