Eat What’s Right For You

Close to twenty years ago when I worked for a gym corporation that bought the right to sell Dr. Barry Sears’ “The Zone Diet”.  One of the interesting comments that Dr. Sears mentioned was the ¾ of the population are affected by sugar.  “Dr. Sears: I think about three quarters of the population have a genetically increased potential of having carbohydrates stimulate greater insulin production. So there is a genetic component, there is no question about that. You cannot change your genes. What you can modify is the expression of those genes. So if you were born with bad genes like I was, all you can do is pay more attention to your diet and try to overcome that bad genetic propensity. (http://www.shareguide.com/Sears.html).  That was the first hint for me that not everybody can eat the same diet and get the same benefits. 

Perhaps five years ago a friend of mine, Dr. Arla Kasaj did an amazing workshop on Food Allergies and Sensitivities.  I won’t touch food allergies because they can be lethal but food sensitivities: lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, etc. can debilitate the body (bloated stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.).  (https://oand.org/nd/arlakasaj/).

I have taken several nutrition courses including sports specific nutrition courses over the years through Desert Southwestern  (https://www.fitnessprofessionalonline.com/education/educational-organizations/desert-southwest-fitness-dswf/) and American Council on Exercise (https://www.acefitness.org/) that touch on food sensitivities and how nutrition plans can be adapted depending on an athlete’s preferences (omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, etc.).  The question becomes why do certain foods make one person healthy and another ill? 

Just lately I have re-found or someone silently returned Dr. Peter J. D’adamo’s Eat Right 4 Your Type.  Dr. D’adamo discusses how people with different blood types need to eat certain foods.  As a trainer, frustrated with thinking everyone can eat the same “healthy” foods and finding that isn’t true this book made sense.   (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0JAUYv8L1Y).

 But the only way to really know is research (become more knowledgeable); perhaps work with a naturopath, nutritionist, dietician, etc.; and experiment (carefully) by adding and removing certain foods.