We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Metabolic Nutrition?

By A. Leverkuhn
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 13,985
Share

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Bertie68 — On Oct 22, 2011

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.

By lovealot — On Oct 21, 2011

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.

By serenesurface — On Oct 21, 2011

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.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-metabolic-nutrition.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.