Genius Foods

Throughout this book, we’ll use our understanding of the
best available evidence, while taking into account that not
everything can be measured by a science experiment.
Sometimes observation and clinical practice are the best
evidence we have, and the ultimate determinant of health is
h o w you respond to a given change. We take an
evolutionary approach: we hold the position that the less
time a food product or medicine or supplement has been
around, the higher the burden of proof for it to be included
in what we consider a healthful diet and lifestyle. We call
this “Guilty until Proven Innocent” (see the section on
polyunsaturated seed oils in chapter 2 as an example).
Personally, I started this journey from a blank slate,
following the evidence wherever it took me. I’ve used my
lack of preconceived notions to my advantage, to keep an
objective distance from the subject and ensure that I’ve
never missed the forest for the trees. Thus, you will see a
linking of disciplines that may not be connected in other
books of this genre, e.g., metabolism and heart health, heart
health and brain health, brain health and how you actually
feel. We believe that bridging these divides holds the keys to
the cognitive kingdom.
Finally, we know that there are genetic differences
between individuals, as well as differences in our health and
fitness levels, that will determine things like carbohydrate
tolerance and response to exercise. We’ve found the broadly
applicable common denominators that will benefit everyone
and have included sidebars with guidance on how to
customize our recommendations to your own biology.
My hope is that when you finish reading Genius Foods,