THE OXIDATION TYPES – FAST, SLOW, MIXED
AND FOUR LOWS
by Dr. Lawrence
Wilson
© July 2023,
L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc.
All information in this article is for
educational purposes only. It is not
for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health
condition.
Table Of Contents
Definitions Of Fast, Slow And Mixed Oxidation
History of the Oxidation Types
Metabolic Typing
Yang And Yin And The Oxidation Types
A General, Whole Systems Behavior
Correlation Of The Stages Of Stress With The Oxidation Types
VI. Qualities Of The Oxidation Types
VII. Correction Of The Oxidation Rate
*************
WARNING:
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 in this article and others
on this website regarding the oxidation rate and oxidation types pertains to
Dr. Paul EckÕs method of assessing the oxidation types using hair mineral
analysis - when the hair has not been washed at the laboratory.
This is the only system of
metabolic typing that we trust and use, as it has proven reliable and
consistent.
One cannot use another method of determining the oxidation rate and expect that the information here will apply. Indeed, several of our clients were tested by other methods of oxidation assessment and were found to have very different oxidation types using these methods.
******************
The oxidation types are one of the most important
concepts in nutritional balancing science. They are metabolic types that are the
basis for the nutritional balancing diets. Some of the supplementation used in all nutritional
balancing programs is also based on the oxidation type.
DEFINITIONS
Definition of fast oxidation. This is defined
on a properly performed hair mineral analysis as a calcium/potassium ratio less
than 4 AND a sodium/magnesium ratio greater than 4.17.
The lower the calcium/potassium ratio or the higher
the sodium/magnesium ratio, the faster the oxidation rate.
Definition of
slow oxidation. This is defined
on a properly performed hair mineral test as a calcium/potassium ratio greater
than 4 and a sodium/magnesium ratio less than 4.17.
The higher the
calcium/potassium ratio or the lower the sodium/magnesium ratio, the slower the
oxidation rate.
Definition of
mixed oxidation. This is defined
on a properly performed hair mineral analysis as EITHER:
1. A
calcium/potassium ratio greater than 4 AND a sodium/magnesium ratio greater
than 4.17.
OR
2. A
calcium/potassium ratio less than 4 AND a sodium/magnesium ratio less than
4.17.
Hair
washing. 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., (TEI) founded by a student of Dr. EckÕs. I do not recommend using TEI at this
time, as their graphs are hard to read, the programs are not nearly as good,
and in fact are horribly incorrect.
For more on this subject, read Hair Analysis
Interpretation Methods And Laboratories on this website.
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 may be available through
used book outlets including Amazon.com.
They are extremely readable and excellent 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.
Dr.
Paul C. Eck. Dr. Eck was a physician, a brilliant
researcher and clinician who lived in Phoenix, Arizona most of his life. He was also a teacher of mine, and a
colleague. 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, 2014, and 2016). In addition, several sections of the
articles on this website pertain to his work very directly, as his work
provided a lot of the inspiration for this website.
Dr. Eck could always be found
reading medical books, almost endlessly.
He also decided to research the 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 of whom we am
aware. This website is dedicated
to his work, and to its expansion since his passing 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. This is discussed later in this
article. Dr. Eck went on to
discover how to use a hair mineral test to assess the oxidation rate using two
hair mineral ratios. NOTE: For
accurate assessment, the hair must not washed at all at the laboratory.
We are told that another method of assessing the oxidation rate is to
use certain indicators in a personÕs energy field. However, most people cannot see the energy field, so this
method is not practical today.
The basal metabolic rate. The oxidation rate is completely
different from the basal or resting metabolic rate, as measured by some
physicians and by some fitness and weight loss professionals. The metabolic rate is dependent upon
oneÕs height, weight and age and is the number of calories required to carry
out all body functions in a resting state.
METABOLIC TYPING
The oxidation types are an
example of metabolic
typing. This is an ancient
healing concept, and a very central one in nutritional balancing science. Metabolic typing is unfamiliar to most
people because modern conventional medicine, as well as most holistic doctors,
do not use it.
Definition of metabolic typing. This is a system of classifying bodies by groups of traits that they display. There are about at least a dozen such systems in use around the world.
Homeostatic states. Metabolic types can be viewed as homeostatic states of the whole human system. These are modern words for an ancient idea. Homeostatic states means relatively stable states of the body chemistry. They are often ways the human body and animal bodies cope with their environment as best they can.
The value of metabolic typing. By identifying a personÕs metabolic type, one can immediately know a lot about a person. Astute physicians have observed this for centuries. I discuss other systems of metabolic typing later in this article.
YANG AND YIN
The modern idea of
oxidation types is essentially the same as the ancient Taoist and Chinese ideas
of yang
and yin. The latter are an ancient way of
expressing basic physics qualities such as hot and cold, fast-moving and
slower-moving, more masculine and more feminine, and centripetal and
centrifugal.
Controversy over words. Some people
equate yang and yin with mystical Oriental religions. However, fast and slow oxidation have nothing to do with
religion. They are merely states
of body chemistry.
Differences. Today, we determine the metabolic types mathematically. In contrast, the ancient Taoists used and still use pulse and tongue diagnosis, or other means, to assess the metabolic type.
Determining the metabolic type mathematically offers a great advantage in precision. 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.
For much more on yang and yin, please read Understanding Yin And Yang, Yin Disease, and Yin And Yang Healing on this website.
A GENERAL, WHOLE
SYSTEM BEHAVIOR
Simplicity,
Not Perfection.
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.
A
whole system behavior. Metabolic typing, however, still has
great value because it is 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.
Balancing
the oxidation rate increases vitality. 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, an optimum
oxidation rate may provide an optimum physical and chemical environment in
which millions of enzymes function best.
If we can provide this, the body simply functions better with less
stress. 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, in most cases.
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 a main one. (Others are the key mineral ratios on a hair mineral analysis, and lifestyle factors such as the diet, drinking water, rest level and more.). Then the ÔdetailsÕ of the body, or most symptoms, go away on their own without our needing to do anything at all.
CORRELATING STAGES OF STRESS WITH OXIDATION TYPES
Dr. Hans Selye, MD(1907-1982). A Hungarian-Canadian physician, Dr. Selye discovered the stress theory of disease, an amazing understanding of health and disease. Dr. Selye wrote 40 books including The Stress of Life as well as technical books such as Calciphylaxis. He also authored about 1700 medical articles,
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.
His work on stress is monumental, but largely ignored. In part this is because it is difficult to apply clinically using blood tests. Dr. Eck, however, found that the stage of stress, can be assessed easily and rapidly with a hair tissue mineral analysis.
He wrote 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
intimate 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.
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.
CORRELATIONS
While there is some debate, we believe that:
- Fast oxidation corresponds to an alarm stage of stress. In the ancient Chinese and macrobiotic
typing systems, fast oxidation also corresponds to a more yang condition.
- Slow oxidation probably correlates with a resistance stage
of stress. Slow oxidation is a
more yin condition of the body.
- Four lows pattern (calcium less than 40
mg%, magnesium less than 6 mg%, sodium less than 25 mg% and potassium less than
10 mg%) corresponds to the exhaustion stage of stress. Dr. Watson called this sub-oxidation.
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.
- Mixed oxidation on a hair test is a
combination of fast and slow (one ratio indicates fast oxidation and one ratio
indicates slow oxidation). It is
usually a temporary pattern.
We handle it by noting which
ratio is more extreme. The one
that is more extreme (fast or slow) determines if the person is in fast or slow
oxidation. Mixed oxidation is
discussed below.
NOTE: For accurate assessment,
the hair must not been washed at all at the laboratory.
High
hair sodium and potassium levels. 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.
Lower
hair calcium and magnesium 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 retained, 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.
Visual
pattern. 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.
Visual
difficulties. In some cases, fast oxidation is not
easy to recognize visually. The
difficulty occurs when all four macrominerals are elevated. This is called a four highs pattern. In this case, one cannot tell visually
if fast oxidation is present. One
must calculate the ratios to assess the oxidation type, as explained in the
beginning of this article under Definition Of Fast Oxidation.
Degrees of fast oxidation. A rough method to assess the degree of fast oxidation is to use the following criteria:
Ca/K >1.5 = Mild fast oxidizer
Ca/K 0.4-1.5 = Moderate fast oxidizer
Ca/K <0.4 = Extreme fast oxidizer
NOTE: This replaces the method of assessing the degree of fast oxidation found in the book, Nutritional Balancing And Hair Mineral Analysis, editions 2010, 2014 and 2016.
Those
with a fast oxidation rate tends to be anxious, irritable, in a hurry, and
aggressive if their oxidation rate is very fast. They are usually somewhat emotional, short-tempered and
high-strung. They easily become
anxious and wound
up, and may need sedative drugs to slow down.
Their blood sugar
and blood pressure tend to be on the high side of normal. They are often warm and sweat
easily. Their brains often work
well, with fast thinking.
They usually have
oily skin, and some 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.
They are in a fight-or-flight
mode too much of the time. This
uses up certain nutrients and eventually can result in symptoms and illnesses
associated with this metabolic type.
These include high blood pressure, fatal heart attacks, anxiety, panic
attacks, arthritis, and others.
TYPES OF FAST OXIDATION
It is helpful to
distinguish true fast
oxidation from temporary
fast oxidation:
1. True fast oxidation is found mainly in babies and children under the
age of about 3- 8 years of age. They
have high levels of etheric energy in the body, and this tends to push their
oxidation rate into the fast range.
2. Temporary fast oxidation (also called a slow oxidizer under stress). This is almost always the case in
anyone over the age of about 8 to 10 years old.
It is also helpful
to distinguish healthy
fast oxidation from what is called tired fast oxidation.
A healthy fast
oxidizer has a sodium/potassium ratio of 2.5 or higher.
A tired fast
oxidizer has a sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.5. At times, he or she may also have a calcium or magnesium
level that is above the ideal values of 40 mg% for calcium and 6 mg% for
magnesium.
CAUSES FOR FAST OXIDATION
These are:
1.
Early life. All babies are born in mild fast
oxidation. Usually, before they
leave the hospital, the oxidation rate speeds up tremendously. This can be due to stress or due to
administering vaccines that stress the body.
Vaccination is a horrible
practice that is ruining the children today! Please read the facts in the Vaccination
article on this site, and do not be swayed by your doctor or the media.
Most children remain in this
metabolic condition up to the age of between 3 and about 10. Then they slow
down into slow oxidation, in almost all cases.
2.
Stress fast oxidation. These are adults or some older children
who are only in fast oxidation because they are under stress of a type that
forces their bodies into faster oxidation. Dietary factors that can cause this are the use of caffeine,
sugar, bread, cigarettes or alcohol.
Some people also use irritant substances such as hot spices.
Other stimulants include some
medical drugs such as amphetamines, and cocaine, crack, crystal meth, Ecstacy,
and other recreational drugs.
Other toxic chemicals such as
certain pesticides can also have the same effect. Excess toxic metals in the body can also act as a stressor
that pushes a person into a fast oxidation rate. These are discussed below.
Other common stimulants are lack
of rest, too much work, fears, anger, hatred, working in noisy environments,
domestic arguments, or financial stress.
When the stress, which is often
biochemical, is relieved, these individuals move 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.
3.
Dietary fast oxidation. These people remain in fast oxidation
because they do not eat enough fats and oils – foods that slow the oxidation rate. Some are vegetarians, or
semi-vegetarians who do not like to eat meat, eggs or cheese that all contain
fats.
Some also eat fruit, sugars and
other high-carbohydrate foods such as chips, pasta or bread that can keep them
in fast oxidation.
Some do this unconsciously,
while others know what they are doing, and prefer to stay in fast oxidation by
eating certain foods and avoiding others that slow their oxidation rate.
4.
Toxic fast oxidation. Certain toxic metals, as they build up
in the body, cause a fast oxidation rate.
These include cadmium, nickel, and an unusual group of mineral compounds
called Òthe amigosÓ.
The amigos are toxic, oxide
forms of aluminum, iron, or manganese.
These are widely distributed in the environment and in our food. They also may include oxide forms of
chromium, selenium, copper, cobalt, boron, molybdenum, lithium and cobalt. Rarely they include oxides of calcium
and magnesium.
They are all powerful oxidants
and irritants to the body and can cause a faster oxidation rate as a secondary
effect of their irritating presence.
These often accumulate 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. Other minerals that can cause or
contribute to a fast oxidation rate are other forms of copper and mercury.
Some people are born with too
much of these toxic metals, or one can acquire them from food, occupations, or
other places. Toxic fast oxidation
can always be corrected with a nutritional balancing program, though it may
take months or occasionally several years of following a properly designed
nutritional balancing program.
When the toxic metals are removed, the oxidation rate promptly slows
down.
5.
Running away. Some fast oxidizers are Òrunning awayÓ,
biochemically speaking, in a way that causes a fast oxidation rate. The situation can be termed an
avoidance of life pattern.
A few are in a Step Up Mineral Pattern, a dangerous mineral
pattern that is associated with heart attacks, strokes and other health
catastrophes. A properly performed
hair mineral test will reveal this pattern.
These people are running away
from life, or stepping out of life quickly. It is important to reverse this pattern before trouble
occurs. This is not hard to do if
one identifies the pattern.
6.
Infection fast oxidation. This is a less common
situation. A few individuals have
an infection of a type that speeds up the oxidation rate. These are often bacterial infections
that cause high fevers, for example.
7.
Vampire fast oxidation. Some adult fast oxidizers, are energy
vampires. This means they have
mastered methods to steal some energy from others. A hair mineral analysis often reveals a fast oxidation rate
with a normal or even elevated sodium/potassium ratio. A double pattern, or more pronounced
pattern of this type, occurs if the sodium/potassium ratio is high and the
calcium/magnesium ratio is elevated as well.
Interestingly, the person may report
few symptoms. A separate article
entitled Energy Vampirism discusses this topic.
8.
ÒBeam me up ScottieÓ pattern. Consuming a lot of fruit causes a type
of fast oxidation mineral pattern that I call Beam
Me Up, Scottie pattern. It is
fairly rare.
9.
Excitement fast oxidation. These people are in fast oxidation
because they are extremely excited.
This happens, at times, during a nutritional balancing program as a person
begins to get well, often after years of trying different programs and going to
doctors with little or no success.
10.
Farmer fast oxidation. Another more rare cause of fast
oxidation is working as a farmer.
The earth radiates certain energies that these people pick up. This type of fast oxidation may also be
due, in part, to handling farm chemicals, especially superphosphate fertilizers
and pesticides.
Many farmers are also exposed to
toxic metals used in farm implements such as nickel-plated machinery, and
cadmium or lead found in lubricants, gasoline and elsewhere.
11.
Toxic potassium fast oxidation. This is a very
temporary fast oxidation rate caused usually by the elimination from the body
of large amounts of a toxic form of potassium. Usually, this only occurs during a nutritional balancing
program. For more on this topic,
please read Toxic Potassium on this website.
12. A fast oxidizer personality. This is a personality type that loves ÒspeedÓ and thrills, is often somewhat emotionally immature, and is often in denial, to a degree, and likes it.
This personality type loves fast oxidation, and may unconsciously do things to help remain in this mineral pattern. For example, the person may seek out stressful situations, use stimulants, smoke cigarettes, or do other things in order to remain in fast oxidation.
13. Medical drug fast oxidation. Some people have a fast oxidation rate
because they are taking medications, specifically thyroid hormones (Synthroid,
Armour thyroid, Levothyroxine, Naturethroid or other brands), or adrenal
hormones such as DHEA, cortisone, cortisol or others. Other stimulant drugs could also be involved.
14.
Back or neck tension. This
can cause a fast oxidation rate because tightness or tension in these areas can
pinch off and stimulate the sympathetic nerves that come off the spine. This, in turn, stimulates the
sympathetic nervous system including the adrenal and/or thyroid glands.
A person with a slow oxidation
rate has decreased activity of the adrenal and thyroid glands. This may or may not be revealed on
standard blood tests.
The glands themselves, and at
times, the sympathetic nervous system, are both usually depleted of nutrients
and do not function well. It is a resistance or
exhaustion stage of stress.
A
less healthy parasympathetic state. In part for
this reason, slow oxidation is related to a more 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 an unhealthy parasympathetic state by default.
A
lower energy state. About 80 to 85% of adults are in a slow
oxidation state of body chemistry.
It is a decidedly lower energy state with, and perhaps caused by more
impairment of the electron transport system in the
mitochondria, where most biochemical energy is produced.
Biochemistry. This impairment is caused primarily by replacement of the
bioavailable forms of minerals such as copper, iron, manganese and others with
some of the less bioavailable forms of these minerals such as oxides and other
forms.
This disables the critical
enzymes in the energy cycles to a substantial degree. Adaptive energy production decreases, and the person moves
into slow oxidation.
This can occur even in babies,
today, and generally always occurs by age 10 or so in most people. They usually spend the rest of their
lives in slow oxidation, and often in poor health.
Without sufficient energy, the
body is unable to repair and regenerate itself fast enough. This causes degeneration of the body
until overt health problems begin to occur.
Mental
aspects. Also, low energy gives rise to the
common mental/emotional symptoms of slow oxidation such as apathy, fatigue,
introversion, and depression. If
the situation is severe enough, one experiences suicidal thoughts and despair
as the bodyÕs energy system fails to a greater degree.
Degrees of slow oxidation. A rough method of assessing mild, moderate and extreme slow oxidation is to use the following criteria:
Ca/K < 30 = Mild slow oxidizer
Ca/K 30-100 = Moderate slow oxidizer
Ca/K > 100 = Extreme slow oxidizer
NOTE: This replaces the method of assessing the degree of fast oxidation found in the book, Nutritional Balancing And Hair Mineral Analysis, editions 2010, 2014 and 2016.
Slow oxidizers often suffer from symptoms of low thyroid and low adrenal
glandular activity. These may
include 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. These can raise the blood
pressure and blood sugar levels.
Their skin and hair
are often dry, and their hair may become brittle or thin. Many also experience constipation, gas,
bloating, leaky gut syndrome or other digestive problems.
Slow
oxidation and society. Entire nations Òburn outÓ as more and
more of their citizens move into slow oxidation. A large portion of the population lose their drive to work
and succeed, and their brains and bodies just do not function well.
This is the situation today in
much of the developed world today, especially Europe. Refined food diets, widespread use of toxic medical drugs
and vaccinations damage the body.
Polluted air, food and water, and other insults to the body also help
decimate the energy-producing system of the body.
Nutritional
balancing restores the energy system.
Nutritional
balancing science, unlike medical or most holistic or naturopathic methods,
specifically targets the bodyÕs energy-producing system and will restore it,
although it can take a few years to do so if it is very damaged. When this is done, the oxidation rate
speeds up, dozens of health problems vanish by themselves, and health can be
remarkably restored although no ÒremediesÓ have been used at all.
Sympathetic
dominance. A common situation found in slow
oxidizers is of great importance and called sympathetic dominance. It is an imbalance of the autonomic
nervous system.
In this common situation, 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 pattern
on a hair mineral test that I have added to Dr. EckÕs work. It is revealed on a properly performed
hair tissue mineral test that has not been washed at the laboratory as a potassium
level less than about 5 mg%, or a high sodium/potassium ratio. Sympathetic dominance is discussed in
much more detail in the article entitled Sympathetic
Dominance, and in one entitled Autonomic
Balance.
Adrenal
and Thyroid Insufficiency. Tissue sodium correlates well with the
activity of aldosterone, an adrenal hormone. On a hair mineral analysis, slow oxidizers have low levels of sodium and
potassium, relative to their levels of calcium and magnesium.
Basic
physiology of slow oxidation. What occurs physiologically is that
lower levels of sodium due to adrenal and thyroid weakness or generally lower
energy production reduce the solubility of calcium and magnesium in the blood.
Sodium and potassium are
solvents that maintain calcium and magnesium in an ionized form. As the solubility decreases, more
calcium and magnesium precipitate out of the blood and begin to accumulate in the
soft tissues of the body. This
causes a rise in the hair tissue calcium and magnesium, relative to the sodium
and potassium levels.
In other words, calcium and
magnesium rise in the hair as the tissue sodium and potassium levels
decrease. This is the familiar
look of slow oxidation on a hair mineral analysis.
As mentioned above, Dr. Eck
found that the best way to calculate the oxidation rate is to evaluate two
ratios on a hair mineral chart.
These are the sodium/magnesium ratio (Na/Mg or the adrenal ratio) and
the calcium/potassium ratio (Ca/K or the thyroid ratio).
If one of these ratios indicates
fast oxidation and the other indicates slow oxidation, the pattern is called mixed oxidation.
This pattern is fairly common,
temporary, and usually a short-term condition of the body chemistry.
Definition
of mixed oxidation.
Mixed oxidation is said to be present on a hair mineral analysis, provided the
hair is not washed at the laboratory, 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.
For
example, mixed oxidation is present if the Ca/K is 6 and the Na/Mg is 10. Another example of mixed oxidation is
if the Ca/K is 2 and the Na/Mg is 0.5.
Symptoms of mixed oxidation. There is often a mixture of symptoms of both
fast and slow oxidation. This may
depend on the mineral ratios, since some cases of mixed oxidation are much
closer to slow oxidation, while others are much closer to fast oxidation.
VARIETIES OF MIXED OXIDATION
1. Fast mixed and slow mixed oxidation. Mixed oxidation can be closer to fast
oxidation, in which case it is called fast mixed oxidation.
It can also be closer to slow oxidation, in which case it is called slow mixed
oxidation. For the method
to determine this, see the section below.
2. The Ca/K and Na/Mg ratios can be fairly balanced, or they may
be extremely unbalanced. When they are very
unbalanced, either too high or too low, we believe it is associated with
conflict in a person.
3. Two mixed
oxidation types based on which ratio is fast and which is slow. In mixed oxidation, the ratio that
indicates fast oxidation can be either the adrenal ratio (Na/Mg) or the thyroid
ratio (Ca/K).
If the adrenal ratio is fast
(greater than 4.17), this is more associated with acute stress. This is true regardless of whether the oxidation rate is a
fast mixed or slow mixed oxidation rate.
If
the calcium/potassium ratio indicates fast oxidation and the sodium/magnesium
ratio indicates slow oxidation, this is more likely associated with adrenal
exhaustion and more chronic stress, in most cases. This is true regardless of whether the
pattern is fast or slow mixed oxidation.
CALCULATING FAST AND SLOW MIXED OXIDATION
This gets a little mathematical,
but is not too involved. Often,
assessing mixed oxidation can be done visually, which is much easier.
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/Mg 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 must follow a two-step
process:
1.
Check to see which of the two ratios is more extreme or most out of balance. In our example, 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.
2.
The next step is to ask whether the more extreme or out-of-balance ratio
indicates fast or slow oxidation. Using our
example, is the Ca/K ratio of 10 an indicator or fast oxidation or slow
oxidation? The answer is slow oxidation, by the definition given at the beginning of 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.
Correction of mixed oxidation. A
standard development program will cause resolution of mixed oxidation. No special program is needed.
Most mixed oxidation
resolves within a few months to either a fast or a slow oxidation rate. Rarely, resolving it takes six months
or more.
A
common and very important hair analysis pattern is four lows, sometimes also called four low
macrominerals.
Definition. The definition of the pattern is that the first four
minerals on the chart (macrominerals) must all be less than their ideal
values. This means:
- A hair calcium level less than
40mg%
- A hair magnesium level less
than 6 mg%
- A hair sodium level less than
25 mg% and
- A hair potassium level less
than 10 mg%.
A SEPARATE METABOLIC TYPE?
I consider four lows pattern as
another metabolic type because:
1. It causes rather specific symptoms.
2. It requires a special nutritional balancing program.
However, this can be confusing
because within a four lows pattern one will also have a pattern of fast, slow
or mixed oxidation based upon calculating the two ratios, as explained early in
this article.
Sub-oxidation? A four lows pattern may be the same as what Dr. George
Watson, PhD, called Sub-Oxidation.
However, I am not sure about this and Dr. Watson is no longer alive to
run experiments and confirm this idea.
For much more information about this topic, read Four
Lows Pattern on this site.
VI. QUALITIES OF
THE OXIDATION TYPES
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
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.
VII. CORRECTION OF
THE OXIDATION RATE
The Fast
oxidizer diet. All fast
oxidizers today require plenty of cooked, not raw vegetables three times
daily. This is most critical. In addition, Dr. Goerge Watson found
that fast oxidizers require extra amounts of fats and oils in their diet in
order to feel their best. They
burn their food quickly and their caloric needs are greater. They also do best on a low carbohydrate
diet, obtaining most of their calories from fats and oils.
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 ALL 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. Coconut
oil and palm oil are not recommended, except perhaps occasionally, as they are
too yin and slightly toxic, in our experience. For more information, see the Fast
Oxidizer Diet on this website.
The Slow
Oxidizer Diet. Slow oxidizers
definitely require plenty of cooked vegetables three times daily, In addition,
they require more protein and less fat in their diets than fast oxidizers. Some protein at least twice daily 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.
B-complex vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E are less beneficial and tend
make fast oxidation much, much 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, calcium and magnesium
supplements.
Both types benefit
from a digestive aid. We find that
they both also need extra chromium, selenium, kelp, omega-3 fatty acids and
vitamin D3.
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.
SYMPTOM-BASED PROGRAMS
In two situations,
setting up the programs based on the oxidation type is not easy. In both these cases, we may take into
account a personÕs symptoms, and not simply the readings on a hair mineral
analysis. These are:
1. If we know a person is in temporary fast oxidation due to a toxic
metal elimination, and the person is headed back into slow oxidation.
2. In the case of mixed oxidation that is balanced, meaning even
between fast and slow oxidation
3. In cases of fast or slow oxidation, if the mineral analysis
indicates a very balanced pattern.
4. If we suspect that the personÕs body chemistry has shifted since
the most recent hair test was performed.
In all these cases,
we may need to use symptoms as part of an overall evaluation to help assess
whether to give a fast or a slow oxidizer program to the person.
For example, a
patient with a mixed oxidation hair chart might 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
person complains of anxiety, nervousness, muscle tension and anger, one might
assume that, although the hair test indicates mixed oxidation, this person
requires a fast oxidizer diet and nutrient program.
FACTORS THAT CAN SKEW THE READINGS
Rarely, hair mineral readings
are affected by various factors that skew the reading. Such ÔartifactsÕ may includeÓ bathing in
softened water, extreme stress, recreational drug use, medical drug use rarely,
or an elimination of toxic potassium. These will rarely skew the oxidation
rate.
OTHER SYSTEMS OF METABOLIC TYPING
Here are some other 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 system of yin and yang:
1. Yang is warm or hot, more constricted or compact, 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 yin and yang, read Yin And Yang Healing. For more on 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) discussed in the Bhagavad Gita:
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.
Other typing systems. 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 energy centers are most active.
Home
| Hair Analysis
| Saunas | Books | Articles | Detox Protocols