Metabolic Typing page

[goodfriendsam]

I brought up the idea of Metabolic Typing in another post, which is a diet created by William Wolcott and recommended by Dr. Mercola, Underground Wellness, and the Chek Institute.


It is basically primal in that it looks to our evolutionary heritage to give context to why processed foods are killing us. William Wolcott's book talks extensively about choosing high quality nonindustrial whole foods, avoiding pesticides and other toxic crap, physical exercise, etc.


But beyond that, the idea is that certain people metabolize food differently. Some people will eat 2 pounds of steak in a day and feel great; some people will get constipated and want to go to sleep. Some people will eat only whole grains for a day and have tons of energy; others will be hungry every two hours and go on an emotional rollercoaster. We can trace a lot of these tendencies to our ancestors and the lifestyles they led. For every person, there is probably an ideal ratio of animal foods to plant foods, and if that ratio is eaten at every meal, the person will feel full for 4-5 hours, have lots of energy, be more able to combat stress, have more even moods, and sleep better. I notice that I win every time when I eat a whole ton of vegetables and a small to moderate portion of protein with every meal. No protein, I'm hungry. No vegetables, I don't digest well and get tired.


There are condensed tests to find your metabolic type online and in books, but there are more comprehensive ways of finding out if you talk to a specialist.


disclaimer: I am NOT a metabolic typing expert. Check out Dr. Mercola's blurb here - http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...ping-diet.aspx . Also here is a free but very basic metabolic typing questionaire from Paul Chek http://www.ppssuccess.com/FoodforThought/WhatisMetabolicTypingreg/tabid/309/Default.aspx


Sorry that was so long. What do you think?

[maba]

GFS, I looked up metabolic typing after your post in the other thread and my type is "mixed" - so a good mix of protein and carb is good for me according to the test. I had LOTS of veggies today and some protein and fruit and I feel good. Not sure if my calorie intake was high enough, but I don't feel so full that I feel sick. Will check out these links.

[SerialSinner]

Sam, I read the links and failed to find data about a more in depth explanation of what are the principles of metabolic typing; or peer-reviewed research supporting them.


His thesis is a very bold one, I think. Are we expected to just trust Paul Chek on it?

[enriquegp]

Mark actually wrote a post about it after I asked him in email.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/metabolic-typing/

[FlyNavyWife]

Jillian Michaels has a test like that (but with better questions I think... I clicked your link and honestly didn't know what my answers would be for most of the questions) and my result was that I should eat lots of protein and fat and fewer carbs.

[FlyNavyWife]

er... forgot to say that her test is in her book Making the Cut.

[Anand Srivastava]

I think that our genes affect the response to bad diets, or even changed diets. Our genes decide how long it will take to adapt to a changed diet. But regardless of genes the ideal diet (ie basically carnivore) will be best long term.


So this metabolic typing thing is actually putting too much faith in adaptation response of our body. It is different for everybody even in people within a small area. So it can't be an evolutionary aspect. I don't think we have any differences in general metabolic aspects.


Some of us can handle carbs, well, but that does not mean it is ideal. Some are more and others are less addicted to carbs. Some can kick the addiction completely. Others struggle with it. Some force their will to complete abstinence and then conquer their addiction. Others continue cheating and never are able to get rid of the addiction.


disclaimer: I am mostly vegetarian.

[OnTheBayou]

Right up there with orgone generators.......

[goodfriendsam]

SS- better data is in the book.


I'm not going to go sell out for metabolic typing, though I think the principle of different people eating differently is great. Too often people have a diet that works for them and then try to sell it to the world as the be all and end all of good ideas. Then they find out it doesn't work for everybody. I also like the principle of balanced meals.


FNW - yeah, I think that test was particularly unhelpful actually. Wish I had a better one.


AS - yeah, it is all about our adaptation response, I guess it couldn't be evolutionary. If you look at the work of Weston Price you can see how fast people degenerated. I think new research on evolution is showing tendencies to adapt quickly in certain ways, while evolve slowly in other ways. I'm no expert.

[OnTheBayou]

I'll certainly go with you that different people have different ways of dealing with food. Their bodies, that is.


Lyle McDonald, see post, certainly makes the case based on research and his own testing.