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1/11 WHAT IS THE BEST DIET FOR HUMANS?
A Twitter thread...
I've spent the last 10 years wondering about this. A TED Talk and paper by @segal_eran (refs at end) has completely blown my mind
He provides some of the answers - but they may not be what you think
Here goes....
A Twitter thread...
I've spent the last 10 years wondering about this. A TED Talk and paper by @segal_eran (refs at end) has completely blown my mind
He provides some of the answers - but they may not be what you think
Here goes....
2/11 The incidence of diet-related disease has 
in last 30 years
In
70% of population are overweight, diabetic or have NAFLD (fatty liver)
38% are obese
10% have type 2 diabetes
Diet and lifestyle are the major drivers
in last 30 yearsIn
70% of population are overweight, diabetic or have NAFLD (fatty liver)38% are obese
10% have type 2 diabetes
Diet and lifestyle are the major drivers
3/11 So why don't we know what is the best diet for humans?
It's because we are asking the wrong question
Much of what constitutes the best diet depends on the individual human every bit as much the food
Nutrition needs to be personally tailored to each individual
It's because we are asking the wrong question
Much of what constitutes the best diet depends on the individual human every bit as much the food
Nutrition needs to be personally tailored to each individual
4/11 What's the best measure of healthy nutition? He suggests thatin blood glucose (sugar) after a meal (aka post meal glucose response) is the best
Why? Becauseblood sugar after a meal causes hunger and wt and is *associated* with obesity, #T2DM, heart disease and death
in blood glucose (sugar) after a meal (aka post meal glucose response) is the bestWhy? Because
blood sugar after a meal causes hunger and wt and is *associated* with obesity, #T2DM, heart disease and death
5/11 He got 1,000 healthy people and monitored their blood sugar levels using a continuous glucose monitor for 1 week and logged everything they ate (50,000 different meals)
This is the biggest trial ever to address this problem
So, what did the results show?.....
This is the biggest trial ever to address this problem
So, what did the results show?.....
6/11 General principles:
More carbs in mealssugar levels
More fat in meal
sugar levels
Same person eating same meal gave v similar responses
BUT
*WHEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE ATE THE SAME MEAL THE RESPONSE WAS VERY DIFFERENT*
eg response to white bread varied ++ between people
More carbs in meals
sugar levelsMore fat in meal
sugar levelsSame person eating same meal gave v similar responses
BUT
*WHEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE ATE THE SAME MEAL THE RESPONSE WAS VERY DIFFERENT*
eg response to white bread varied ++ between people
7/11 "It's not simply about the food it's also about the person eating it"
Icecream causes some people's sugar to spike but not rice
BUT rice caused some people's sugar to spike much > icecream
"The best diet for humans does not exist. Our responses to food are personal"
Icecream causes some people's sugar to spike but not rice
BUT rice caused some people's sugar to spike much > icecream
"The best diet for humans does not exist. Our responses to food are personal"
8/11 Our microbiome (gut bacteria) is really important because it helps digest food. Artificial sweeteners in fizzy drinks cause microbiome changes. If you transfer these bacteria to mice they get #T2DM
Good diets change our microbiome and changes persist after the diet stops
Good diets change our microbiome and changes persist after the diet stops
9/11 @segal_eran 's conclusions:
There is no single best diet for humans because we are all too different
Your dietary failures may not be your fault, you may be eating the wrong foods for you
There is no single best diet for humans because we are all too different
Your dietary failures may not be your fault, you may be eating the wrong foods for you
10/11 My question:
How are individuals to know what diet IS right for them?
I can't see an easy solution (yet)
For most people, wearing a continuous glucose monitor is not affordable or practical nor is having detailed biometric testing and personal + microbiome DNA analysis
How are individuals to know what diet IS right for them?
I can't see an easy solution (yet)
For most people, wearing a continuous glucose monitor is not affordable or practical nor is having detailed biometric testing and personal + microbiome DNA analysis
11/11 References and thanks:
Obviously, huge thanks +++ to @segal_eran for blowing my mind
His wonderful YouTube Ted Talk is only 19 mins and is here
His much more detailled paper in Cell is here
https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(15)01481-6.pdf
Obviously, huge thanks +++ to @segal_eran for blowing my mind
His wonderful YouTube Ted Talk is only 19 mins and is here
His much more detailled paper in Cell is here
https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(15)01481-6.pdf
