Science Weekly Revisited: does the evidence on glucose tracking add up?
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Jan 2, 2025 
Julian Baggini, a philosopher and author focused on food and philosophy, teams up with Nicola Guess, an academic dietitian from the University of Oxford. They dive into the recent obsession with glucose tracking for personalized nutrition. Discussions revolve around the complexities of blood glucose and its connection to health, challenging the superficiality of nutritionism. They also critique the use of continuous glucose monitors, highlighting their limitations for healthy individuals and advocating for a holistic approach to nutrition that goes beyond just glucose data.
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Personalized Nutrition: Early Days
- Personalized nutrition apps like Zoe use biomarkers like blood glucose to offer dietary advice.
- This field is new, and the marketing is ahead of the scientific evidence, raising concerns about premature recommendations.
Glucose: Energy Source and Diabetes
- Glucose is a vital energy source, especially for exercise.
- Chronically high glucose levels, as seen in diabetes, can damage tissues, but occasional spikes are normal.
Glucose Spikes: Not the Whole Story
- High glucose spikes after meals don't necessarily indicate an unhealthy meal.
- Glucose spikes can be influenced by factors like previous exercise, diet, and underlying health conditions.