How To Eat Right For Your Body Type
by John Berardi
Nope, this has nothing to do with your blood type, your eye color, or
whether you prefer blondes or brunettes. Instead, this has everything
to do with your somatotype.
Interestingly, research is now showing that whether you're an ecto,
meso, or endomorph this determines some key hormonal and sympathetic
nervous system characteristics.
And these characteristics can be directly linked to some interesting
metabolic differences between people. Specifically:
Ectomorphs - or, those thin individuals characterized by smaller bone
structures, and typically thinner limbs - think endurance athlete -
tend to be thyroid and SNS dominant with either higher output or
higher sensitivity to catecholamines - like epinephrine and
norepinephrine.
Interestingly, this profile is linked to a fast metabolic rate and a
higher carbohydrate tolerance.
As a result, ectomorphs do best on higher carb diets with moderate
protein intake and lower fat in the diet. A typical ballpark for this
type of athlete would be around 55% carbs in the diet, 25% protein,
and 20% fat
Mesomorphs - or those individuals characterized by a medium sized bone
structure and athletic bodies holding a significant amount of lean
mass - think gymnasts - tend to be testosterone and growth hormone
dominant.
This profile obviously leads to a propensity for muscle gain and the
maintainance of a low body fat.
As a result, mesomorphs typically do best on a mixed diet, consisting
of a good balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Indeed, in
this type of individual, a zone-style diet works quite well. And this
would consist of about 40% carbohydrate in the diet, 30% protein, and
30% fat.
Endomorphs - or those individuals characterized by a larger bone
structure with higher amounts of total body mass and fat mass - think
power lifters - tend to be insulin dominant.
This profile leads to a greater propensity to store energy - both in
lean as well as fat compartments. It also leads to a lower
carbohydrate tolerance.
As a result, endomorphs typically do best on a higher fat and protein
intake with carbohydrates being better controlled. A typical ballpark
for this type of athlete would be around 25% carbs in the diet, 35%
protein, and 40% fat.
In general, nowadays you hear a lot of people talking about how you
have experiment until you "find what works for you". And this is
certainly one way to go about doing things.
However, if you don't want to waste a lot of time using trial and
error, I guarantee that by eating right for your body type you'll fast
track your success.
SOURCE:
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/members/showthread.php?t=11226
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