The Metabolic Typing Diet
WLR dietitian Juliette Kellow reviews 'The Metabolic
Typing Diet' by William Wolcott and Trish Fahey.
|
The Metabolic Typing Diet by William Wolcott and
Trish Fahey (Broadway, $15.95)
REVIEW By
WLR Dietitian
|
What’s the theory?
Everyone’s metabolism is unique, thanks largely to the
genes we have inherited from our ancestors but also due to
other external influences such as illness, stress, nutrient
deficiencies, our lifestyle and environment. As a result,
everyone processes and utilises food and nutrients
differently.
This means a ‘one-size-fits-all’ type of diet, such as the
current healthy diet recommended for most people, won’t work
for many. By discovering your metabolic type – and eating to
suit it – you’ll boost your metabolism so that you burn fat
faster and lose weight more easily.
You’ll also prevent cravings, digestive problems, headaches
and depression, reverse disease, strengthen your immunity and
boost energy levels.
What does the diet involve?
Most people fall into one of three metabolic types: Protein
type, Carbohydrate type or Mixed type. You start by answering
65 questions to help you identify your metabolic type and then
follow the relevant diet.
Protein types should follow a high-protein, high-fat, low-carb
diet where 40 percent of calories come from protein, and 30
percent each come from fat and carbs. Red meat, butter and
cream are allowed but certain fruits, bread and processed
carbs are off limits.
Carbohydrate types should limit protein and fat, but fill
up on carbs like grains, bread and certain juices. They should
aim for a diet where 25 percent of calories come from protein,
15 percent from fat and 60 percent from carbs.
Finally, the Mixed type should eat a diet that contains
relatively equal amounts of proteins, fats and carbs), where
30 percent of calories should come from protein, 20 percent
from fat and 50 percent form carbs.
Alcohol, caffeine and sugar are banned on all three diets.
What else does the book include?
You’ll find plenty of seemingly irrelevant information, for
example, how to stay well with chiropractic care, non-toxic
dentistry, simple ways to purify your air, how to avoid
electromagnetic fields and toxic household and personal
products!
Meanwhile, there are several other mini tests you can
complete to ‘fine-tune’ your diet, which include looking at
your circadian rhythms, the GI values of the foods you eat,
foods to eat or avoid according to your blood type and advice
on food combining.
How much weight will I lose?
There’s no weight loss promise made.
Juliette’s verdict on The Metabolic Typing Diet
This book is incredibly heavy going and certainly seems to
blind its readers with science. Unfortunately, much of this is
science fiction rather than science fact. While the idea of
eating a different diet to suit your metabolisms is
interesting, most health professionals are still in agreement
that a healthy, balanced diet is the only type of diet most
people need to follow.
Meanwhile, the information is confusing, complicated and
muddled – it feels as though the authors have read numerous
diet books and taken little bits from each of them. If any of
the diets actually do result in weight loss, it’s almost
certainly because they restrict groups of food – and ban booze
and sugar – which in turn restricts calories. My advice: leave
this one at the bookshop.
More Information
You can use the food diary and database tools in WLR to
make sure your diet is healthy, balanced and contains the
right amount of calories.
Try it free for 24 hours
|
