Thriving Genomes A DNA Test for Personalized Diet and Fitness by Gina Marie Cronin


“I


have tried numerous diets in the last four years to obtain opti-


mal health,” shares Natural Awakenings Long Island publisher Kelly Martinsen. “I have been a vegetarian; I’ve tried paleo, low-carb, no- carb, gluten-free—you name it,” she adds with a laugh. “My frustration was that I couldn’t un- derstand why something that seemed to work for others wasn’t working for me.” Things became clear when Martinsen learned through the internationally ac- claimed London-based company DNAFit that it’s because as humans we are all made up of different genetic factors that predispose our response to exercise and diet. Like snowflakes, no two people are alike, and thus no two people will respond to diet and exercise in the same way. That knowledge is what prompted Martinsen to order her DNA test kit from DNAFit and send back a cheek swab. Within 10 days, she received a full report of diet and exercise suggestions based on her DNA. With this tool in hand, Martinsen had some answers as to why certain training routines and diets were not producing results. Andrew Steele, British Olym- pic athlete and co-owner of DNAFit, explains that “there is no ‘one-size-fits- all’ approach to health. The idea is to get away from nutrition fads and use a personalized method to receive a piece of static information that can be used going forward.” As a runner in the Olympic Games, European Championships, Common- wealth Games and World Champion- ships, Steele understands the impor- tance of an individualized approach to training: “DNAFit takes the genomes into account and puts them into an algo-


34 Long Island Edition


rithm to reveal what work- outs a person can do to take advantage of their genetic makeup.” When Steele was training for the Olympics, there were races he was losing that he felt he should have easily won. Looking back, he sees that it was be- cause of improper training.


All it took was a glimpse into his DNA, which he then utilized to tweak his diet and training. Once he adjusted accord- ing to his genetic profile, he was able to partake in the Olympic 4x400 and 400 relays, the latter of which he can com- plete in 44.94 seconds. By looking at DNA, one can determine if one should do lower weight with more repetitions or vice versa. Clients can see their power response, inflammatory response and even learn their risk of injury with particular exercises. “Optimal train-


ing for running or mixed martial arts, or anything, else varies wildly from person to person,” says Steele. “At DNAFit, we help people play to their strengths rather than be blind to [them], and make small tweaks and suggestions to better and more safely reach goals.” When it comes to diet and nutri-


tion, what works wonders for one per- son will likely not be ideal for another. There are so many factors that cause different responses and reactions, both positive and negative, to a wide variety of foods. By looking at the genome, a client can ascertain whether or not he/ she can efficiently extract energy from carbohydrates; how well he/she can process meats; whether he/she has a raised need for particular vitamins or


www.NaturalAwakeningsLI.com


micronutrients; and if the client can af- ford more fat in his/her diet than others. “In fact, one study looked at the FTO gene, of which one can be AA, AT or TT,” describes Steele. “Twenty-three thousand people were fed fats gradu- ally. Those with the TT FTO gene did not increase body fat, whereas those with the AA gene saw more fat.” Celiac predisposition, lactose


intolerance, salt response, alcohol response, caffeine response, and even one’s sensitivity to processed foods can be understood just by looking at the genes. “The results are not diagnostic but instead bring attention to helpful and attainable dietary changes for long- term health,” explains Steele. When it comes to personalized


DNA testing, it is important for the consumer to know what is good science and what is not. Steele explains that “at DNAFit, we report on 45 gene variants, which have passed a strict inclusion protocol based on thorough research, of which testing was performed exclusively on humans.”


Steele explains that


DNAFit does not claim its product will transform its clients overnight but that it does provide essential information people can apply to overcome their barriers to performance. Using genet- ics is a helpful advantage in


the search for optimal health, but says Steele: “Sometimes people want genet- ics to be more than they are, but they are simply another tool. This is not the movie Gattaca, and we are not defined by our genetics; but we can utilize concise infor- mation once obtained to make adjust- ments to our fitness and nutrition.” These adjustments can make a huge impact in our overall health and training goals. This may be a good thing for those, like Mar- tinsen, seeking to live their healthiest life.


For more information, visit DNAFit.com.


Gina Marie Cronin is a staff writer for Nat- ural Awakenings Long Island and Natural Awakenings Dallas Fort-Worth Metroplex as well as a meditation guide currently residing in Colorado Springs, CO.


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