Eat What Your Body Likes
Eat What Your Body Likes
Introduction
The genetic blueprint is believed to hold more sway over taste buds than it is thought. Research suggests that the foods you love or loathe could be written as all encoded in DNA. But just how much control do our genes have over our culinary cravings?
Let’s dive into the fascinating world where genetics meets gastronomy to uncover the role DNA plays in shaping our palates.
A science that studies the interaction of nutrition and genes is Nutrigenomics.
Results of the DNA test concerning diet and nutrition can help with information regarding the foods that can be healthy or unhealthy for various health issues.
Choosing a diet based on such genetic tendencies can help in achieving desired health goals.
DNA testing helps in providing information on factors mentioned below
- Minerals and Vitamin deficiencies include calcium, vitamin A, iron, vitamin B, and much more.
- Bone mineral density (BMD)
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Response of macronutrients including protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fibers on the weight
- Salt consumption and relatable blood pressure sensitivity
The Link Between Genetics And Diet?
Research on the link between genetics and Diet has been happening for more than 100 years now. Out of it some of those earliest outcomes are heritability outcomes.
Heritability, known as genetics shall contribute to a trait regarding the same.
Some of the traits include height, which is genetic. It holds a 50 to 80 percent heritability.
However, diet has a small heritability or genetic component. This is because it is influenced by many other important aspects including socioeconomic status, upbringing, and culture. These factors have nothing to do with the likes of foods.
How do Genetic Testing and Nutrition Work Together?
DNA-wise test when done out of saliva samples helps to produce these genetic reports.
Why saliva?
As it is a non-invasive procedure of sample collection. It is known to have enough DNA to generate good genetic reports for Health, Nutrition, and Fitness parameters. Along with genetic reports and consultation with a certified nutritionist, the diet can be planned.
This will benefit in achieving the desired results.
The nutritional DNA makeup along with doctors/dieticians’ consultation helps in planning diet goals.
Such diet plans are created to alleviate the risk of nutritional deficiencies while managing body weight and composition. It also helps in preventing food sensitivities and minimizes the risk of various food-related health issues.
So, How To Discover the Best Foods, Biologically?
The results are quite clear, some of the simple genetic nutrition tests cannot conclude how the body shall respond to food. Or it cannot help in knowing the best diet that shall optimize metabolism.
The only way to know such aspects is to go for a test that accurately measures how your body responds to food. This goes along those complex, interrelated factors (including the microbiome, genes, and more) as they are to play an important role.
Does this sound like something exciting to try? With Lifecode you can discover how the body shall work and be empowered to choose the best foods.
No more guesswork is needed for the gut.
Tailoring Diet To Meet Needs
Personalized nutrition stands at the forefront of dietary science. It aims to craft dietary recommendations tailored to individual needs and objectives.
Consider this: the dietary requirements of a 70-year-old Caucasian farmer who is battling high blood pressure in the mountains of Colorado vastly differ from those of a 30-year-old African American lawyer in the urban sprawl of Phoenix, confronting a heightened risk of breast cancer.
Indeed, the notion that each person possesses shall be unique as per the nutritional need. It shall also resonate at a fundamental level. Tailored diets have demonstrated tangible benefits, serving as potent tools in managing various health conditions.
For instance, custom diets can steer away from allergens, regulate conditions like diabetes and kidney disease, and even facilitate weight loss endeavors.
Exploring the intricacies of personalized nutrition unveils a tapestry of factors shaping dietary necessities:
- Genetics: The blueprint of biological makeup influences how the bodies shall processes nutrients and responds to different foods.
- Metabolism: The rate at which bodies convert food into energy, crucial in caloric expenditure and weight management.
- Lifestyle: Daily habits encompassing physical activity levels, stress management, and sleep patterns dictate nutritional demands.
- Health Status: Unique health conditions mandate tailored dietary adjustments; for instance, individuals with celiac disease must abstain from gluten-containing foods.
- Food Preferences: Cultural inclinations and personal tastes steer dietary choices, emphasizing the importance of enjoyment in sustaining dietary changes.
- Gender: Divergent physiological needs between men and women underscore the necessity for gender-specific dietary considerations.
- Socioeconomic Status: Financial constraints influence access to diverse foods and the ability to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet.
What Is Personalized Nutrition?
Delving deeper, the concept of personalized nutrition ventures into the realm of precision health. It leverages advancements in technology to fine-tune dietary recommendations.
Proponents advocate for leveraging tools like DNA testing and wearable devices for gleaning insights into individual health profiles:
- DNA Testing: Unveiling genetic predispositions shall offer a glimpse into how the bodies metabolize nutrients, potentially guiding personalized dietary interventions.
- Wearable Devices: Right from fitness trackers monitoring activity levels to continuous glucose monitors tracking blood sugar fluctuations. Such devices provide real-time data to inform dietary decisions.
Despite the promise held by such technologies, the elusive quest for the ideal diet tailored to each individual remains a challenge.
While data gleaned from genetic testing and wearable devices offer glimpses into personalized nutrition, the intricate nuances of human biology and dietary interactions pose formidable hurdles on the path to dietary optimization.
As research advances, the pursuit of personalized nutrition continues to evolve, offering glimpses into a future where dietary recommendations are as unique as the individuals they serve.
Related Blogs :
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) from the University of Delhi Experience : Dr. Srinivasan is an experienced pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Delhi and over 12 years in the field. She has worked extensively in clinical and community pharmacy settings, focusing on patient care, medication management, and drug safety. Dr. Srinivasan also contributes to health and wellness publications and serves as a consultant for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations. Her expertise spans clinical practice, pharmaceutical writing, and regulatory affairs.