DO YOU KNOW YOUR METABOLIC TYPE?
Why Does One Diet Work for Some but Not Others?
Have you ever wondered why some people improve on one diet, while others see no change—or even get worse? The answer lies in bio-individuality. There is no one-size-fits-all diet.
As William L. Wolcott said, “The ultimate effect of a food or nutrient on the body is not dependent on the intrinsic value of the food or nutrient itself… the variable is the person. The various metabolic and genetic nutritional requirements of different people help characterize their Metabolic Type.”
Understanding How Our Body Creates ENERGY
Let’s begin by exploring how our bodies create energy:
Fuel → Oxidation → Energy = Metabolism.
Metabolism is the process by which our cells convert food into energy. Each cell in your body functions like a biochemical factory, oxidizing (burning or combusting) food and nutrients to produce energy for all vital functions—respiration, circulation, tissue repair, digestion, detoxification, growth, and reproduction. The quality of your health is dependent on how efficiently your body can produce energy at a cellular level.
To optimize energy production, the body needs a balanced supply of macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, trace elements). These nutrients, combined with oxygen, produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)—the energy currency of the body.
The Genetic Blueprint of Our Metabolism
MD Frank Netter (Atlas of Human Anatomy) explains that just like our external features (face, nose, eyes, etc.), each cell, tissue, organ, and system in our body has unique biochemical and physiological variations. In fact, we are just as anatomically different on the inside.
Imbalanced or insufficient nutrition at the cellular level is a major contributor to disease. Genetic differences affect every cell’s structure and metabolism, determining how efficiently they perform their functions. These inherited differences shape our individual nutrition needs.
The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Every cell in your body is connected to your nervous system. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) regulates your metabolism, managing the balance between your sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Your ANS plays a crucial role in homeostasis, helping keep your body in balance.
Two primary systems manage how cells convert nutrients into energy:
Carbo-oxidative – processes carbohydrate fuel.
Lipo-oxidative – processes fat fuel.
Your endocrine system also influences metabolism through hormones, which control cell and tissue activity. Together, these homeostatic systems determine your metabolic type.
Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic Dominance
Everyone has a dominant system within the ANS. You may be:
Sympathetic dominant (fight/flight)
Parasympathetic dominant (rest/digest)
Additionally, you are either a fast, slow, or mixed oxidizer, determining how your body prefers to process fuel. Fast oxidizers need slow-burning fuel (more protein and fat), while slow oxidizers require fast-burning fuel (more carbohydrates). Food plays a vital role in maintaining this balance.
Characteristics of Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Dominance
Sympathetic Dominance (Fight/Flight) Characteristics:
Excellent concentration
Highly motivated
Emotionally cool, irritable, and hyperactive
Physically, may experience: indigestion, high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, overactive immune system, etc.
Parasympathetic Dominance (Rest/Digest) Characteristics:
Procrastination, slow to anger
Emotionally warm, socially outgoing
Physically, may experience: chronic fatigue, low blood pressure, excessive appetite, depression, low thyroid function, etc.
These are general tendencies, not definitive rules.
The Goal: Autonomic Balance
The goal is to achieve Autonomic Balance by providing your body with the appropriate fuel mixture for your metabolic needs. This helps regulate metabolism and energy production in a way that strengthens the weaker side of the ANS, whether that’s the sympathetic or parasympathetic system.
For example, if you’re parasympathetic dominant, the aim would be to support and stimulate the sympathetic system while still nurturing the stronger parasympathetic side.
Why "One Diet for All" Doesn’t Work
Any practitioner advocating for one universal diet (e.g., keto, vegan, carnivore, intermittent fasting) limits their ability to provide personalized nutritional support. Such an approach often introduces bias in favor of their preferred diet, ignoring the genetic individuality of their clients.
True health is about balance and resiliency, which can only be achieved when the approach is tailored to the person—not the practitioner's personal protocol or beliefs.
My Personal Experience
Personally, eating according to my metabolic type has drastically improved my energy levels. As a mother three months postpartum, I struggled with fatigue, but by providing my body with the right fuel, I regained energy, even with minimal sleep. I also noticed typical characteristics of sympathetic dominance and supported my body with mineral supplementation.
The Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is an excellent starting point for understanding your metabolic type, mineral profile, and toxin load.
By recognizing the importance of bio-individuality, you can optimize your health and energy levels by fueling your body in the way it was genetically designed to thrive.