Dieting doesn’t work the same for everyone. Some people swear that Keto is the best. Others will tell you vegan is the way to go. There’s Pegan, paleo, Atkins or The Zone. You name it, and it worked for somebody.
We are all so different that it makes perfect sense that there is not a single, one-size-fits-all weight loss plan for everyone!
Some people need more or less protein in their diets. Some do well with more fat or fewer carbs. And if you have the C677T gene mutation where you need methylated B12 and folate to keep you healthy, that’s something else entirely.
And that’s not all. There are even differences in the type of workouts you need to maintain a good weight.
You might be trying to jog your way to good healthy when you should be fencing. Maybe you’re doing a lot of strength training, when your body really requires more high intensity interval training.
Ultimately, some genes may block the path to weight loss for certain people, and cause them to get stuck in their weight loss efforts. But how can you overcome that?
Feed Your DNA the Foods it Needs
It’s been more than 20 years since we finished the human genome project. And this has created an entirely new class of study. It’s called nutrigenomics, the use of DNA testing to personalize your diet.
This type of dieting is by no means a new concept.
A while back, there was a big fad introduced by Peter J D’Adamo when he released his book Eat Right for Your Blood Type. He outlined different diet and exercise plans based on whether your blood type was A positive, B positive, O positive… or the negatives.
But that was back in the early days. Today we know that, genetically, there are hundreds of other blood subtypes.
And while research is still ongoing, there have already been some great results.
For example, we’ve discovered that people who have the obesity gene (FTO) react differently to protein than others. When they change to a high-protein diet, they drop weight, lose fat and improve their body composition. Exactly the opposite happens when they eat a low-protein diet.
What if you’re overweight and don’t have the FTO gene? Well, by looking at the SNPs in just 22 genes we can find out if you’re sensitive to carbohydrates and saturated fats.
If you are sensitive, a ketogenic diet probably wouldn’t be the best choice for you. That’s because it is high in saturated fats. So sure, it might take some weight off in the short-term. But it wouldn’t be sustainable and you would eventually hit a roadblock.
On the other hand, if you adjusted both your fat and carbohydrate intake with a personalized DNA plan – and combine them with the other nutrients and exercise your DNA reacts positively to – you can lose weight and sustain it over the long-term, along with all of the health benefits that come with it.
To really make substantial gains in accomplishing your weight loss goals, something like this might be exactly what you need.
Which DNA Test is Best for You?
There are several different companies that offer nutrigenomic DNA testing and create a personalized DNA-based diet and exercise regimen just for you.
Generally, they will send you back a full report with recommendations like menu plans, exercise recommendations and everything else you need to know to get started on your own. If you are a good self-motivator, go for it!
But one of the more interesting DNA tests is the one that the Cleveland Clinic uses.
The reason it stands out to me is because it’s administered by a healthcare professional at a clinic in your area. Many of them are functional physicians who treat your entire body, not just your symptoms.
Then, when the results come back, your healthcare provider will work with you directly to plan and chart your progress.
This creates an environment for success!
If you are struggling to find the foods and exercises that promote your personal weight loss goal, and if you want to improve your health, a personalized plan based on your DNA might be exactly what you are looking for.
SOURCES:
Zhang Z, et al. FTO genotype and 2-year change in body composition and fat distribution in response to weight-loss diets: the POUNDS LOST Trial. Diabetes. 2012 Nov;61(11):3005-11.
Vranceanu M, et al. A comparison of a ketogenic diet with a LowGI/nutrigenetic diet over 6 months for weight loss and 18-month follow-up. BMC Nutr. 2020 Sep 24;6:53.
