Lumen – the revolution in metabolic measurement
As a physician, I have seen for decades that most diets do not work, at best producing only temporary results. I imagine you have tried some kind of diet yourself. Many types are recommended—low-carb, low-fat, intermittent fasting, calorie counting. And despite the self-denial... the results are usually temporary.
The root of the problem is that these general methods do not take individual differences into account. Each of our metabolisms works differently, and what helps one person may fail for another. The key is not only how much we eat, but understanding how our body processes nutrients.
The Lumen device fills precisely this missing link: it measures in real time whether your body is burning fat or carbohydrates, and therefore provides personalized guidance for your nutrition. This is not just another "gadget"—this is a revolution in nutrition grounded in science.
What is Lumen and how does it work?
Lumen is a handheld, pocket-sized breath analyzer device that measures the so-called respiratory exchange ratio (RER – Respiratory Exchange Ratio) in a single exhalation. This is the same principle that previously could only be examined in hospital laboratories with expensive and time-consuming equipment.
The scientific background
When your cells "burn" carbohydrates for energy production, the process produces more carbon dioxide (CO₂) relative to the oxygen consumed than when they burn fat. This can be measured through respiration: the CO₂ concentration in your exhaled breath reveals which fuel source your body is primarily using.
Traditional metabolic testing (used by athletes and researchers in institutional settings) measures the same thing but requires a 30–60 minute laboratory assessment. Lumen provides the same information in less than 30 seconds—at home, anytime.
A validation study by San Francisco State University confirmed that Lumen's measurements significantly correlate with laboratory "gold standard" results. The device accurately detects metabolic changes both in the fasting state and after meals.
Metabolic flexibility – The key to longevity
Lumen's central concept is metabolic flexibility, meaning the adaptability of your metabolism. This refers to how effectively your body can switch between burning fat and carbohydrates depending on current needs and available nutrients.
Why does this matter to you?
Our ancestors' metabolisms were highly flexible—necessarily so, since food availability was unpredictable. There were days of plenty and times when they had to go without for days. Their bodies learned to adapt: after eating they burned carbohydrates, and in times of scarcity they switched to fat stores.
Modern lifestyles—constant eating, processed foods, and sedentary habits—have eroded this natural flexibility. It is quite possible that you are "stuck" in a carbohydrate-burning mode, and your body has become unable to efficiently mobilize fat stores. This leads to persistent excess weight, insulin resistance, and ultimately metabolic diseases.
Consequences of metabolic inflexibility
Scientific research clearly links metabolic inflexibility to many chronic diseases. A review by researchers at the Mayo Clinic indicates that mitochondrial "insufficiency"—when cells' energy-producing units cannot properly handle incoming nutrients—leads to reactive oxygen species production, cellular damage, and eventually clinical disease.
Conditions involved include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and, according to some research, certain cancers. A study published in an Oxford Academic journal points out that metabolic flexibility negatively correlates with aging: the less flexible your metabolism, the faster you age.
How does Lumen help you lose weight?
Lumen is not another miracle diet or weight-loss pill—this is a decision-support device that uses real data to guide your nutritional choices.
How the measurement works
The device is extremely simple to use. Upon waking, while fasting, you blow into the device—one deep inhale, hold for 10 seconds, then a full exhale. The Lumen app immediately evaluates the result on a scale from 1 to 5, where a 1–2 indicates your body is burning fat (the ideal state after waking), while a 4–5 shows you are still processing carbohydrates from the previous day's food.
During the day you can take additional measurements—before and after meals, around workouts—to understand how your body responds to different foods and activities.
Personalized nutritional guidance
Based on your measurements, the Lumen app gives you daily personalized recommendations. If your morning reading shows high carbohydrate burning, the app recommends a lower-carbohydrate intake that day to help your body switch to burning fat. If it's low, you get a "green light" to include a bit more carbohydrates.
This approach is fundamentally different from one-size-fits-all diets. Instead of blindly following a prescribed calorie or macronutrient target, you make decisions based on your body's feedback. This is not only more effective but also more sustainable long-term.
The importance of preservation and restoration of health
In my philosophy, home health maintenance and self-management are fundamental pillars of modern medicine—Lumen fits perfectly into a preventive approach. It is not a tool for treating diseases, but for preventing them.
Preventing prediabetes and metabolic disease
A clinical trial at the Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv showed that using Lumen significantly improves metabolic parameters in prediabetic adults. This means the device can be an effective tool not only for weight loss but also for preventing the onset of metabolic diseases.
Prediabetes—when blood glucose is already elevated but has not yet reached the diagnostic threshold for diabetes—is one of the most important intervention points. If you can restore metabolic balance through lifestyle changes at this stage, the development of diabetes can be prevented.
Energy levels and quality of life
Metabolic flexibility is not just about your weight—it directly affects your energy levels, mood, and performance. If you are metabolically flexible, you won't experience afternoon energy crashes, you won't feel constantly hungry, and you will cope better with physical and mental stress.
Surveys among Lumen users show that regular users improved their metabolic flexibility indicators by 30%, and many reported sustained increases in energy levels.
Who is Lumen recommended for?
Lumen helps a wide range of users. It can be useful if you're aiming for lasting weight loss and want to understand your metabolism. It can help athletes optimize training and recovery, or those with prediabetes who want to prevent disease onset. The device is also recommended if you struggle with fatigue and want to find the cause, or simply want to eat more consciously.
The secret of longevity: mitochondrial health
Recent research focuses on mitochondria—the "power plants" of your cells. Metabolic flexibility essentially reflects your mitochondrial health: if these tiny organelles function well, they can flexibly switch between different fuel sources.
A study in Endocrine Reviews indicates that metabolic flexibility negatively correlates with aging, and that nutrient-sensing pathways (insulin/IGF, mTOR, AMPK, sirtuins) play a direct role in longevity and healthy aging. These pathways are positively influenced by proper nutrition, exercise, and intermittent fasting—and Lumen helps you find your individual optimum.
Summary
Lumen is a scientifically validated, home-usable metabolic measurement device that can revolutionize your relationship with nutrition. Instead of following general dietary rules, you make decisions based on your body's feedback—in real time, day by day.
This self-management approach aligns with the preventive perspective of modern medicine. By improving your metabolic flexibility you can not only lose weight, but also improve your energy levels, prevent metabolic diseases, and—as research suggests—potentially slow the aging process.
Home health devices—whether a blood pressure monitor, a pulse oximeter, or the Lumen—help you become an active participant in maintaining your health. Ultimately, that's the most important thing: a series of conscious, informed decisions that together lead to a healthier, more energetic, and longer life.
