The world of genetic testing has exploded in recent years. There are now home testing kits available that can tell you about your health and, as we’ll explore here, how your diet can be tailored to suit your genes.
The aim of nutrition DNA testing is to give you information and recommendations on how to create the best diet for you, using the most personal thing about you: your genetics. This is at a time when many of us are trying to be as healthy as possible. Tailoring your diet to your DNA and discovering from your own body which diet would be most appropriate for you can be a positive step to take in your bid to be healthier. Here, we explore what you can expect from nutrition DNA testing, and how it plays a part in your nutritional and overall health.
Listen to your DNA
Although the ideas of personalised nutrition and nutrition DNA testing are relatively new, genes are certainly not irrelevant when it comes to your diet. For example, we know that they play a role in people developing type 2 diabetes, a common condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high. While, type 2 diabetes is thought to have a strong genetic component, environmental factors, such as a higher sugar intake or an inactive lifestyle, can result in obesity, which is a risk factor of the condition, so also play a strong role in its development. Furthermore, some research suggests that dietary change alone can actually prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in at risk patients.
Similarly, lactose intolerance has been found to be caused by an inherited genetic trait, where symptoms can be managed through diet changes. Some evidence has also suggested that genetic variants can play a role in people’s response to a specific kind of diet, and they could also determine whether people have a tendency towards obesity.
So, whilst there are still other factors you should consider – as we’ll touch on next – if there’s something that your DNA tells you, tailoring your diet by DNA by making well informed changes to what you eat can be a great step towards being as healthy as possible.
Other factors to consider when tailoring your diet by DNA
Your DNA is a huge part of who you are – you wouldn’t look the way you do without it! – but it’s just one of several factors to consider when you plan out the best diet for yourself. Genetics are only one factor that influence your diet. Culture, religion, income, and personal preference also influence how and what you eat and drink.
How you live your life also plays an integral role in your nutrition. Are you trying to lose weight by limiting your calorie intake? Are you training and building muscle and are therefore increasing your protein intake? Are you breastfeeding and have noticed a reaction in your baby when you eat dairy products? These examples all have an influence on how and when you eat.
There’s also the individual makeup of friendly bacteria living in your digestive system to consider, called your gut microbiome, and how these bacteria react to particular foods. If your finances or where you live make it difficult to buy healthy foods, that’ll, of course, also affect your health. There’s certainly a lot to think about.
All in all, whilst nutritional DNA testing may not be enough to give you the full picture for crafting a healthy diet, it still has a strong part to play.
At the end of the day, our goal here at Evergreen Life is to help you feel happier and healthier for longer.
With the Evergreen Life app, you can measure and track areas of your wellbeing like diet, sleep and happiness – and also get more personalised tips on how to improve.
Reviewed by:
Dr James Harmsworth King MBBS MPhil PhD Biotechnology & Medical Expert
Dr Brian Fisher MBBCh MBE MSc FRSA Medical Expert
Genetics of type 2 diabetes (nih.gov)
Environmental Risk Factors for Developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review (nih.gov)
