Take a walk through your local bookstore and you’ll be confronted by shelves upon shelves of books claiming to hold the key to the diet that will help you lose fat, build muscle, feel more energetic or live a longer, healthier life.
Lifestyle Programs Tailored to Your Unique Genetic Profile
Control the X Factors: Tailor Your Diet to Your Genome
What many of these titles fail to take into account is that an optimal diet is highly personalized. What does that mean? It means that, what works for one person may be entirely inappropriate -- or even potentially harmful -- for another due to differences in genetic makeup.
Many would consider it unfair, but it’s inarguable: two people can be the same age, eating the same foods, following the same exercise regimen, and getting the same amount of sleep, yet one may have a more difficult time letting go of excess fat, improving their blood pressure, or controlling their blood sugar.
This is due in part to the particulars of your genome. Research shows that certain foods, supplements, and environmental factors can all influence gene expression. How these genes are expressed, in turn, influences how your body absorbs, metabolizes and responds to the foods you eat.
With genomic profiling, we can root out some of these dietary “x factors” and customize a plan that works best with your specific genetic makeup.
Dietary Tendencies A Genomic Profile Can Determine:
1. How your body processes macronutrients
Macronutrients are those caloric substances we consume in relatively large amounts to provide energy and support bodily function (as opposed to micronutrients -- our vitamins and minerals -- which we require in smaller amounts). When we talk about macros in our diet, we are referring to protein, carbohydrates and fats.
Developing a dietary plan based on your genetic profile will take into account your ideal mix of protein, carbs and fat. Contrary to popular belief, cutting out carbs and fats is not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to weight loss.
In some cases, my clients have actually needed a diet consisting of more than 50-percent carbs (including starchy carbs) to lose abdominal fat!
2. Your body’s tolerance of fats
There are several different kinds of fat: saturated fat, dairy fat, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. How your body processes these fats is regulated by your genes.
Learning your genetic profile will reveal how dietary fats affect your triglyceride and cholesterol levels, which is especially important information if you also have a predisposition to heart disease.
3. Whether you have a “sweet tooth”
Foods don’t taste the same for everyone and it’s not simply due to personal pickiness.
Studies show that how acutely you are able to taste the sweetness of sugar is in your genetic makeup. A weaker perception of sweetness means you’ll be inclined to eat more of the sweet stuff to achieve the same sugar satisfaction.
On the flip side, genetics will also determine the extent to which you experience the bitter taste of some foods. This can lead to a distaste for some of the healthiest vegetables or an increased tolerance for alcohol.
4. Your tendency to snack
Eating habits, to some extent, are influenced by environmental factors: your schedule, comfort eating, medications you’re taking, and whether you were raised in a household where cleaning your plate was non-negotiable.
Genetics also come into play, however, as they shape appetite and satiety. This includes whether brain and body are working together to know when to stop eating and how often we turn to snacking to curb hunger.
Genomic profiling can help uncover to what extent your genes are directing your eating behaviors so you can take measures to suppress or offset those inherited tendencies.
Taking Control
The human body is complex and there are an incredible number of factors that affect our bodily processes and overall health. While we cannot control many of these factors (the genes we were born with, environmental elements, and how these things interact with each other within our bodies), there are other factors we can and should wield control over once we are armed with the knowledge of our unique genetic makeup.
At KlothoGenics, we offer a Personalized Genomic Blueprint, a series of genetic tests that tell you all about your health and your body. The Basic Plan includes a nutritional genomic review of approximately 40 nutrition single gene molecules, while the Gold Plan covers what 75 of these gene molecules reveal. Depending on which plan you opt for, you’ll also learn about your:
- Supplementation genomics
- Fitness genomics
- Brain neurotransmitter genomics
- Methylation and Detoxification genomics
- Longevity genomics
Both plans include a 30-minute video consultation to help you understand your results. You’ll be equipped with the information you need to assess your unique dietary needs, so that you can proactively take steps to tailor your diet, take charge of your health and achieve your long-term weight goals.