Have you noticed that some people’s body responds to the exercise and workout plan effortlessly while the other tries so hard for months at the gym and does not see a similar result? Or how about those people who can eat anything under the sun and not have to worry about putting on weight versus those who can put on weight by just smelling food! (Ok…I exaggerate a bit). These questions trouble countless people. In order to tackle the issue you consult an expert.
The expert might recommend a few tweaks in your fitness regime, change in your diet and nutrition plan, workout regimens and lifestyle modifications. But; you also need to consider one major point of discussion, i.e. how genes could potentially impact your overall wellness and fitness levels?
In order to understand the role of DNA and the application of these personalized genetic report, let’s do a quick review of basic biology 101.
DNA is essentially the material that carries the information about how a living organism will look and function. DNA is composed of a series of 4 chemicals known as bases, A, C, T and G which are considered to be the building blocks or codes of life. The sum total of the entire DNA in an organism is called a genome. We can make headway into understanding our genome by determining the exact order of the bases in a strand of DNA; genetic testing assists in decoding all of your DNA by using a technique called next generation sequencing.
Our genome is the blueprint of life; one of the most important aspects of knowing and understanding our genome is the impact it can have on our health and well-being; it arms us with information to make informed medical decisions and more importantly lifestyle choices.
We are familiar with genetic testing enabling us to relatively accurately predict if an individual will develop an illness in the future, respond positively to treatment or suffer from a serious reaction to drugs. Similarly, current advancements in genetic research have revealed that the chemical building blocks of the genome also reveals eating behaviours, nutritional needs as well as what diet and exercises the body will respond best to.
Ok, so what? If we can decode and understand our genomes, what does this mean for us? Does it really impact our lives today or in the future? It goes back to my previous question, “how genes could potentially impact your overall wellness and fitness levels?”
There are validated genetic tests available in India that sheds insight into the types of foods, eating behaviours and exercises that would achieve the best results of our bodies. These tests, identify key genes that have been scientifically shown to affect your appetite, food reaction, weight loss and eating behaviours. In addition, they also analyse genes that affect our body’s metabolism and reaction to different types of exercise which allows us to chart out the exact diet and exercises best suited for our body, our needs and our goals.
In addition, some of the other benefits of Nutri/Fitness-genomics testing is that; it helps identify how your genes affect the probability of weight loss, improving your cholesterol levels and well as other health benefits in response to exercise. It addresses your potential predisposition to obesity, tendency to regain weight you have lost and about your metabolism. In addition, it helps you understand how your body responds to certain foods linked to your genes and explore your likelihood of having lower levels of certain vitamins and anti-oxidants.
To sum it up, If you have questions like, “do I have a gene that makes me more likely to snack?” or “is there a reason I cannot resist eating certain types of food?” or “I’ve tried various diets and my cholesterol refuses to budge from its elevated levels?” or “what’s the appropriate fitness regime I need to follow to help achieve my goals?” the answer to most of your questions is in your “blue-print” i.e. in your genes. Consider genetic testing.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
