What is a DNA Diet?

What is a DNA Diet?

Women’s Health: What is a DNA Diet?

When you think about GENES, most understand the basics… Genes are inherited from your parents, both of their DNA together makes up your genes. This is what obviously gives you your eye color, height, hair color, but it can also involve traits such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and types of cancer. Even the rate of your metabolism.

What many people don’t grasp initially is that there is an interaction between your genes and our environment. So, what you eat and your overall lifestyle is one of the most changeable components of your life.

What is Nutrigenetics?
It is the study of the relationships among genes, diet, and health outcomes. But, have you ever realized that how your DNA make up and how it is expressed could ultimately affect your success in these categories? Your overall genetics play a huge role in food consumption and your health regime. When it comes to weight loss, the role of nutrigenetics becomes significantly more challenging to unravel.

Choline is an example of a nutrient that gets little to no attention. Think about your typical brunch order…Eggs. Sunday morning breakfast staple…Eggs. Choline is found in the yolk of eggs. Most individuals think of eggs and immediately say they aren’t the best for you because of the cholesterol… but nutrigenetics research has found several genetic variants that may lead to health problems including fatty liver, infertility and muscle loss in individual carriers of the variants who consume inadequate amounts of choline, according to a study by CNN Health. (Dr. Sanjay Gupta, 2019) Reducing dietary cholesterol may have been useful for some individuals who need assistance in lowering blood cholesterol levels. So, it’s not just a fad diet dictating your restrictions, but your DNA can alter your success in nutritional and lifestyle goals.
Nutrients that could better be addressed by keeping in mind the aspect of nutrigenetics include, saturated fat. Most experts agree that taking out excessive saturated fat keeps us healthy.
There has been a discovery of an association between a genetic variation in the APOA2 gene. This gene variation aids in fat absorption, and makes it easier for individuals who consume saturated fat however, adjustments of this genetic expression through interaction of our lifestyle environment promotes excess weight and poor heart health.

WHY IS IT ALWAYS SO HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT!?
Obesity is a disease. There is a genetic component to obesity and dozens of genetic variants have been associated with obesity and metabolism. I remember having conversations in college about metabolism rates and how a few of my closest friends could eat as much as they desire and never gain a pound. I could eat a salad every day for a week and not lose a pound, when my friends could eat tons of carbohydrates and fatty foods, and also stay the same weight or even lose weight. It is just their genetic makeup. Even though this type of program essentially is not always talked about, companies are trying to market these gene-based diet and nutrition programs. So, do your research. Crush those “New Year, New You” goals. Learn about what works for you. In the end, you work-out and eat healthy to better yourself, think of this as just an added bonus to your health journey knowledge.

If you want to achieve your diet goals by understanding how your DNA works for you without increasing your risk for disease. Precision medicine through epigenetics takes the guess work and helps you meet your target in a more personalized approach geared to what your DNA expresses. You will hit your health goals more on the bullseye instead of wavering away from your target. Leveraging your DNA upgrades your life and performance to crush your goals and optimize health.
Ready…Set….Go. The Future Female in you is waiting.

Dr LaReesa Ferdinand, MD is a board-certified OB/GYN, Women’s Health Expert, and Visionary Speaker. She specializes in cutting-edge precision medicine with an emphasis on epigenetics, providing women with a personalized approach to hormone optimization and preconception health.

Click here, to learn more about the lifelong benefits and anti-aging effects of a personalized genetics consultation and epigenetic coaching program geared toward improving hormone imbalances. I look forward to hearing from you. Let’s work together!