The Metabolic Types

 Please note that the terms oxidation and metabolism are interchanged in this article. 

What is Oxidation?

Oxidation is the basic chemical process of burning. The process of Oxidation or Metabolism is the process of cells in the body that combine minerals with oxygen to release energy. It can occur at different speeds, such as a fast oxidizing avocado, or the slow oxidation of reactions when a nail is rusting. All oxidation creates energy even if we cannot feel this energy in the room. Rust, is, in fact, incomplete combustion. In humans, the oxidation rate is the rate at which cells are burning or utilizing fuel.

The various types of metabolic types do not mean that there are different types of oxidation, but instead, there are various rates of oxidation. This means that some people release (or metabolize coming from the Greek to change) energy from their foods at different rates. 

The Metabolic types, as indicated on an HTMA give insight into how the Autonomic Nervous System and the Endocrine glands are functioning, and how effective and efficient the energy-producing glands, the adrenal and thyroid, are in response to environmental factors such as stress, diet, supplements, medications, and even recreational drugs.

The majority of the body’s energy is sourced from the thyroid and the adrenal glands. The healthier these glands, the more powerful and adaptive the individual's energy. The weaker these glands the more poor quality of energy. These glands work in a very close relationship, similar to the husband/wife law in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The adrenal glands convert simple sugars (glycogen) which are stored in the liver, into an activated fuel (glucose), which then serves as fuel for the thyroid gland. The thyroid ignites these activated sugars (glucose) and converts them into energy. When these glands are in a harmonious relationship, the body is able to effectively utilize energy at its peak capacity.

There are two different parts to the adrenal glands; the adrenal cortex, and the adrenal medulla. The adrenal cortex helps to supply the body with a steady flow of fuel throughout the day by converting glycogen in the liver into glucose the active fuel. This is what allows an individual to function at a normal pace each day. The adrenal medulla is strictly an emergency gland, for the fight or flight stress response and secretes adrenalin. Adrenalin is the hormone that enables a person to lift a two-ton vehicle to save a person's life. Hormones are powerful!

There are four main regulatory minerals for the thyroid and adrenal glands; calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. These minerals are called macro-minerals because they are found in larger quantities than other minerals. If any of these minerals deviates from normal ranges these glands become less efficient in producing energy. This is similar to a battery, where the highest energy potential is available only once the mineral electrolyte levels are in a perfect balance.

In other words; the minerals in your body determine the biochemical environment in which the organs and glands of the body function.

The more balanced and optimal mineral environment, the more potential for these organs and glands to function at top efficiency. Once we begin to lose energy efficiency one of two things happens: 

1. It can metabolize minerals too quickly, such as a fast oxidizer.

2. It becomes unable to utilize minerals, and they begin to deposit in various areas, such as a slow oxidizer.

The thyroid and adrenal glands determine the rate of metabolism or the oxidation type.

If carbohydrates and amino acids are oxidized too slowly, this is slow metabolism. If carbohydrates and amino acids are oxidized to cycle this is known as fast metabolism, energy production is reduced. There can also be mixed oxidation types shown in hair testing from some labs. Which is when the body is alternating between fast and slow metabolism throughout the day. 

Slow, mixed and fast metabolic types suffer from inefficient energy production, but for differing biochemical reasons:

• Slow oxidation is associated with chronic low blood sugar. A slow oxidizer who metabolizes food at a rate slower than that required for the production of optimal energy levels. The metabolic rate shows us how much energy we are producing at the cellular level. Slow oxidation is essentially a defensive pattern where the body is in a state of defence against stress – it has gone into a protective “shell” numbing the individual to emotions and even their own true feelings.

• Slow oxidizers typically have biounavailable copper, a deficiency of copper, or copper toxicity. This slow metabolic type usually has elevated free copper while having a simultaneous deficiency of available or bound copper at the cellular level.  This is most often due to adrenal exhaustion which impairs ceruloplasmin synthesis in the liver. There are also other deficiencies of other copper transport proteins such as metallothionein. It's common for slow oxidizers to have slow gut motility and poor bile production which is necessary for the bodies natural elimination of copper excess.

• Approximately 75% to 80% of hair tests come back with people in a slow oxidizer pattern. Indicating that the body is in a state of defense against stress – it has gone into a protective shell to ward off any demands on its mineral reserves.

• Fast oxidizers tend to crave fats, butter and red meat, foods which slow the metabolic rate. They may also crave sweets or carbohydrates if they do not eat enough fats and oils.

Why Is the Oxidation Rate So Important?

One of the most meaningful and important details that a hair tissue mineral analysis provides is its unique ability to identify the oxidation rate of an individual at the cellular level. The cellular oxidation rate can be determined through a properly obtained sample when the laboratory does not wash the sample prior to analysing its mineral content.

The oxidation rate gives us information on the hormone output of two major glands; the thyroid and the adrenal glands. This is used to create a supplement program which improves the ability of these glands to function optimally so that the cells of the body can create a healthy amount of energy. Balancing the oxidation rate is the primary goal of an Integrative Mineral Balancing Program through diet recommendations and correct nutrient supplementation. 

When the body is receiving optimal nutrients according to its tissue levels, the cells will have the raw materials to improve overall energy production to heal and release heavy metals that are stored deeply in bodily tissues.

To learn more, check out my article titled Metabolic Typing.

Slow Oxidation

Key Features of Slow Metabolism

• Parasympathetic Dominant

• Thyroid Function Decrease: A tendency toward decreased thyroid function and reduced secretion of hormones.

• Adrenal Function Decrease: A tendency toward decreased adrenal function and reduced secretion of hormones.

• Diet: Dietary factors such as low protein intake, high carbohydrate intake and eating refined carbohydrates, especially those containing appreciable amounts of sugar have an indirect yet significant effect in suppressing the metabolic rate.

• Endocrine Function: Low thyroid activity, as well as low adrenal gland function, will contribute to lowering the metabolic rate.

• Digestion: Poor absorption and utilization of nutrients found in the foods that are consumed will result in decreased energy production on a cellular level, thereby, affecting metabolism. In turn, a lowered metabolic rate will have an adverse effect upon the digestion process, thereby creating a vicious cycle.

• Viral Infections: A past occurrence of a severe or chronic viral infection can contribute to a decrease in the metabolic rate, due to the body’s neuro-immunological response to infection.

• Physical Symptoms: After a prolonged period of time, a diminished metabolic rate, such as indicated in these test results, has been correlated with fatigue, cold hands and feet, easy weight gain and craving for sweets.

• Even if a person is NOT overweight and is a SLOW metabolized, they can still have a lowered metabolic rate.  Overweight and underweight tendencies may not always be reflective of metabolism on the cellular level.

Slow Metabolizer – Type 1

• Parasympathetic Dominance

• Decreased Thyroid Function: A decreased secretion of hormones. (High Ca/K)

• Decreased Adrenal Activity: A decreased secretion of hormones. (Low Na/Mg)

• A slow metabolic rate is associated with low or diminished energy production on a cellular level.  This is often due to a decrease in the body’s efficiency in utilizing many of the nutrients found in the foods that are consumed, or it may be a result of an improper diet which does not provide the necessary nutrients, to begin with.

• For a child, an inability to obtain or utilize the proper nutrients at optimum efficiency can oftentimes contribute to symptoms such as fatigue and cold hands and feet.

• Even though the child may not be overweight at this time, they can still have a lowered metabolic rate, as overweight and underweight tendencies may not always be reflective of cellular metabolism, especially in children.

Slow Metabolizer – Type 2 

Slow Metabolizer – Type 4

Key Features of Fast Metabolism

• Stress Burnout: Fast oxidizers often have “stress burnout” syndrome. Stress burnout is often associated with chronic or prolonged stress.  Stress is a normal part of life and serves a useful purpose when it is controlled.  Chronic uncontrolled stress will eventually contribute to various vitamin and mineral imbalances and the ability to maintain adequate energy levels and optimum health will decrease.

• Chronic Stress: If a stress has been present for an extended period of time, eventually the thyroid and adrenal glands can’t maintain sufficient energy production to keep up with stress demands. This pattern can result in periodic fatigue and depression.

• Fast metabolizers have increased activity of adrenal and the thyroid glands.

• Fast metabolizers convert nutrients into energy at a rapid rate, resulting in energy and mood swings unless the energy level remains constant.

• Fast metabolizers are usually and function best under stress due to the body’s response to increasing energy production when confronted by a stressor, whether physical or emotional.

• Fast Metabolizers will eat frequently in order to maintain their energy level. This may result in weight gain in the abdominal region.

• Fast metabolism may result in warm body temperature, moist skin and a tendency to perspire easily.

Fast Metabolism – Type 1

Fast Metabolism – Type 2

Fast Metabolism – Type 3

Fast Metabolism – Type 4