The NFI Protocol is not a diet in the traditional sense of the word. Typically, the term “diet” is associated with some form of restriction, whether that be limiting calorie intake, reducing carbohydrate consumption for diabetics, or avoiding certain food components, such as in gluten-free, low-fat, low-protein, or low-cholesterol diets. Most conventional diets require a solid understanding of nutrition, including how to count calories, measure carbohydrate intake for diabetics, and identify which foods are free from gluten, low in fat, or low in cholesterol. However, even if you take the time to learn the basics, there is still a risk that your diet may not be nutritionally well-balanced.
When following the NFI Protocol, there is no need to worry about nutritional deficiencies. You will be provided with a precise breakdown of the foods you need to consume, carefully tailored to your body’s needs and ensuring a nutritionally balanced diet. Importantly, the protocol does not involve calorie restriction. It is essential to emphasise that you must not starve yourself. Instead, you are required to consume adequate amounts of the prescribed foods. Achieving optimal results requires eating comfortably, ensuring neither under-eating nor over-eating.
Unlike conventional diets, the NFI Protocol is based on a fundamentally different principle. The acronym NFI is derived from the English term Natural Food Interaction – a specialised dietary approach centred on the chemical interaction of food components. The term chemical interaction is crucial in understanding the core concept behind how the NFI Protocol works. To begin, it is important to establish how the NFI protocol connects to the condition known as Type 2 diabetes.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
The NFI Protocol was primarily developed with Type 2 diabetics in mind, so it is essential to provide insight into the perspective of its creators regarding this increasingly prevalent condition. While the general public often associates the onset of diabetes solely with the overconsumption of sugars, this view is somewhat oversimplified. As early as 1927, Dr. J.S. Sweeney highlighted in his study that elevated blood sugar levels are more likely the result of excessive consumption of fats rather than carbohydrates.
Pancreas
The islets of Langerhans within this gland are responsible for secreting the hormone insulin. This essential hormone enables the glucose derived from the food we consume to enter the cells of our body, where it is transformed into energy. To visualise this process more clearly, imagine the insulin secreted by the pancreas as tiny golden keys flowing through our bloodstream, unlocking the doors of our cells to allow glucose to enter.
In a healthy person (non-diabetic)
On the surface of every cell in the body, whether it is muscle, nerve, heart, or skeletal cells, there are specialised structures known as insulin receptors. These receptors can be imagined as “locks” situated on the cell’s outer membrane. Insulin, often described as the “golden key,” travels through the bloodstream and binds to these receptors. When insulin attaches to its corresponding receptor or “lock,” it triggers the opening of a gateway into the cell. This allows glucose, carried in the bloodstream, to enter the cell, where it is utilised as a vital source of energy to fuel the cell’s activities.
Insulin resistance (type 2 diabetic)
In individuals with Type 2 diabetes, the insulin receptors, referred to as “locks”, become obstructed by lipid particles. As a result, the “insulin keys” are unable to unlock the doors to the cells. When these receptors are clogged, the cells become “resistant” to insulin, a condition referred to as insulin resistance. Consequently, glucose cannot enter the cells and instead builds up in the bloodstream. This leads to elevated blood glucose levels in diabetics. Since the body’s cells are unable to access the glucose they require for energy production, the individual often experiences persistent fatigue.
How does the NFI Protocol combat insulin resistance?
A standard part of the treatment for diabetes that a doctor will recommend to a patient is weight reduction, whether by restricting calories, carbohydrate units, or increasing exercise. However, the likelihood that such weight reduction will result in the removal of lipids around organs such as the liver and pancreas, and especially intramyocellular lipid particles on the surface of insulin receptors, is very low (sometimes occurring as the result of an almost accidental correct combination of foods). Despite such weight loss, the Type 2 diabetic patient remains a lean diabetic with slightly improved blood glucose levels.
The NFI Protocol is unique in that it is based on the interactions of chemicals that comprise basic foodstuffs, mostly of plant origin (see the groceries list). We arrange foods into NFI meal plans (NFI protocols) so that the chemicals they contain form lipolysis (fat breakdown) reactions during the natural digestive process. In particular, it targets small intramyocellular lipid particles on the surface of insulin receptors, thereby gradually reducing insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics.
The NFI Protocol consists mainly of legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. To better understand the NFI principle, we have chosen an example of the interaction of natural substances found in brown rice and black beans.
Brown rice contains substance A, which has no effect on the breakdown of lipids in the body such as. Black beans contain substance B, which likewise has no effect on the breakdown of lipids in the body. However, when brown rice is consumed alongside black beans, for instance at lunchtime, it undergoes a natural digestive process during which a new chemical compound C, is formed through the reaction between substances A and B. This results in a gradual, targeted breakdown of lipids from specific areas of the body.
Targeted NFI lipolysis reactions “clean” insulin receptors from intramyocellular lipid particles, thereby improving their sensitivity to insulin. This process is repeated with each NFI meal individually designed for that individual. If the NFI Protocol is followed correctly, within the first two weeks the patient can see a drop in glycaemia and weight of about 3kg.
NFI protocol is always tailored to individual
For each NFI patient, we accurately calculate chemical reactions based on input data such as age, height, weight, gender, physical activity, blood lab results, and prescribed anti-diabetic or insulin therapy, so the result you get with the NFI Protocol is never random. Since the accuracy of the calculation of the chemical reactions is very important in the NFI Protocol, we have to recalculate the plans based on the newly achieved weight every two weeks ( average weight loss of 3-5 kg can occur over a two-week period) and also based on the change in the patient’s health status (drop in blood pressure and glycemia). NFI meal plans are fully nutritionally balanced for each individual, meaning you do not need to take any supporting vitamins or minerals while following the NFI Protocol.
Exercise during the NFI Protocol: Many people with diabetes have difficulty exercising regularly, primarily due to their medical condition and being overweight. The good news is, that the effect of the NFI Protocol will appear even without significant exercise, it will just be slower than with an active lifestyle. That’s why we always recommend that patients at least take longer walks or moderate exercise, that increases the heart rate.
NFI Protocol is not a VEGAN diet: Do not confuse the NFI Protocol with a Vegan or the Whole Food Plant Based Diet. Although we use plant-based products, we only work with selected groceries that have the appropriate chemical composition for use in reactions of lipolysis within NFI Protocol. For example, we do not use pineapple during the NFI Protocol, but you can include it in your diet in unlimited quantities after the protocol is completed.
How long do you need to follow the NFI Protocol?
Diabetics Type 2
Patients observe a drop in glycaemia very early. Typically, between the seventh and tenth day of following the NFI Protocol, the patient sees a more pronounced drop in glycaemia (morning fasting). At that point, the patient MUST contact his/her doctor about reducing anti-diabetic therapy to avoid hypoglycemia. The doctor does not need to be seen in person, a telephone conversation is sufficient.
The NFI Protocol is only a temporary way of eating designed to eliminate insulin resistance. In general, it is sufficient to follow it 12 to 26 weeks depending on the stage of diabetes. The stronger the antidiabetic medication patient has, the longer he/she will need to follow the NFI Protocol. Treatment is reduced gradually and only after consultation with a doctor. NEVER adjust your anti-diabetic treatment yourself.
As seen in the following chart, most patients completely discontinue anti-diabetic therapy sometime between the ninth and fifteenth week of following the NFI Protocol. After discontinuation of treatment by the doctor, it is still recommended to follow the NFI Protocol for another 2-4 weeks.
The last column represents diabetics who have insufficient insulin production in the pancreas. This is a common manifestation especially in long-standing diabetics. However, these patients also experience significant improvement in diabetes and overall health status due to the NFI Protocol, coupled with the possibility of a significant reduction in prescribed anti-diabetic therapy.
The amount of insulin produced by the pancreas can be detected in the laboratory using the C-PEP test. During the process of insulin production, the pancreas also produces C-peptide. C-peptide and insulin enter the bloodstream at the same time and in the same amount. C-peptide does not affect blood glucose levels, but it stays in the blood longer than insulin, making it easier to measure accurately. Its level is greater than 0.27 mmol/l in normal insulin production.
Obese and overweight people (non-diabetics)
Since a positive side effect of the NFI Protocol to achieve remission of Type 2 diabetes is significant weight loss in a short period of time, we decided to develop NFI meal plans also for healthy adults (non-diabetics) who are overweight and have difficulty with sustained weight loss.
The NFI weight loss plans will allow absolutely anyone who follows them strictly to lose 5-10 kg within 4 weeks. The rate of weight loss depends on the initial weight and whether the NFI Protocol is combined with exercise. For a person who does not exercise, it will be generally in the range of 1.5-2.5 kg per week, and for an active athlete it can be as much as 2.5-3.5 kg per week. At the same time, the NFI Protocol will help to improve the overall health of that individual (e.g. lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure). This means that 20 kg of weight can be lost through the NFI Protocol in 12-16 weeks without exercise and 10-14 weeks if physical activity is added.
Any diet only works if you follow it exactly. In the case of the NFI Protocol, this is doubly true, as every meal we prescribe you creates a certain chemical reaction in order to remove fat from the body. Therefore, read carefully how to follow the NFI Protocol to get results in the shortest period of time possible.
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