Conscious Choice: One Diet Does NOT Fit All

October 2004

One Diet Does NOT Fit All

“Biochemical individuality” is the key

by Rebecca Ephraim

Just because your friend is looking and feeling great following a certain diet doesn’t mean that the same thing is going to happen to you. Oh, if it were only that simple. Conventional health practitioners try to use a “one-size-fits-all” approach (such as the Food Pyramid, South Beach Diet, etc.) but that’s partly why we’ve become overweight, fatigued and plagued by degenerative diseases — well, one of the reasons. Nonetheless, knowing what and how to eat is a good start.

What then are some real ground rules to healthy eating and dieting? We talked to three Chicago-area holistic health practitioners, hailing from different disciplines, who gave us their insights. Of course, each one has written scholarly papers, articles and/or books on the subject, so making them sum it up in a few words was like cutting out all the fat, which none of them recommends, by the way!

They do agree on the principle of “biochemical individuality” — that is, each person has different food requirements for optimal health, whether it’s based on their genes, metabolism or blood type and the sooner you get in touch with that, the sooner you’ll find your groove.

Susan Allen Registered Dietician & Certified Clinical Nutritionist is in private practice and chair of Nutrition in Complementary Care, a national organization of nutritionists pursuing alternative therapies.

“Keep in mind there’s no one formula or program that works for everyone. Balancing a meal with protein, carbs and fat is specific to each person, so that’s why I look at a person’s diet history for clues as to what’s worked for them in the past and how they’ve eaten that’s made them feel the best or maintained their proper weight. Having said that, I find that metabolic typing [The Metabolic Typing Diet by William Wolcott] and blood typing [Eat Right for Your Type by Peter J. D’Adamo] add guidance to help with more specific individual recommendations. Overall, you want to eat and feel energized afterward, not sluggish. Small meals throughout the day can help keep energy levels consistent. Also, do not eat until full; eat until you’re no longer hungry and learn to know the difference! For everyone, I recommend taking a high-quality multivitamin/mineral supplement ... one that you would take two or three times a day. We need to spread out the delivery of those nutrients just as we do with our food.”

Timothy Fior, M.D., Homeopathic physician practicing for 16 years in the Chicago area.

“Homeopathy is the science of individualization. We try to find out what is unique about that individual, what is unique about their ... personality, their food cravings, their body temperature ... and that’s how we pick a medicine. Diet is the same way, if homeopathy has taught me anything, it’s that one person’s ambrosia is another person’s poison.

“Listen to your body. Most of the time I get information, not by tests, but by talking to [patients]. They’ll say, ‘I looked at this book and it says I should eat this or that, but I don’t tolerate it.’ Some people try to be vegetarian but they don’t tolerate soy. A lot of people have allergies to milk and wheat but it’s amazing what else people can be sensitive to. They say, ‘Yeah, when I eat this thing, I feel worse.’ Their body is trying to tell them something.

“And it’s not just a matter of what you eat — it’s also quantity. Moderation is the key. You might be eating all organic good foods, but if you’re eating too much, you’re going to have problems.”

Joseph Mercola, D.O., Osteopathic Physician, director of The Optimal Wellness Center in Chicago and author of Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Cookbook & Program.

“Your body was designed for a certain correct type of fuel ... the further you deviate from this ideal, the more health problems are likely.”

For instance, he says, the South Beach Diet is an example of a “one-size-fits-all” diet that completely ignores the fact that we all have different genetic requirements for optimal health. The diet promotes “good” carbohydrates as whole-grain breads and fruit but this advice, he says, can seriously impair the health of millions of people. “It’s best that all grains and sugars be avoided until insulin levels are normalized.

“Some people actually need a high-carb diet, while others may require a low-carb, high-protein diet. Many people come to my office eating very high-quality nutritious foods and are still quite sick. They haven’t touched sugar or junk food in ages and still suffer with many health problems.” Mercola’s approach focuses on metabolic typing, which is discussed in detail in his book.

Rebecca Ephraim is a registered dietitian and certified clinical nutritionist.

October 2004

One Diet Does NOT Fit All

“Biochemical individuality” is the key

by Rebecca Ephraim

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