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How Your DNA Influences Your Nutritional Needs
A Surprising Snacking Experience
After a long brainstorming session at our office, I decided to have a light snack—banana and fresh lime juice with minimal sugar. To my surprise, a visiting wellness consultant exclaimed, “Sajeev, how can you tolerate such acidic stuff together? Won’t it cause bloating?”
He was mistaken about the banana, as it’s actually alkaline, but that wasn’t the point. For some reason, both banana and lime juice caused immediate bloating for him, and he naturally assumed this would be the case for everyone.
At that time, I suspected it had something to do with his genetic or metabolic makeup. Years later, after studying and researching nutrigenomics, it all made perfect sense.
What Is Nutrigenomics?
Nutrigenomics is a fascinating, relatively new science that studies how our DNA influences the food we eat—and how the food we eat influences our genes. It helps explain why foods that are perfectly fine for one person might cause discomfort or harm in another. This study of how genes affect food metabolism led us to a breakthrough at Vieroots Wellness Solutions, where we pioneered India’s first DNA-Based Weight Loss Program.
The Success Of DNA-Based Weight Loss Programs
The DNA-Based Weight Loss Program became a game-changer, especially for people who struggled with traditional diets and fitness regimens. By analyzing each person's genetic makeup, we created personalized diet plans that led to successful weight loss where other methods had failed.
But weight loss is just one aspect of what nutrigenomics can do.
Beyond Weight Loss: The Many Applications Of Nutrigenomics
Our team of geneticists and functional medicine doctors soon realized that nutrigenomics could be applied to much more than just weight management. The science can be leveraged for:
- Muscle Building: Tailoring nutrition for those looking to gain weight or build muscle.
- Athletic Performance: Crafting diets for sprinters, endurance athletes, or any sport that requires specific nutritional needs.
- Managing Lifestyle Diseases: Personalized plans for managing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and more.
- Cognitive Performance: Nutrition designed to optimize brain function and cognitive health.
- Human Performance Optimization (HPO): A broad spectrum of goals to enhance overall well-being and performance.
An Example: Vitamin B9 And The MTHFR Gene
Take the case of Vitamin B9 (folate or folic acid). This vital nutrient is essential for mental and emotional health, heart disease prevention, digestion, cell growth, DNA synthesis, and much more.
However, some people are born with a variation in the MTHFR gene, which makes it difficult for their bodies to convert folate into its active form. This can lead to higher homocysteine levels and increase the risk of heart disease, among other health issues. For individuals with this genetic variation, it’s crucial to eat more folate-rich foods, like leafy greens, or take the right supplements to meet their needs.
Genetic Variants That Affect Nutrition
The case of Vitamin B9 is just one example of how genetic variations influence our nutritional needs. Here are a few more common ones:
- Lactose Intolerance: Genetic variants can make digesting milk products difficult.
- Vitamin D Absorption: Some people struggle to absorb Vitamin D, making supplementation necessary.
- Caffeine Sensitivity: Certain individuals are more sensitive to caffeine, requiring lighter and fewer coffees.
The Power Of A Genetic Test
A genetic test can provide a complete understanding of your DNA-based nutritional needs, enabling the creation of customized Human Performance Optimization (HPO) programs. At Vieroots, we’ve used this information to develop programs like:
- Optimize My Weight
- Optimize My Sugar
- Optimize My Age
- Optimize My Heart
By analyzing your DNA, we can create a nutrition and lifestyle plan that works with your unique genetic makeup, ensuring you reach your health and performance goals.
The Takeaway
Understanding how your DNA influences your nutritional needs is key to achieving optimal health. With nutrigenomics, personalized nutrition and HPO programs are no longer a futuristic concept but a reality that can change lives.
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