So what is bio-individuality anyway? Bio-individuality is a concept developed by Joshua Rosenthal from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Bio-individuality suggests that “one person’s food is another person’s poison,” meaning that no one diet will work for everyone! Moreover, a diet that works at one age will not necessarily be appropriate or meet the demands of that very same person at another age. Likewise, what works in the summer may not work I the winter and vice versa! Consequently, at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition Coaches are taught all of the 100 diets of the day,yet not taught to hold one in higher esteem than another.
The Institute further contends that more than respecting a specific dietary theory, it is important to respect each client and what they know about their own situation. They know what is nourishing to them as well as what doesn’t sit well with them.
Joshua states that our bodies are great computers. Left to their own devices they will correct themselves. He notes are bodies are so precise, we never forget to breathe and our hearts never stop beating until we die. He observes, “giraffes never go see giraffe doctors, when they are ill.”
This begs the question, what are we doing when we go to doctors and take their potions? What is all this madness we have been sold? Fact, fiction or just a bill of goods? Maybe we should just nuourish our bodies with the best produce and whole foods available and let things take their course. Some even contend food is all the medicine you need. Where you believe it or not it is good food for thought.
What do you know about your own bio-individuality? What diets might work well for you and which ones are simply not for you.
Ask yourself if you are ready to make a dietary change in the coming week? If yes, while honoring your own bio-individuality, write out a list of three things you could concentrate on and alter in the coming week. Follow what you already know would be a productive dietary shift for you. Then place this list in a prominent place where you will see it regularly to remind yourself of your resolve to make these changes for the next week. At the end of the week, surmise whether you generally stuck to the proposed changes. If yes, ask yourself if you feel any different. If you do feel different, is this a positive change? Then decide if you would like to continue On this journey toward health. What do you have to lose?
Let’s get going! Leap into action!
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC
The Wellness Coach from Building Better Bodies Rocks
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in The Movie Theatre at Lake Morey Resort Fairlee, VT