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The Metabolic Ratio

  • Ca/P
  • The ideal Calcium to Phosphorus ratio is 2.6:1.
  • Above 2.6 represents a slow metabolizer experiencing stages of stress burnout and a slowing of the adrenals and thyroid. The slow metabolizer is fatigued due to impaired conversion of nutrients into energy.  
  • Below 2.6 represents a fast metabolizer experiencing intense stress and a tendency for magnesium & calcium loss. The fast metabolizer is burning their fuel too quickly and running themselves out of energy.  
  • Too high a calcium level slows metabolism. Looking at this ratio you'll see your metabolism speed, which will help determine which diet is most optimal for you. 

The Stress Ratio

  • Na/K
  • The ideal Sodium to Potassium ratio is 2.4:1.
  • The higher this number, the more intense the person's stress condition, and with it, a tendency for negative psychological and 'short fuse' reactions (fight or flight: anger and rage or panic and anxiety, respectively). 
  • A high ratio of sodium to potassium is also associated with asthma, allergies, lethargy, kidney and liver problems. The higher the number, the faster the magnesium burn rate.  
  • As copper levels rise, this ratio increases because of copper's antagonistic relationship to potassium. Vitamin D also lowers the potassium level, further increasing this ratio.  A person with a high Na/K ratio should NOT be taking Vitamin D!
  • A low ratio, on the other hand, can be a reflection of adrenal burnout and exhaustion, and at very low levels can lead to heart attack and cancer.  Like a high Na/K ratio, it can also lead to liver and kidney disorders.  
  • The balancing of this ratio is essential for everyone, but especially for those dealing with copper toxicity.  Individuals who have high levels of copper and/or copper that becomes mobilized through detox, are greatly affected by the negative psychological aspects of a high Na/K ratio.  They are responding at a sub-cortical intellectual level.  In other words, they are operating on reflex.  
  • A low ratio can reveal suppression of emotion.  
  • An unbalanced Na/K ratio affects both the physical and psychological, and until this ratio is balanced it can be almost impossible to 'get through' to a person. 
  • This key ratio therefore shows the intensity of stress, the corresponding psychological reactions that a person may experience, as well as the propensity for magnesium loss.

The Thyroid Ratio

  • Ca/K
  • The ideal Calcium to Potassium ratio is 4.2:1.
  • Both calcium and potassium play an important role in thyroid activity; Calcium slows the thyroid and potassium speeds it up.  A high ratio of calcium indicates a underactive thyroid (and symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, cold hands and feet, depression, lack of sweating, and tendency towards constipation).  A low Ca/K ratio indicates an overactive thyroid (and symptoms such as excessive sweating, irritability, nervousness, and loose or frequent bowel movements during stress).  Diet & exercise will help with weight loss, but will be an ongoing uphill battle against a slow thyroid if the Ca/K ratio isn't balanced).  Even when a blood thyroid test comes back healthy, the HTMA may show otherwise, as the HTMA better shows how much thyroid hormone is being absorbed. Thyroid issues can be seen through HTMA long before they show up in blood.  

The Adrenal Ratio

  •   Na/Mg
  • The ideal Sodium to Magnesium ratio is 4:1. Sodium levels are directly associated with adrenal function. A higher ratio represents hyper-adrenal activity (with symptoms including inflammation, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, diabetes, hypertension, Type A personality), while a low ratio represents adrenal insufficiency (leading to fatigue, depression, hypoglycaemia, poor digestion, changes in weight, and allergies).   HTMA provides excellent indicators that show if a person is hyper-adrenal or hypo-adrenal, and how exhausted / burned out they may be. The more burned out the individual, the more cautiously detox needs to be approached (especially with copper), as the liver is likely not yet producing enough ceruloplasmin to bind to the copper, nor is adequate bile being produced to excrete the copper that is being mobilized through detox.  

The Hormone & Energy Ratio

  •   Zn/Cu
  • The ideal Zinc to Copper ratio is 8:1. A higher level of zinc generally reflects progesterone dominance and copper deficiency (with symptoms that may include anemia, arthritis, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, amenorrhea, and more).  A higher level of copper on the other hand indicates copper toxicity and estrogen dominance with symptoms which may include skin problems (such acne, psoriasis, eczema), emotional instability, "spaciness", detached behaviour, schizophrenia, PMS, reproductive problems, prostatitis, menstrual difficulties including amenorrhea, diminished feelings, depression and fatigue. (Note that often copper toxicity may be present even with a high Zn/Cu ratio and other factors need to be looked at to determine latent toxicity).

The Blood Sugar Ratio

  •   Ca/Mg
  • The ideal Calcium to Magnesium ratio is 7:1.  Hypoglycemia occurs as the ratio moves in either direction away from the ideal and, at both very high and very low calcium levels, mental and emotional disturbances may result. A high ratio of Ca/Mg also leads to increased insulin secretion, increased risk of muscle spasms, increased risk of blood clotting, and heightened anxiety. A very high calcium ratio, as can result from copper toxicity, can lead to the numbing of feelings and a detachment from reality, known as the 'calcium shell'.