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How to Discover Your Personal Nutritional Needs with Nutrigenomics
Have you ever noticed the media is full of seemingly conflicting healthy eating information? Does it seem as though nutritional advice is constantly changing? Although knowledge about nutritional science is always evolving, it’s also down to personal differences – in other words, your genetics.
In this article, you’ll discover how your diet can be tailored to your genes with the help of the science of nutrigenomics.
Are Genes Your Destiny?
Your genes determine who you are. You can think of them as the instruction manual for your body containing the information needed to build and maintain you. Beyond your physical appearance like your height and eye colour, your genes impact every single bodily function.
Your personal instruction manual was inherited from your parents. For many years it was thought the instructions they give out are fixed over your lifetime. However, science now understands that whether genes are turned on or off – known as genetic expression – can alter. Therefore, your genes aren’t your destiny, as was once believed.
What is Nutrigenomics?
Nutrigenomics investigates the interplay between your genes and the food you eat.
Small genetic variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influence body processes. These include how your body detoxifies unwanted substances, produces hormones, and absorbs and metabolises nutrients. Therefore, these variations also influence your risk of developing certain health conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
In turn, substances in food send signals to your genes telling them to turn on or off. So food interacts with your DNA and affects your health on a genetic level. Meanwhile, environmental factors like activity levels, toxins, stress and sleep all further impact your genes to influence your health.
The 1000 Genomes Project discovered over 88 million genetic variations (1) in human DNA. This means two people of a similar age, stature and lifestyle will react differently to the same foods. It’s no wonder, then, that my ideal diet will be different to yours, and a one-size-fits-all diet will never work for everyone.
Nutrigenomics takes into account the conversation between nutrients and genetics, as well as the tiny variations in your genes. It uses these to inform dietary choices, thus optimising health and reducing the risks of certain diseases.
It’s a cutting-edge approach, rapidly changing the face of healthcare.
What Bodily Processes Can Genes Influence?
The list is endless, but genetic differences, can for example, influence how quickly you clear caffeine from your system, repair your DNA, produce cellular energy, regulate blood glucose and control unwanted inflammation.
In addition, tiny genetic differences shape how your body processes nutrients, including carbohydrates, fats and B vitamins. If this applies to you, you may benefit from increasing these in your diet.
What are the Benefits of Nutrigenomics Testing?
Testing reveals how your body processes everything from nutrients to hormones to toxins. Following this, knowing your personal genetic profile can help inform your health and wellness decisions.
By revealing your unique genetic blueprint, your practitioner can construct completely personalised diet and lifestyle recommendations compatible with your genetic code and working with your biological individuality. This personalised nutritional approach is therefore aligned with your genes and how these genes communicate with your body’s systems.
Key insights into your biological strengths and weaknesses can help pinpoint areas requiring the most support and focus efforts where they are most needed. Your practitioner will then be able to precisely tailor supplements and doses to your needs, zooming in on what will help you reach your goals.
For complex health conditions, genomics testing can reveal subtle influences in your body’s functioning that would be difficult to pinpoint by looking at symptoms alone.
We offer innovative tests in partnership with Lifecode Gx® to reveal how your genes are influencing body functions and how these subtle genetic individualities are interacting with food.
Several different analyses are available to peek into key aspects of your body’s functioning.
- Metabolic Health
This is concerned with how your genes influence cellular energy production, weight management, appetite regulation, detoxification, inflammation, fat metabolism and hormone balance. These genetic differences can influence your risk of developing metabolic health issues like obesity, cardiovascular disease type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.
- Detoxification
Understanding how your genes affect your body’s ability to eliminate toxins allows an insight into your genetic detoxification profile.
This knowledge can help reduce the risk from toxin-related health problems. These are widespread, but include fatigue, headaches, environmental allergies, fertility problems, skin issues, cognitive health, weight gain and digestive issues.
- Methylation
Methylation is a crucial biochemical process which can itself alter gene expression. However, your genes influence how efficient you are at this process. Poor methylation impacts wide-ranging health issues. It’s connected with mental health, obesity, cardiovascular health, and cellular repair. If you’re not great at methylating, you might need support from additional nutrients like folate and B vitamins.
- Hormone Balance
Genetic differences can impact hormone metabolism and balance. In turn, this influences functions like reproductive health and fertility, energy levels, weight management, bone health, mental health, and skin health.
- Thyroid Health
Genes affect your thyroid function, including hormone production, metabolism and transport. Thyroid health impacts your entire body, particularly energy levels, weight management, mood, and digestive health.
- Histamine Tolerance
Histamine is produced in your body as it plays a role in your inflammatory response. However, it should be cleared away when no longer needed. Genetic variations determine how efficient your body is at doing this. Impaired histamine clearance can give rise to symptoms like skin issues, respiratory symptoms, digestive problems, fatigue, dizziness, and anxiety.
- Nervous System Function
Chemicals called neurotransmitters help your brain cells communicate. Genetic differences impact your neurotransmitter balance. This can contribute to symptoms like mood imbalances, anxiety, sleeping problems, impulsive behaviour, attention issues, and poor memory.
- APOE
Your Apolipoprotein E (APOA) gene interacts with others and can affect your susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, cholesterol imbalance, poor methylation, insulin resistance, inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease.
Begin Your Journey Towards Precision DNA-Based Wellness
A virtual consultation with Jo Gamble, our experienced Nutrigenomics practitioner, will enable her to determine the most beneficial test for you. Equally suitable for both adults and children, tests can be carried out in your own home, requiring only a swab from the inside of the cheek. Jo will then expertly interpret the results for you, providing you with clear actionable recommendations.
Although knowing your genes is a powerful tool, lifestyle factors like stress and sleep, are important, too. Therefore, you’ll receive healthy lifestyle recommendations alongside your nutritional plan.
Start your journey towards a healthier future today.
