Hello,

Can the concept of "metabolic requirements" from a macrobiotic perspective be linked to Roger Williams' concept of "metabolic types"? According to this scientist, there are 3 types: 1. protein type, 2. mixed type, and 3. carbohydrate type. Am I correct in assuming that, according to macrobiotics, the protein type is the most yang, as these types of metabolizers require more protein and saturated fats in their diet compared to, for example, mixed and carbohydrate types? I'm asking this because I've noticed (I'm on the border between the protein and mixed type, and I'm a breastfeeding mother at home with two children, rarely sitting still during the day - a lot of anaerobic movement - running after the kids :D, with frequent interrupted sleep at night due to breastfeeding - these circumstances probably push me more into yang, yet I'm consciously working on calming my inner self) that I am consistently satisfied only with a fattier diet (preferably a saturated form of fats) and a larger portion of protein. If not, I quickly get hungry and feel unsatisfied even immediately after eating, followed by fatigue, if, for example, lunch consists only of grains, legumes, vegetables, and unsaturated fats. Can this be addressed by incorporating meat or fish more frequently, such as every other day, or by adding butter, cream, cheese, or coconut milk to a meal of grains, legumes, and vegetables - thus a form of saturated fats?

Thank you in advance for your response :)

BEGINNING OF TEXT:
When seeking common criteria for metabolic typing among alternative approaches (philosophies) and scientific methods, complete consensus is never reached. Technically, it is not possible because each approach is based on a different perspective of reality. However, the fact is that some elements are shared, so what you describe makes considerable sense.

I'll just make some adjustments to certain considerations:
1. The digestibility and metabolic load of saturated and unsaturated fats are practically the same. This raises the question of what it means for a fattier diet with saturated fats to satiate you, as the digestive load is usually associated with the presence of proteins, mostly of animal origin.
2. Caring for children at home does not involve anaerobic stress (which is associated with a heart rate exceeding the anaerobic threshold, something not achievable with children at home, except through systematic exercise). The described stress is primarily psychological, typically involving prolonged stress combined with repeated short-term emotional outbursts (in macrobiotic terms, this is an excess of yin), which naturally creates specific metabolic demands requiring consumption of either heavier meals (yang proteins, yin fats) or easily digestible foods (most commonly sweets = yin) – depending on which form of stress and for what duration prevails.
3. The macrobiotic philosophy is based on the belief that the most effective method of manipulating metabolism is through simple efforts to guide it towards balance by using factors considered homeostatic. This involves a dietary concept displaying energy balance with a smaller proportion of elements corresponding to metabolic individuality.
Example: In a classic macrobiotic diet, you slightly increase the proportion of yang elements (fish) and harder-to-digest foods (legumes, nuts, seeds). This shift results in the increased digestive load (yang) counterbalancing emotional tension (yin). Proceed carefully; immediately shifting the diet toward an extreme is not advantageous...

Themes:  Weight loss   Macrobiotics