The Metabolic typing diet is a strategy of eating foods tailored to your ancestral genetic type and metabolic classification. William L. Wolcott, vocal metabolic diet supporter and author of a book on the subject, claims that this way of eating is healthier because foods that are good for one person might do harm to another. On the metabolic diet, your physical appearance, anatomical traits, psychological profile, food reactions and dietary preferences are analyzed. Based on these assessments, you are then classified as having either a fast or slow oxidizing metabolism with each category having distinct diet requirements.
Protein Diet
People classified with fast-oxidizing metabolisms are said to use up food stores for energy quickly. Fast oxidizers are called "Protein Types" because they are better suited for non-vegetarian diets that also limit carbohydrates. If you eat a lot, crave salty, fatty foods, are often tired and have trouble limiting your calories you would be classified as a Protein Type. According to Wolcott's book, the macro-nutrient breakdown for protein types is 70 percent high fat proteins and unsaturated fats plus 30 percent unrefined carbohydrates. Fresh meats like chicken and beef, processed meats like salami and ham, canned fish and organ meats like kidney, liver and pates are encouraged. Fats are freely encouraged in the form of dairy, nuts and nut oils and carbohydrates should be limited to a small amount of unrefined grains, non starchy vegetables and semi ripe pears, apples, and bananas.
Carbohydrate Diet
If you crave sweets, are not very active and do not eat a lot, then you would be classified as a slow oxidizer on the Metabolic Diet. Slow oxidizers, otherwise known as "Carbo Types," are the opposites of Protein Types because they need more carbohydrates in their diet to sustain their energy levels. The macro-nutrient composition of Carbo Types should be 60 percent carbohydrates in the form of whole grains, fruit and vegetable and 40 percent protein plus fat in the form of lean meats and plant based oils. If you are a Carbo Type, it is recommended that you abstain from sugar and use artificial sweeteners as a substitute to maintain good health.
Mixed Diet
If you find that you can relate to both Carbo and Protein Types then you most likely fall between the two groups and are a "Mixed Type.. Mixed types generally are average eaters who do not struggle with weight management, rarely snack between meals and have no particular cravings. Eating a varied diet of equal amounts protein and carbohydrates plus a small percentage of fats found in yogurt, low-fat cheeses and nut oils is beneficial to this group. For example, this group would eat 50 percent carbohydrates and 30 percent proteins plus 20 percent fats.
Warnings
Many of the claims made by proponents of the Metabolic Diet have not been supported by the medical community and there is no significant research proving that this type of diet works over other, more traditional, approaches. Metabolic Typing was initially marketed by orthodontist William Kelley in the 1960s as a nutritional way to manage and prevent cancer. Kelley was ordered to cease and desist making false claims and the American Cancer Society has categorized Metabolic Typing as a questionable cancer therapy which has little scientific basis. William Wolcott is the creator of the Healthexcel online tool and the Metabolic Typing Center, both of which are very similar to Kelley's now defunct services. Some tests and questionnaires used to evaluate metabolic status have been uncovered to yield dubious or no scientific results. Practitioners who conduct tests such as hair analysis without having lab access, offer to sell you supplements to balance your metabolism and hormones, or who send your samples to unknown labs should be met with skepticism.
References
- "The Metabolic Typing Diet: Customize your diet to free yourself from Food" Wolcott, W. L, Fahey, T. ; 2000
- Quack Watch
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