Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss Review
Dr. Mark Hyman claims he has discovered the link between our genetics and the foods we eat in his book Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss. What he calls "nutrigenomics" is the science of the communication between our bodies and what we put in them. He says that if you choose the wrong foods (fast food, etc.) you are sending your body the wrong messages - and it communicates back to you with putting on weight, feeling fatigue, and having health problems. But if you choose the right foods (fruits, vegetables, lean protein, fiber) you are sending it the right messages - which will boost your metabolism and cause you to lose weight, improve your skin and hair and just generally make you feel good. Hyman says that the beauty of the Ultrametabolism Diet is learning to understand the connection between what you eat and how you feel, and that feeling good for a change is what makes the program sustainable.
Hyman does not advocate calorie restrictions or portion control, because, he says, if you choose the right foods you will not have any desire to overeat. He says, "if you choose the right foods, you don’t need to worry about anything else, because everything will fall into place naturally''. That is because, he says, "if you eat man-made trans fats they turn on genes to make you gain weight, but if you eat fish oil you turn on healthy genes that lower inflammation and help weight loss".
Hyman says there are Seven Keys to Weight Loss, and when you learn them you have unlocked the door to your weight loss success.
The Seven Keys to Weight Loss are:
- Control Your Appetite
- Limit Stress
- Cool the Fire of Inflammation
- Prevent Rust or Oxidative Stress
- Turn Calories to Energy
- Fortify Your Thyroid
- Love Your Liver
The Ultrametabolism Diet is a two phase process. In Phase 1 you rid your kitchen of all products containing the following: sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, refined grains, alcohol and caffeine. Restock with: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish and poultry, organic foods and nuts, soy products, and beans. Avoid dairy, wheat, and eggs. This is the detoxification phase.
Phase 2 is the lifetime phase. You slowly reintroduce foods to your diet and determine if they cause any negative reactions with digestion, fatigue, etc. (in which case they are banned.) Three glasses of alcohol are allowed per week. Coffee is discouraged in favor of green tea, but if you must have your java you're limited to half a cup per day.
Ultrametabolism is a highly restrictive diet, period. In the book you'll find recipes and the standard advice about eating every 3 hours to keep metabolism up, and not eating anything 3 hours before. Hyman's emphasis on stress relief for health benefit is certainly spot on. But Hyman's dismissal of portion control as a necessary part of weight management is problematic - we can't eat all that we want even if it's organic and healthy, and the idea that with healthy food our bodies will "communicate" with us to keep it in check is rather...hokey. We're going to put on weight if we consume too much, and it's up to us to keep it in check.
Further, his pronouncement that exercise is optional to weight loss is irresponsible. You'll drop weight without exercising if you starve yourself on a limited menu of organic fruits and vegetables - but will you stay on that diet for life? If not, you need to exercise, regularly, to keep that weight from coming back.
The other issue we have with Ultrametabolism is its recommendation to supplement this diet with a medley of dietary and digestive pills and add-ons that you can - wait for it - purchase from the author.