Bacon and eggs with a side of avocado, hold the toast.
Or plain oatmeal with chopped walnuts and blueberries.
Which breakfast is better for you? In the world of health and wellness, one size does not fit all, especially when it comes to nutrition. One of the most frustrating things about nutrition is all the conflicting information out there. One year, eggs are bad for you, the next they’re good for you. How can anybody lose weight with so much contrarian nutritional advice?
Enter nutrigenomics. Also called “nutrigenetics,” this is one area of functional medicine where I help my clients lose weight and feel great. To put it simply, nutrigenomics is a genetic test that reveals which of 3 basic diet types — low carbohydrate, low fat, or Mediterranean diet — would be most suitable for you according to your unique genetic makeup.
If you have no idea whether you’re dinner plate should be mostly filled with brown rice and veggies or fish and veggies or an even balance of brown rice, veggies and fish, I can help you take the guesswork out of what to eat. And it’s all thanks to the DNA Diet®.
DNA Diet: Know With Certainty What You Should Eat
Nutrigenomics might sound as complicated as nuclear physics. But it’s actually really simple. It explains how specific nutrients (vitamins and minerals) interact with your genes. Yes, how much food you eat and what you eat definitely impacts how your jeans fit. But I’m talking about your genetics, not your pants. The nutrients and building blocks in food (protein) interact with your genes and affects your health and metabolism.
By getting a DNA Diet test, we can determine how certain diet types impact your genetics. Now, a bit of a warning here because I’m about to get a little geeky here on the science. You see, variations in genetics, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), influence nutrient metabolism, absorption, and utilization in the body. That means that a high-fat, low-carb diet might do wonders for you while for somebody else, a more balanced diet (33% fat, 33% carbs, 33% protein) would support their health.
The differences in your genes versus someone who is even a close family member can vary in terms of processing the 3 macronutrients: carbs, fats and protein.
Also, your unique genetic blueprint has specific instructions for how your body responds to antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. This, in turn, affects your inflammation, oxidative stress (premature aging), and detoxification pathways (getting rid of toxins).
For instance, you might be unable to properly convert beta-carotene from carrots into vitamin A. If that’s the case, I would recommend you eat plenty of “preformed vitamin A” from liver, eggs, and raw dairy products.
And suppose your genes have been dealt a bad hand with detoxification pathways. I’d recommend that you eat plenty of glutathione (master antioxidant) precursors such as cruciferous vegetables.
Beyond Nutrigenomics
When you take a DNA Diet test, you also take it in conjunction with another diagnostic test called DNA Health. In addition to revealing the state of your detoxification pathways I just mentioned, the DNA Health tests for genetic variations known to lead to chronic diseases.
Fine-tuning your diet and addressing genetic susceptibilities are key to keeping inflammation down. And when your inflammation is under control, your body won’t be in constant pain. Not only that, your mobility will improve and your quality of life will soar.
Ready to discover your optimal diet plan? The first step is to send me a quick email with your contact info.
Fine-Tune Your Diet Even More
If you’re committed to living your best life and discovering the best foods for you, I can order two other lab tests for you. The first one is called the NutrEval test, which identifies nutritional deficiencies you might have such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The other test you may want to consider is the Food Sensitivity 208IgG test. This test measures the levels of IgG antibodies in your body to 208 of the most common foods. High levels of IgG imply that you have a food sensitivity to that particular food.
By analyzing your unique genetic data, I will understand your specific nutritional needs, potential sensitivities, and predisposition to certain health conditions. With this knowledge, I can design a customized dietary plan for you to optimize health and prevent disease.
I’m excited for the future of nutrigenomics and for a healthier, happier future for you!
Until next time…
Jenna Witt, NP
- Nurse Practitioner
- Functional Medicine Practitioner
- Certified Health Coach
- Mother of 4
- Founder, Fundamental Wellness Nebraska