Bio Individuality - There Is No One Diet For All
Updated: Oct 7, 2022
Throughout evolutionary history, the indigenous people in different parts of the world adapted to very different diets, depending on climate, geography, and whatever plant and animal foods were available to them. As a result we have different genetically based nutrient requirements, especially with regard to the macronutrients - carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
It is these differing genetically based requirements that explain why a certain nutrient can cause one person to feel good, have no effect on another, and cause a third person to feel worse. No one can escape their Genetic Inheritance.
“We can either match our diets to meet genetic requirements – or pay the piper! “ ~ Bill Wolcott
I consider diet to be the number one epigenetic influence. To identify the right food for the individual genetic requirements, I run an online Metabolic Typing test with my clients.
Why is knowing Your Metabolic Type so Important?
There are trillions of biochemical reactions that take place daily, a billion methylation processes every moment we are alive, as part of the innumerable life-supporting processes of metabolism. They occur neither independently nor without the direction of Fundamental Homeostatic Controls.
Therefore, the potential for sufficient adaptation to stressors, continual homeostatic balance, and thereby good health is a measure of the body's ability to manage stressors (spiritual, mental, emotional, structural, biochemical, environmental) through its capacity for the creation, maintenance, and control of energy via the dualistic, diphasic, Fundamental Homeostatic Control Processes / Mechanisms.
Metabolic typing involves the evaluation of interrelationships among Fundamental Homeostatic Controls - the autonomic nervous system, the oxidative system, and 7 additional physiological parameters that influence body chemistry. They are described in the book “The Metabolic Typing Diet” by William Wolcott.
13 Fundamental homeostatic controls (FHCs) include:
Autonomic Nervous System (master regulator of metabolism, neuro-endocrine/hormonal balance)
Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic
Carbo-Oxidative System (conversion of nutrients to energy via intermediary carbohydrate metabolism, involving Glycolysis, Citric Acid (Krebs) Cycle, Beta Oxidation)
Fast Oxidation vs. Slow Oxidation
Lipo-Oxidative Processes (involving fatty acids/sterols balance, cell membrane permeability, aerobic/anaerobic metabolism)
Catabolic vs. Anabolic
Steroidal Hormone Balance (DHEA/ Androgens/ Estrogens Pathway vs. Preferential Stress Pathway)
Cortisol vs. DHEA
Neurotransmitter Balance (brain chemistry/function)
Excitatory vs. Inhibitory Neurotransmitters
Electrolyte/Fluid Balance (hydration/dehydration)
Electrolyte Excess vs. Electrolyte Deficiency
Acid/Alkaline Balance (6 potential acid/alkaline imbalances [Metabolic Acidosis, Metabolic Alkalosis, Respiratory Acidosis, Respiratory Alkalosis, Potassium Excess Acidosis, Potassium Depletion Alkalosis], resulting from 7 causal factors [autonomic, carbo-oxidative, lipo-oxidative, electrolyte/fluid balance, respiratory function, endocrine efficiencies (kidneys, adrenals, ovaries, testes, thyroid, posterior pituitary, parathyroid), and the chronic dietary imbalance with respect to acid/alkaline pH of foods (the least impactful)]
Acid vs. Alkaline
Prostaglandin Balance
Series 1 + Series 3 Prostaglandins vs. Series 2 Prostaglandins
Methylation. Methylation is happening in your body within every cell, all of the time. It allows you to get rid of toxins; to make neurotransmitters important for learning and brain health; to make white blood cells; to metabolize estrogen; to make energy for muscles. If you are stressed and your adrenals pump out adrenaline, methylation is what breaks those adrenaline molecules down so that you can metabolize it.
Methylation is also required to produce, repair DNA , and control its expression.
(Over-methylation / Under-methylation)
Immune
(Th1 vs. Th2 vs. Th17)
Endocrine System (Endocrine Type as per dominant energy gland)
Pituitary vs. Thyroid vs. Adrenal vs. Gonad
ABO Blood Type
Type O vs. Type A vs. Type B vs. Type AB
Constitutional Elements (constitutional qualities of foods interacting with the constitutional qualities of the body)
Vata vs. Pitta vs. Kapha
Metabolic Typing Diet helps balancing Fundamental Homeostatic Controls (FHCs)
Every food and nutrient has a stimulatory or inhibitory effect, on one side or other, of one or more of the FHCs. Therefore the ultimate effect of a food or nutrient on the body is not dependent on the intrinsic value of the food or nutrient itself. Ultimate effect depends on the impact of the food or nutrient on the FHCs. Food can be: stimulating or sedating; acidifying or alkalizing.
By doing a Metabolic typing test, we find what is your dominance that determines the main system in the body. As well as how you need to eat, and what sort of micronutrients you need to balance FHCs, and improve your health.
Together with test results you get a food list with certain foods which are recommended for your particular type over others. As well as the list of recommended supplements formulated for your Metabolic type.
Following these recommendations you can improve steroid hormone balance, the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal function, and adaptation to stress; optimize digestion, detoxification, energy production; balance the autonomic nervous system - parasympathetic and sympathetic. As well as reduce oxidative stress levels in the body just naturally by eating the right foods and taking the right supplements.
MRT Food Sensitivity Screening to identify foods you are sensitive to
Not only does diet supply us with genetically required nutrition, but it can also be the cause of inflammation and immune system dysfunction or imbalances. You can potentially have sensitivity to any food. Symptoms may be delayed for many hours after ingestion, or a person may have no noticeable symptoms.
However, damage from Food Sensitivity includes: Blunting the Brush Border; Microvilli’s ability to secrete enzymes (lactase and sucrase) thus impaired; Impairs the ability to break down sugars; Enzymes that activate pancreatic enzymes are also impaired.
Food Sensitivities may be a major contributor to such conditions as:
Gastrointestinal (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Functional Diarrhea, GERD, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Microscopic/Lymphocytic Colitis, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome);
Neurological (Migraine, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Epilepsy, Depression, Insomnia, Restless Leg Syndrome);
Musculoskeletal (Fibromyalgia, Inflammatory Arthritis);
Dermatological (Atopic Dermatitis, Hives, Psoriasis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome);
Urological (Interstitial Cystitis, Endocrine, Obesity, Gynecological, Polycystic, Ovary Syndrome).
As an FDN-P, I run a MRT Food Sensitivity Screening with each client because I consider foods that produce inflammatory responses in an individual are one of the most prevalent “hidden stressors” contributing to Metabolic Chaos.
Some nutritionists may use Rotation diets, when they ask clients to exclude some food and watch symptoms, but it is difficult and time consuming. MRT assessment is simple and allows me to quickly assess the client’s diet and make recommendations.
General recommendation for everyone without any test - eating organic, real, whole foods
Before we get clients' results, I can suggest eliminating foods and drinks that cause stress to the body, such as processed food, junk foods, alcohol, energy drinks, drinks with chemicals - all these are major contributors to Metabolic Chaos.
The lower the quality of food, the less nutrients and nourishment it provides. There is a high amount of insecticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilizers that are added to the low quality, non organic food supply.
High quality real food is extremely powerful, which is a very important concept, especially when battling any type of health issue.
I also recommend “aware eating”, having enough time for eating and paying attention to how food looks, smells,... because digestion starts in the brain from perception of meal. I advise being in parasympathetic (rest and digest) mode of the Autonomic nervous System when you are eating.
I suggest cooking your own food and consuming whole foods as much as possible avoiding food from bags, boxes, and cans. Items that contain added sugar, preservatives, trans-fats, and artificial ingredients lack nutrition. Typically, once food labels begin to exceed five ingredients, they start becoming more of a risk to your health.
I also suggest maintaining good glycemic control. Fluctuating blood sugar causes a great deal of stress on your body creating unpleasant symptoms, energy problems, and states of disease. Sugary foods can cause fluctuation in blood sugar. The secret to steady blood sugar levels is fine-tuning the correct ratio of protein, fat, and complex carbs at each meal which we identify with my clients by doing Metabolic Typing test.
Pay attention to your body, and eat what makes you feel the best
Together with recommendations to follow Metabolic Typing Diet Meal Plans, and exclude foods which the client is sensitive to, I also recommend to start paying attention to your body reactions. Eat what makes you feel energized and satisfied. It is one of the FDNs’ principles - to teach you to feel and assess your body. So my clients get a Diet Check Record sheet, where they measured the following effects 1.5 to 2 hours after a meal:
Satiation - you should not feel hungry or have cravings. Rate how well each meal satisfies your hunger.
Energy production - you should have abundant, solid energy, not nervous energy or feel tired underneath.
Sense of well-being - you should not feel moody or depressed unless you have a good reason. Irritability for no reason is a symptom of a poor diet.
However, before we get MT test results, I can send Diet Check Record Sheets for educational purposes. So you can start documenting progress - any changes, for better or worse, note your observations after each meal daily.
We want a meal to satisfy your hunger, give you solid energy until the next meal, and produce a positive emotional state.