SLOW
AND FAST OXIDATION
by Dr. Lawrence
Wilson
© June 2007, LD Wilson Consultants, Inc.
Metabolic
typing is a central concept in hair analysis interpretation and the science of
nutritional balancing. There are
many systems of metabolic typing.
These include the ancient Chinese 5-element theory, the yin-yang
classification and the triune Ayurvedic and Indian methods of classifying
people.
This article focuses on a more modern biochemical
classification that is not unlike yin and yang in some ways. It is based on the rate of the major
endocrine glands, the thyroid and adrenal glands. This, in turn, is controlled largely by the sympathetic nervous
system that is mediated through the pituitary and hypothalamus glands in the
brain.
The system referred to here is simple. That is its virtue. It is not complete, nor is it meant to
be. There are mixed states, for
example. There was, according to Dr.
George Watson, a founder of this system, a sub-oxidation state that we call four
low electrolytes, as
revealed on a hair tissue mineral analysis in which the hair has not been
washed at the laboratory. This is
a state of disconnect between the pituitary and hypothalmus and the target
glands, the thyroid and adrenal glands mainly. It is discussed in detail in another article on this
website, Four Low Electrolytes.
A
SHORT HISTORY OF THE OXIDATION TYPES
The term
Ôoxidation typesÕ was coined by George Watson, PhD, a researcher at UCLA. He wrote a fascinating book entitled, Nutrition
and Your Mind, and
a second book entitled, Personality Strength and Psychochemical Energy. These are out of print but usually available through used
book outlets including Amazon.com.
They are extremely readable and fascinating.
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.
Dr. Paul C. Eck was a hair analysis researcher who was my
mentor. He was a brilliant
biochemical genius who read medical texts continuously and used hair mineral
analysis as his clinical research tool.
He developed the science of hair mineral analysis interpretation far
beyond anyone else I am aware of.
Dr. Eck was thrilled to discover Dr. WatsonÕs oxidation
concepts. It helped him make sense
of his own hypoglycemic symptoms, and opened the way for a scientific method of
interpretation of a tissue mineral test and much more.
Dr. Eck made another startling correlation, this time
between the oxidation types and the stages of stress, as elucidated by Dr. Hans
Selye, MD. SelyeÕs work on stress
is monumental, but largely ignored.
In part this is because it was very hard to apply clinically, until Dr.
Eck found it could be assessed easily and rapidly with a hair tissue mineral
analysis.
Dr. Selye, in his classic book, The Stress of Life, and in
his other works even more so, defines such concepts as homeostasis and the
general adaptation syndrome. He
outlines exactly how an animal or human being responds to stress in an orderly
way, passing through three stages that he called alarm, resistance and
exhaustion. Selye further
elaborates, however, the biochemistry of each stage of stress. Dr. Eck was able to see that this is
why Dr. Watson got results with particular foods and supplementary nutrients on
his clients. It was because Watson
was addressing the individual needs of the client in terms of the clients 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 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.
Dr. Eck spent a number of years attempting to determine the
best way to assess these stages or types, using hair mineral analysis. After considerable experimentation, he settled
on two mineral ratios for this determination. He also figured out that the hair must not be washed at the
laboratory in order to make a more accurate determination of the oxidation type
or stage of stress. This is a
vital point, since many 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. Eck.
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.
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.
For this reason, the first few hair analyses may give only a
superficial picture of the condition of body chemistry. After several months to more than a
year of nutritional balancing, the hair mineral patterns often change
dramatically. This is also why
addressing lifestyle issues is most important if one desires to correct body
chemistry in the most rapid and complete fashion.
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.
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.
FAST
OXIDATION/ALARM STAGE AS VIEWED ON A HAIR TISSUE MINERAL ANALYSIS
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.
SYMPATHETIC
TONE AND FAST OXIDATION
Fast oxidizers also 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.
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 the
calcium/potassium ratio is greater than 4 and the sodium/magnesium ratio is
greater than 4.17. Alternatively,
the calcium/potassium ratio may be less than 4 and the sodium/magnesium ratio
less than 4.17.
We use the terms fast-mixed oxidation when the key ratios tend
more toward fast oxidation. When
they tend more toward slow oxidation, we call it slow-mixed oxidation. Mixed oxidation is a temporary state that will change to
fast or slow oxidation when one follows a nutritional balancing program.
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 oxidzers 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 CushingÕs disease or ÔCushinoidÕ body
shape. The person is not as tall,
and is broad in the middle. This
is sometimes called the Òapple-shaped bodyÓ. 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 more Òpear-shaped bodyÓ, 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, when we view their
bodies. 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.
This section in particular, and all the
symptomatic section is included because one can often save a lot of time and
perhaps cost by identifying a body type by simple visual examination. However, beware of using this to
prescribe a nutrition program.
Many times you are viewing a person as they were some years ago, in
terms of their body chemistry. I
tried doing this for several years and found the hair mineral analysis did not
correlate all that well, just with body shape. In fact, it gave much better information than just using any
of the symptoms or signs described above.
Eventually, I decided to trust the hair tissue mineral analysis and
began to get better results with the clients.
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.
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:
* A
sodium/potassium ratio less than about 2, OR at times when the ratio is greater
than about 10.
* A
hair calcium level greater than about 40 mg%, OR a magnesium level greater than
about 6 mg%.
* A
four-low-electrolyte pattern with calcium less than about 40 mg%, magnesium
less than about 6 mg%, sodium less than about 25 mg% and potassium less than
about 10 mg%.
* Higher
levels of toxic metals. These can
push someone into a faster oxidation than they would ordinarily be displaying
on the test.
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.
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
steak and a potato covered with sour cream. To lose weight, they may do well on an Atkins diet, at least
for a limited period of time. We
suggest, however, that one eat only the highest quality animal fats, olive oil
and coconut oil.
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. Animal protein
is important to eat 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.
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 by Lawrence Wilson, MD. These materials are available from
Analytical Research Laboratories or by calling 1-928-776-8288.
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