Who is influencing who

Annalien Turner (registered dietician) Is the food I eat affecting my genes? And what on earth are nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics? Never heard of these terms? Don’t worry, you are not alone! But this is where science is heading, so let’s look at nutrigenomics in a nutshell.The international Human Genome Project took 13 years to complete (1990-2003). It was an initiative to identify and map all the human genes. This project helped scientists better understand the complex world of genetics. It also opened up a whole new world of possibilities on genetics processes. Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics are now part of courses being taught at universities all over the world, including dietetics.One of the discoveries was the influence that nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics have. Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics are different sides of the same coin. Nutrigenetics means that I have certain genes that can have an influence on the food I eat. An example would be if I am lactose intolerant, which means that my body doesn’t like milk, my body reacts, e.g. with cramps and diarrhoea. Nutrigenomics means the food I eat has an influence on my genes, e.g. if I eat healthy most of the time, I would most likely feel healthy and energetic most of the time, but if I eat lots of junk food, my body protests and I can easily become sick and feel tired. Now it can also be explained on a genetic level, why one diet can work for some people, but for others it won’t work at all. The adage “You are what you eat,” now rings true because some lifestyle habits can now be measured in a scientific way, looking at your genes. In general, we have moved away from an active healthy lifestyle to a modern day “toxic” environment.Why is this important? Well, there are now nutrigenomic tests available to see what type of diet, supplementation and exercise is the best for you, based on your specific genes. Gone are the days where everybody is given a standardized meal plan. You are an individual and it is now possible to create a personalized diet designed specifically for you, based on your own, unique genetic profile that is scientifically tested and proven.Looking at your genes, it is possible to detect early on what your risk for certain diseases may be and what can be done to address this even before possibly developing these diseases.The trend in healthcare is to become predictive, preventative and personalised. We are moving away from only treating diseases, to becoming actively involved in achieving optimal wellness.Four gene-based personalised diet and lifestyle tests are available, namely DNA Diet, DNA Health, DNA Oestrogen and DNA Sport.• For more information, please contact the Eat Clean Namibia Dieticians Practice.

Who is influencing who

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Republikein 2025-05-09

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Who is influencing who

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Republikein 2025-05-09

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