Today, many people are taking an increasingly proactive approach to their own wellness. Instead of waiting to treat an illness or condition once diagnosed, they’re working to implement lifestyle changes to prevent potential health problems ranging from diabetes and osteoporosis to cancer and mood disorders.
What if you’re doing “everything right” and are still having trouble losing extra pounds or controlling cholesterol and blood sugar numbers? Let’s face it, while people generally find success, sometimes investing time, energy and money in the newest recommended diets, exercise programs and supplements can be a total waste. That’s because there is no “one size fits all” approach to wellness. The “one size fits all” concept may work for accessories such as watches and scarves, it doesn’t apply to health and wellness solutions. That’s why we started offering genetic testing to help our patients unlock their own unique wellness potential.
We can then develop diets, lifestyle and supplement recommendations for patients based on each patient’s genetic makeup. The definition of good nutrition and proper exercise is different for everyone. As we become more aware of how specific nutrients may impact gene expression, it’s important to have the right tools available to help support our bodies. This is where nutrigenetic testing can play a pivotal role in optimizing your nutrition and wellness plan. Gene testing can reveal not only specific health risks you may need to watch out for, but they can reveal your predicted responses to certain nutrients, medications, and supplements. This allows you to know which therapies may be most effective for you.
Unlike other labs, we are not looking at just 1 or 2 genes, but more than 55 genes and their pathways. Looking at isolated genes will not give us the whole picture. For example, just looking at the MTHFR genes is looking at just 2 of the 12 genes in the methylation pathway. A major methylation defect can easily be missed this way. Therefore, we are looking at entire pathways.
Defects in any of these different pathways can cause symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia, GI issues, chronic infections, and neurosensory disorders. Finding where the gene mutations are will allow us to make biochemical changes to allow the pathways to express properly despite the defects. We know that many of our patients regularly spend money on popular nutritional supplements without any knowledge or proof of personal need or benefit. Through genetic validation of enzyme function, we can determine if certain supplements and medications, including antibiotics, are being effectively delivered at the cellular level, so you don’t waste time or money unnecessarily. The goal is to fill the genetic gaps by supplementing what you cannot make and building a “Multi-Vitamin” specific for your genes. When we do this, your body is at its most functional – and we see a higher immune response and many ailments suppress. With nutrigenomic testing, we can learn if you have defects in the following areas causing illness, fatigue, and other chronic issues:Genetic testing cannot predict the future, but knowing how your genes may impact your health will give you valuable insight to personalize the most effective health and wellness plan for you. Learn more about the benefits of genetic testing through our educational video series.