Premise
The following indications are for information purposes EXCLUSIVELY and are not intended to replace the opinion of professional figures such as doctor, nutritionist or dietician, whose intervention is necessary for the prescription and composition of CUSTOMIZED food therapies.
Metabolic Diet
The metabolic diet is a slimming system devised by Dr. Mauro di Pasquale, an Italian-Canadian doctor.
Without going into criticism or reflections on the matter, let us remember only that there are experimental bases in favor of this physiological principle but, as often happens, they are incomplete or only partially acceptable.
Metabolic diet system
The Metabolic diet is a system that differs in 2 specific phases:
- Evaluation phase: maximum 14 days; goal: to establish the right amount of carbohydrates for the subject
- Metabolic Diet Phase: it is open-ended; objective: metabolic transformation.
Test phase: the evaluation phase, if successful, lasts only 14 days. It develops with 12 days of sugar discharge and 12-48 hours of charging; in respect of subjectivity, this phase aims at identifying the right amount of carbohydrates in the diet, or the minimum tolerable weight. The Metabolic system suggests starting with the minimum quota, or 30g, which if sufficient can also be maintained in the Diet phase; in the case of symptoms attributable to glucose depletion (mood disorders, nervous disorders, loss of muscle efficiency, etc.), it may be appropriate to gradually increase it (eg 10g at a time) until reaching psycho-physical well-being. ATTENTION ! di Pasquale points out that some physical complications could be attributable to saline deficiency rather than to that of carbohydrates, therefore it is suggested to comply with the requirements by means of specific food supplements.
At the end of the 12 days of discharge, a maximum of 2 days of sugar refill follows, in which the diet is replenished by the carbohydrate content; the recharge period ranges from 12 to 48 hours, respecting the subjective tendency to abuse food and the predisposition to insulin changes.
NB . The test phase must be repeated until the correct subjective carbohydrate fraction is identified.
Metabolic Diet Phase: this is the period in which the fruits of a good test phase will be gathered; it is indefinite and it also differs in 2 blocks: 5 days of discharge (with a carbohydrate share equal to that previously identified) and 2 days of recharge, in the nutritional percentages suggested by Pasquale, to be cycled repeatedly and without interruptions.
The nutritional distribution proposed by the Metabolic Diet is different on discharge and refill days, respectively:
| Nutrition breakdown in UNLOADING | |
| Lipids | 50-60% |
| Protein | 30-50% |
| carbohydrates | About 30g |
| Nutrition breakdown in RECHARGE | |
| carbohydrates | 35-55% |
| Lipids | 25-40% |
| Protein | 15-30% |
Metabolic Diet Disputes
The Metabolic Diet is disputable from many points of view; however, it is not the objective of the article to criticize or bring to the attention of the reader ALL the weaknesses of the strategy, in any case, for ethical correctness I consider essential to remember the most important ones:
- The Metabolic Diet requires a general analytical haematochemical-hormonal control before undertaking it; this is clearly a decline in responsibility in the event of illness or illness, as well as a tacit consent to the fact that the Metabolic Diet is potentially stressful for the body
- The Metabolic Diet is hyperproteic, hypoglucidic, hyperlipidic and ketogenic ... with all the related complications!
- The Metabolic Diet DOES NOT provide for the calculation of caloric needs and relies on the subject's sense of hunger; in my opinion, if the people in question had the right perception of appetite, they would not be overweight
- The Metabolic Diet is low in fiber, mineral salts, vitamins and antioxidants deriving from fruit, vegetables, cereals and legumes; for this reason, it requires the support of a constant and well-considered dietary supplement.
Useful supplements in the Metabolic Diet
As anticipated, the Metabolic Diet is low in fiber, mineral salts (especially potassium and magnesium), some vitamins (especially ascorbic acid and β-carotene) and antioxidants (especially phenolic compounds), without considering other useful molecules such as phytosterols and prebiotics. To comply with subjective needs, it is therefore advisable to consult a doctor in order to establish the right doses of:
- Multivitamin and salt supplement with antioxidants, better if dissociated into 2 or 3 different products
- Dietary fiber supplement, such as: bran, guar gum, karaya, psyllium, agar agar, glucomannan, pectin etc.
Metabolic Diet: an example
NB . Dr. Di Pasquale suggests not to use the calorie count to establish the MA food portions to rely on the sense of appetite; on the other hand, to facilitate the presentation of a specific case, I am in a position to use a traditional energy estimate. In this way I can avoid "distorting" the Metabolic Diet and it will therefore be my concern NOT to provide an IPO-caloric count, but rather a simple NORMO-caloric! (because to facilitate weight loss "the metabolic conversion should be" and not the overall energy reduction). Moreover, given the great subjectivity of tolerance to the hypoglucid regimen, I am obliged to pretend to have already identified a precise carbohydrate weight in the evaluation phase; therefore, in the following example a case of Metabolic Diet will be reported for a subject that boasts full tolerance to the MINIMUM regime of carbohydrates in the diet suggested by di Pasquale (although, in practice, it is quite rare!).
- Fertile woman who works in catering and performs infrequent Body-Building workouts (BIIO type).
| Sex | F | |||
| Age | 48 | |||
| Stature cm | 172 | |||
| Wrist circumference cm | 14.9 | |||
| Constitution | thin | |||
| Stature / wrist | 11.5 | |||
| Morphological type | normolineo | |||
| Weight kg | 66 | |||
| Body mass index | 22.3 | |||
| Desirable physiological body mass index | 19.3 | |||
| Desirable physiological weight kg | 57.1 | |||
| Basal kcal metabolism | 1326 | |||
| Coefficient of physical activity level | 1.42 | |||
| Kcal energy expenditure | 1883 | |||
| Diet | Distribution of days of EXHAUST | |||
| Lipids | About 54% | 1016, 8kcal | 113g | |
| Protein | About 40% | 753, 2kcal | 188, 3g | |
| Carbohydrates | 6% | 112, 5kcal | 30g | |
| Diet | Breakdown of RECHARGE days | |||
| Lipids | About 32% | 602, 6kcal | 67g | |
| Protein | About 23% | 433, 1kcal | 108, 3g | |
| Carbohydrates | 45% | 847, 4kcal | 226g | |
| Breakfast | 15% | 282kcal | ||
| Snack | 5% | 94kcal | ||
| Lunch | 40% | 753kcal | ||
| Snack | 5% | 94kcal | ||
| Dinner | 35% | 660kcal | ||
METABOLIC DIET PHASE example: 5 days UNLOADING and 2 days RECHARGING; to face a VALUATION phase it is sufficient to reproduce the discharge for 12 days instead of 5 days (as shown below), at the end of which there will also be 2 days of charging.
Metabolic Diet Example - Day 1 - UNLOADING
| Breakfast 15% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole cow's milk, 3.5% lipid | 150ml, 90.0kcal | |
| Egg (scrambled or omelette) | 50g, 71.5kcal | |
| Extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Pistachios | 5g, 28.6kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Dried walnuts | 15g, 91.8kcal | |
| Lunch 40% kcal TOT | ||
| Chop, lean and fat (edible part) | 350g, 595, 0kcal | |
| Zucchini | 100g, 16.0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| almonds | 15g, 86.3kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole yoghurt, with 3.5% lipids | 150g, 91.5kcal | |
| Dinner 35% kcal TOT | ||
| Sea bass, various species (edible part) | 450g, 436.5kcal | |
| Fennel | 100g, 31.0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Hazelnuts | 15g, 94.2kcal | |
Example Metabolic Diet - Day 2 - UNLOADING
| Breakfast 15% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole cow's milk, 3.5% lipid | 150ml, 90.0kcal | |
| Egg (scrambled or omelette) | 50g, 71.5kcal | |
| Extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Hazelnuts | 5g, 31.4kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Pistachios | 15g, 85.7kcal | |
| Lunch 40% kcal TOT | ||
| Beef fillet | 400g, 592.0kcal | |
| Eggplant | 100g, 23.0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Dried walnuts | 15g, 91.8kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole yoghurt, with 3.5% lipids | 150g, 91.5kcal | |
| Dinner 35% kcal TOT | ||
| Sea bream | 450g, 450, 0kcal | |
| spinach | 100g, 24.0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| almonds | 15g, 86.3kcal | |
Example of a Metabolic Diet - Day 3 - UNLOADING
| Breakfast 15% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole cow's milk, 3.5% lipid | 150ml, 90.0kcal | |
| Egg (scrambled or omelette) | 50g, 71.5kcal | |
| Extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| almonds | 5g, 28.8kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Hazelnuts | 15g, 94.2kcal | |
| Lunch 40% kcal TOT | ||
| Cow's milk ricotta, whole milk | 300g, 522.0kcal | |
| carrots | 100g, 41.0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Pistachios | 15g, 85.7kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole yoghurt, with 3.5% lipids | 150g, 91.5kcal | |
| Dinner 35% kcal TOT | ||
| Sea bass, various species (edible part) | 230g, 471, 5kcal | |
| Biete | 100g, 19.0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Dried walnuts | 15g, 91.8kcal | |
Metabolic Diet Example - Day 4 - UNLOADING
| Breakfast 15% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole cow's milk, 3.5% lipid | 150ml, 90.0kcal | |
| Egg (scrambled or omelette) | 50g, 71.5kcal | |
| Extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Dried walnuts | 5g, 30.6kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| almonds | 15g, 28.8kcal | |
| Lunch 40% kcal TOT | ||
| Capon or castrated chicken, meat and skin | 250g, 585, 0kcal | |
| Artichokes | 100g, 47, 0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Hazelnuts | 15g, 94.2kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole yoghurt, with 3.5% lipids | 150g, 91.5kcal | |
| Dinner 35% kcal TOT | ||
| Yellow fin tuna fillet | 400g, 432, 0kcal | |
| Belgian endive or salad | 100g, 17kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Pistachios | 15g, 85.7kcal | |
Example Metabolic Diet - Day 5
| Breakfast 15% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole cow's milk, 3.5% lipid | 150ml, 90.0kcal | |
| Egg (scrambled or omelette) | 50g, 71.5kcal | |
| Extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Pistachios | 5g, 28.6kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Dried walnuts | 15g, 91.8kcal | |
| Lunch 40% kcal TOT | ||
| Cod | 550g, 451.0kcal | |
| broccoli | 100g, 31.0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 20g, 180.0kcal | |
| almonds | 15g, 86.3kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Whole yoghurt, with 3.5% lipids | 150g, 91.5kcal | |
| Dinner 35% kcal TOT | ||
| Pecorino cheese | 120g, 464.4kcal | |
| Orange tomatoes | 100g, 16.0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 10g, 90.0kcal | |
| Hazelnuts | 15g, 94.2kcal | |
Metabolic Diet Example - Day 6 - RECHARGING
| Breakfast 15% kcal TOT | ||
| Skimmed cow's milk, 2.0% lipids | 250ml, 125.0kcal | |
| Rusks | 30g, 127.8kcal | |
| Jam with little sugar | 25g, 44.8kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Apple, with peel | 200g, 104.0kcal | |
| Lunch 40% kcal TOT | ||
| Semolina pasta | 100g, 324.0kcal | |
| Tomato sauce | 100g, 42.0kcal | |
| Parmigiano | 10g, 39.2kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 30g, 270.0kcal | |
| Zucchini | 200g, 32.0kcal | |
| Whole grain bread | 25g, 60.8kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Skim yogurt | 150g, 84.0kcal | |
| Dinner 35% kcal TOT | ||
| Sea bass, various species (edible part) | 300g, 294.0kcal | |
| Eggplant | 200g, 48.0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 30g, 270.0kcal | |
| Whole grain bread | 25g, 60.8kcal | |
Metabolic Diet Example - Day 7 - RECHARGING
| Breakfast 15% kcal TOT | ||
| Skimmed cow's milk, 2.0% lipids | 250ml, 125.0kcal | |
| Rusks | 30g, 127.8kcal | |
| Jam with little sugar | 25g, 44.8kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Orange | 200g, 126, 0kcal | |
| Lunch 40% kcal TOT | ||
| Brown rice | 80g, 289.6kcal | |
| Fresh champignons mushrooms | 100g, 22.0kcal | |
| Parmigiano | 10g, 39.2kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 30g, 270.0kcal | |
| spinach | 200g, 46.0kcal | |
| Whole grain bread | 25g, 60.8kcal | |
| Snack 05% kcal TOT | ||
| Skim yogurt | 150g, 84.0kcal | |
| Dinner 35% kcal TOT | ||
| Sea bream | 300g, 270.0kcal | |
| Fennel | 200g, 66, 0kcal | |
| Total extra virgin olive oil | 30g, 270.0kcal | |
| Whole grain bread | 25g, 60.8kcal | |
