The Metabolic Typing Diet by William Wolcott and Trish Fahey (Broadway, $15.95)

By Dietitian, Juliette Kellow BSc RD

What’s the theory?

Everyone’s metabolism is unique, thanks largely to the genes we have inherited from our ancestors but also due to other external influences such as illness, stress, nutrient deficiencies, our lifestyle and environment. As a result, everyone processes and utilises food and nutrients differently.

This means a ‘one-size-fits-all’ type of diet, such as the current healthy diet recommended for most people, won’t work for many. By discovering your metabolic type – and eating to suit it – you’ll boost your metabolism so that you burn fat faster and lose weight more easily.

You’ll also prevent cravings, digestive problems, headaches and depression, reverse disease, strengthen your immunity and boost energy levels.

What does the diet involve?

Most people fall into one of three metabolic types: Protein type, Carbohydrate type or Mixed type. You start by answering 65 questions to help you identify your metabolic type and then follow the relevant diet.

Protein types should follow a high-protein, high-fat, low-carb diet where 40 percent of calories come from protein, and 30 percent each come from fat and carbs. Red meat, butter and cream are allowed but certain fruits, bread and processed carbs are off limits.

Carbohydrate types should limit protein and fat, but fill up on carbs like grains, bread and certain juices. They should aim for a diet where 25 percent of calories come from protein, 15 percent from fat and 60 percent from carbs.

Finally, the Mixed type should eat a diet that contains relatively equal amounts of proteins, fats and carbs), where 30 percent of calories should come from protein, 20 percent from fat and 50 percent form carbs.

Alcohol, caffeine and sugar are banned on all three diets.

What else does the book include?

You’ll find plenty of seemingly irrelevant information, for example, how to stay well with chiropractic care, non-toxic dentistry, simple ways to purify your air, how to avoid electromagnetic fields and toxic household and personal products!

Meanwhile, there are several other mini tests you can complete to ‘fine-tune’ your diet, which include looking at your circadian rhythms, the GI values of the foods you eat, foods to eat or avoid according to your blood type and advice on food combining.

How much weight will I lose?

There’s no weight loss promise made.

Juliette’s verdict on The Metabolic Typing Diet

This book is incredibly heavy going and certainly seems to blind its readers with science. Unfortunately, much of this is science fiction rather than science fact. While the idea of eating a different diet to suit your metabolisms is interesting, most health professionals are still in agreement that a healthy, balanced diet is the only type of diet most people need to follow.

Meanwhile, the information is confusing, complicated and muddled – it feels as though the authors have read numerous diet books and taken little bits from each of them. If any of the diets actually do result in weight loss, it’s almost certainly because they restrict groups of food – and ban booze and sugar – which in turn restricts calories. My advice: leave this one at the bookshop.