There’s an exciting buzz around personalised nutrition these days. First, scientists discovered genes are not fixed over your lifetime. Then, research revealed that every person’s microbiome – the collection of gut bacteria that influences health in countless ways – is different. This combination of genes and microbiome contributes to your uniqueness.
Beyond this, the food you eat influences both your genes and your microbiome. Knowing your personal genetic makeup along with the types of foods most beneficial to your genes and microbes provides a potent way to fine-tune your diet to optimise your health.
Read on to discover more about the exciting world of personalised nutrition.
The ideal diet for you will be different from mine because everyone’s genetic and biological makeup is different. Many people have noticed one-size diets do not fit all, and now science is starting to understand why.
Your genes contain the instruction manual for your body. Genes not only determine your physical appearance but also how your body functions at a cellular level. For many years, it was believed genes determined your destiny, being fixed throughout a person’s lifetime. However, recent advances in science have revealed the instructions given out by genes can change.
Whether genes are turned on or off is a process known as genetic expression. This alters depending on the environment the gene is exposed to – in other words, diet and lifestyle. Substances in food send signals to your genes telling them to turn on or off.
In turn, tiny inherited genetic variations called SNPs affect body processes like detoxification, metabolism, and hormone production. They also determine how well you absorb and utilise different types of foods.
DNA testing reveals insights into your genetic predispositions. This can highlight your personal needs for nutrients, any food sensitivities, and metabolic issues. By extrapolation, it’s possible to understand whether you have an inherited risk of developing certain health conditions. For example, your genes may mean you find certain nutrients such as fats or vitamins harder to absorb and metabolise. This can increase your risk of deficiency-related health conditions, meaning you need more of these nutrients than the next person.
This knowledge can mean your practitioner can fine-tune a personalised nutrition plan to ensure your body is receiving what it needs to function optimally.
Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and even viruses, all coexisting happily inside you. They are symbiotic, meaning in return for you providing them with a home, these bacteria benefit your health. They do this by assisting with digestion, supporting immune health, and managing inflammation. Chemicals released by your gut microbes travel all around your body, so their impact on your health is widespread.
The exact ratio of different species of bacteria varies from person to person, as they’re impacted by your diet and lifestyle. Certain strains of bacteria in balance with others are linked to better health. However, problems occur if one species starts to dominate, or pathogenic bacteria multiply out of control.
Fortunately, it’s now easy to analyse your gut microbiome using a small sample of stool. The DNA of the microbes contained in it reveals which species are dominating and in turn how your microbiome is impacting your health. Diet can significantly alter the composition of the microbiome. For example, increasing the amount of fibre-rich plants eaten provides your gut bacteria with nourishment. Therefore, knowing the range of species in your gut and which you want to encourage and discourage can enable fine-tuning your diet to optimise your gut microbiome composition.
Combining genetic testing with microbiome analysis is a powerful tool for personalised nutrition. In essence, it allows practitioners to craft individualised dietary recommendations.
As science progresses, we continue to learn more about the interplay between genetics and the microbiome. For example, it’s likely specific bacteria directly influence gene expression 1.
Knowing how particular foods and nutrients are likely to affect your personal body, along with your enhanced needs for certain nutrients, is powerful. It enables the construction of a truly personalised diet aligning with your genetics and your microbiome, to optimise your current and future health.
We offer scientific microbiome analysis and genetic testing. Because the results of these tests can be complex, it’s best to use them in conjunction with an experienced practitioner who can untangle the recommendations for you.
Furthermore, lifestyle also plays a role in how genes are expressed and the composition of your microbiome. For example, scientists have discovered that stress, even short-term, can impact gut bacteria levels by affecting gut transit time and altering the intestinal mucosal barrier. Therefore, your practitioner will provide you with personalised lifestyle suggestions, too.
Take charge of your health and start your journey onto personalised, precision nutrition today by booking a free discovery call.
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