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Food just got personal. | Neil Grimmer | TEDxSanFrancisco


[Music]

[Music] not your mom not your milk these are

not your mom not your milk these are

not your mom not your milk these are words that I live by for 12 years as a

words that I live by for 12 years as a

words that I live by for 12 years as a teenage punk rock animal rights activist

teenage punk rock animal rights activist

teenage punk rock animal rights activist you could have characterized me at the

you could have characterized me at the

you could have characterized me at the time as a mildly militant vegan where

time as a mildly militant vegan where

time as a mildly militant vegan where every squishy bite of tofu is an act of

every squishy bite of tofu is an act of

every squishy bite of tofu is an act of defiance every plate a mini protest in

defiance every plate a mini protest in

defiance every plate a mini protest in mealtime well that was my soapbox to

mealtime well that was my soapbox to

mealtime well that was my soapbox to speak truth to power you see at that

speak truth to power you see at that

speak truth to power you see at that time food was political 12 years of

time food was political 12 years of

time food was political 12 years of vegan and it couldn’t keep up with my

vegan and it couldn’t keep up with my

vegan and it couldn’t keep up with my Ironman aspirations so I had to shift

Ironman aspirations so I had to shift

Ironman aspirations so I had to shift gears and food became purely functional

gears and food became purely functional

gears and food became purely functional I weighed my food I measured my food

I weighed my food I measured my food

I weighed my food I measured my food every mealtime was a math calculation a

every mealtime was a math calculation a

every mealtime was a math calculation a formula to get to single digit body fat

formula to get to single digit body fat

formula to get to single digit body fat percentages and endurance that could go

percentages and endurance that could go

percentages and endurance that could go the distance and I saw results so I

the distance and I saw results so I

the distance and I saw results so I doubled down 6% body fat and folks

doubled down 6% body fat and folks

doubled down 6% body fat and folks that’s when things went horribly wrong

that’s when things went horribly wrong

that’s when things went horribly wrong as you can see see my wife and I were

as you can see see my wife and I were

as you can see see my wife and I were actually trying to have a baby at that

actually trying to have a baby at that

actually trying to have a baby at that time and it wasn’t going so well a trip

time and it wasn’t going so well a trip

time and it wasn’t going so well a trip to the doctor revealed that actually my

to the doctor revealed that actually my

to the doctor revealed that actually my body was shutting down on me I had what

body was shutting down on me I had what

body was shutting down on me I had what was called athlete’s heart where you’re

was called athlete’s heart where you’re

was called athlete’s heart where you’re actually metabolizing your heart muscle

actually metabolizing your heart muscle

actually metabolizing your heart muscle for fuel I was anemic I had fatty liver

for fuel I was anemic I had fatty liver

for fuel I was anemic I had fatty liver and my hypothalamus literally stopped

and my hypothalamus literally stopped

and my hypothalamus literally stopped working which regulates among other

working which regulates among other

working which regulates among other things your fertility so after a long

things your fertility so after a long

things your fertility so after a long break from racing and a slow recovery

break from racing and a slow recovery

break from racing and a slow recovery two years later I’m pleased to report

two years later I’m pleased to report

two years later I’m pleased to report that my wife and I had our first child

and that’s when food became love small

and that’s when food became love small group of parents and I got together to

group of parents and I got together to

group of parents and I got together to change the way the kids eat from

change the way the kids eat from

change the way the kids eat from bringing the very best food to little

bringing the very best food to little

bringing the very best food to little ones from the very first bite we were on

ones from the very first bite we were on

ones from the very first bite we were on a mission and because of that we became

a mission and because of that we became

a mission and because of that we became one of the fastest growing food

one of the fastest growing food

one of the fastest growing food companies in America and while we were

companies in America and while we were

companies in America and while we were all super focused on the health of kids

all super focused on the health of kids

all super focused on the health of kids some of us through the process lost our

some of us through the process lost our

some of us through the process lost our health along the way in my early 40s I

health along the way in my early 40s I

health along the way in my early 40s I was overworked overfed and completely

was overworked overfed and completely

was overworked overfed and completely stressed out food became my comfort it

stressed out food became my comfort it

stressed out food became my comfort it became my reward and ultimately it

became my reward and ultimately it

became my reward and ultimately it became my nemesis you see I was 65

became my nemesis you see I was 65

became my nemesis you see I was 65 pounds heavier than I was when I was

pounds heavier than I was when I was

pounds heavier than I was when I was racing I was pre-diabetic and high risk

racing I was pre-diabetic and high risk

racing I was pre-diabetic and high risk for a heart attack I knew I had to do

for a heart attack I knew I had to do

for a heart attack I knew I had to do something but quite frankly after 30

something but quite frankly after 30

something but quite frankly after 30 years of hacking my food I was really

years of hacking my food I was really

years of hacking my food I was really lost and one question loom large what

lost and one question loom large what

lost and one question loom large what foods are right for me well it turns out

foods are right for me well it turns out

foods are right for me well it turns out we’ve been asking this question since

we’ve been asking this question since

we’ve been asking this question since the dawn of time one wrong food choice

the dawn of time one wrong food choice

the dawn of time one wrong food choice from one wrong tree sent the world in

from one wrong tree sent the world in

from one wrong tree sent the world in disarray just imagine just imagine if

disarray just imagine just imagine if

disarray just imagine just imagine if Eve actually knew what foods were right

Eve actually knew what foods were right

Eve actually knew what foods were right for her from that time the answer the

for her from that time the answer the

for her from that time the answer the question what foods were right for me

question what foods were right for me

question what foods were right for me was based on what we could hunt and what

was based on what we could hunt and what

was based on what we could hunt and what we could gather in the first

we could gather in the first

we could gather in the first Agricultural Revolution it was based on

Agricultural Revolution it was based on

Agricultural Revolution it was based on what we could grow what we could raise

what we could grow what we could raise

what we could grow what we could raise and what we could harvest and for the

and what we could harvest and for the

and what we could harvest and for the last two centuries we’ve literally tried

last two centuries we’ve literally tried

last two centuries we’ve literally tried thousands of ways to answer that

thousands of ways to answer that

thousands of ways to answer that question we’ve tried the grapefruit diet

question we’ve tried the grapefruit diet

question we’ve tried the grapefruit diet we’ve tried the fast food diet we tried

we’ve tried the fast food diet we tried

we’ve tried the fast food diet we tried the cabbage soup diet from high carb to

the cabbage soup diet from high carb to

the cabbage soup diet from high carb to low carb from low fat to high fat and

low carb from low fat to high fat and

low carb from low fat to high fat and everything in between

everything in between

everything in between where one day eggs are bad the next day

where one day eggs are bad the next day

where one day eggs are bad the next day they’re good it’s no wonder we’re all so

they’re good it’s no wonder we’re all so

they’re good it’s no wonder we’re all so confused to what foods are right for us

confused to what foods are right for us

confused to what foods are right for us and while there’s been a lot of wisdom

and while there’s been a lot of wisdom

and while there’s been a lot of wisdom and nutrition wisdom amongst the ages

and nutrition wisdom amongst the ages

and nutrition wisdom amongst the ages the one thing we’ve always gotten wrong

the one thing we’ve always gotten wrong

the one thing we’ve always gotten wrong is we’ve always taken a

is we’ve always taken a

is we’ve always taken a one-size-fits-all approach to food

one-size-fits-all approach to food

one-size-fits-all approach to food I believe in 2017 it’s going to be the

I believe in 2017 it’s going to be the

I believe in 2017 it’s going to be the era of you the era of personalization

era of you the era of personalization

era of you the era of personalization the era where we look inside of

the era where we look inside of

the era where we look inside of ourselves to the answer the question

ourselves to the answer the question

ourselves to the answer the question what foods are right for us powered by

what foods are right for us powered by

what foods are right for us powered by big data and computational biology for

big data and computational biology for

big data and computational biology for the first time ever

the first time ever

the first time ever actually able to tap into the

actually able to tap into the

actually able to tap into the nutritional insights that live inside of

nutritional insights that live inside of

nutritional insights that live inside of our DNA our blood work our gut

our DNA our blood work our gut

our DNA our blood work our gut microbiome and even our metabolism now I

microbiome and even our metabolism now I

microbiome and even our metabolism now I personally benefited from this approach

personally benefited from this approach

personally benefited from this approach as a guy who’s pre-diabetic and high

as a guy who’s pre-diabetic and high

as a guy who’s pre-diabetic and high risk for a heart attack I literally got

risk for a heart attack I literally got

risk for a heart attack I literally got every test I could imagine done I

every test I could imagine done I

every test I could imagine done I gathered up all of that biology sat down

gathered up all of that biology sat down

gathered up all of that biology sat down with some specialists to help me craft a

with some specialists to help me craft a

with some specialists to help me craft a food plan that would find and unlock the

food plan that would find and unlock the

food plan that would find and unlock the healthiest version of myself and after

healthiest version of myself and after

healthiest version of myself and after some work I got the plan and I was off

some work I got the plan and I was off

some work I got the plan and I was off to the races after one month I felt

to the races after one month I felt

to the races after one month I felt amazing after six months I had lost 25

amazing after six months I had lost 25

amazing after six months I had lost 25 pounds and I had more energy than I had

pounds and I had more energy than I had

pounds and I had more energy than I had in years and all of my blood work came

in years and all of my blood work came

in years and all of my blood work came back to healthy levels you see I had a

back to healthy levels you see I had a

back to healthy levels you see I had a new lease on life but this time for the

new lease on life but this time for the

new lease on life but this time for the first time I actually let my body do the

first time I actually let my body do the

first time I actually let my body do the talking so at this point in this

talking so at this point in this

talking so at this point in this conversation you may be wondering can

conversation you may be wondering can

conversation you may be wondering can you actually really personalize food is

you actually really personalize food is

you actually really personalize food is this legit and so to answer that

this legit and so to answer that

this legit and so to answer that question we took one of the most

question we took one of the most

question we took one of the most notorious and arguably one of the most

notorious and arguably one of the most

notorious and arguably one of the most delicious foods and put it to the test

delicious foods and put it to the test

delicious foods and put it to the test bacon is it good or is it bad is it

bacon is it good or is it bad is it

bacon is it good or is it bad is it friend Rousset foe and further answer

friend Rousset foe and further answer

friend Rousset foe and further answer that question we looked at 1,400

that question we looked at 1,400

that question we looked at 1,400 people’s response to a triglyceride a

people’s response to a triglyceride a

people’s response to a triglyceride a macronutrient challenge beverage where

macronutrient challenge beverage where

macronutrient challenge beverage where we looked at their triglyceride response

we looked at their triglyceride response

we looked at their triglyceride response over a two-hour window and what we found

over a two-hour window and what we found

over a two-hour window and what we found was that everybody processes fats

was that everybody processes fats

was that everybody processes fats differently for those on the left-hand

differently for those on the left-hand

differently for those on the left-hand side of the screen

side of the screen

side of the screen they actually processed fats really well

they actually processed fats really well

they actually processed fats really well it’s really productive for them and they

it’s really productive for them and they

it’s really productive for them and they can have a wider range of saturated and

can have a wider range of saturated and

can have a wider range of saturated and unsaturated fats those on the right-hand

unsaturated fats those on the right-hand

unsaturated fats those on the right-hand side of the screen actually have a much

side of the screen actually have a much

side of the screen actually have a much harder time processing fats and as such

harder time processing fats and as such

harder time processing fats and as such they really should stick to plant and

they really should stick to plant and

they really should stick to plant and fish based fats said another way on the

fish based fats said another way on the

fish based fats said another way on the left bacon is good but of course now

left bacon is good but of course now

left bacon is good but of course now don’t go crazy don’t go whole hog on the

don’t go crazy don’t go whole hog on the

don’t go crazy don’t go whole hog on the bacon here folks literally eat

bacon here folks literally eat

bacon here folks literally eat responsibly but on the right hand side

responsibly but on the right hand side

responsibly but on the right hand side we’d recommend you swap the piece of

we’d recommend you swap the piece of

we’d recommend you swap the piece of bacon for a slice of avocado toast now

bacon for a slice of avocado toast now

bacon for a slice of avocado toast now for those on the extreme left or you

for those on the extreme left or you

for those on the extreme left or you would say the far left

would say the far left

would say the far left I actually recommend you sandwich those

I actually recommend you sandwich those

I actually recommend you sandwich those two together in a BLT with avocado I

two together in a BLT with avocado I

two together in a BLT with avocado I mean literally what could be better than

mean literally what could be better than

mean literally what could be better than that now we do know that some folks on

that now we do know that some folks on

that now we do know that some folks on the the far left are actually militant

the the far left are actually militant

the the far left are actually militant vegans so we’re gonna personalize this

vegans so we’re gonna personalize this

vegans so we’re gonna personalize this one step further we’re we’re gonna swap

one step further we’re we’re gonna swap

one step further we’re we’re gonna swap out the bacon for some tofurkey what do

out the bacon for some tofurkey what do

out the bacon for some tofurkey what do you think guys so the second question

you think guys so the second question

you think guys so the second question that we wanted to answer was can we

that we wanted to answer was can we

that we wanted to answer was can we actually help people achieve their food

actually help people achieve their food

actually help people achieve their food goals with a personalized nutrition plan

goals with a personalized nutrition plan

goals with a personalized nutrition plan and to do that we actually created an

and to do that we actually created an

and to do that we actually created an eight-week pilot study where we had 20

eight-week pilot study where we had 20

eight-week pilot study where we had 20 active participants and they had two

active participants and they had two

active participants and they had two self-described goals the first one is

self-described goals the first one is

self-described goals the first one is they wanted to lose weight but they

they wanted to lose weight but they

they wanted to lose weight but they didn’t want to go on a diet the second

didn’t want to go on a diet the second

didn’t want to go on a diet the second one is they wanted to increase their

one is they wanted to increase their

one is they wanted to increase their eating confidence and so with that

eating confidence and so with that

eating confidence and so with that everyone went through first thing was a

everyone went through first thing was a

everyone went through first thing was a at-home test kit were looked at 60

at-home test kit were looked at 60

at-home test kit were looked at 60 unique biomarkers from the DNA their

unique biomarkers from the DNA their

unique biomarkers from the DNA their blood and their metabolism second thing

blood and their metabolism second thing

blood and their metabolism second thing they got a personalized nutrition plan

they got a personalized nutrition plan

they got a personalized nutrition plan that they could refer back to often on

that they could refer back to often on

that they could refer back to often on their phone and on their desktop and

their phone and on their desktop and

their phone and on their desktop and that all received one-on-one and group

that all received one-on-one and group

that all received one-on-one and group coaching and we actually had some pretty

coaching and we actually had some pretty

coaching and we actually had some pretty incredible findings the first was that

incredible findings the first was that

incredible findings the first was that 74% of people lost weight in an

74% of people lost weight in an

74% of people lost weight in an eight-week period the second one

eight-week period the second one

eight-week period the second one individual actually lost 18 pounds which

individual actually lost 18 pounds which

individual actually lost 18 pounds which happens to be the rough equivalent of a

happens to be the rough equivalent of a

happens to be the rough equivalent of a tire so he literally and figuratively

tire so he literally and figuratively

tire so he literally and figuratively lost a spare tire around his waist very

lost a spare tire around his waist very

lost a spare tire around his waist very proud of him and the third is that the

proud of him and the third is that the

proud of him and the third is that the total group lost 78 pounds so now we’ve

total group lost 78 pounds so now we’ve

total group lost 78 pounds so now we’ve lost all four tires off the car now the

lost all four tires off the car now the

lost all four tires off the car now the next set of learnings we got had to do

next set of learnings we got had to do

next set of learnings we got had to do with change and eating behavior 56% said

with change and eating behavior 56% said

with change and eating behavior 56% said they increased their non starchy

they increased their non starchy

they increased their non starchy vegetable consumption 43% said they

vegetable consumption 43% said they

vegetable consumption 43% said they decrease the sugary beverage consumption

decrease the sugary beverage consumption

decrease the sugary beverage consumption and this one is quite remarkable

and this one is quite remarkable

and this one is quite remarkable 26% decrease their alcohol consumption

26% decrease their alcohol consumption

26% decrease their alcohol consumption and given how crazy the world is right

and given how crazy the world is right

and given how crazy the world is right now I think this one is absolutely

now I think this one is absolutely

now I think this one is absolutely miraculous we should give them a hand

miraculous we should give them a hand

miraculous we should give them a hand let’s do it come on

these are actually amazing in all

these are actually amazing in all seriousness these are amazing results

seriousness these are amazing results

seriousness these are amazing results but the one I think that I’m most proud

but the one I think that I’m most proud

but the one I think that I’m most proud of is that 83% of folks

of is that 83% of folks

of is that 83% of folks increase her eating confidence in social

increase her eating confidence in social

increase her eating confidence in social and emotional eating situations folks

and emotional eating situations folks

and emotional eating situations folks eating confidence is a very powerful

eating confidence is a very powerful

eating confidence is a very powerful thing

thing

thing take Kaitlyn she’s a wife she’s a mother

take Kaitlyn she’s a wife she’s a mother

take Kaitlyn she’s a wife she’s a mother she’s a cancer survivor for Kaitlyn

she’s a cancer survivor for Kaitlyn

she’s a cancer survivor for Kaitlyn every food choice was like carrying the

every food choice was like carrying the

every food choice was like carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders she

weight of the world on her shoulders she

weight of the world on her shoulders she read she studied she asked every diet

read she studied she asked every diet

read she studied she asked every diet nutrition book she could get her hands

nutrition book she could get her hands

nutrition book she could get her hands on but after she got a personalized

on but after she got a personalized

on but after she got a personalized nutrition plan she actually pulled all

nutrition plan she actually pulled all

nutrition plan she actually pulled all of those books off the shelf laid him on

of those books off the shelf laid him on

of those books off the shelf laid him on the floor snapped this photo posted it

the floor snapped this photo posted it

the floor snapped this photo posted it and said no more she took all of those

and said no more she took all of those

and said no more she took all of those boxed them up and shipped him to

boxed them up and shipped him to

boxed them up and shipped him to Goodwill because you see for Kaitlyn it

Goodwill because you see for Kaitlyn it

Goodwill because you see for Kaitlyn it was the first time she had confidence to

was the first time she had confidence to

was the first time she had confidence to know what foods were actually right for

know what foods were actually right for

know what foods were actually right for her imagine if you had Kaitlyn’s

her imagine if you had Kaitlyn’s

her imagine if you had Kaitlyn’s confidence navigating the thousands of

confidence navigating the thousands of

confidence navigating the thousands of food choices in the grocery store

food choices in the grocery store

food choices in the grocery store imagine being able to know what foods

imagine being able to know what foods

imagine being able to know what foods are right for you on menus across the

are right for you on menus across the

are right for you on menus across the country imagine being able to know that

country imagine being able to know that

country imagine being able to know that every food you ate was nutrient dense

every food you ate was nutrient dense

every food you ate was nutrient dense data rich and just right for you

data rich and just right for you

data rich and just right for you so the next time you flip over a product

so the next time you flip over a product

so the next time you flip over a product to see if it’s something you should eat

to see if it’s something you should eat

to see if it’s something you should eat I hope you moved past a

I hope you moved past a

I hope you moved past a one-size-fits-all approach to one that’s

one-size-fits-all approach to one that’s

one-size-fits-all approach to one that’s highly personalized where you look

highly personalized where you look

highly personalized where you look inside of yourself for the answer to the

inside of yourself for the answer to the

inside of yourself for the answer to the question what foods are right for me

question what foods are right for me

question what foods are right for me thank you

”

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