Every individual has a unique biochemistry and metabolic style.  Our dietary patterns should reflect these individual differences to a certain degree.  Some individuals have strong appetites and fast metabolisms while others are rarely hungry and still have trouble losing weight.  Understanding your own unique metabolic type can dramatically improve your ability to lose weight, stabilize your energy levels, and prevent/reverse disease processes. 

Metabolic typing was the brain child of William Wolcott.  Wolcott was interested to see how some people could thrive on a low fat, high carbohydrate diet while others suffered terribly while eating the same foods.   He witnessed the same phenomena while observing people on low carb diets.  He observed in his research how different cultures evolved their metabolisms based around the habitat they were exposed too. 

Eskimo's and other northern cultures had a more sparse variety of vegetables and survived mostly on fish and wild game. 

Groups who developed closer to the equator depended more on the rich agriculture that

According to Wolcott, most people can be classified according to 3 basic groups:               

1. Fast oxidizers
2. Slow oxidizers
3. Balanced oxidizers

Fast oxidizers are typically leaner individuals who burn through the nutrients in their foods very quickly.  When they eat carbohydrates, they rapidly turn the carbohydrate into glucose which is then immediately released into the bloodstream.  This spike in blood sugar triggers a powerful release of large amounts of insulin to clean away excess sugar.  The insulin fills the sugar reservoirs in

the muscle and liver and then dumps the rest of the glucose into the fat tissue.  This all can happen within a matter of minutes. 

When a fast oxidizer eats carbohydrate rich foods their blood sugar goes from very high to very low levels in a short period of time.  When the brain senses low blood sugar levels its protective membrane becomes more permeable.  This allows toxins such as heavy metals, pesticides, viruses, bacteria, and other harmful substances to cross over.  The net result of this blood sugar imbalance is fatigue, brain fog, and carbohydrate cravings. 

When fast oxidizers continue to eat the high levels of sugar and other carbohydrates that society promotes they are highly susceptible to mood, memory, and neurological disorders.  There brain cells will be more toxic and unable to stabilize the neurotransmitter traffic it is giving and receiving.  This pre-disposes the individual to depression, bipolar disorders, schitzophrenia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and other major issues.    

Fast oxidizers will do much better eating foods with more proteins and fats in order to slow down their rate of oxidation and insulin release.  This will promote stable blood sugar and sustained energy levels.  Stable blood sugar is very important for a healthy brain and cellular detoxification mechanisms. 

The best vegetables for fast oxidizers are those that

Slow oxidizers break down nutrients in their food slowly.  They do not get a quick release of glucose into their blood stream but instead they have a sustained release over time when they eat carbohydrates.   

They do not get a quick release of glucose into their blood stream but instead they have a sustained release over time when they eat carbohydrates.   Slow oxidizers do not spike their blood sugar when they eat carbohydrates.  Because of the slower release of glucose they can handle eating small amounts of healthy carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa, and sprouted grains. 

Slow oxidizers typically do have more trouble losing weight due to their slower metabolic rate.  Slow oxidizers should avoid sugars and high amounts of starchy carbs due to the sustained levels of insulin.  As long as insulin is elevated in the blood stream the body cannot effectively burn fat for fuel.  This metabolic type must eat small meals that emphasize vegetables and good fats. 

This metabolic type should eat lots of fresh and cooked vegetables of all different varieties.  Nutrient rich veggies such as kale, collards, cabbage, and bok choy are particularly good for the slow oxidizer.  The best fat sources for slow oxidizers are coconut products, avocados and olive oil.  Animal fats should be avoided as much as possible.

Fat and protein are more challenging to digest and tend to slow metabolism down.  Slow oxidizers should eat smaller quantities of healthy fats and protein at each meal and load up on non-starchy vegetables.  They should stick with low-purine meats such as white meat chicken, turkey, and eggs.  Red meat, fish, organ meats, beans, & legumes are higher in purines (rich in DNA) containing proteins that slow down digestion. 

Mixed metabolic types need a healthy balance of both protein, fat, &  non-starchy carbohydrates.  Mixed types will do best on a low carbohydrate, moderate protein/fat diet that emphasizes nutrient rich fruits (in moderation) and vegetables and healthy protein/fat sources.  On a balanced diet they can usually stabilize their energy levels and burn fat effectively.