Monday, May 21, 2018

Discovering The Best Nutrition Through Nutrigenomic Research

By Anna Hall


When it comes to healthy living, there are often a number of options to improve overall health and well being. Most often, these include adding or changing a diet or exercise routine and adding vitamins or supplements. Now, there is new Nutrigenomic research focused on how nutrients are absorbed into the body based on a genetic markers which is different in each individual.

As each individual has a different genetic marker, nutrients can effect different people in different ways. Current hope allows for the possibility that this personalized form of a dietary lifestyle will contribute to better overall human health. While this is the case, there are many pundits and skeptics whom seem to denounce the ideology while focusing on more traditional forms of diet and nutrition.

Through the use of biological aspects which are specific to each individual, there is now a new understanding of how each body reacts to food and supplements based on these specific genetic markers. As a result, there are several companies offering information and testing in this area. For example, companies such as 23&me and others which offer ancestral DNA testing are now also offering test related to different genetic markers.

Researchers have used a combination of data collection and nutritional science to determine which foods and supplements are best absorbed into the body based on genetics. After which, the information collected along with testing can be used to verify the results before making recommendations to the individual with regards to diet, nutrition and exercise.

Individuals with scurvy and vitamin deficiencies were the first to be studied in this area. For, scurvy had long been thought related to poor nutrition and health. Whereas, vitamin deficiencies, especially Vitamin D also contribute to a number of health conditions and illnesses.

Overall, the percentage is high for people with significant issues these areas. Some reasons to obtain this type of DNA testing include, if an individual takes nutritional supplements, especially expensive ones which have little to no benefit or suffers side effects related to these type products or experiences ongoing malnutrition. If so, then a genomic DNA test could provide information which the individual can use to select the best foods and products based on personal genomes.

Some individuals have a very active and high metabolism while others experience a much slower one. In most cases, individuals with a slow metabolism can not digest or process foods properly resulting in a variety of health conditions and illnesses. Whereas, even those with active and high metabolisms may want to undergo testing to assure that the foods and supplements consumed are being absorbed properly to create the best possible results.

If interested in obtaining a test, there are two companies which provide information on up to 55 validated SNPs and enzymes in each individual. Whereas, there are other companies which offer testing in the area which focus on a specific area of nutritional testing. If self-testing is available in the area, it is advised that an individual contact a primary health care provider before taking suggested supplements or making changes to a diet or exercise routine based on the results of the test, especially when taking prescription medication.




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