What’s always trending? Looking for ways to improve our health. We don’t want to say that this is a definite conclusion to why the weight loss industry is a multibillion-dollar industry, but there’s no denying the correlation. This perpetual quest to achieve tip-top health has led to the discovery of some intriguing “solutions.”
Among the many recent cure-all diet discoveries is the DNA-based diet, which is a diet based on your unique genetic makeup.
But the question that a lot of people want to know before jumping on the next hottest diet fad (or at least it should be) — does the diet have any real benefits? Or is this just another way “health” companies to take our money? We’re diving deep into the structure of this new diet and investigating whether it’s truly beneficial or not.
Table of Contents
So… How Exactly Does the DNA Diet Work?
The DNA diet is designed to optimize your health by making sure you’re not in any danger of nutrient deficiencies. The only way to get a diet plan that will fit your genetic makeup is to get a DNA test from a company. This test reveals any allergies, intolerances, and what your body needs to perform its best.
Requirements for the test depends on the company. For example, Nutrigenomix depends on saliva samples. But Habit requires you to drink a special shake, and then prick your finger to collect a blood sample. These samples are collected from the convenience of your own home, you send it back to the company for them to asses in their labs, and you generally receive the results in a couple of weeks.
Then the companies will usually have you subscribe to their meal plans to ensure you’re getting the best diet possible for your genetic makeup. For example, Habit classifies people into seven groups, such as Protein Seekers, Fat Seekers, or Balance Seekers. The names are pretty self-explanatory — if you’re labeled a “Protein Seeker”, you should be eating foods rich in protein. If you’re labeled a “Balance Seeker”, you should balance your meals into nearly equal parts of each macronutrient. You are encouraged to order their ready-made meals so that you can eat “right for your type.”
Are head-scratching marketing tactics at play here? Perhaps… depending on what the science says.
What Does the Science Say?
This is a diet based on nutrigenomics — a science that focuses on the effect food has on gene expression. Or in plain terms, the way the body reacts to various foods. This information is then used to come up with personalized diet plans that people can use to ensure optimal health.
The DNA diet is based on the well-known fact that every body is different and therefore we all don’t react in the same way to nutrients. I mean, we all know that someone we are secretly jealous of who can stay lean no matter what they eat whereas most of us seem to have to work extra hard for this bod.
So, is there any evidence so far that this diet works? Well… it depends on the study you look at.
On one side, a paper found that personalized nutrition information based on genotype, lifestyle, and diet produced significant positive results. One example is how some people had to cut out coffee since they have a variant gene that makes them sensitive to caffeine — and they felt better for it. There is also some evidence to prove that people metabolize carbs, fats, and proteins different depending on our genetic makeup and so paying attention to that can help us.
On the flip side, there are also studies that show that there is not enough statistically significant data to prove that this diet actually works — meaning there was no real association between being healthy and following a DNA-based diet or not following one. There are just too many other factors to consider to base a diet solely on DNA.
A Personal Testimonial
Julia wanted to get a greater understanding of how her genes affect her training and nutrition. So after some research, she realized her current diet could have a massive impact on her athletic performance and overall health.
The main changes she made following her DNAFit test were to her diet and nutrition, but after learning about her recovery profile, she adjusted her training program with her coach.
She reports feeling great during her training and feels like she’s getting more out of it. Julia has also reported losing fat and getting more toned. She also feels more confident in her training since it’s all tailored to her unique genetic makeup.
Is the DNA Diet Really Worth It?
The jury is still out on the effectiveness of the DNA diet since it’s still in its infancy. More research is needed since it doesn’t consider all factors like diseases.
So while DNA testing can give you some insight about what’s going on in your body, it probably isn’t a magical diet plan that will help you achieve optimal health.
If you need some extra help in planning your meals and understand how nutrients work in your body, DNA diet apps like the Gini App can help you understand micronutrients and macronutrients. It even offers numerous healthy and delicious meal ideas.
As for now, there are many research findings that are for and against this diet and it’s hard to make a conclusion on whether the diet is viable now. But the diet does show potential and may become a success in the next few years, especially for those with food allergies.
- How much does the average honeymoon cost? - June 24, 2022
- What is a Dopp Kit? - June 12, 2022
- Who Pays for the Cake at a Wedding? - June 12, 2022
