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You know when a diet is marketed as perfect for “everyone” your skeptic radar goes on high alert. That’s because deep down, you know everyone’s bodies are different, and what’s right for you won’t necessarily be right for me. Whether it’s the low carb, paleo or Atkins diet that philosophy should always apply. So how do you know which diet, rather lifestyle is right for you? One way to find out is through nutritional typing. It’s one way to optimise your diet to fit your unique needs as an individual and here’s how to do it. The Three Nutritional Types Most people generally fall into three different categories: Protein: These people should limit carbs in favour of protein and fat. There is variation even within the type, but generally, they should aim for 30-40% protein, and adjust carbs and fat as needed. Some might do well with 30% carbs and 30% fat; others may prefer to minimise the carbs entirely with 10% carbs and 50% fat. The important thing is to not overdo the protein (i.e. go above 40%), because a protein “overdose” can lead to liver damage. Your body also finds it difficult to produce energy from protein and will cause you to feel sluggish. Carbohydrate: Carb types are happiest when carbs comprise most of their food intake (60-70%). Fat intake should never go below 15% (ideally keep it closer to 20%), and protein should be 15-20% as well. Mixed: People who are a mixture of protein and carb types can be harder to “nail down” nutritionally so instead of focusing on hitting any exact percentages, keep track of the foods you eat and how they make you feel. This may fluctuate over time too; some factors that can influence it are sleep habits, stress levels, and amount of physical activity. Now you know why there’s so much disagreement about the proportions of macronutrients you should be eating every day..because if you’re a protein type, you won’t be happy filling up on carbs! What works for one person won’t work for everyone so take notice of how you feel after you eat and find out which type you lean towards. Figuring Out Your Type Finding out which type you are isn’t quite simple, but as long as you’re disciplined about it, it doesn’t have to be hard. Start by eating the same amounts of food that you normally would, and pay attention to the macronutrient ratios. If you find yourself feeling like the meal gave you a food coma, didn’t fill you up, or left you feeling less than your best, play around with the ratios some more. When you hit on a mix that keeps you full and awake until your next meal, without those annoying midday cravings, that’s the right one for you! Common Sense Goes a Long Way Not all nutrient sources are equal. Take carbs, for example: broccoli is mostly made up of carbohydrates, but so are donuts. And one of those (I think you can guess which) is much healthier for you than the other. Don’t get so caught up in typology that you reduce every food to the nutrients it contains and abandon all other nutritional advice. Ultimately, nutritional typing is all about listening to your body and giving it what it needs to function at its best. So the next time your cousin starts telling you that you should drink olive oil for breakfast and never eat another carb again, just smile, nod, and keep doing your own thing. For more natural health tips visit our blog at: http://www.alkalife.com.au/blog
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