The Skinny on Nutrigenomics DNA Testing
The article looks at nutrigenomics DNA testing and companies that offer nutrigenomic food and nutrigenomics supplements. I define what is nutrigenomics and talk about the DNA diet and DNA diet testing to try to give readers the nutrigenomics meaning and a bit of background on the field. I also cover the critics and proponents of nutrigenomics DNA testing to really give an idea of what someone can expect from the DNA diet.
The buzz about nutrigenomics is growing. This fledgling industry aims to offer customers specialized diet plans that cater to their DNA. In many cases, you send a swab of epithelial cells from your cheek in, your DNA is tested, and the companies will come up with a set plan for what you should be eating, possibly offer up certain supplements and in some cases, offer up results on what diseases customers may develop in the future. Certain nutrigenomics companies even claim to show you the time of day you should take in certain nutrients for the best results.
Is it hype or is it going to be the next big diet craze? Critics of the industry say it will likely be another fad, but point out that if customers feel the diet or supplements are tailored specifically to them and their DNA, they may be more willing to comply with the recommendations. Other skeptics point out that in the end, the DNA-based recommendations will likely simply be common sense tips like eating more vegetables or being sure to get more fiber. These are things most of us are guilty of ignoring, no matter what our DNA shows.
Proponents of nutrigenomics say that the idea could lead to decreases in obesity-related illnesses. With a plan tailored to one’s own genetic makeup, companies specializing in nutrigenomics sometimes offer up disease screenings, as well, using customers’ DNA as a predictor of possible diseases that may crop up down the road. Due to developments in genetics, a peek into someone’s DNA may show that they have a variant of a gene that could lead to high cholesterol, for example. The recommendation and supplement package that would follow would then lean toward keeping cholesterol levels in check, and that could help keep a customer healthier.
The first package deal offering up DNA testing along with a customized nutrition plan cropped up earlier this decade, and interest is slowly growing in this new field. With 2/3 of the population overweight, more people are seeking out that silver bullet to help with weight loss. Nutrigenomics, while intriguing, likely isn’t it. Customers will be told to eat healthier foods, albeit with specific DNA-based recommendations, and likely to exercise to lose weight, two tips that come down to common sense.
Suggested Link: Eating for Your Genes.
Is it hype or is it going to be the next big diet craze? Critics of the industry say it will likely be another fad, but point out that if customers feel the diet or supplements are tailored specifically to them and their DNA, they may be more willing to comply with the recommendations. Other skeptics point out that in the end, the DNA-based recommendations will likely simply be common sense tips like eating more vegetables or being sure to get more fiber. These are things most of us are guilty of ignoring, no matter what our DNA shows.
Proponents of nutrigenomics say that the idea could lead to decreases in obesity-related illnesses. With a plan tailored to one’s own genetic makeup, companies specializing in nutrigenomics sometimes offer up disease screenings, as well, using customers’ DNA as a predictor of possible diseases that may crop up down the road. Due to developments in genetics, a peek into someone’s DNA may show that they have a variant of a gene that could lead to high cholesterol, for example. The recommendation and supplement package that would follow would then lean toward keeping cholesterol levels in check, and that could help keep a customer healthier.
The first package deal offering up DNA testing along with a customized nutrition plan cropped up earlier this decade, and interest is slowly growing in this new field. With 2/3 of the population overweight, more people are seeking out that silver bullet to help with weight loss. Nutrigenomics, while intriguing, likely isn’t it. Customers will be told to eat healthier foods, albeit with specific DNA-based recommendations, and likely to exercise to lose weight, two tips that come down to common sense.
Suggested Link: Eating for Your Genes.
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