Your Genes and Your Health

How well do you know yourself? You might know your behaviors and habits, but do you know yourself on a deeper level? How about the genetic level? Well, you should.

From the Cutting Edge of Research

Genetics research, which began with The Human Genome Project, is advancing at breakneck speed and is already shaping healthcare, now and in the future. With continual research into interpreting genetic profiles, we are learning more about individual characteristics affecting health and using that information for targeted diet and supplementation. Although this information is likely just beginning and will continue to evolve, we can already begin to use this to help achieve better health.

Available to Everyone

Genetic companies like 23 & Me and Ancestry.com are accessible to anyone for reasonable fees. There, we can get valuable information in the form of our raw genetic code: our very own DNA. On those sites, after you enjoy learning about your heritage, you can request your raw DNA to be sent to you, which takes only a few minutes to download. That information looks like a complex code, and it is! This code shows all the small nuances that make you, you. Although, as humans, we all largely share the same genetics, there are small changes in the code that make us unique. These changes are called SNP’s (single nucleotide polymorphisms). The study into interpreting these SNP’s continues to evolve, but we have already learned a great deal. Some sites will organize the raw data you attained and send you details on which SNPs you have and on which gene. Some are more important than others. This information is then used to create targeted supplementation and nutritional advice.

The Guessing Game is Over

The days of guessing and trial and error are mostly behind us. In the past, you might have taken a vitamin because you had read or heard that it might help with a problem or just improve your general health: “Maybe this is good for me?” But now, by looking at our SNPs, we can say what we need with more accuracy and precision. This is extremely useful in guiding us toward better health.

The Future is Here

With continual research into interpreting genetic profiles, we are learning more about individual characteristics affecting health and using that information for targeted diet and supplementation. Although this information is likely just beginning and will continue to evolve, we can already begin to use this to help achieve better health.

For example, the most studied of all the SNPs is one called MTHFR. This gene is largely responsible for detoxification in the body, among other essential duties. People with this particular genetic SNP show a much-reduced capacity to break down harmful chemicals and toxins, which can lead to sickness and disease over time. This occurs because when we have this SNP, we are less able to convert certain B vitamins into their most usable forms. To counter this, we can supplement with the most usable form for the vitamin to circumvent our genetic shortcomings. This is the future of healthcare: It will be based on a better understanding of our individual needs and “fine-tuning the knob” of our health.

Discover Your Own Best Health

In my practice, I use this information to guide my patients toward their best health. I help them design diets and guide their supplementation to best suit their unique needs. If you would like more information, you can contact me for an appointment at incentives Spa; I also make virtual nutritional counseling appointments online.

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About the Author

Dr. Donna Brown

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