The basic Hauser Diet testing involves testing your blood pH, fasting blood sugar, and subsequent blood sugar levels after drinking 50 grams of glucose. Often we also test serum insulin levels and food allergy panels for a more complete dietary picture. Once your Diet Type testing is completed, your Diet Type will be determined. Let’s just review a little here:
Hauser Lions/Otters: Lions and Otters tend to be cold, love the hot weather, and may exhibit tendencies toward hypoglycemia. The food that these Diet Types function best with are protein and fat, with minimal carbohydrates.
Hauser Monkeys/Giraffes: These people tend to be warm, love the cooler weather, and usually exhibit no problems with hypoglycemia. The foods that these Diet Types function best with are complex carbs, with lower amounts of protein and fats.
Hauser Bears: These people tend to like both warm and cool weather and feel best eating a balance of carbs, protein, and fat.
As the seasons change, so do our Diet Types
We believe as the pH of your blood changes (goes up or down), so does your need for various foods. This happens because your body is always trying to regulate your blood pH so that it stays in the normal range (balanced).
When the weather changes, so does your blood pH. As the weather gets warmer, the blood pH rises (alkalinizes); conversely, as the weather gets cooler, the blood pH falls (acidifies). Those who typically feel warm most of the time, have a tendency toward alkaline blood (above normal pH). Alternately, those who typically feel cool most of the time, have a tendency toward acidic blood (below normal pH.)
As we approach warmer weather, those with alkaline blood may be thinking that they are not feeling as good as they used to feel when it was cooler.
I know I am a perfect example of this phenomenon. Let me give you a recent scenario that illustrates this point. This spring has been anything but warm here in the Chicago area. But it has been dry. Thus, my friends and I started riding our bicycles outside again at 5:30AM before work (yes, in the dark). We bundle up with layers, hats, shoe covers, and thermal gloves and ride for 20-25 miles. Some of my friends can hardly stand doing this. I am typically always comfortable and actually work up a sweat on these rides, even though the air temperature is 38-40 degrees. Others come dressed for a trip to Antarctica and can barely hang on for the ride without freezing. The temperatures have warmed slightly (50’s) so I have moved into wearing shorts and one long sleeved cycling jersey. Others are still bundled with the many layers. A few weeks ago we took a trip up to Wisconsin to ride the hills which has always been my nemesis. Because the weather was so much cooler than the late summer rides we have done there in the past, I felt great. I was able to finish all of the climbs and complete 105 miles for the weekend. The next weekend, we were attending a graduation in Clearwater, FL. I decided to do my five mile run at 10AM in the morning – and it was already 90 degrees, very sunny, and almost 100% humidity. I have been training all winter, just ran a half marathon, so five miles should be no problem for me. WRONG! Going from 40-50 degree weather right into 90 degrees with 100% humidity almost killed me. After two miles I was dying – red faced, “out-of-body” feeling, and huffing and puffing. I said to my husband, “Do not let me sign up for any races in Florida EVER! I hate the heat!”
So what was happening here? As you can see, I love the cooler weather and feel great in it. My Diet Type is a Hauser Monkey. What’s interesting is that when the weather is cold, I can eat more like a Bear (balanced) and feel great. But as the weather becomes warmer, I need to move back to the Monkey Diet or even the Giraffe Diet as the temperatures really climb. Why? Because the hotter it is outside, the more you will see your pH rise (alkalinize). Thus, you don’t feel very good – as in the case described above. Part of the problem was that I was not at all acclimated to the heat, so that was a pretty dumb move. By the way, I managed to gut out four miles, but finished the last mile on the treadmill at the hotel!
Foods such as complex carbs, vegetables, and fruits are acidifying foods
Therefore, they will lower the blood pH (acidify). Protein and fat are alkalinizing foods, so someone who is heat intolerant typically needs less of these types of foods (on average). So henceforth until October, I will be nearly vegan with my diet, with some lower fat protein foods such as lean meat, fish, and tofu.
Conversely, someone who is a Lion/Otter Diet Type is going to start feeling great in the warmer months. (the reverse of the Monkey/Giraffes who feel best in the cooler months). So the person who has to strictly follow the Lion Diet through the colder months, may be able to liberalize their diet to that of an Otter when the outside temperatures rise – meaning, they can eat a few carbs and still feel good.
Here is an example of this from a patient who recently emailed us
One of our Hauser Lions, Ron, a triathlete, recently emailed us saying, “I have been strictly following the Lion Diet. I eat primarily protein and fat – like eggs, bacon, chicken, fish, pork chops, along with some salad and vegetables. I have been feeling great on this diet since I started it last fall. In March I started training more and am doing a lot of running and cycling, but recently I found myself feeling sluggish with low energy, especially for my workouts. What am I doing wrong?” Ron lives here in the Midwest and at the time of the email, the temperatures were rising to the 60s and 70s. He came in to have his blood pH checked and it was actually alkaline! When he did his initial Hauser Diet Typing, his blood pH was acidic (low). Following the Hauser Lion Diet had normalized his blood pH. With the rise in outside temperature and the increase in physical activity (which also heats up the body) Ron actually got his body too alkaline. So we recommended that he add a few more complex carbs to his diet, such as whole grain rice, oatmeal, and one serving of fruit per day – in other words, follow the Otter Diet. It has been a few weeks now, and Ron reports that he feels more like himself, has good energy, and is not feeling “hot” (in a good way!)
So take this as a reminder to listen to your body. Sometimes you need to change things up a little. Since the weather is getting nicer, it is time for all of you who have been hibernating to get out there on the road – whether biking, running, hiking, or walking – get out there! The benefits of regular exercise are too many to mention!
