Positive Health Online

Having discussed William Wolcott's system of metabolic typing, I would like to explore the testing procedures, and a case history using the nine-dimensional paradigm.[1]

To diagnose the person's metabolic type a battery of tests are undertaken, a questionnaire filled in, as well as a physical examination to include factors such as pupil size, blood clotting and body fat percentage. The most important dimension is whether the autonomic or oxidative system is dominant. This assessment takes about three hours and involves taking fasting levels of blood glucose, respiration rate, breath hold, saliva pH, urine pH, urine specific gravity, supine and standing pulse and blood pressure. An assessment is also made of well-being, energy and feelings of hunger. The results are carefully calculated; the outcome shows autonomic or oxidative dominance, acidosis / alkalosis imbalances of respiratory and kidney function, electrolyte stress and insufficiency with reference to minerals, important for enhancing tissue and cell function, and anabolic and catabolic imbalances associated with cellular energy production and membrane permeability. Other dimensions include prostaglandin function, kinesiology testing, endocrine type developed by Dr Abravanel, blood type from Dr D'Adamo and constitutional type from Ayurveda.[2-4]

Case Study

I have not chosen a dramatic case history of someone who lost many kilos in weight or reversed hypothyroidism or became arthritic free. I have selected Denise, a 51-year-old legal secretary who is married with two sons, and who is very healthy, apart from a few minor complaints, to illustrate the small, intricate, but important changes that can be made through metabolic typing. Denise suffered from bone cancer at a young age and sadly her leg had to be amputated. Since that time she remained healthy until the menopause when she suffered from dysglycaemia, digestive and eliminative problems, severe hot flushes, urinary discomfort, backache, and itchy, dry and sore skin, particularly on the stump of her leg.

Denise's testing results are as follows:

• Oxidative Dominant system – slow oxidizer;
• Autonomic Sub-dominant system – sympathetic;
• Anabolic/catabolic Slightly anabolic;
• Electrolyte stress/insufficiency No indication of either;
• Acidosis/Alkalosis Balanced
• Prostaglandin function Low omega 6 fatty acids;
• Endocrine type Pituitary
• Constitutional type Vata
• Blood type Type A

Other assessments:

• Hair mineral analysis High copper & calcium levels;
• Body Fat % 14.9%;
• Hormone test Low progesterone;
• Food sensitivities Wheat, milk, tomatoes, peppers;
• Emotional attitude to food Tends to eat when stressed;
• Questionnaire results Low thyroid and adrenal function as well as those symptoms already mentioned.

Denise followed 'Group 1' organic wholefoods, which alkalize slow oxidizers. The diet was made up of 50% carbohydrate, 15% fat and 35% protein and consisted of light meats and white fish, eggs, all grains except wheat and oats, all vegetables except asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, artichokes, carrots, avocados, olives, peas and beans, most fruits, and no oils, nuts or seeds except almond, hemp and olive oil. She excluded cow's milk, but not yoghurt, and also tomatoes and peppers, which are on the avoid list for blood group A. General guidelines included three meals plus two snacks of vegetable juices daily, reduced starches, one glass of room temperature water before each meal, chewing food thoroughly and avoiding synthetic washing up liquid and toothpaste containing fluoride.

Supplements taken were a multi-vitamin and -mineral to acidify the oxidation rate, ionic zinc to lower copper levels, ionic magnesium to level out the calcium, wild yam to ease the hot flushes and evening primrose oil to aid prostaglandin function.

As a vata type, Denise needed to regulate and balance her energy and lifestyle; imbalances tend to result in fear and anxiety, lifelong problems for Denise. She used the 'emotional freedom technique' to help her back to balance.[5] Her pituitary type guidelines included compromising when dealing with conflict, massaging the acupressure points for the adrenal glands, and exercises for mind/body integration for which Denise chose yoga.

The first week of the new diet and lifestyle regime Denise felt unwell. Her pierced ears of five weeks, apparently healed, started to weep fluids and blood, her gums bled, she developed a cold, vaginal discharge, stomach cramps and irritable bowel symptoms, and her anxiety and hot flushes became worse.

After this initial cleansing process Denise started to feel much better, her constipation and bloating disappeared, her blood glucose levels stabilized, she was less hungry, lost her light-headedness and shakiness and was able to eat fruit on a daily basis without bladder irritation. She had more energy, was less anxious, her skin improved enormously and her hot flushes diminished. She lost 2-3 pounds in weight and was able to keep it constant with less fluctuation in volume, which is an ongoing concern for amputees.

After eight weeks, a retest showed that Denise needed to include root vegetables and oily fish to maintain blood pH balance, and twelve weeks later Denise continues to feel extremely healthy.

Conclusion

The metabolic system is scientifically based and provides many answers to previously difficult health problems. But is it beneficial for everyone? My feelings are that the testing procedure should not be used for those people in critical ill health, or who are seriously stressed or who have severe yeast infections. However, for others who can't get to the root cause of their health problems, for those in sub-optimum health and for all sports people metabolic typing could be just the answer.

References

1. William Wolcott. The Metabolic Typing Diet. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-49691. 2000.
2. Abravanel ED. Dr Abravanel's Body Type Programme. Bantam Books. ISBN 0-553-25332-8. 1986.
3. D'Adamo Peter. The Eat Right Diet. Century Books. ISBN 0-7126-7784-4. 1998.
4. Cousins Gabriel. Conscious Eating. North Atlantic Books. pp87-148. ISBN s1-55643-285-2. 2000.
5. For details of the emotional freedom technique e-mail: heartcentre@tesco.net