How Do You Determine Your Unique Nutritional Needs?

Metabolic typing analysisnnThe way to determine what your nutritional needs are is to discover your metabolic type. A Metabolic Type is the inherited pattern of genetically-based strengths and weaknesses in the body's fundamental control systems. Although tens of thousands of chemical reactions take place in your body daily, they are all regulated by just a handful of control systems, such as the Autonomic Nervous System, the Endocrine System, the Oxidation Rate, etc. nnThese inherited strengths and weaknesses express themselves in different ways in each person and they help to define our uniqueness as individuals. For example, one person may have strong digestion, but a weak heart. Another may have a strong heart, but weak eyesight. Someone else may have high motivation and a Type A personality, while another might be lethargic and have a Type B personality. nnCorrelations have been made between numerous physical, diet-related and psychological characteristics and the body's fundamental control systems. Although it may be said that there are as many Metabolic Types as there are individuals, it is also true that all the characteristics fall into certain patterns or "constellations" that can be classified as the different Metabolic TypesnnOnce your metabolic type is known it is possible to determine the foods and nutrients you need to be consuming. Through eating these you will give the cells what they need which will increase their efficiency and thus the health of your body. nnThe metabolic typing test questionnairennThe questionnaire is divided into three sections, these look at your physical traits, your dietary related traits and your psychological traits. These different traits have been correlated with the fundamental control systems within the body by various researchers of the last 40 years.nnIn order to complete the analysis you must answer over a 140 questions which is analyzed against the previous research. The analysis is unique because it is looking at the behavior of the body across all systems to give a pattern of how your body is functioning. It differs from other approaches because it does not use lab tests.nnMetabolic Typing may be likened to obtaining information and understanding about a three story house through a blueprint of the entire house and all of its rooms. Using a lab test, because it involves one specific part or level of the body, would be like trying to understand the entire house through a blueprint of the kitchen (or any other single room in the house). Another way to look at it is that for example calcium may be high in the blood but low in the bones, therefore the lab test may be misleading for making nutritional recommendations.nnExample questions from the metabolic typing testnnFind below some of the questions taken from the actual 143 question metabolic typing test. For more information like this please sign up for my free health and fitness newsletternnn1) My build at ideal weightna. Tend towards lean, wiry, thin, rangy or gangly build.nb. Average buildnc. Tend towards a stockier, wider or thicker type build.nn4) From behind view, most of my excess fat isna. Around my waist (in love handles)nb. Especially across the upper back (but also may have thickening all over body)nc. Below waist and/or in the rearnd. Fat accumulates all over (not in any specific area)nn24) Head sizena. Head appears slightly large in proportion to the body.nb. Average sized skull in proportion to body.nc. Head appears slightly small in proportion to the body.nn25) Gum bleeding (from brushing teeth) na. Often occursnb. Sometime occursnc. Rarely occurs, if evernn44) Belching / burping after mealsna. Rarely or never need to burpnb. Occasionally have burpingnc. Often have burpingnn45) Digestion efficiency na. Find meat hard to digestnb. Find fats /oils hard to digestnc. Have average digestionnd. Have to be careful of what I eatne. Have really good digestion, easily digest most things.nn64) Asthma na. Never havenb. Occasionally have, or have a mild problemnc. Often havenn80) Appetite at breakfast na. Strongnb. averagenc. Weaknn81) Appetite at Lunch na. Strongnb. Averagenc. Weaknn82) Appetite at dinner na. Strongnb. averagenc. Weaknn85) Eating habitsna. Need to eat often to be at my bestnb. Average eating requirementsnc. Unconcerned with food, may forget to eat.nn93) Red meat (steak, roast beef) na. Decreases energy and well beingnb. Increases energy and well beingnc. No noticeable difference in energy.nn103) Disagreementna. Rather give in than argue a point.nb. Sometimes feel like standing my ground.nc. Rather argue than give in, can enjoy a debatenn104) Exercise na. Makes me feel goodnb. Sometimes like exercisenc. Dislike it, prefer to be sedentary.nn106) Punctual na. Almost always punctual.nb. Sometimes punctual.nc. Find it hard to be punctual, try as I might.nn108) Ambitionna. Not ambitious, quite unmotivated.nb. Have average ambition.nc. Quite ambitious, extremely motivated.nnFor more information like this please sign up for my free health and fitness newsletternnBen Wilson BSc (Hons) CSCS NSCA-CPT CMTA DipnOne2one nutritionnRugby fitness training.comnn