An Introduction to HAP Metabolic Types

A very important part of the Healthy & Active Program is the diagnosing of Metabolic Type.  This is not information that will be revealed antwgere in full, because it is part of the proprietary process of diagnosis that is part of the Healthy & Active Program in the first place.

The Diagnosis of Your Metabolic Type

Extensive questioning is required of you by a trained practitioner about lifestyle, hereditary diseases and private habits in order for your metabolic type to be diagnosed properly.

The metabolic typing in this program is also assessed according to your dietary preferences, likes and dislikes and what types of foods seem to give a person a feeling of wellness and satisfaction, what types of foods make them feel full and other personal questions.

The Three Basic Metabolic Types

In general the three basic types are a Fast Burner, Slow Burner and Mixed Burner with many sub-definitions that have to do with how fast or slow your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work and how efficiently your oxidative system works as well. 

For instance, some metabolism type crave sweets more than others while others can’t get through the day without a big dose of protein. Yet others crave pasta and bread products that are full of carbs, while yet others crave chocolate, alcohol and caffeine.

The sympathetic nervous system involves certain functions you can control, your parasympathetic nervous system includes functions you cannot control and that operate by themselves and your oxidative system refers to how quickly your body metabolizes food into energy.  The oxidative system is also known as the Krebs cycle or the citric acid cycle and refers to how carbohydrates and fats are converted into nutrients that can be used by your cells.

To use another example, a person with insulin resistance has an inefficient oxidative cycle because they might not be able to metabolize sugar. This is because the pancreatic function that is part of the parasympathetic nervous system has been damaged.

The reason that determining your metabolic type is so important is because it tells the HAP practitioner how quickly or slowly your body oxidizes (processes) foods and how the ingestion of different foods might act in your body.  So much depends on the diagnosis of the metabolic type. A food that that is alkalinizing for one person might be more acidic for another.  A good example of this is oranges which might have an alkaline effect on the system for one type and an alkaline effect on another.

Yet another element that comes into play during your diagnosis is your blood type as certain blood types are more metabolically efficient eating meat than others.

Any food can be either stimulating or sedating depending on your metabolic type as well.  For example, some people eat a plate of pasta and  then with great verve sit down at the computer and organize their whole schedule for the next three months. Others have to have a nap while their body slowly metabolizes the high carbohydrate content of the pasta.  The person who feels focused after eating carbs is likely a Fast Burner type while the person who needs a nap is likely a Slow Burner. To make things more complex, not everyone is an absolute type, which is why the diets and lifestyle recommendations of the HAP are tailored so uniquely to each individual.

One of the goals of the Healthy & Active Program is to have you eating the foods that keep your individual system as alkaline as possible so that you can be resistant to disease and the discomforts of natural aging.

For more information about the Healthy & Active Program please visit our website at www.healthy-active.com. You may also call us in Toronto at (41) 440-2217 and ask for Adrienne Wright Bulow or Dr. Michael Rahman or email us at adrienne@healthy-active.com.

What Good Nutrition Means For Your Metabolism

The Healthy & Active Plan HAP is a program designed to help you optimized your nutrition so you can improve your metabolism. So how does good nutrition improve your metabolism?

So how does good nutrition improve your metabolism?

When you eat a healthier diet, than your brain receives more blood and oxygen.

You also think more clearly, have more energy, need less sleep. Your brain may actually grow more brain cells because it is not expending all of its energy producing hormones to repair all of the damage you have done your body by eating a bad diet full of junk food, acidic foods, refined foods, sugar, sodium and fat.

Your circulation will improve and your face will glow. More blood to the surface of the skin will make you appear to have less wrinkles.  You won’t be as tired and have more energy to exercise, which in turn also gives you an overall more youthful stance and appearance.

Your heart also receives more blood flow when you eat right.  This staves off fatigue and your brain also receives more blood flow and therefore produces more energy. Your ability to think clearly is enhance and you simply feel more focused and calm.

Increased blood flow also means that you have more stamina in bed. Your sexual organs receive more blood flow, so you may become more potent— you won’t need Cialis or Viagra to function anymore!

For many people, these are choices worth making—not just to live longer, but also to live a better quality life. Most people who do so are amazed at how much healthier they feel and are sorry that they did not do it sooner.

Here are the benefits of eating more alkaline foods summed up in a nutshell –

•       Giving your digestive organs a break
•       Purification
•       Rejuvenation
•       Better Sleep
•       Clearer skin
•       Less flatulence
•       Looking youthful
•       Improved senses: vision, hearing, taste
•       Reduction of allergies
•       Weight loss
•       Drug and alcohol detoxification
•       Better resistance to disease

As you can see from the above list, eating well can contribute to your well being in general.

By contrast, meals high in fat, sugar, and calories cause your arteries to constrict, so blood flow is reduced. The same is true of chronic stress. Nicotine, caffeine, cocaine and amphetamines also hurt your body. So does a lack of exercise. So do many prescription and over the counter medications that are acidic in nature and can harm your health.

Your brain receives less oxygen if you eat badly. You and your skin will look older. You will lose fertility and oxygen and seem a lot older than you actually are … this is a slippery slope that can lead to fatigue, premature aging and eventually chronic disease.

For more information about the Healthy & Active Program please visit our website at www.healthy-active.com. You may also call us in Toronto at (41) 440-2217 and ask for Adrienne Wright Bulow or Dr. Michael Rahman or email us at adrienne@healthy-active.com.

Recipes for Raw and Cooked Butternut Apple Soups

Some people on the HAP of eating choose to eat vegan or completely raw while others still eat cooked food and meat.  The wonderful thing about Apple Butternut Squash soup is that there are two tasty versions of it.  Furthermore if you are eating apples and butternut squash are completely seasonal Autumnal foods and you should be able to find locally grown apples and butternut squash produce at a nearby market.

Let’s start with the raw version. This recipe can be made completely raw but most raw vegan purists still steam the butternut squash for about twenty minutes to make it easier to blend in  a high speed blender.

Butternut Squash Apple Soup

RAW BUTTERNUT APPLE SOUP

8 cups butternut squash, cubed

2 cups fresh apple cider or apple juice

2/3 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed

¾ pure spring water

4 large stalks celery

1 small scallion or half of a small onion, chopped fine

1 clove garlic, chopped fine

1 very tiny hot red chili pepper (optional)

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

pinch o cloves

8 pitted and soaked Medjool dates

2 tsp Himalayan salt

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. You can serve this raw or if you like you can heat it up and serve it warm. It is good with a dash of cashew milk or if you allow it, sour cream swirled in on top.

The above raw version of the soup is gluten-free, soy free and vegan and with the exception of the juices, almost sugar-free.

As for the cooked  version,  the key to it being so tasty is the roasting of the vegetables first.  Also note that if you do not use soy milk to make it  this a vegan, gluten free recipe.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT APPLE SOUP

8 cups butternut squash cubed

3 chopped apples

1 small onion, chopped

2 tbsp coconut oil

1 tsp Himalayn salt or sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp ground turmeric

¼ tsp nutmeg

½ teaspoon crushed thyme

2 ½ cups organic vegetable broth

1 cup coconut, soy or rice milk

Preheat onion to 375 degrees. Place the squash, apples and onion on a large roasting pan or tray and drizzle coconut oil over them.  Sprinkle with spices and roast for 45 minutes until soft.

Place the vegetables in a blender with the remaining ingredients and blend well.  Transfer to a pot and reheat.  For a little color you can sprinkle more cinnamon or herbs on top to decorate it.  

This soup is also delicious with a dash of Greek Yogurt or  bit of 

Eating a healthy diet is key to thriving while you are on the Healthy and Active plan. Remember that if any of the minor ingredients in these recipes is not part of your eating plan you can always make substitutions or omit the ingredient altogether.

For more information about the Healthy & Active Program please visit our website at www.healthy-active.com. You may also call us in Toronto at (41) 440-2217 and ask for Adrienne Wright Bulow or Dr. Michael Rahman or email us at adrienne@healthy-active.com.