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If you have ever wondered why one particular fad diet works great for some people while making others feel miserable, metabolic typing may be the answer.
Metabolic typing is a means by which to make nutritional recommendations based off of an individual's biochemistry. Through a self-prescribed quiz, which requires you to describe how you feel after you eat certain foods, in addition to other how your body tolerates other environmental factors, individuals are categorized into one of three types: Protein Type, Carbohydrate Type, or Mixed Type.
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There are different version of the quiz, ranging from just a handful of questions to upwards of 65. A 50-question online version can be found here. The beauty of this one is it makes dietary recommendations immediately after you finish the quiz. A 65-question pdf version can be found here. This is the same test that is found in the book, "The Metabolic Typing Diet" by William Wolcott. In order to find dietary recommendations, though, you will need to purchase the book, take the online quiz, or contact a certified metabolic typing practitioner. For the latter quiz, you tally up how many A's, B's, and C's you had. If your total number of A's was 5 or more higher than both the B's and C's, you are considered a Carbohydrate Type. Likewise, if your total number of C's was 5 or more higher than both the A's and B's, you are considered a Protein Type. Finally, if B was your predominant answer or if you did not have a letter that netted 5 or more answers than the other two, you are considered a Mixed Type.
While these two quizzes offer the basics of metabolic typing, the book describes that there are more categories an individual can fall into than just the three listed. A trained practitioner will be able to detect which subsystem of the autonomic nervous system is dominant in an individual as well as the rate as which they oxidize macronutrients. This will, in turn, alter both the specific dietary recommendations in addition to the exact percentages of each macronutrient the individual should consume throughout the day. Additionally, the book offers sample menus, foods to avoid for your type, and even touches on subjects such as circadian rhythm and blood type.
In short, the theory behind metaboic typing is that our ancestors had to survive on only the foods that were found in their habitat, which would differ as you moved from one geographical location to the next. An example given in the book is a comparison between the Eskimos and the Mayan Indians. While Eskimos would eat a diet that was mostly fat and protein, the Mayan Indians would eat most carbohydrates. Both groups, however, had immense health as a population, despite their drastically different diets. Both groups were able to efficiently metabolize the food that was found in their respective environments, which allowed for an abundance of well-being.
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Calories are not even part of the picture with metabolic typing. Because you are eating a diet that is right for your body, you will be able to actually utilize the food you eat for energy instead of storing it as fat. You will also not have to worry about over-eating because you will eating foods that are satiating you and satisfying your body's nutritional needs. Likewise, if you are trying to bulk up or build muscle, your body will finally have the nutritional means to do so because its needs are being met.
A critical point that is brought up by the book is that your metabolic type is not set in stone. In fact, it will likely shift based on the internal environment that is created within you, so it is important to retake the quiz every few months to see if you are still eating appropriately.
Personally, I function very well on a high-fat, high-protein diet. When I eat bread, pizza, pasta, or anything along those lines, I feel incredibly lethargic and it skyrockets my blood glucose level. Even sweeter fruits such as berries and pineapple mess me up. Give me some bacon, butter, beef, and cheese, however, and I am a very happy camper.
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If you are sick feeling lousy after you eat, of one-size-fits-all dietary recommendations, or of not getting the results you desire from your diets, I would highly suggest giving metabolic typing a shot. Metabolic typing is not your traditional diet. It is a way of eating for life.
**Additional resources for metabolic typing:
Underground Wellness Podcasts (1/13/09 and 9/30/09)
Charlie Cates, MATs, CSCS
Self Made®, Owner and Founder
Charlie Cates is a Muscle Activation Techniques™ specialist and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is the owner and founder of Self Made® (http://selfmadefitness.com/) in Chicago, IL. He has worked with competitive athletes and everyday people of all ages and ability levels, from 9-year-old kids to NFL MVP’s to 85-year-old retirees. He can be reached via e-mail at charlie@selfmadefitness.com.
This article may be reproduced with biographical information intact.
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