Your Fuel Mix


When driving into a gas station, have you ever noticed that there are at least 3 different grades of gas available for your choosing?  Depending upon the make of your car, you may select 87, 89, or 93 octane gas. If you are driving a semi-truck, then you my even choose diesel fuel. 

We are similar to cars in that we all need a different fuel mixture in order to feed and energize our bodies. Our fuel is "food" which consist of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.  Have you ever noticed that some of your friends or family members love to eat beef or chicken and vegetables and may feel energized after a eating a meal of this type? However, you may be the type that feels satisfied and full of energy after eating a large salad, a bowl of soup, and a few crackers on the side.  In addition, some people gain lots of weight from eating bread and pasta, while you may be the type that is not affected much by these types of foods? Why is it that different food groups have a unique effect depending upon consumer?

The answer is GENETICS.  It is your genetic make-up that determines your body’s need for higher quantities of a specific food group.  Some of us need more protein than others, while others require more carbohydrates in order to feel energized and to also maintain an ideal weight.  Even within family members, dietary needs may, and should be expected, to differ.  Believe it or not, where your ancestors were born and what they ate has a tremendous impact on the types of foods that are most beneficial to you.

Just as we all look different externally (hair color, eye color, skin color); we are all very unique internally on a biochemical level. Our individual biochemical uniqueness is the main reason why most diet programs do not work…at least for most people.  It is impossible to assume that everyone can benefit from the same cookie-cutter program for eating. This is why some people did very well on the Atkins diet, yet gained weight while following another diet program.

Bottom line, it is important that we all start to view dietary solutions on an individual basis and cease assuming that “one size fits all” when it comes to eating.  It is important that you consume the 3 major food groups in proportions specific to your unique body make up.  You will begin to feel energized and will attain your appropriate weight only when you begin to feed your body the fuel mixture that it was designed to have.

Not only is this an important factor for ideal weight-loss, but it is also important to understand the role of customized eating in disease prevention. William Wolcott explains it best in his book, The Metabolic Typing Diet. He states, “unless you acquire all the nutrients for which you have a genetically programmed need, your cell’s ability to perform their functions will be impaired. As your cells lose the ability to produce adequate energy (because they lack specific nutrients), they also lose their ability to repair and rebuild tissue. As the cells of an organ become weakened and less able to fulfill their roles, the function of the organ itself becomes weak and inefficient. When this happens, stress is put on your entire system – with disease as the inevitable result.”

Hence, it is not only important to eat according to your specific body type in order to lose weight, but it is also an important factor in disease prevention.  For instance, if you take someone who is genetically designed to require high protein in the form of animal protein, and try to force them to become a vegetarian (a no meat diet), this person will ultimately fail. Not only will they become weak and fatigued, more than likely they will not be able to lose weight and may become physically diseased long-term.