THE OXIDATION TYPES - FAST AND SLOW
by Lawrence Wilson,
MD
©
November 2011, The Center For Development
Introduction To Metabolic Typing. Metabolic
typing is a very central concept in nutritional balancing science. However, metabolic typing is not familiar
to most people because modern allopathic medicine does not focus on it. Many ancient healing systems embraced
it, however.
The idea behind of
metabolic typing is that often people display symptoms, illnesses, and hundreds
of body traits in specific groupings or patterns. By identifying the metabolic types, one can immediately know
a lot about a person in many, though not all cases. Astute physicians have observed this for centuries. Here are some well-known examples of
metabolic typing:
Hippocrates four types:
1. Choleric, or
irritable.
2. Sanguine, or
content.
3. Phlegmatic, or
sluggish.
4. Melancholic, or
depressed.
The Taoist idea of yin
and yang:
1. Yang is warm or hot, more constricted at times, more reddish in
color, more masculine, more active, and, at time, high-strung or
irritable.
2. Yin is colder, more
expanded, more feminine and often depressed and sluggish.
In terms of modern
biochemistry and nutritional balancing science, here are some of the
correlations with yin and yang:
á
Fast oxidation (more
yang) and slow oxidation (more yin).
á
Sodium (more yang) and
potassium (more yin).
á
Zinc (more yang) and
copper (more yin).
á
Calcium (more yang) and
magnesium (more yin).
á
High Na/K (more yang)
and low Na/K (more yin).
á
Sauna therapy and coffee
enemas (more yang) and distilled water (more yin).
á
Warm, cooked meats and
cooked vegetables (more yang) and raw food, fruit, sugar, alcohol and most
drugs (more yin).
For much more about the
relationship between nutritional balancing science and acupuncture, read Acupuncture on this website.
The Ayurvedic
or ancient Indian qualities of bodies:
á
Vatta. This means air,
ether or perhaps mind and emotions.
This is the source of the other two imbalances. Western science is just beginning to
appreciate the power of the mind and emotions on health.
á
Pitta. This means fiery energy, will and a more yang approach to
life. This correlates perfectly
with fast oxidation in nutritional
balancing science. However, pitta and the others are qualities of bodies, not metabolic
types.
á
Kapha. This means earth or watery energy. It corresponds more to slow oxidation in nutritional
balancing. However, once again, kapha is a quality, not a metabolic type.
The three qualities of
nature (called gunas in Sanskrit) also from Ayurveda:
á
Sattva or balance is associated with balanced and flexible
oxidation.
á
Rajas or hot or burning is more yang and more
associated with an alarm stage of stress and fast oxidation.
á
Tamas or passive is more yin and most associated with an
exhaustion stage of stress and slow oxidation.
Another well-known
system of metabolic typing is the Chinese 5-element theory. This does not correlate as well with
nutritional balancing science, at least not obviously so.
Other typing systems
include using oneÕs blood type, oneÕs genetics, and Dr. SheldonÕs system based
on body shape and other qualities.
I have also seen metabolic typing done by glandular type, such as an
adrenal type and a thyroid type.
One can also classify
people by which chakra is most active.
This is a sophisticated and complex system, but a good one. All of these systems have value
because human beings are very complex systems and any method that helps to
simplify the complexity can be helpful in certain cases.
THE
OXIDATION TYPES AND STAGES OF STRESS
This article focuses on
a very modern biochemical classification of bodies. It is somewhat similar to the ancient concepts of yin and
yang, but it is determined mathematically, which is a great advantage. As a result, one can easily determine
not only the oxidation type, but also the oxidation rate with precision. Older systems that do not use modern
biochemical analysis methods cannot be as precise, and can often be vague.
WARNING:
Before proceeding, I wish to clarify that some physicians determine the
oxidation rate using blood tests, questionnaires and perhaps other means. They may also suggest different foods
and nutrients for the oxidation types.
This can be confusing, incorrect and even dangerous.
Everything written in this article and others on this
website regarding the oxidation rate and oxidation types pertains to Dr. Paul
EckÕs method of assessment of the oxidation types using hair mineral analysis when
the hair has not been washed at the laboratory. This is the only method and system of metabolic typing that
I trust and use, as it has proven reliable and consistent in almost all cases.
One cannot use another
method of determining the oxidation rate and expect that the information here
will apply. Indeed, several of my
clients were tested by other methods of oxidation assessment and were found to
have very different oxidation types using these methods.
Simplicity, Not Perfection. Also before proceeding,
I wish to explain that the metabolic typing system referred to in this article
appears quite simple. That is its
virtue. It is also fairly accurate
in most cases, but certainly not perfect.
All metabolic typing systems suffer from this problem, however, because
the body is basically not a ÓtypeÓ, but rather each person is an individual.
Metabolic typing, however, has value because it appears to
be a whole
system behavior of the body.
Whole system behaviors provide a tremendous amount of information at
once, thus simplifying our assessment procedure and greatly assisting the
recommending of diets, nutritional supplements and other procedures at times.
Also, balancing the oxidation rate, in our experience,
appears to greatly enhance the healing of hundreds of symptoms at once, both
physical and emotional ones. This
most likely occurs because balancing the oxidation rate increases energy
production or energy efficiency of the body. It is like pedaling a bicycle at the right speed, which
greatly enhances oneÕs power and endurance.
In the body, it may have to do with specific requirements of
thousands of enzymes that need an optimum physical and chemical environment in
which to function best. If we can
provide this, the body simply functions better with less stress, and, as a
result, many symptoms improve easily without the need for remedies of any
kind. This is really quite amazing
to see, and is one reason we do not need remedies in most cases to correct even
the most difficult health conditions.
This is the exact opposite of allopathic medicine in many cases, which
depends upon remedies for various disease entities. In fact, it is very different from even holistic medicine,
naturopathy and homeopathy, all of which depend upon the use of hundreds or
more remedies for healing.
In contrast, the
nutritional balancing method is to correct the whole system behaviors, of which
the metabolic type is the main one.
(Others are the diet, lifestyle, drinking water, several mineral ratios
on a hair analysis, and a few simple nutritional deficiencies.) Then the ÔdetailsÕ of the body, or most
symptoms, go away on their own without our needing to do anything at all.
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE OXIDATION TYPES
Dr. George Watson. The term
Ôoxidation typesÕ was coined by George Watson, PhD, a researcher at UCLA. He wrote about his work in two
fascinating small books entitled Nutrition and Your Mind (1972), and Personality
Strength and Psychochemical Energy (1979). These are out of print but available through used book
outlets including Amazon.com. They
are extremely readable and must reading for anyone interested in the oxidation
types.
Dr. Watson discovered two major metabolic types, first by
using odor tests and later by using blood tests. He found that the blood pH of fast oxidizers was slightly
more acidic than that of slow oxidizers.
He also found other differences in standard blood tests, such as the CO2
levels.
He also found that certain foods and nutrients benefited
each metabolic type. He was able to
correct the oxidation rate using diet and supplementary nutrients. This simple treatment often caused
dramatic improvements in both his clientÕs physical and emotional symptoms. This is as far as Dr. Watson went in
his research, to the best of my knowledge. At least, he did not write other books.
Terminology. I use the term oxidation types and oxidation
rate to honor Dr. Watson, even though the terms are not ideal. Some physicians call them fast and slow metabolizers,
for example, but this is not much better, in my view. The oxidation types are extremely complex, so there is no
simple term that can describe them adequately. The ancient Chinese terms yang and yin are probably best, but these terms are not used much
in the West and are confusing as well.
Dr. Paul C. Eck. Dr. Eck was a
physician and brilliant researcher and clinician who lived in Phoenix, Arizona
most of his life. He was also my
teacher and good friend. Dr. Eck
did not write books, and was primarily a clinician and founder of Analytical
Research Laboratories in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. I wrote about his work in Nutritional Balancing And Hair
Mineral Analysis (1991, 1992,
1998, 2005, 2010). In
addition, several sections of the articles on this website pertain to his work
very directly, as he is the inspiration for this website.
Dr. Eck could always be found reading quite esoteric medical
book, almost endlessly. He also
decided to research the then new technique of hair mineral analysis as his
major clinical research tool. The
reasons for this are described in many other articles on this website such as Introduction To Hair
Mineral Analysis. Dr.
Eck developed the science of hair mineral analysis interpretation far beyond
anyone else I am aware of. This
website is dedicated to his work, and to its expansion since his death in
1996.
Dr. Eck was thrilled to discover Dr. WatsonÕs oxidation
concepts. It helped him make sense
of hair mineral tests and opened the way for a scientific method of interpretation
of this test and much more. Dr.
Eck extended Dr. WatsonÕs work by making a startling correlation between the
oxidation types and the stages of stress, as elucidated by Dr. Hans Selye, MD.
Dr. Hans Selye, MD. A Canadian physician,
Dr. Selye is credited with the stress theory of disease,
an amazing understanding of health and disease. Dr. Selye wrote The
Stress of Life and about 1200 medical articles, as well as technical
books such as Calciphylaxis.
His work on stress is
monumental, but largely ignored.
In part this is because it was very hard to apply clinically. Dr. Eck, however, found that the stage
of stress, or at least an aspect of body chemistry related to it, could be
assessed easily and rapidly with a hair tissue mineral analysis.
Dr. Selye also coined words we use
commonly today such as homeostasis
and elaborated what he called the General
Adaptation Syndrome. This is
ground-breaking work about how organisms always respond to stress. It involves the sympathetic nervous
system, the role of the adrenal and thyroid glands in the stress response, and
much more.
He theorized that all living organisms pass through three
stages of stress before they die.
He called these the alarm, resistance and
exhaustion stages of stress.
Dr. Selye further elaborated some of the
biochemistry of each stage of stress.
Dr. Eck was able to see the intricate connections between
Dr. SelyeÕs stages of stress and Dr. WatsonÕs
oxidation types. He was able to
figure out why Dr. Watson was able to help people with simple dietary
suggestions and supplementary nutrients because he was addressing deep stress
patterns in the organism. Dr.
Watson was addressing the individual needs of his patients in terms of their
stage of stress and the condition specifically of the adrenal and thyroid
glands and the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, also called the HPA
axis.
CORRELATING STAGES OF STRESS WITH OXIDATION TYPES
Essentially, fast and slow oxidation are homeostatic states
and ways that the body responds to stress. The stress may be from within, such as nutrient deficiencies
or fatigue.
Stress may also arise from a multitude of external
sources. Basically, slow oxidation correlates with a resistance
or exhaustion stage of stress.
Fast oxidation corresponds to an
alarm stage of stress. In the
ancient Chinese and macrobiotic typing systems, fast oxidation corresponds to a
more yang condition, while slow oxidation is a more yin condition of the body.
There is also a sub-oxidation state, so called by
Dr. Watson, that most likely corresponds to Dr. EckÕs four lows hair analysis pattern, when the hair has not been washed
at the laboratory. This is a
collapsed or Òspinning the wheelsÓ state of body chemistry that may be fast or
slow oxidation, but has its own qualities as well. It is discussed in detail in another article on this
website, Four Lows Pattern.
DEFINITIONS
OF THE OXIDATION TYPE AND THE OXIDATION RATE
Fast oxidation is defined on a properly performed hair mineral analysis
when the calcium/potassium ratio less than about 4 AND when the
sodium/magnesium ratio greater than about 4.17. The lower the calcium/potassium ratio or the higher the
sodium/magnesium ratio, the faster the oxidation rate.
Slow oxidation is defined as a calcium/potassium ratio greater than about
4 and a sodium/magnesium ratio less than about 4.17. The higher the calcium/potassium ratio or the lower the
sodium/magnesium ratio, the slower the oxidation rate.
The hair must not be washed at the laboratory in order to
make an accurate determination of the oxidation type or stage of stress. This is a vital point, since most hair
mineral laboratories in the United States and most around the world wash the
hair in powerful detergents, alcohol, water or solvents. Only two laboratories do not wash the
hair, Analytical Research Laboratories that Dr. Eck founded, and Trace
Elements, Inc., founded by a student of Dr. EckÕs.
FACTORS THAT CAN SKEW THE READINGS
Hair tissue mineral tests can unfortunately be affected by
many factors. These are important
in some cases, though not that important in most cases. These factors include the presence of
excessive toxic metals, nutritional deficiencies, infections, illnesses or
stress from any source. Emotional
and lifestyle factors such as lack of rest and sleep, stimulant use and the use
of prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Importance of Lifestyle. For this
reason, the first few hair analyses may yield temporary or even superficial patterns
related to the condition of body chemistry. After several months to more than a year of nutritional
balancing, the hair mineral patterns often change dramatically.
We always wish to get through the superficial patterns in
the fastest possible manner. To do
this, one must address all aspects
of a personÕs body chemistry, diet, eating habits and other lifestyle factors
as well.
Otherwise, these factors usually stand in the way of
understanding the deeper layers of body chemistry. This is why I emphasize the importance of correcting the
diet, eating habits, rest habits and other lifestyle factors when beginning a
nutritional balancing program.
Now we will address the specific changes in body chemistry
that occur with each of the major oxidation types or stages of stress.
Fast oxidation or an alarm stage of stress is characterized
by excessive activity of the thyroid and adrenal glands. More adrenal activity and thus a higher
level of aldosterone raises the hair or soft tissue
sodium and potassium levels.
One result of this excessive adrenal and thyroid activity
are lower hair tissue levels of calcium and magnesium. Essentially, increased solubility of
calcium and magnesium occur when the sodium and potassium levels rise. Sodium and potassium are highly
water-soluble and antagonistic to calcium and magnesium.
Blood serum mineral levels may, but usually do not
correspond to the levels of these minerals in the hair. This is because the serum mineral levels
are very sensitive to any variations, so the body often keeps them extremely
stable. Much greater variation is
seen in the hair levels, however.
Also, hair is a storage and excretory tissue. Minerals that the body is deficient in are ÒstolenÓ or not
permitted into the hair. Minerals
that are in excess in the blood are often pushed off or stored in non-essential
soft tissues such as the hair.
On a hair mineral analysis, the pattern
of fast oxidation is one of lowered calcium and magnesium levels, along with
elevated levels of sodium and potassium. This is very easy to read on a test
from Analytical Research Laboratories, which has calibrated scales and simple
vertical graphs. The pattern often
looks like two low numbers followed by two high numbers.
Types of fast oxidizers. More recently,
I have learned that fast oxidation occurs only in specific situations. These are:
1. Babies and young children up to the
age of between 3 and about 11. All babies are born in mild fast
oxidation. Usually, before they
leave the hospital the oxidation rate speeds up tremendously due to stress,
pure and simple. Babies and young
children should all be fast oxidizers through the age of about 3, at least, and
really until much later. However,
today most babies and children Òburn outÓ of fast oxidation quickly. Many, in fact, are in a four lows pattern, which is a severe adrenal burnout
pattern, as children!
Babies and young children are the only
ones who are in a natural fast oxidation pattern these days. Fewer and
fewer of them are staying in fast oxidation, but it is their natural
state. Adults, by contrast, should
be slow oxidizers. The reasons for
this are complex, and include psychological factors, vitality levels, and perhaps
hormonal factors as well. Most
adults are also very burned out of vital minerals, which slows their metabolic
and oxidation rates.
2. Stress fast oxidizers. These are
adults or some older children who are only in fast oxidation because they are
under tremendous stress of a type that forces their bodies into faster
oxidation. The stress may be of
different types depending on the person.
Common ones include:
a) Stimulant fast oxidizers. A common type
of stress is the use of stimulants.
These can include caffeine, sugar, cigarettes, alcohol in some cases, irritant
substances such as hot spices, medical drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine,
crack, crystal meth, ecstacy, and other stimlants.
Other common stimulants are lack of rest, too much work, fears,
anger, hatred, working in noisy environments, domestic arguments, financial
stress and others.
When the stress, which is often biochemical, is relieved,
they immediately slow down into slow oxidation. If it happens quickly, it is called a crash landing, which is somewhat unpleasant, although it can be
taken care of easily with the proper diet and nutritional supplements.
b) Infection fast oxidizers. These
individuals have an infection of a type that speeds up the oxidation rate. These are often bacterial infections
that cause high fevers, for example.
c) Excitement fast oxidizers. These are
people who are in fast oxidation because they are extremely excited. This happens quite often during
nutritional balancing programs as a person begins to get well, often after
years of trying different programs and going to doctors with little or no
success. The person is so excited
to be healing and feeling well for the first time in years, in many cases. An excitement fast oxidizer may be said
to be in a positive stress situation.
3. Vampire fast oxidizers. Some, but
certainly not all adult fast oxidizers, are energy vampires. This means they have mastered methods
to steal a subtle energy from others.
The hair mineral analysis often reveals a fast oxidation rate with a
normal or even elevated sodium/potassium ratio. Interestingly, the person often reports very few symptoms,
and more women than men tend to fall into this category. A separate article entitled Energy Vampirism, discusses
this fascinating topic.
Some energy vampires are very subtle, while others are obvious
parasites who rape or mug others. Others even crave male sexual fluid,
which seems to have a speeding up effect on the oxidation rate, at least
temporarily. This unusual topic is
discussed in a separate article entitled Sexual
Fluid Craving Disease.
4. Dietary fast oxidizers. These are
people who stay in fast oxidation because they refuse or simply do not like to
eat enough fats and oils – foods that slow the oxidation rate. Many are vegetarians, or
semi-vegetarians who do not eat meat, eggs or cheese that all contain
fats. Many eat fruits and other
high-carbohydrate foods that may help keep them in fast oxidation.
Some do this unconsciously, while others know exactly what
they are doing, and just want to stay in fast oxidation by avoiding foods and
other things that may slow their oxidation rate.
5. Toxic fast oxidizers. This is a very
common type of fast oxidizer due to the accumulation of certain toxic
metals. They may be in the
kidneys, in particular, but also at times elsewhere in the body such as in the
thyroid gland, adrenal glands, nervous system, brain or elsewhere. Toxic metals that definitely tend to
cause fast oxidation include cadmium, and to some extent the ÔamigosÕ.
The amigos are toxic, usually oxide forms of aluminum, iron,
manganese, and at times chromium, selenium, copper, cobalt, and other minerals
as well – even calcium and magnesium. They are powerful oxidants and irritants to the body and can
cause a faster oxidation rate as a byproduct or secondary effect of their
irritating presence. Most older
people have some of them.
Toxic fast oxidation is one of the easiest types to correct,
though it may take months or several years of following a nutritional balancing
program. When the toxic metals are
removed, the oxidation rate promptly slows down.
6. Running away fast. Some fast
oxidizers are simply Òrunning awayÓ, biochemically speaking, in a way that
causes a fast oxidation rate. The
situation can be rather mild and might be termed an avoidance of life pattern.
However, some are in a step up
pattern, a dangerous, and quite egotistical mineral pattern that is
associated with cancer, heart attacks, strokes and other fatal health
catastrophes. These people are
running away from life, or stepping out of life.
7. Beam me up Scottie pattern. Consuming a
lot of fruit, interestingly enough, causes a type of fast oxidation mineral
pattern that I call Beam Me Up, Scottie
pattern. It is actually a
fascinating pattern caused by fruit-eating.
8. Farmer fast oxidation. Many farmers
are in a state of fast oxidation.
This may be due to a few possible factors, including handling farm
chemicals, especially superphosphate fertilizers, handling toxic metals used in
farm implements such as nickel-plated machinery, cadmium or lead. It may be due, however, to picking up a
lot of energy from the earth because the person works in the dirt all day.
9. A toxic potassium fast oxidizer. This is a
temporary fast oxidation rate caused by the presence of large amounts of a
toxic form of potassium in the body.
It can overlap with several of the other types. Common sources of toxic potassium are
eating a lot of fruit, using krill oil, eating vegetables containing toxic
potassium from superphosphate fertilizers, and others. For more on toxic potassium, read Potassium on this website.
10. A fast oxidizer personality. This is a type
of personality that may love thrills, is often somewhat superficial, is often
somewhat emotionally immature, and is definitely in denial to some degree. This combination can easily help keep a
person in fast oxidation, or the person will unconsciously seek out stressors,
stimulants and other ways to remain in fast oxidation for years.
SYMPATHETIC TONE AND FAST OXIDATION
Fast oxidizers have significant sympathetic nervous system tone. This, in part, accounts for their increased adrenal and
thyroid glandular activity.
Sympathetic nervous activity stimulates the activity of these two sets
of glands. Understanding the
relationship of the sympathetic nervous system with the glandular system is
essential for a correct interpretation of the hair tissue test and for
understanding many health conditions.
Fast oxidizers are in an early stage of stress in which
their sympathetic nervous system is responding excessively. They are in a fight-or-flight mode too
much of the time, which uses up many nutrients and leads to a set of symptoms
and illnesses associated with this metabolic type.
In slow oxidation, the activity of the adrenal and thyroid
glands decreases. The glands
themselves and at times the sympathetic nervous system are both basically
depleted of nutrients and do not function well. It is more of an exhaustion stage of stress.
In part for this reason, slow oxidation is related to a parasympathetic state of body chemistry
with less fight-or-flight activity.
In almost all cases, the sympathetic nervous system is exhausted and the
person moves into a parasympathetic state by default.
There is a common situation, however, which we call sympathetic
dominance. In this common
condition, the person is still attempting to use the sympathetic nervous system
all the time. However, the body is
exhausted and can no longer respond strongly. As a result, the person stays tired and often ill, because
excessive sympathetic stimulation blocks or inhibits the activity of the immune
system, digestive system, elimination system and other vital organs and systems
needed for recovery of health.
This is a very important distinction that I have added to
Dr. EckÕs wealth of knowledge regarding hair analysis interpretation. It is displayed on a properly performed
hair tissue mineral test that has not been washed at the laboratory as a
potassium levels greater than 1 and less than about 5 mg%. When the potassium is 1 mg% (10 parts
per million) or below, the situation is quite critical. Sympathetic dominance is discussed more
in an article on this website, Autonomic Balance.
Slow oxidation, especially when the rate is very slow, is an
exhaustion stage of stress, according
to Dr. SelyeÕs stress theory of disease.
Tissue sodium, you will recall, correlates well with the
activity of aldosterone, an adrenal hormone. Thus,
on a hair mineral analysis, slow oxidizers have low levels of sodium and
potassium. Calcium and magnesium
rise in the hair as the tissue sodium level decreases. This occurs, in part, due to reduced
solubility of calcium that results when the tissue sodium level is low.
Mixed oxidation is said to be present when:
á
The calcium/potassium ratio is greater
than 4 and the sodium/magnesium ratio is greater than 4.17, OR
á
The calcium/potassium ratio is less
than 4 and the sodium/magnesium ratio is less than 4.17.
Dr. Eck further classified mixed oxidation as fast mixed or slow mixed oxidation. This calculation is necessary in order
to decide whether to give a fast oxidizer program or a slow oxidizer program to
these individuals.
Dr. Eck defined fast-mixed oxidation as follows: The
ratio that indicates fast oxidation (whether it be the Ca/K or the Na/Mg) is
more extreme or out of balance than the ratio indicating slow oxidation.
He defined slow-mixed oxidation as follows: The ratio indicating slow oxidation is
more extreme or more out of balance than that indicating fast oxidation.
For example, let us imagine that a hair analysis indicates a
Ca/K ratio of 10 and a Na/K ratio of 6.
First of all, this is a mixed
oxidizer because the Ca/K is greater than 4 and the Na/Mg is greater than
4.17.
The next step is to figure out if it is a fast-mixed
oxidizer or a slow-mixed oxidizer.
To do this, one would check to see which of the two ratios is most
extreme or most out of balance.
Since both ratios should be about 4:1, the one that is most out of
balance is the Ca/K, since it is the furthest away from a ratio of 4. The number 10 is further away from the
ideal of 4 than is the number 6.
Therefore, for our determination, we will focus on the more imbalanced
Ca/K ratio.
The next step is to ask, is the Ca/K ratio, when it is 10 as
in this case, an indicator or fast oxidation or slow oxidation? The answer is slow oxidation, by the definition given
in one of the earlier paragraphs in this article.
Since the ratio that indicates slow oxidation is more
extreme, the hair analysis is said to be showing a slow-mixed oxidation pattern.
A mathematical short cut method. Mixed oxidation can be the hardest pattern to read and
understand at first glance. With
practice, however, it becomes easier and clearer to see these major
patterns. A simple and fairly
accurate mathematical way to figure it out is to simply subtract the Na/Mg from
the Ca/K number. If the answer is
positive, it is a slow mixed oxidizer.
If the answer is a negative number, it is a fast mixed oxidizer.
For instance, in the example above in which the Ca/K is 10
and the Na/Mg is 6, if one takes 10 minus 6 = 4. Since 4 is a positive number, it is a slow mixed oxidizer.
Two other mixed oxidation variants. If the sodium/magnesium ratio or
adrenal ratio is fast (greater than 4.17), but the calcium/potassium ratio
indicates slow oxidation, this is more associated with acute stress, usually in
a slow oxidizer.
If
it the other way around, with a fast calcium/potassium ratio and a slow
oxidizer sodium/magnesium ratio, this is more likely associated with:
-
thyroid stress
-
failure of an adrenal response to stress for some reason
- an efforting situation
HOW THE OXIDATION TYPES AFFECT THE BODY
1. Frequency of Bowel
Movements. Increased metabolic activity is associated with increased
peristaltic activity and hence more frequent bowel movements in the fast
oxidizer. Fast oxidizers may have
more than one bowel movement per day.
One or fewer movements per day is commonly associated with slow
oxidation.
2. Dry or Oily Skin and
Hair. Increased metabolic activity is associated with increased
activity of the sebaceous and oil glands of the skin and scalp. This tends to cause more a greater
tendency for oily skin and hair in the fast oxidizer. Slow oxidizers are more prone to dry skin and dry hair.
Also
fast oxidizers tend to have a more watery appearance of their skin, and poorer
muscle definition for this reason.
Slow oxidizers may have better muscle definition and dryer appearance to
their skin.
Also,
fast oxidizers often have a more ruddy complexion. This may be due to higher blood pressure, use of alcohol or
better circulation in the skin.
This is true even though the sympathetic nervous system tends to move
blood inward, away from the periphery of the body. However, many slow oxidizers are still in a sympathetic
dominant condition described elsewhere, in which their sympathetic system is in
fact even more active than in many fast oxidizers. This causes poor circulation to the extremities.
3. Blood Circulation. An
increased rate of metabolism in the fast oxidizer is associated with enhanced
blood circulation, and correlates with a tendency to warmer hands and feet,
even in cold weather. Slow
oxidation is commonly associated with impaired circulation and a tendency for
cold hands and feet.
4. Food Cravings.
Food cravings can express the body's desire to balance chemistry. 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. Slow oxidation is associated with
chronic low blood sugar. There is
a tendency for sweet cravings and at times salt cravings, as the body does not
retain sodium and potassium as well in slow oxidation, due to impaired adrenal
glandular activity. (low aldosterone).
5. Blood Pressure.
Fast oxidation is associated with increased vascular (sympathetic) tone,
and sodium retention due to elevated aldosterone
levels. These frequently result in a blood pressure of 120/80 or greater. Fast oxidizers are also more prone to
labile or changing high blood pressure.
This is because greater sympathetic nervous system activity will cause
momentary constriction of the arteries due to fatigue, emotional upset or other
stressors. Healthy slow oxidizers
tend to have blood pressures of 120/80 or lower. This is due to weaker vascular
tone, and/or low sodium levels which cause a reduced blood volume and blood
pressure. However, slow oxidizers
are prone to hardening of the arteries, as are fast oxidizers. This can cause high blood pressure
later in life, in particular.
6. Sweating.
Enhanced metabolic activity increases the generation of heat in body
tissues. This is associated with increased sweating in the fast oxidizer. Slow oxidizers generally sweat less,
and many hardly sweat at all.
7. Mood. In
fast oxidation, all metabolic processes speed up, including mental functioning.
This can result in a tendency to anxiety, irritability, nervousness, or
jitteriness. Slower mental
activity in the slow oxidizer, on the other hand, causes a tendency for
sluggishness, lethargy, apathy, and depression. Very slow oxidation is associated with despair, brain fog
and confusion.
8. Energy level. A
fast metabolic rate, within certain limits, is associated with higher energy
levels than is a slow oxidation rate. Fatigue and lethargy can be experienced
by both types, but is more common with slow oxidation.
9. Animal Protein
Preference. Fast oxidizers require more fat, and tend to prefer red meats
to other meats, as they contain a higher percentage of fat. Fast oxidizers may also prefer the
high-purine proteins such as sardines, anchovies and
organ meats. Slow oxidizers tend
to prefer chicken, fish, or vegetarian proteins because these low-fat sources
of protein speed up and normalize the slow oxidizers' metabolic rate. They are also easier to digest as they
contain less fat. They also
contain somewhat less etheric energy and thus have a
lower dynamic action than the red meats.
10. Body Shape.
Classically, the fast oxidizer corresponds to a more ÔCushinoidÕ body shape, so named after an illness called
CushingÕs disease. The person is
not as tall, and is broad in the middle.
This is sometimes called the apple-shaped
body. The legs and arms are
thinner. There may be a Òbuffalo
humpÓ in the back if the case is extreme, though most of the time this is not
present. There is often a bulge in
the belly. This is due to high cortisol, which in turn causes high insulin, which deposits
fat in the belly area.
The
classic slow oxidizer has a pear-shaped body, especially later in life. This is due to sluggish thyroid gland
activity, which is more associated with fat deposition on the hips and legs. The upper body is often thinner.
However,
combinations of these two are very common, because people pass through various
stages of stress at different times of their lives. Also, one can be a mixed type, which also gives rise to
combinations of body shapes.
One
final note regarding body shapes is in order. The sympathetic dominant person often has a very angular
body. That is, there is little fat
deposition. This is basically
good, though if the sympathetic dominance persists, serious health problems
including heart disease, cancer and others develop in these individuals as
well.
This is seen in women, particularly, who are
what is called progesterone dominant.
Estrogen is responsible for fat deposition, especially in the hips and
breast areas. Women with low
estrogen tend to be more angular.
Women with higher estrogen levels tend to be
more curvy, fleshy and at times one calls them more voluptuous shaped.
Caution:
Beware of using body shape or other physical characteristics to assign a
metabolic type to anyone or to recommend a nutrition program. Many times you are viewing a person as
they were some years ago, in terms of their body chemistry. I tried this for several months and
found the hair mineral analysis did not correlate with my guesswork based on
symptoms and body characteristics.
I also found the hair test gave me more accurate
information than just using the symptoms or signs described above. I learned through the experience to
trust the hair tissue mineral analysis and began to get far better results with
patients.
11. Cell membrane
permeability. Fast oxidizers tend to have more permeable cell membranes
than slow oxidizers. This may be
because calcium that builds up in the tissues of slow oxidizers tends to
stabilize cell membrane potentials.
This fact is very important for hormone imbalances, in particular, and
perhaps for blood sugar and other types of metabolic problems as well.
12. Acid or alkaline.
Fast oxidizers tend to be more alkaline at the cellular level, while
slow oxidizers tend to be more acidic at the cellular level. Blood, urine and saliva pH levels do
not correlate well with the cellular level and are often useless for
determining the true cellular acidity.
The reasons for the differences between fast and
slow oxidizers is that fast oxidizers have less toxic metals, in general, which
are very acidic. They also have
far better alkaline mineral reserves, in general, than slow oxidizers. This is likely the major factor.
Slow oxidizers also have more biounavailable calcium that does not seem to neutralize
acids as well in the body. In
addition, slow oxidizers tend to have more infections, which tend to be more
acidic.
13. Yang and yin.
Fast oxidizers are usually much more yang, while slow oxidizers are more
yin. This may sound esoteric, but
it affects every area of human functioning. Yang is warmer, more contracted, more masculine, more ruddy
or reddish with better circulation and in terms of psychology more aggressive
and sexual.
Yin is colder, more ill, more expanded and
tired, less aggressive, less sexual, and more pale or white with poorer
circulation. This is a very brief description of yin and yang. For more information, read Yin and Yang Healing on this site.
True fast oxidizers tend to be anxious,
irritable and aggressive if their oxidation rate is very fast. Their blood sugar and blood pressure
tend to be on the high side of normal.
They are often warm and sweat easily. They usually have oily skin, and a tendency for frequent or
loose bowel movements. They may
gain weight in the area of the abdomen due to high levels of cortisol and cortisone.
Temporary Fast Oxidizers or
slow Oxidizers Under Stress. Most people whose
hair analysis indicates fast oxidation, however, are not true fast
oxidizers. Instead, they are what
we call tired or temporary fast
oxidizers, or slow oxidizers under
stress. Hair analysis
indicators for this condition are:
á
A sodium/potassium ratio
less than about 2.5. This is the
major indicator. Other less
reliable indicators are:
á
A hair calcium level
greater than about 40 mg%, OR a magnesium level greater than about 6 mg%.
á
A zinc level greater than
14 mg% or a phosphorus level less than 14 mg% in some cases.
Slow oxidizers often suffer from fatigue, sweet cravings and
low blood sugar. As their
oxidation rate slows further, they often become apathetic and depressed.
Their blood pressure and blood sugar may be low
unless arteriosclerosis or diabetes have set in. Their skin and hair are often dry, and their hair may become
brittle or thin. Many experience
constipation and other symptoms associated with reduced adrenal and thyroid
glandular activity. Slow oxidizers
may gain weight on the hips and the legs due to their metabolic imbalances.
Mixed oxidizers often display a mixture of symptoms of both
fast and slow oxidation. One may
need to wait until the mixed oxidation pattern resolves into slow or fast
oxidation to gain a clear picture of underlying metabolic patterns.
Mixed oxidizers tend either toward fast
oxidation or toward slow oxidation.
This will determine many of their symptoms. Most mixed oxidation is quite mild and simple to
resolve. At times, however, it
represents more complex glandular imbalances that take more time to unravel and
correct using our methods of balancing the body chemistry.
Symptomatic Programs. In
the case of mixed oxidation, however, at times we use symptoms to help assess
whether to give a fast or a slow oxidizer program to the patient.
For example, a patient may present with fatigue,
depression, constipation and copper toxicity and have a mixed oxidizer hair
analysis. This patient most likely
requires a slow oxidizer supplement and dietary program.
If, in contrast, the patient complained of
anxiety, nervousness, muscle tension and anger, one might readily assume that
although the hair test indicates mixed oxidation this person requires a fast
oxidizer diet and nutrient program.
Fast oxidizer diet. Dr. Watson found that fast oxidizers
require more fats and oils in their diet in order to feel their best. They burn their food quickly and their
caloric needs are greater.
Fats provide more calories and longer-lasting
energy. In contrast, sugars burn
too fast, provide fewer calories and often further enhance the oxidation
rate.
For this reason, fast oxidizers should avoid all
sugars, including most fruit and all juices. Even complex carbohydrates are recommended only in small
amounts.
True fast oxidizers require heavier, fattier
foods such as lamb and even beef in limited amounts if it is grass fed or
naturally raised. They may handle
sour cream, butter, eggs and other fatty foods well.
To lose weight, they may do well on an
Atkins-style diet, although I feel it does not include enough cooked
vegetables, at times. Also, the
quality is not as good as our standards.
However, one could try it for a limited period of time. We suggest, however, that one eat only
the highest quality animal fats, along with flax oil, fish oil, cod liver oil,
olive oil and a small amount of refined vegetable oils such as in blue corn
chips are fine as well. Some coconut
oil, palm oil and others are okay in moderation only. For more information, see the Fast
Oxidizer Diet on this website.
Slow Oxidizer Diet. Slow oxidizers require more protein and
less fat in their diets. Protein
with every meal is most important to maintain their blood sugar level and
support adequate adrenal and thyroid gland activity.
In fact, if there are blood sugar issues, as
there often are, then five meals a day with some protein and possibly a little
fat as well is an excellent regimen.
Animal protein of some kind is helpful for most
slow oxidizers to eat at least once every day, as the bodies are depleted of
many nutrients found in meats.
These include zinc, alpha lipoic acid,
sulfur-containing amino acids and L-carnitine. Meats also provide other less-known
nutrients the slow oxidizer requires.
Protein digestion is weak in slow
oxidizers. As a result, many tend
toward vegetarian diets. However,
this slows or prevents their complete healing. Instead, they require digestive enzymes to obtain all the
nutrition from their food. For
much more information about diet, see The Slow
Oxidizer Diet on this website.
BASIC SUPPLEMENTS FOR FAST AND SLOW
OXIDIZERS
Dr.
Watson and Dr. Eck found that fast oxidizers need more of nutrients such as
copper, zinc, choline, inositol,
calcium and magnesium. They also
do well on more of vitamins A and D.
Vitamins B-complex and C are less beneficial and tend make fast
oxidation worse in many cases.
Slow
oxidizers need more of the B-complex and vitamins C and E. They usually do not need much
copper. They do, however, need
zinc and most often calcium and magnesium.
Both types benefit from a digestive aid. We find that they both also need extra
chromium, selenium and perhaps even a general mineral supplement.
When
one combines the extensive research of Dr. Hans Selye,
Dr. George Watson and Dr. Paul Eck, one begins to develop a very clear picture
of the physiology and biochemistry of fast and slow oxidation.
By identifying these states quickly with a hair
mineral analysis, one knows at a glance how a person is responding to stress
biochemically. Then one can
recommend the correct foods, nutrients, lifestyle changes and detoxification
protocol to bring the body to balance and harmony. Balancing body chemistry in
this manner results in a significant increase in cellular energy
production. This allows healing to
occur at a greatly increased rate.
We always seek to move a person from a lower
energy and less optimum homeostatic state to a healthier state with higher
energy. Slow oxidation, for
example, is a lower energy state than fast oxidation. A balanced state, neither too fast nor too slow, is considered
optimum. It is a condition in
which the metabolism can speed up when needed, and yet at other times remain
peacefully at rest.
The specific chemistry of the oxidation types is
discussed in more detail on the Six-CD
Series on Nutritional Balancing offered on this website and in articles by
Dr. Paul Eck and myself. Another
source of information is Nutritional
Balancing And Hair Mineral Analysis, a book by this author.
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