There are two types of people: Hunters and Farmers. Why are there two types of metabolisms that need two different diets? What accounts for these two types?

First, the idea of being a Hunter or a Farmer shouldn’t be taken literally; I’m not talking about whether you actually hunt things or grow things in a garden. The terms apply to a new paradigm — a new way of thinking about eating and controlling weight. The terms are useful because they also explain in part the eating strategy that’s best for you.

Hunters and Farmers are Very Different

Hunters and Farmers are very different, and in some ways, opposite in their eating behaviors and food choices. Hunters are dependent on hunting animals or finding edible plants, fruits, and nuts. Farmers grow crops that can be stored to create a surplus that provides a dependable and readily available source of calories.

The Hunter’s diet is more sporadic and depends on where and when food resources become available. Hunters are naturally more resistant to the effects of food shortages, as they’re better able to maintain a steady blood sugar level, or to use belly fat for immediate energy. Farmers are more sensitive to food shortages, as they become hypoglycemic — that is, they get low blood sugar — when they’ve gone just a few hours without food.

The most significant difference between Hunters and Farmers is that they have varying sensitivity to the hormone insulin. Hunters are insulin resistant, and Farmers are insulin sensitive.

Insulin Resistance and Insulin Sensitivity

Insulin is an important hormone made by the pancreas. Farmers are especially prone to low blood sugar — they are so sensitive to the effects of insulin that any excess amount is enough to drop blood sugar.

The reverse is true for Hunters, who are resistant to the effects of insulin. It takes more insulin to produce the same glucose-lowering effect. Hunters’ liver cells and muscles don’t respond as readily to insulin (they don’t soak up as much glucose from the blood), so their blood sugar levels stay relatively higher. That’s why Hunters show two common findings on their blood tests: high glucose and high insulin. Worsening insulin resistance can develop into diabetes, especially if a Hunter gains weight, or sometimes just as a result of the aging process.

The sensitivity to insulin is the most important hallmark of Hunters and Farmers, and it can be measured with a fairly common office test called the glucose tolerance test (GTT). It’s often done to check for diabetes and in order to see how someone handles carbohydrates.

Which Type Are You?

This quiz highlights the differences between Hunters and Farmers. Here’s how it works: For each trait, circle the closest response for you from either the Hunter column or the Farmer column. If you don’t know the answer to the question, or it doesn’t apply, you can leave it blank. The more responses you’re able to fill in, the more accurate your result will be. When you’re finished, count the number of boxes you’ve circled in each column. If you’ve circled more responses in the Hunter column, then you are a Hunter. If you’ve circled more responses in the Farmer column, you are a Farmer. Let’s get started!

*Without medications (if you are already on medications for cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, or inflammation, your numbers may not apply). You may use blood-test results from before you started on medications, if those are available.

**Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, causes symptoms of irritability, weakness, queasiness, lightheadedness or dizziness, and perspiration.

Note: Most people will have a majority of factors in one column or the other. It’s possible to have an even split, although not likely, as these traits track together. An even amount of both means a perfect blend of Hunter/Farmer traits, in which case you’ll have to eat meals from both plans. But again, very few people will have an even score, especially if you’re able to respond to all of the questions.

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So now you know whether you are a Hunter, made to eat a Hunter diet, or a Farmer in need of a Farmer diet.

©2012 by Canyon Ranch LLC and Mark Liponis.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher,
Hay House Inc. www.hayhouse.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article was adapted with permission from the book:

The Hunter/Farmer Diet Solution: Achieve Your Health and Weight-Loss Goals
by Mark Liponis.

Research proves what many men and women have learned through trial and error: some do better on a low-carb diet, and others do better on a low-fat diet. This is because some people have the metabolism of a hunter, while others have the metabolism of a farmer. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Mark Liponis, a leading expert in preventive and integrative medicine, will show you how to determine which type you are so that you can lose weight and improve your health at the same time.

Click Here For More Info or to Order This Book.

About the Author

Mark Liponis, M.D., is the Corporate Medical Director at Canyon Ranch Health Resorts and has been a practicing physician for more than 20 years, including extensive experience in emergency departments and critical care units. The co-author of the New York Times bestseller UltraPrevention and the author of UltraLongevity, Dr. Liponis is internationally recognized as a leading expert in preventive and integrative medicine.

Read another excerpt: Advice on Alcohol, Salt, and Gluten for Hunter or Farmer Food Types

Watch a video with Dr. Liponis (excerpt from a PBS special): The Hunter/Farmer Healthy Weight Solution