If you knew your predisposition to common diseases, such as obesity and heart disease, today, would you change your lifestyle to ensure your health and wellbeing tomorrow? Over the last couple of years, healthcare has shown a trend towards preventative medicine, with more emphasis being placed on maintaining one’s health, rather than treating poor health when it presents. New technologies in laboratory and genetic testing have aided in the process of early detection, and the body’s ability to utilize drugs prescribed. SNP genotyping looks at genetic variations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) between populations. SNPs act as biomarkers, and have been found to be involved in the etiology of many human diseases, and can help predict an individual’s response to certain drugs and environmental factors. Scientists are now able to screen hundreds of SNPs across multiple samples in a short period of time. The US government, has invested millions of dollars into the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to investigate the link between an individual’s genes, environment and lifestyle when determining treatment plans and preventative measures for each person, enabling doctors and researchers to predict more accurately which treatment and prevention strategy will work in a particular group of people. Life experiences have shown us that our reaction to certain foods, medication and diets, differ quite substantially in comparison to our friends and family, and this is likely due to our differences in our genetic makeup and their interaction with the environment. One size does not fit all! Human are 99.5% the same, and that 0.5% can make a difference. Our genes and their expression can influence:

  • Nutrient deficiencies or excesses
  • Dietary components
  • Metabolism
  • Vitamin D and B levels
  • Toxin
  • Exercise and Activity
  • Alcohol and drugs
  • Circadian rhythms.

So what can genetic testing tell you about yourself?

  1. How effective certain lifestyle interventions will be, i.e. diets and supplements.
  2. Show your predisposition for future diseases, i.e. Cardiac artery disease.
  3. Show current diseases, you may not be unaware of, i.e. Lactose intolerance
  4. Exercise regimes or athletic performance, i.e., inflammation and energy metabolism.
  5. Behavioural traits, i.e. addictive behaviours.

So where does one have their DNA tested, and what does it entail?

GENEWAY TM provides the following screening tests;
  • GENEWELLTM
  • GENEDIETTM
  • GENESPORTTM
  • GENERENEWTM

The GENEWAY TM screening test covers the following areas:

  • Cholesterol and lipid metabolism
  • Dementia
  • Detoxification
  • Dietary carbohydrate sensitivity
  • Dietary fat sensitivity
  • Exercise responsiveness
  • Heart disease
  • Homocysteine metabolism
  • Hypertension
  • Inflammation
  • Insulin sensitivity and risk for diabetes
  • Iron metabolism
  • Drug metabolism
  • Cancer
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Overweight and obesity risk
  • Circadian rhythms (sleep disorders)
  • Vitamin-B metabolism

DNA can be extracted and tested from whole blood, or buccal swab both of which contain DNA rich cells. Buccal swabs are the preferred choice, as it is the least evasive and can be done in the comfort of your own home. Visit the GENEWAY TM website to find a Healthcare Practitioner near you. You will be provided with a comprehensive health and wellness report, along with a precision nutrition plan, tailor to your genetic needs, enabling you to manage and develop your lifestyle that will be effective in reducing your health risks. Although we cannot change our genes, we can control their expression, which is strongly influence by our environment. Therefore by making minor adjustments to your lifestyle now, you will be able to lower the risk of certain diseases and live healthier.