For years I have been fascinated by information about health and wellbeing and have accumulated quite a library on healing, cooking and fitness books. I have also been lucky enough to be able to visit several top health resorts in Europe, in the Swiss Alps, the Black Forest and Palm Beach, FL. So no wonder I was excited to discover a new field called Nutrigenetics; the study of the relationships among genes, diet and the health of a person.
Can our genetic predisposition be influenced through lifestyle changes? I remember watching years ago, a program on PBS titled, A Tale of Two Mice. The two mice featured on the program were genetically identical: both had a strong genetic potential for obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Yet, one of the mice was lean and healthy while the other appeared obese ,old and ailing. The X Factor was explained as the key to our ability to create health rather than illness. In the PBS research the switch was accomplished through diet alone.
Genomics is revolutionizing biomedical research and providing great expectations on disease prevention. If the current trends continue, most common disease predisposing factors will be identified. Long term maintenance of weight loss requires permanent lifestyle changes in exercise and eating habits. Nutrigenetics provide a detailed report on all aspects of a person’s wellbeing from food allergies to exercise. The buzzword nowadays is reversing the aging process.
I came across an impressive Israeli start-up called MyGenes that checks over 230 genetic variants through a simple saliva test. Their observational study covered 2,531 participants enrolled in a commercial “scientific wellness” program which checked cardiometabolic risk, inflammation and nutrition. Each individual has a unique and complex set of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that impact clinical biomarkers and contribute to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and hypertension. There is no one-size-fits-all diet or exercise guidelines.
Participants saw notable improvements in multiple clinical markers related to health. The results of this study suggested that as the understanding of genetic predisposition continues to improve so too will the ability to provide targeted personalized lifestyle recommendations. Their success rate in that research was 86%.
Well, I decided to undergo such a test myself. I got quite a few important tips as to supplements. It turned out I was highly deficient in B6 which wouldn’t have been detected in a routine blood test. I was also lactose intolerant. I was warned not to overdo fruits due to their high sugar content which I felt I could indulge in freely being a vegetarian. I was also encouraged to add weight training to my daily swimming. Their follow-up consultation with expert nutritionists help educate and not just prescribe remedies.
Within a couple of weeks I felt a marked improvement in my energy level.
Our brain runs on thousands of biochemical reactions. Our goal is to give our genes whatever they need to keep us focused and energized during the day and calm at night. By making these nutrigenetic changes we can avoid depression, irritability, addictions and brain fog. Ideally the biological age should not exceed our chronological age.
In his classic bestseller Diet for A New America, John Robbins, sounded a warning that we are “digging our graves with the fork.” By taking advantage of the immense nutrigenetic research made and by being proactive we can create health, not illness. Indeed, we can rewrite our destiny by being masters, not victims, of our genes.
Shoshana Tita is a journalist and the director of Torah Life Center of Potomac, Maryland, who currently resides in Jerusalem