Dr. Scott Ridgen's book, The Ultimate Metabolism Diet: Eat Right for Your Metabolism, which he wrote along with Barbara Schiltz, RN, breaks metabolism into five categories. When people take the short quizzes, called screening questionnaires, in the book to determine which metabolic type they are, they can then begin to fix their body's switched metabolism. The key is a using the glycemic index (GI) for optimum energy.
Switched metabolism occurs when a person eats incorrectly for their genetic body type and the extra pounds pile on. Ridgen and Schiltz provide a remedy for each of the five metabolic types:
- carbohydrate sensitivity
- metabolic syndrome
- hormonal imbalance
- food hypersensitivities
- liver detoxification/weight gain with chronic illness
In addition to the five metabolic types, Ridgen focuses on the following general principles of success:
- only weigh yourself every four to seven days
- remove all danger foods from your house
- plan meals--write them down
- drink a large glass of water before each meal
- eat meals slowly
- leave some food at each meal
- have a consistent, simple routine for eating
- avoid the kitchen
Carbohydrate Sensitivity
For carb-sensitive people, after eating simple carbohydrates and sugars, according to Rigden, they "experience a rapid spike of blood sugar that triggers, in turn, a spike in insulin and associated metabolic cellular messengers and leads to two negative consequences: the body receives the signal to store, not burn, fat; and the spike in insulin causes a rapid drop in blood sugar; this in turn creates uncomfortable symptoms like fatigue, irritability, headaches, and brain fog."
Among the suggestions for this metabolic type is to eat a diet to reverse this switched metabolism that includes drinking two soy-based protein shakes per day, one for breakfast and one for lunch, along with eating the FMRC Modified Mediterranean diet of 1,400 to 1,500 calories daily eaten in five or six small meals, walking 30 minutes per day, and drinking 64 ounces of water daily.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome, also known as syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome, is a condition, according to Rigden, "that features the combination of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia (too much insulin), which has profound health implications." Some criteria for metabolic syndrome are increased waist circumference, triglyceride levels higher than 150 mg/dl, decreased HDL, blood pressure higher than 130/85, and fasting blood sugar higher than 100 mg/dl.
Some suggestions to implement for metabolic syndrome are to eat the Caveman Diet of 1,200 to 1,400 calories, two meals of soy-based protein shakes, and taking a 20-minute walk daily.
Hormonal Imbalance
Thyroid hormone imbalances are often difficult for doctors to diagnose, but according to Rigden, symptoms of "sluggish thyroid may include listlessness, thick tongue, prominent bags under the eyes, abnormal size or shape of the thyroid gland, and difficulty swallowing."
Some suggestions to implement for hormonal imbalance include taking T3 supplements and/or chromium picolinate and/or EPA/DHA and/or lipoic acid, eating a Mediterranean diet, and walking 30 minutes daily.
Food Hypersensitivities
Rigden says that food hypersensitivities are suspected when "a patient has issues with switched metabolism and also has a strong history of allergies throughout his or her life." Other symptoms can include mouth breathing, hives, eczema, wheezing, and lethargy and sleepiness. Food reactions often are seen with milk, wheat, and eggs.
One way to diagnose food hypersensitivities is a modified elimination diet that slowly removes specific foods from the diet then reintroduces them slowly to watch for the body's reaction to the each food. Steps can also include waiting for RAST test results, initiating a diet of 1,300 to 1,400 calories that includes high protein, low carbohydrates with five to six small meals daily, and consuming two scoops of soy-based protein powder.
Liver Detoxification/Weight Gain with Chronic Illness
The metabolic type associated with liver detox and weight gain with a chronic illness such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and lupus, are often a result of inactivity and using prescription medicines. According to Rigden, the consistent use of medications can cause the body to accumulate toxins and leaky gut syndrome, another symptom, is caused when the small intestine is damaged.
Some suggestions to implement for these symptoms are initial clearing, which eliminates potentially allergenic foods, detoxification, and reintroduction of foods with careful monitoring of the results.
Using the Eat Right Diet for You
Ridgen encourages readers to see a doctor or other medical professional before implementing one of the metabolic type diets. With recipes provided by Schiltz, an RN and nutrition consultant, readers can begin eating right and reversing a switched metabolism.
The Ultimate Metabolism Diet: Eat Right for Your Metabolic Type
Author: Scott Ridgen, MD with Barbara Schiltz, RN
Hunter House Inc., Publishers
ISBN: 0-89793-510-1
Peggy Hazelwood - Peggy Hazelwood+ is a word nerd who has worked as a reporter, proofreader, technical editor, freelance copy editor, and freelance writer ...
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