Ultra-Metabolism Diet
(Mark Hyman, M.D.)
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In his book, Ultra-Metabolism: The
Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss
(Scribner, 2006, $25.00, hardcover), author Mark Hyman, MD introduces a new wave
of thought in medicine, called "nutrigenomics",
which examines the relationship between
genes and food, and how this affects health,
disease, and body weight. Dr. Hyman
describes DNA as a type of computer software
for your body, sending information to the
genes that leads to metabolism.
Ultra-Metaoblism, asks the key
question -- "when the brain's appetite
center registers full, people will naturally
stop eating," "so why do most people tend to
overeat?"
Dr. Hyman points out that the food that we
eat has no relation to the way our bodies
have adapted as humans have evolved.
If we eat in a manner more in tune with the
way our bodies are designed, metabolism
would fall into place, weight would
stabilize naturally and disease will be
largely prevented. In other words, one
should "eat in a way that "works with our
body, not against it." According to the
book, when we follow the popular advice to
eat less/exercise more in order to lose
weight, we only end up starving our bodies,
and trigger "a primitive survival response
that drives us to compensate by overeating."
Yes, we've all been there. We skip
breakfast, drastically restrict what we eat
during the day, and then we clean out the
refrigerator when we get home!
Carbs are good for us.
Ultra-Metabolism believes that
carbohydrates, including fruits, vegetables,
beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are a
vital source of the minerals, vitamins and
phytonutrients we need to stay healthy.
He believes that a a diet high in
phytonutrients (found in fruits and
vegetables) is especially necessary for
weight control. On the other hand,
refined carbohydrates, especially those
loaded with sugar, are bad for
us. Also key to Dr. Hyman's
plan is the connection between
inflammation/metabolism/weight, and the
negative effect on the body's metabolism.
Dr. Hyman's plan recommends
feeding your body by eating a
diet rich in good carbs, and
conspicuously low in bad carbs.
The plan also includes
useful techniques for tuning up
your metabolism by increasing
muscle mass and using aerobic
training. The plan
is presented in 2 Phases:
Phase I - Detoxify Your System;
and Phase II - Rebalance Your
Metabolism. Each phase
includes lists of foods to eat
and foods to avoid, short
quizzes to evaluate your needs,
and recipes. Each day's
menu includes 3 main meals and 2
snacks, which keeps blood sugar
levels stable. The plan
includes some "health" foods
many may be unfamiliar with,
(like a grain called Amaranth),
and will most likely require an
overhaul and restocking of your
pantry and refrigerator.
Several of the meals (and the
recipes) may take some
getting used to, as they deviate
radically from what most of us
are accustomed to eating.
For example, Phase I, Day 1,
lists:
Breakfast:
Apple-Walnut Amaranth porridge
Snack:
Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Raw
Nuts and Seeds
Lunch: White Beans
on a Bed of Greens
Snack: Avocado with
Lemon
Dinner: Wild Salmon
w/Rosemary Sweet Potatoes and
Lemon Asparagus
Ultra-Metabolism
vigorously promotes choosing and eating
healthy, nutrient-rich foods, drinking plenty
of water and moving as much as
possible during the course of
one's day.
BestDietForMe.com
analysts agree that this
diet requires incorporating some
new, unfamiliar foods into one's
diet as well as a somewhat
substantial expenditure to stock
one's pantry. The recipes
proved somewhat time consuming
at times to prepare, which may
deter some time-challenged
folks. And, as mentioned
previously, an open mind and a
re-adjustment of the palate was
often required (hot brown rice,
Brazil nuts, ground flaxseed and
Soy milk prepared as a breakfast
porridge??).