Nutritional ID

Have you followed your best friend’s diet, only to find yourself constantly hungry, feeling fatigued and maybe even gaining a bit of weight?  Are you sick and tired of sifting through the vast amounts of information on diet and nutrition and would truly like to find out what is right for you?  Do you find yourself struggling with the concept of a “one size fits all” diet plan?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, understanding your Nutritional ID is for you.

So what is the best diet for you?  Atkins, Ornish, South Beach, High Protein, High Carb, Vegetarianism and the list goes on.

It is always very important to understand that we are all bio-chemically different and while one person may thrive on a particular diet; this same diet may be detrimental to another.  This will be tied into our genetics as well as any functional challenges that we may be experiencing.

From a genetic factor it is important to understand that it takes our bodies many generations to create a shift for nutritional needs.  Many cultures have survived with outstanding health based on the foods that were available to them on a regular basis.  A traditional Eskimo survived very well in a very challenging climate with their main dietary intake being fat and protein.  The Aborigines consumed much more vegetation, insects, kangaroo and wallaby yet had the strength and fitness of Olympic athletes.  The Swiss consumed large amounts of high fat cheese, raw milk, small amounts of protein, whole rye and some wine yet survived very well even through glacier winters.  The African Masai consumed raw milk, meat and blood from cattle yet enjoyed superb mental and physical development.  I am not necessarily recommending these particular diets but hopefully this will help you understand the importance of moving toward your true genetic needs.

The functional factor ties into life’s situations such as stress, current health challenges, environment challenges and such.  When we are going through challenges your body may require a nutritional shift, which needs to be addressed accordingly, until you reach a state of balance where your body can evolve to your true genetic nutritional needs.

A common misconception is that we all should be eating a vide variety of food in moderation.  Think about it…if you lived an area significantly North of the equator you would have never seen a grapefruit, orange, pineapple, kiwi or many other foods that we are told to consume on a regular basis and year round.  This individual probably would have seen fruit such as apples, pears, and some berries but this would have also been seasonal with only a small opportunity for consumption.  The same would be true for an individual that has a genetic heritage near the equator.  This person would have thrived on tropical fruit, vegetation, low fat warm water fish and seafood and low fat meats.  Put this person on a high fat, high protein diet and this could be a disaster.  Another common misconception in my opinion is that we need to eat many small meals per day.  I can say from my years of nutritional work with thousands of clients that this simply is not true.  If you are consuming the plan that is right for your Nutritional ID then you will more than likely enjoy high core energy physically, mentally, and emotionally on no more that three balanced meals. 

I would suggest that as a basic starting point for beginning is to creating awareness to your energy based on food consumption.  If you find yourself regularly needing snacks or stimulants such as sugar of caffeine to make it from meal to meal; you are probably not eating according to your Nutritional ID.

If you would like to learn more about the concepts of Nutritional ID, I would welcome you to visit the Depke Wellness Store to purchase the DVD or download on “Understanding Your Nutritional ID” or look for a accelerated learning workshop in your area by checking the Depke Wellness Calendar of Events.

Wellness for the World,
Glen Depke