113: Is it time to ditch the idea of the 'one size fits all' diet?

In this Table Talk Podcast episode we explore why a one size fits all approach to diets doesn't work, and what the latest scientific research tells us about our nutrition, the impact of our gut microbiome, and what this means for a more personalised approach to diet and nutrition. To explain the significance of the research and its findings we're joined by Dr. Sarah Berry, Senior Lecturer from Kings College London and one of the leads on the PREDICT 2 study, to explain what this latest research means for our understanding of our gut microbiome, and the impact it can have on our overall health and well being, and how it debunks the idea of a one size fits all diet. "And actually what our research shows is how little of it is predetermined by our genes. That's actually really exciting because it shows therefore that our response to food is modifiable, that we do, actually, as individuals have control"Dr. Sarah Berry will be presenting a nutrition spotlight session at Food Matters live in March. To find out all about this fascinating session, and how to register, click here. About Dr. Sarah Berry Dr Sarah Berry’s research interests relate to the influence of dietary components on cardiometabolic disease risk; with particular focus on postprandial metabolism and vascular dysfunction. Since commencing her research career at King’s College London in 2000, she has been the academic leader for more than 30 human nutrition studies in cardio-metabolic health. Sarah’s ongoing research involves human and mechanistic studies to elucidate how markers of cardiometabolic health can be modulated following acute and chronic intakes of different fatty acids and interesterified fats, as well as studies to investigate the influence of cell wall integrity on macronutrient and micronutrient release from different plant-based foods. Sarah is also the lead nutritional scientist on the world’s largest ongoing programme of postprandial metabolic studies (the PREDICT studies), assessing the genetic, metabolic, metagenomic, and meal-dependent effects on postprandial metabolic responses. About the PREDICT studies The landmark study published in Nature Medicine and presented at the American Society of Nutrition shows dietary inflammation varies dramatically among healthy adults, pointing to the need for personalisation in eating. The PREDICT Studies reveal multiple factors ranging from gut microbes, blood sugar, fat and insulin levels to exercise and sleep impact an individual’s ability to achieve optimal metabolic health. Even identical twins respond differently to the same food; identical twins share only a third of their gut microbes. This ongoing study has shown that dietary inflammation varies up to ten fold in healthy adults.  Results point to the need for personalised eating plans to sustainably combat weight and health challenges, setting the stage for artificial intelligence (AI) to help people manage their health by choosing foods that work optimally with their biology. ZOE, the sponsor of the study, is launching a test kit using this science to help people achieve their healthiest weight, by profiling their unique gut microbes and inflammation after meals and using AI to create a personalised eating plan. To find out more about PREDICT and ZOE, click here