BioSignature for Fat Loss

Biotip is becoming increasingly popular among healthcare professionals, personal trainers and nutritionists. It is a concept where individual nutrition recommendations for your metabolism and biochemical personality help you lose weight or improve your health. One particularly popular biotyping concept is BioSignature Modulation developed by Charles Poliquin. It is a very fast and non-invasive way to establish body composition (percentage of body fat compared to muscle mass), regional fat distribution and hormone profile.

Poliquin believes we accumulate fat in certain areas because certain hormones are too high, too low or unbalanced and based on our own 30 years of data. There is research to suggest that higher levels of body fat disrupt hormones causing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer and there is also evidence to support some of the statements of Poliquin hormones that cause regional fat distribution.

The BioSignature system works around 6 different hormones that cause regional fat distribution:

• The androgen - a bingo wing and a male breast


• Insulin - muffin top


• Oestrogens - sorry


• Cortisol - pooch's stomach


• Growth hormones - knees and calves are dirty


• Thyroid hormone - fat on the ribs

Androgen type

Among obese men a decrease in testosterone was observed, whereas in obese women there was a higher level of testosterone as seen in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). However the BioSignature system shows excess fat on the triceps (back of the upper arm) showing low levels of androgen (male sex hormone) including testosterone.

Studies from California on healthy young men have found that lowering their circulating testosterone leads to increased fat storage in the appendix and stomach, while increasing testosterone levels above normal levels results in fat loss in this area. Similarly, in adolescents with lower DHEA - an advance to androgen - there is a significantly lower level of middle-arm muscle mass than in men with normal DHEA levels. Research from the Netherlands reports that testosterone levels are independently associated with shoulder blades for the ratio of triceps skin to women.

The excess fat in the chest indicates the conversion of male sex hormones to female sex hormones. Research from Canada shows that this hormone conversion is between 6 and 30 times greater in the trunk than in the abdomen. The Department of Pediatric Endocrinology at Süleyman Demirel University in Turkey proposes circulating leptin - a hormone released from fat cells - stimulates the conversion of male sex hormones to female sex hormones causing breast tissue to grow in boys. The more body fat you have, the more leptin you release that changes your hormones and tells your body to grow in the human breast.

If you have regional fat distribution in your arms and chest you increase testosterone naturally by consuming more protein, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B and eating foods containing flavonoids that naturally reduce the conversion of male hormones to female hormones. These nutrients include quercetin, naringenin, chrysin, daidzein and genistein found in hemp seeds, apples, berries, onions and green tea. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine is also found to be helpful.

Type of insulin

Regional distribution of fat on the shoulder blades and upper hips - the muffin top - reflects insulin resistance. Research from the Wisconsin College of Medicine suggests that shoulder-to-shoulder skin can help identify pre-menopausal women at risk for type 2 diabetes. In addition, studies from Spain report that both obese and adolescent men with obesity have increased insulin levels and glucose correlates with the thickness of upper and lower skin folds. Research from the Department of Human Biology at Maastricht University reports that the thickness of the shoulder blade remains closely related to the ongoing glucose tolerance.

Take more fish oils and eat higher protein, lower carbohydrate diets as well as eat regular foods with fiber to stabilize blood sugar. The prestigious journal of the American Medical Association reports that low GL diets help reduce insulin, triglycerides and help lose weight in overweight and obese people.

Various herbs such as fenugreek, bitter pumpkin and silvestra gymnastics lower blood sugar, inhibit glucose uptake in the small intestine and have adaptogenic properties on insulin production. Cinnamon spices have been shown to improve insulin function and have lower blood sugar properties according to scientific research from the Thames Valley. Cambridge University has shown that a diet rich in vitamin C reduces the risk of diabetes by 62% and that chromium deficiency is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Chromium supplements increase insulin sensitivity, reduce blood pressure and reduce free radical damage to DNA.

Thyroid type

Fat stored in the rib cage in the middle between the armpits and the upper hips reflects the level of thyroid hormones with low body fat scores here showing a healthy thyroid. There is research to suggest that as a hip rotation (generally measured in the narrowest part of the ribs and hips), BMI increases T3 levels and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) increases while T4 levels decrease with changes in thyroid function. However, more studies are currently needed to support the claims of storm cage sites that reflect thyroid function.

Nutritional recommendations for this site include eating fish, onions, asparagus for iodine and chicken, fish, almonds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds for tyrosine as these nutrients make the thyroid hormone. Foods containing selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin B6 help convert the inactive form of thyroid hormone (T4) into active form (T3).

Types of cortisol

Fat in the stomach reflects excessive exposure to stress hormone cortisol. Research from the University of California shows that women who have higher waist circumference to hip ratio and central obesity report more chronic stress and recommend more cortisol during stress testing than women with low waist to hip. Similarly, research from Spain has shown that disrupting the level of cortisol leads to fat distribution in the abdomen.

Releasing and reducing your exposure to stress so reducing cortisol is called for reducing abdominal fat accumulation. Poliquin suggests one of the most common pressures on our system is the use of food that we are intolerant of. These include wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, nuts, yeast and corn. Simply reducing exposure to these foods can reduce stress on the gastrointestinal system and the immune system which reduces stress hormone output. Another important reduction in blood pressure is to control blood sugar by eating a regular diet that has a balanced ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates to support good insulin function.

There are various herbs known to help reduce stress, one of which is better known as rhodiola. Vitamins C, B5 and magnesium are also traditionally used to relieve stress as they are used by the adrenal glands to make stress hormones. Supplements with these nutrients may be beneficial.

Types of estrogen

Fat on the lower back and thighs reflects higher exposure to estrogen (both self-made and environmental) and lower estrogen metabolism. Research from Denmark shows that both men and women have estrogen receptors on fat cells; men have more receptors on the fat under the skin whereas women have the same estrogen receptor on the fat around the organs as well as on the fat beneath the skin, women have also been shown to have higher fat cells in the trunk and thighs and have higher enzyme activity which causes the absorption of fat from the circulation in this area.

Research studies have also shown that leg fat as in the trunk and thighs increases in response to estrogen-like hormone treatment, while research on drugs that suppress the production of estrogen in the body shows that there is a significant increase in stems but not leg fat. The estrogen administered by the droplets also shows that the breakdown of fat decreases the fat beneath the skin, especially in the thighs. These studies support the role that estrogen plays in fat accumulation in the bum and thighs.

Supporting metabolism and eliminating estrogen helps people lose fat on the bum and thighs. Consuming foods such as broccoli, cabbage and other cross-fruits containing sulphurophane and indoles have been shown to regulate the enzymes in the liver that metabolize estrogen to 2 safe hydroxyoestrogen. Other beneficial nutrients for estrogen metabolism are phytoestrogens such as some soy products and flax seeds, omega 3 fatty DIM supplements. Oestrogens are also metabolized by the methylation process in the liver so that foods rich in methyl donors such as B12, B6 and folic acid are also useful.

Growth hormone type

Excess fat on the knees and calves reflects low growth hormones. Research has found that adult growth hormone adults have normal body fat after growth hormone replacement therapy, but these sites have not been sufficiently researched to provide a definitive answer and we rely on Poliquin's own data for this association. Growth hormones can be stimulated by the use of both glutamine and arginine supplements.

BioSignature for Fat Loss


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