Do you have good 'metabolic flexibility'?
- Jul 7, 2015
- 2 min read
The ability to be able to use all macro-nutrients as an energy source is an indicator that you do; this means, that when required, your body is effective at drawing upon its reserves of carbohydrate, fat and in some instances protein vs. sticking more rigidly to just one.
Many folk who's metabolism, and therefore health, is impaired will often find themselves 'locked' into carbohydrate use for energy production. This will be strongly linked to these factors: - how much body fat you hold (especially around your middle) - how much exercise you do - how much carbohydrate you consume each day - what % of your food is derived from natural and unprocessed sources (and therefore the density of vitamins, minerals and plant compounds you take in) - and many other equally important lifestyle drivers such as your total stress load, the amount of sleep you take and the total level of toxicity you may have.
Here's three simple tests that may determine how metabolically flexible you are:
1a) try fasting for between 15-24 hrs (zero Kcals (plenty of water)) Almost everyone will feel hungry at periods throughout the day; but if this sends you under and you simply can't go without food for longer than a few hours it suggests 'resistance' to the ability to access the huge amount of energy you have on your frame.
1b) try exercising at the end of your fast, in exactly the same way as you usually would, i.e. not a light/half baked workout. How do you perform? If you can't even bring yourself to exercise, cut the session at halfway or feel well under par, this suggests an inability to create the right stress response, and to access reserves of stored energy effectively.
1c) after the fast, think about two meals: meal 1 is a big pizza covered in all your favourite things* and meal 2 is big plate of meat, veggies and some rice (assuming you're not a vegetarian). Which one do you crave, fancy the most and/or go for? If you went pizza, then this suggests your body probably runs most effectively on and 'needs' carbs and isn't so good at switching over to fat/protein.
The totality of the information gained from this self-experiment may also suggests that fasting protocols aren't a good idea for you at this time (if indeed it seems you do have some degree of metabolic inflexibility)! More regular/frequent and balanced meals would be best. I really like intermittent fasting, use it once per week, and think it has much to offer, but as always, things like this are person specific!
*im not saying pizza is a bad/poor food choice. For the right person at the right time, pizza is awesome (especially the Il Padrino on a Romana base from Pizza Express, with loads of chilli oil all over it! Hmmm).
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