Nutritional Typing: Science or Fiction?
Nutritional Typing: Science or Fiction?
Nutritional Typing: Science or Fiction?
Last week, I commented on Dr. Mercola's fallacious article regarding the problem with vegetarianism/veganism and why such diets are not right for everyone.
You can find both Parts I and II at the links below:
Mercola Says a Vegan Diet is Not for Everyone
Mercola Says a Vegan Diet is Not for Everyone (Part II)
Much of Mercola's argument rests on something called "Nutritional Typing." Today I would like to take a look at just what Nutritional Typing is and if there is any proof supporting such a dietary theory.
What is Nutritional Typing?
If you've been to Mercola's website, you are probably aware that he promotes something called "Nutritional Typing". In a nutshell, this is the belief that no diet is perfect for everyone and that each individual needs to eat specific foods based on his or her own unique metabolism.
According to Mercola, human dietary needs can be placed into three categories:
Protein: This person should eat mostly protein (e.g. meat, eggs, dairy)
Carbohydrates: This person should eat mostly carbohydrates (e.g. grains, vegetables, fruits)
Mixed: This person should eat a mixture of both.
How do you know which category you fit into? By taking a free 22-question survey offered on Mercola's site.
Where's the Science?
There is no science to back up the Nutritional Typing claim. As Dr. Colin T. Campbell, author ofThe China Study, point outhere:
"Mercola and others of the Atkins stripe believe that 1) we are biologically different, 2) we therefore require unique dietary lifestyles that represent a broad spectrum of possibilities and 3) we--perhaps with very expensive phone consultations--are essentially required to customize our diet, based on our reactions to food soon after we eat it.Mercola and his colleagues also never fail to advocate that diets high in protein, fat and cholesterol are not only acceptable but are advisable for most people.
Then the Mercolanites make the audacious claim that this is science based when, in fact, almost all of these people havelittle or no understanding of scientific research and essentially no evidence of actually doing scientific research.This is amockery that mostly leaves people where they want to be (in the 'pleasure trap) while still pursuing a lifetime leading to a very high risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis and other serious illnesses."
On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence to support a low fat, high carb vegan diet like the one Dr. Campbell advocates. Here are just a few resources that are worth checking out:
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr, MD
The Spectrumby Dean Ornish, MD
Eat to Liveby Joeal Fuhrman, MD
Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetesby Neal Barnard, MD
The Pritikin Program for Diet and Exerciseby Nathan Pritikin
The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Lossby John A. McDougall
What About Nature?
A simple, but equally valid criticism of Nutritional Typing is that every other animal eats a species-specific diet, i.e. all cows eat grass and all lions eat meat. Humans are also animals and so it makes sense that our species would follow the same protocol. That is to say, all humans (and any animals like us) should thrive on the same types of foods.
Sure, you've probably heard of that lion who wouldn't touch meat or theUK kitty who loved broccoli. Heck, I even have a maine coon who loves tomatoes, cantaloupe, and grapes! :shock:
But these are anomalies. For every veg-eating tiger you find, there are hundreds and hundreds more that eat other animals.
It's also important to mention that both of these cats were NOT wild animals. Both lived in captivity and were fed vegetables by their handlers/owners. It is quite difficult to imagine a full-grown feline, much less an adult lion with an average weight of 250 pounds, surviving for long on a diet of low-calorie foraged vegetation.
So if neither nature nor science support nutritional typing, what standard of measurement does Dr. Mercola use to gauge whether or not you should chow down on cow flesh or gorge yourself on grains?
It all comes down to your own personal preference.
My Nutritional Typing Results
I actually signed up and took Dr. Mercola's free Nutritional Typing test offered on his site. In my next article, I'll show you some of the questions that were asked, my responses, the results, and the role personal preference plays in Nutritional Typing.
So until next time...
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
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