The start of the new year comes with new resolutions and, for many, that means a new diet.
But experts have now explained why some people don’t see results despite their best efforts – and that is partly because their new regime does not suit them as an individual.
‘The truth is the best diet is the one that works for your biology,’ Dr Mark Hyman said on a recent episode of his podcast, The Dr Hyman Show.
‘We’re all different. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all [diet].’
Hyman also explained that the main thing to focus on when curating a diet is knowing the difference between whole foods and highly processed foods, which a lot of people do not.
‘Food is something that helps support the health and development and growth of an organism,’ he explained in the episode.
‘Honestly, what most people are eating in America today is not definitionally food. It’s a food-like substance,’ he said.
The expert explained that foods that have minimal processing are very different from ultra-processed products that are created to not expire.
According to medical experts, the reason why some people don’t see results is that they’re eating ‘food-like substance’, not real food
He declared food is ‘not like medicine, it is medicine,’ and should be treated that way.
‘Everything you put in your body is a drug that’s going to help you or harm you,’ Hyman added.
The doctor pointed out that every meal affects how the body functions, calling the body ‘the smartest doctor in the room,’ as it signals whether a diet is helping or not.
In the podcast, Hyman also said that blood sugars are a good indication of this.
‘If you don’t have balanced blood sugar, if you have high blood sugar or high insulin, this is going to screw up your blood sugar metabolism,’ Hyman said.
The expert linked poor metabolic control not only to diabetes and heart disease, but also to mental health conditions.
He then listed some popular diets and how they impact the body.
The Keto diet, which involves high-fat, moderate protein and low-carbohydrate foods, forces your body into a metabolic state called ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of glucose from carbs, producing ketones for fuel.
‘The truth is the best diet is the one that works for your biology,’ Dr Mark Hyman said on a recent episode of his podcast, The Dr. Hyman Show
While it can be effective, he said, if people aren’t eating whole foods, it can be ineffective.
‘For most people, it’s a tool, not a permanent lifestyle,’ Hyman said.
By sharply reducing carbohydrates, keto shifts the body from burning sugar to burning fat.
Hyman also said that diets like the Mediterranean or paleo diets depend on how they are interpreted and the quality of foods eaten, urging people to listen to their bodies.
‘Does your energy go up? Are your cravings down? Is your sleep better?’ he listed as questions to ask yourself.
