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What is Metabolic Nutrition?

A. Leverkuhn
A. Leverkuhn

Metabolic nutrition is generally recognized as the study of how diet and nutrition affect the body’s metabolism. Each person has their own unique metabolism, which is the way they process the nutritional elements in food. Metabolic nutrition seeks more information for the purposes of helping an individual manage their overall wellness goals.

Metabolic nutrition is similar to other types of sports nutrition, where nutritional experts seek to develop good nutrition plans and strategies for athletes that complement their training needs. Studies in metabolic nutrition are often aimed at helping individuals lose weight. Expert nutritionists can help individuals identify their own metabolic tendencies, and develop a good metabolic plan for overall health.

Metabolic nutrition studies are commonly aimed at helping people lose weight.
Metabolic nutrition studies are commonly aimed at helping people lose weight.

A lot of what’s involved in metabolic nutrition relies on what many call metabolic typing. In metabolic typing, professionals help clients come up with data on their unique metabolic type that informs how their bodies will handle any diet. Individuals can build a metabolic profile that can say a lot about how their body processes specific foods and nutritional elements.

Some metabolic researchers study the ways in which proteins provide fuel for the body.
Some metabolic researchers study the ways in which proteins provide fuel for the body.

Some nutritional assistive professionals use quizzes and other analytical tools to get a detailed breakdown of an individual’s metabolic type. Some of the main elements in metabolic typing include acidity and alkalinity of the body, oxidative rate (how a body metabolizes food), body type (where an individual tends to gain weight), and more. Some metabolic diagnosis can pinpoint specific nutritional elements like red meat, salt, or other things that experts see as metabolic stimuli.

Eating disorders may cause permanent damage to the metabolism.
Eating disorders may cause permanent damage to the metabolism.

Another common element in metabolic nutrition is known as Autonomic nervous system dominance. This issue regards two branches of the body’s nervous system, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system is the branch that helps the body respond to stressors and produce adrenaline. The parasympathetic controls elements of the body in repose. The interplay between these two parts of the nervous system is a regular part of modern metabolic research. Medical experts contend that one of the two systems tends to be dominant in an individual, and this can have an effect on their overall metabolism.

A person's metabolism governs how she processes the nutrients that are found in food.
A person's metabolism governs how she processes the nutrients that are found in food.

More metabolic research focuses on proteins, carbohydrates, and general types of foods that provide fuel for the body. Experts look at individuals who are faster or slower oxidizers to see what the optimal diet might be for a specific metabolism. This service is often part of a comprehensive nutritional plan for someone who wants to change their diet to improve their health.

Discussion Comments

Bertie68

When I was reading this article, I thought about the way the French eat and their lifestyle. A small percentage of the French population are overweight or obese compared to a whopping number of Americans. The French have a much lower rate of heart disease than we do. But then you think about what they eat - cheese, cream, beef, pastries.

Figure that one out. Well, the French eat small portions of real food that is homemade and we eat lots of processed foods. They don't eat many snacks, we seem to snack all day.

Their lifestyle is different too. The French eat meals around a table with others and eat slowly. Americans often eat alone, in the car, in front of the TV, at their desks, eating large quantities of processed foods.

We might try to eat a little more like the French do and see what happens to our metabolism.

lovealot

To me, this theory of metabolic nutrition is fairly new and I don't know how many good studies have been done on it, but just by comparing and observing different people, it seems like different people's metabolism varies.

As a child and young adult, I was thin. And I stayed thin until I got into my forties, when I put on a few pounds. Then at menopause, I put on more weight, mostly around the middle. I think as hormone levels change and you take certain medications, your metabolism can change.

I also think that there is a genetic part to the tendency to gain weight. Some heavy people spend their whole life struggling to lose and maintain weight.

Like the article says, I think that the two parts of the nervous system have a pretty big affect on our metabolism. Some people expend a lot of energy doing simple things and stay thin, while others "run their hearts out" and struggle to lose weight.

serenesurface

I absolutely believe in metabolic nutrition. I think that each one of us has a unique metabolism that functions at various rates.

I had never thought about this until I noticed my close friend's eating habits and weight. She is completely the opposite of me because she can easily skip meals without feeling weak and when she eats, she never puts on weight even though she never works out. I, on the other hand, feel like fainting if I eat just one hour late. I have to workout regularly to avoid gaining fat and if I don't workout for a few days and eat regularly, I put on pounds right away.

The only explanation for why we are so different has to be our differing metabolisms. My friend has a fast metabolism and I have a very slow one. So if I tried to eat and live like her, I would be very overweight. I have to adjust my lifestyle according to my metabolism if I want to remain healthy.

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    • Metabolic nutrition studies are commonly aimed at helping people lose weight.
      By: jedi-master
      Metabolic nutrition studies are commonly aimed at helping people lose weight.
    • Some metabolic researchers study the ways in which proteins provide fuel for the body.
      By: marrakeshh
      Some metabolic researchers study the ways in which proteins provide fuel for the body.
    • Eating disorders may cause permanent damage to the metabolism.
      By: Tatty
      Eating disorders may cause permanent damage to the metabolism.
    • A person's metabolism governs how she processes the nutrients that are found in food.
      By: EpicStockMedia
      A person's metabolism governs how she processes the nutrients that are found in food.
    • Athletes may supplement their diets with whey, casein or soy proteins.
      By: Boggy
      Athletes may supplement their diets with whey, casein or soy proteins.
    • Metabolic typing includes determining where an individual is most likely to gain weight.
      By: Ljupco Smokovski
      Metabolic typing includes determining where an individual is most likely to gain weight.
    • Fluids such as plasma and urine are often used to gather information during a metabolic profile.
      By: Boggy
      Fluids such as plasma and urine are often used to gather information during a metabolic profile.
    • Drinking hot water on a regular basis may heat up the body and help stimulate the metabolism.
      By: auremar
      Drinking hot water on a regular basis may heat up the body and help stimulate the metabolism.