Bioindividuality - What it is & Why it's important

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Last Updated on January 4, 2024

Bioindividuality is so important and not very many people know what it is or why it matters. That’s why I’m doing a deep dive into what bio-individuality is and some things to consider that affect you most.

Working in a way that’s best for your bio-individuality is the easiest way to reach your fitness and wellness goals. Not eating and exercising for your bio-individuality can easily cause weight gain, stubborn fat, and other physical and mental health issues that make it hard to get results and stay consistent.

In this video, I explain more, including the first three things to consider that affect your bio-individuality. HINT: It’s the basis for your ability to burn fat, get healthy, and stay that way. It’s also addressed in every single one of my programs because without addressing it, you’ll struggle… and I’m not going to let that happen.

This is the training I mentioned in the video

What is Bioindividuality

Bioindividuality is the idea that each person has unique biological and physiological characteristics that affect their nutritional and fitness needs. These characteristics can include genetics, body type, metabolic type, blood type, and hormone levels, among others.

Why does this matter? It means that what works for one person in terms of diet and exercise may not work for another person. It also means if you don’t use an approach that’s best for your biological needs you can experience negative physical and mental consequences.

For example, one person may thrive on a high-carb diet while another may do better on a low-carb diet.

One person may have a high tolerance for intense exercise while another may do better with less intense activity and another may be exercise intolerant naturally.

See all these people?? It’s impossible to think that they’d all benefit from the same diet and workouts.

They all have different body types, shapes, metabolic types, blood types, genetics, preferences, and needs. Everyone has their own unique health issues, diagnoses, hormone profiles, injuries, and physical limitations They all also have a unique goal. This is a very short list of things that have an impact on your unique bio-individual nutritional needs and what workouts would be best for you.

How Bioindividuality Affects Diet & Workouts

Eating and exercising in a way that is not aligned with your bio-individuality can have negative effects on your weight, health, and mood. Excess fat, fatigue, bloating, cravings, joint pain, acne, hormone imbalances, gut issues, and other much more serious health issues are all common when eating and exercising in a way that doesn’t match your bio needs.

For example,

If you’re eating a diet that does not provide the energy and nutrients your body needs (examples of diets that commonly cause this are crash diet, Vegan diet, Keto diet, etc.)
If you’re exercising in a way that’s too intense or not intense enough, you may experience weight gain or difficulty losing weight, as well as physical and mental health issues.

We’re all completely unique in our genetic and biological makeup that determines our nutrition & exercise requirements. The requirements are further unique because you have your own goal for your body. Your goal weight and look (amount of muscle mass, body composition, and shape) each further lends towards modifying your needs.

For example, if I have two women clients who are both 5’7″ but one wants to weigh 150lbs. with 25% body fat and the other wants to weigh 165 and boost her energy would have to train and eat in a way that works best for them.

Also, everyone has their own routines, practices, and preferences that work best for them.

For example:

The foods we prefer & love and the foods we refuse to eat because we don’t like them or they don’t work for us. (taste, texture, beliefs about them, allergic reactions, etc.)
The exercises that work best for your body considering your skill level, goals, and pre-exisitng issues (injuries, rehab, post-op considerations etc.
Supplements or medications that are necessary or that should be avoided completely to prevent an adverse reaction
Coping mechanisms that are positive and helpful and

Your body’s reaction will always be unique to various foods, habits, stress, and emotions. This idea also extends to every single other aspect of your life. The way we navigate life and respond to things we go through makes our journeys even more unique… and modifies our approach even further.

So how can you expect to live your life following the same strategies, protocols, paths, and expectations of others? You can’t. That’s where bio-individuality comes into play… and you have to do what’s right and works best for YOU.

WHAT RESEARCH SAYS ABOUT BIO-INDIVIDUALITY

Did you know that we all react differently to certain foods? It’s true. A study from 2015 found that when 800 people were tracked for over a week. All the volunteers received identical meals and snacks for 7 days. It was discovered that age and BMI caused changes in blood glucose levels after meals, but also that people had different responses to the same foods.

This means that each person metabolizes food differently and that personalizing nutrition based on individual needs would be beneficial for achieving health goals. Isn’t that interesting? It’s just another reminder that we are all unique and our bodies have different needs.

WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE BIO-INDIVIDUALITY?

A number of factors influence your bio-individual profile. There are 3 main things to think about before anything else.

The first thing to consider is your age. Because your needs change over time. Normal hormone fluctuations, pregnancy, age, and current height, weight, and all influence what diet and exercise routine is best for you.
Your goal weight changes your nutritional needs and what workouts work best to make your vision for your body become a reality.
Gender has a huge influence on what your nutritional needs and exercise habits should be based on your goals. I can’t begin to tell you how many women come to me complaining that they’re getting big and bulky but they’re working out with a male trainer or their husbands/boyfriends/male friends.

Eating and exercising for your age, goal, and gender are THE places to start adapting your diet and workouts to get the results you want. So since I’m results-oriented we’re starting there because they matter most. But some other things can have the biggest impact.

GENETICS AND BIOINDIVIDUALITY

Studies prove that your genetic background (obviously) has a lot to do with what diet and workouts are optimal. This applies most to foods you’re genetically able to metabolize and digest properly. For instance, if you’re from Italy you’d likely thrive on a Mediterranean diet. But if your ancestors are from Mexico, your digestive system wouldn’t do as well on the Med Diet. Just like the Italian system wouldn’t thrive on traditional Mexican staples.

GUT HEALTH AND BIO-INDIVIDUALITY

There are a few factors associated with the structure of the gut microbiome. These include:

environmental exposures
health status
socioeconomic status
geography
antibiotic intake
+ many others… a few of which we’ve already discussed

Bottom line, your diet is among the most important influences on your gut microbiome, as both short- and long-term nutrition habits can alter the state of your gut. Studies also show that individuals we interact with—including family members and pets—can influence our gut health.

The degree to which these microbiomes are shared, however, is unknown. Next, when your gut health is compromised, your dietary needs will be different from someone with a stronger stomach.

For instance, if you have a leaky gut, you’ll have to keep an eye out to avoid various allergens. In addition, if your gut health is off, it’s important to limit sugar and consume easily digestible food. That could mean eating fewer raw foods and/or avoiding beans and grains until your gut balances out.

METABOLISM AND BIOINDIVIDUALITY

Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions happening in the body. Some of those reactions determine the rate at which you convert food into energy and if you can properly absorb and react to the components in your diet. THIS IS A HUGE aspect of bio-individuality. Knowing this can be helpful when gauging the amount of food your digestive system can process.

There are several factors that determine your metabolic type:

Are you a fast or slow metabolizer?
Are you a fast or slow oxidizer?
Are you sympathetic, parasympathetic dominant or mixed?
Your endocrine type (gonadal, thyroid, pituitary)
How do you metabolize different macronutrients?
How do you metabolize micronutrients?

I have a quiz that determines your Metabolic Type and training. In it I explain your metabolic type and how food affects you if you’re interested.

HOW TO WORK IN A WAY THAT’S BEST FOR YOUR BIOINDIVIDUALITY?

The bottom line is that it’s important to listen to your body and find a way of eating and exercising that makes you feel your best!

Here are some common examples of how your diet can be affected by bioindividuality:

If you have a slow metabolism and eat a diet high in calories, you can struggle to lose weight or gain weight. This can be very frustrating emotionally and mentally.
If you have food sensitivities or intolerances and (unknowingly) continue to eat foods that trigger these issues, you may experience digestive problems, skin issues, and other physical symptoms.
If you have low energy levels and eat a diet low in nutrients, you may find it difficult to maintain physical and mental energy and focus, which can affect your performance at work or school.
If you have a medical condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure and eat a diet that is not properly balanced or that does not meet your specific needs, you may have difficulty managing your condition and may be at risk of complications.

It’s important to note that these are just a few examples.

The specific health issues you may experience will depend on your individual circumstances and bio-individuality. And those are just examples of how diet can affect you.

What about exercise and bioindividuality?

Here are some common examples.

If you are not well-suited to high-intensity exercise but engage in it regularly, you may experience burnout, overuse injuries, or inflammation. You will also dramatically change your nutritional needs.
If you have specific fitness goals (such as building muscle or improving endurance) and do not exercise in a way that is targeted towards these goals, you may not see the progress you desire.
If you have medical conditions or physical limitations and do not modify your exercise routine accordingly, you may be at risk of injury or worsening your condition.
If you have a busy schedule and do not have time for long workouts, but try to fit in lengthy workouts anyway, you may find it difficult to stick to your exercise routine and may become demotivated.

Again, these are just a few examples, and the specific issues you may experience will depend on your individual circumstances. It’s important to find an exercise routine that is appropriate for your unique biology and goals in order to achieve the best results.

Otherwise, you can seriously slow down your metabolism… especially if you’re not working in a way that’s right for the metabolism.

I have a training that discusses this in more detail. You can start the training here. This is where I have all of my one on one clients start because it customizes an approach based on age, gender, and goals. It also repairs the damage done by ignoring your body’s needs. After that I tailor my approach to metabolic type and body type further. This progressive approach helps you get better results, avoid plateaus, and enjoy the most food and least intense exercise possible.

ALSO… STAY TUNED because I’m going to start dripping out tools you can use to start working on your bio-individuality. So make sure you’re on my newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. If you sign up below you’ll be the first to get the upcoming training & tools.

Ciao for now.

Your Coach & Biggest Cheerleader.