You must have heard some people talking about diet plans they followed and reduced tremendous weight. On the other side people nag due to failed results of that particular diet. Actually, here, one size never fits all. Maybe that diet was good for your friend and not for you. Sometimes, one twin develops a particular disease and other does not. Wondering why? Actually, it is in your DNA and the lifestyle choices you make. Basically, it all depends upon the uniqueness of our body ‘s cellular level.
Science has made enormous development in understanding human DNA and this has enabled us to use genetic research more conveniently to our benefit, especially when it is about our diet plans.
For better understanding lets discuss these terms first:
- Genome- means the genetic material that we are born with. That includes your DNA that cannot be changed.
- Epigenome- is the network of chemical compounds. It interacts with the genome by guiding which genetic material has to be activated or which to leave inactive. This is the function that “turns on” or “turns off” your DNA. Your personal health, diet, nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle choices affect the epigenome.
- Nutrigenomics- It is a field that combines the study of nutrition and gene expression. Scientists working in this field investigate how turning on and turning off certain genes can affect metabolic and physiological processes through important nutrients and other bio-active components in food.
Turning genes on and off may sound like sci-fi to you, but it is real. Dr. Nhi Le is one of the top researchers in the nutrigenomics field. She has investigated that how the foods we eat interact with our genes to affect our health. Here are a few examples by him about how this concept plays out:
There are certain compounds found in broccoli that can switch on a gene that detoxifies some of the chemicals we’re unprotected to every day. About 20% of the total population is missing this gene as they don’t get the detoxification done.
In some people, creatine supplementation provides drastic increases in lean mass and performance. Whereas, in others with different DNA, there might be no response.
This is why your body may have a more challenging experience for losing weight than others. The research in nutrigenomics has also found that what food tells your genes affects your metabolism.
After the research Mark Hyman describes nutrigenomics like this:
The new science of nutrigenomics tells us about the specific foods can express your genes. Your eating habits or choices directly determines the genetic messages your body receives.
In turn, these messages, regulate all the molecules that comprise your metabolism. Metabolism is the system of molecules that tell your body to burn calories or store them. To lose weight and optimize your health, you have to learn the language of your genes. This is how you would be able to control the messages and instructions that are given to your body and metabolism. If, you can do so, you can control how food interacts with your body.
The entail of this research is immense. This explains why certain medicines work for some people, but not for others. In fact, this is the reason why we all need a different dose of medicine for a particular use. It all depends on the DNA that how nutrients, supplements and other bio-actives work in the body. Here, nutrigenomics can help you understand your body functioning better. We pay personal attention to the type of diet, exercise, or supplements that would work best for your body. This, personal attention by expert professionals will lead you to the best results when working towards better health.
For any query, please call (361) 551-2288