Bio-Individuality. Bio….What??
Bio…What??? I know, the word sounds very scientific, very complex yet interesting. Sounds like something related to a science curriculum and not a healthy lifestyle theory. Bio- Individuality is a concept that I was introduced to while attending the #1 nutrition school in the world, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. This is what Joshua Rosenthal, founder of IIN, said about bio-individuality: “There’s no one-size-fits-all diet – each person is a unique individual with highly individualized nutritional requirements. Personal differences in anatomy, metabolism, body composition, and cell structure all influence your overall health and the foods that make you feel your best.” That’s why no single way of eating works for everyone. The food that is perfect for your unique body, age, and lifestyle may make another person gain weight and feel lethargic. Men eat differently than women, children eat differently than adults, and we all have very different preferences. Our personal tastes and inclinations, natural shapes and sizes, blood types, metabolic rates, and genetic backgrounds influence what foods will and won’t nourish us.
When I initially heard about this concept, it was like music to my ears! I had an immediate “ah-ha” moment. It makes perfect sense. It instantly liberated my thinking about my eating and my body. For me, the theory of bio-individuality supported my confidence, my self-esteem, and my understanding that there was definitely something unique about me. And it is. It confirmed to me that finding what works for my body and what doesn’t, is crucial to successful weight management and healthy lifestyle practices. Embracing the concept of bio-individuality has propelled me on the journey of reconnecting with my body and its language. Our bodies speak to us in so many different ways but unless we are tuned in and connected, we miss the messages or brush them off as being just another issue to deal with. For example, if you like eating spaghetti with tomato sauce, but afterward, you always suffer from indigestion or acid reflux, you may be accustomed to brushing it off by saying, “oh that happens every time I eat spaghetti, but I love it!” There could be so many triggers for those reactions. Is the pasta gluten-free? If not, are you gluten intolerant? If the sauce used isn’t homemade, what spices could be in it that you are sensitive to and why? Learning about “your” body requires a proactive approach, that involves digging a little deeper to understand “your” tolerances and intolerances and then the “why” of it all.
When I view “fad diets” through the lenses of bio-individuality, I understand clearly why the results are temporary or they don’t work at all. Fad diets are equal opportunists! They don’t care who you are, what your skin color is, what your body type is, what your blood type is or what your genetic makeup consists of. And this, my friend, is why they “don’t work”! I believe fad diets are designed with one objective in mind and that is to convince people that they are the “cure-all” to healthy eating and weight management. Don’t get me wrong, many people have had great success with losing weight through a structured program such as Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, and many have not. Unfortunately, those who don’t experience the weight loss success are left feeling confused and even more disgusted because they don’t understand why it’s not working for them although it worked for their best friend. Fad diets give the illusion that if I lost 20lbs on this method, then so will you! And that’s so wrong!!!
There are other modalities that focus on the concept of bio-individuality, including Ayurveda, blood, and metabolism typing. Ayurveda is the ancient system of traditional medicine developed in India, which emphasizes a balance of three elemental energies (called “doshas”). Ayurveda holds that each person possesses a unique combination of doshas, and that, accordingly, has unique dietary and other needs that must be met in order to attain the proper balance for health and longevity.
Blood typing is a leading theory for individualizing the ways of eating based on scientific principles. The best-known blood typing system is the “ABO System,” under which every human on Earth is classified into one of four primary blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Metabolic typing is another theory for explaining why individual dietary needs vary. Each of us differs in the rate at which we convert food to energy.
So, how do you find your answers? Listen to your body. It knows what foods you need; when it needs them and what is best for you. Even though each person is a distinct individual, we all share the same instincts. Don’t ignore the personal messages that your body is sending you daily! And remember, you don’t have to figure it all out alone. I am here to guide and support you! Reach out.