The Science of Bio-Individuality
I wanted to end the fitness series with a little note on what bio-individuality is because this is so important to take into consideration when making lifestyle changes, or even little shifts. We have to realise that our bodies are different and they will show results and be affected thus. This is a strength in many ways, and really being able to listen to your body is almost a superpower, when we live in a world which is constantly tempting us outside of ourselves and focuses on our ego.
This concept will help you relate to the way you train and incorporate exercise into your life, as much as it will help you to see what you’re nourishing your body with in a new light.
Bio-individuality is a term coined by Joshua Rosenthal, the founder of IIN (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) - the school I am following to become a certified health coach. But what does this term mean, in relation to lifestyle and nutrition?
Bio-individuality is the recognition that no one diet will work for everyone - one person’s food is another person’s poison.
So how does one go about nutrition and lifestyle then? Just as we all have a different taste for anything from music to fashion to cuisine so too it is with lifestyle and nutrition choices. We have to be able to know ourselves enough to know what is good for us, what works and what doesn’t.
Scientifically Proven
One person’s food is another person’s poison
Research at the Personalized Nutrition Project set out to explore the connection between diet and blood sugar and how it is associated with diabetes, cancer, obesity, inflammation and much more.
The studies confirmed one thing - we are all different and so we all react differently to what we consume.
There’s no one-size-fits-all
The research continued once the participants found out exactly what worked for them. As a result they were supplied with two different diets going along with their specifications - one that focused on calorie counting and another which focused on controlling blood sugar levels.
The results indicate that the diet focused on calorie-restriction didn’t guarantee better health. Yet, the diet focusing to improve blood sugar levels led to healthier glucose levels.
Individual dietary needs are linked to gut health
Our microbiome is one of the most important parts of our bodies and with all the pollution around us it’s become even more essential to care for it - it’s our unique collection of good and bad bacteria, affected by whatever we have consumed since we were born.
Having a healthy and diverse microbiome implies having a variation of bacteria which is key to maintaining health and weight management. Our microbiome is also a major factor in the way in which we react and respond to food.
Summary
We’re all different, which means it’s so important to listen to your body and notice how it reacts to certain foods and also how it doesn’t. There’s no need and no point in comparing yourself with others and with their results, because even if you copy them to the T, you’re probably not going to have the same results.
Don’t deprive yourself by calorie counting, once you know what’s good for you. Just balance everything out based on the nutrition-lifestyle of your choice, and focus on your sugar and glucose intake.
Make sure all that you consume is creating a healthier and more diverse microbiome - this is essential to remaining healthy.
A note on consumption: when I talk about consumption it’s good to think of it in the wider sense. When we consume it’s not only what we’re eating (what’s going into our mouths to be digested), it’s also what we consume through our eyes - everything that we’re eating with our eyes. So what do we consume on a daily basis through our senses? We consume adverts, social media posts, news, music...think about it, what passes through your systems on a daily basis?
This is not to say that these are bad things, but too much of anything is unhealthy and nowadays we are totally engulfed by external factors that may end up affecting us internally. All this over-consumption adds stress and anxiety we wouldn’t even be taking into consideration.
Everything needs to be balanced. We need to listen to ourselves to recognise when we need a break and when we can carry on.
To find out more about how to listen to your body and how to focus your nutrition on balancing your blood sugar and glucose levels get in touch and book a complimentary health session with me.
I’m giving out a free fitness guide to the first 10 people who respond to this post + a free health history to go over your 3-5 goals for the next 6 months (applies to individuals and companies). So all you need to do is DM me on Instagram or even email me on ruthless@commonrouts.com and I’ll get back to you!