The Exception To The Rule
The other day I was scrolling through instagram and stopped to watch a video my favorite gastroenterologist posted. She was giving eating advice for better gut health:
"Let your digestive system rest. It can't do this if you're always eating. Have a late breakfast around 11am and another satisfying meal before 7pm, then fast until the morning again."
My heart instantly dropped and I became flooded with anxiety.
Shit! I thought. I eat four times a day. And the idea of waiting till 11am to have breakfast sounds like some medieval torture!
Then I remembered: Wait. This advice is not for me. Not because it's not good advice, and not because it wouldn't benefit so many people. It's just not for me.
Had I never tried this approach, it might be fair game to see how I do with it. But in this case, I have tried it. Doesn't work for me. My body really likes steady blood sugar. That means ~4 balanced meals a day, every 3-4 hours. That's me, but it may not be you.
Another example I give often has to do with fiber: To have lots of fiber or not have lots of fiber? That is the question!
You know what I'm going to say: This depends on you - the state of your gut, your gut bacteria, your food sensitivities and medical conditions. Generally speaking, the average American does not get enough fiber in their diet. Hint: Dipping french fries in ketchup does not count as a serving of vegetables. Adding more fruits, veggies, WHOLE grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes into your diet is usually a good thing for most people.
So it's true, fiber is good. But is that true for you? If you're one of thousands of people trying to heal from candida, SIBO, Crohn's or UC, too much fiber may make things worse.
I often use gut health-related examples to illustrate the importance of getting a nuanced approach to health, but make no mistake, it applies to any area of health.
Is fasting good? Yep. But so is eating small, frequent meals.
Is coffee unhealthy? It can be... for some. Depends on how you react to stimulants.
Is treating an illness with medication the right path? Or are supplements better? Whoooahhh there. It depends on the illness and you!
When it comes to medical recommendations, you may be presented with all kinds of advice about what you should do - medications and/or supplements, diet and exercise, stress management, trauma healing..... and of course the basics that should be done regardless of what other methods you try (things like sleep, hydration, movement, sunshine, elimination).
Mind you, these methods are not mutually exclusive (often, in order to heal, you may need to combine multiple tools and modalities).
The point is, you won't know what'll work for you until you try it, so you'll need to experiment and find a team of practitioners who will listen to you and create a customized, malleable treatment plan, rather than doctors who give out blanket recommendations that "work for everyone."
In a sense, we are all exceptions to the rule. Even for some of the most universally-recognized health habits, there may be nuances within those habits that you'll have to tweak for yourself.