JOURNAL 06: Why you should consider genetic testing
Have you tried every diet under the sun but nothing seems to work for you in the long term? Perhaps you have tried going keto or low fat and actually gained weight and felt worse?
Have you ever wondered why some people feel amazing taking a supplement such as vitamin B12 and yet others feel no change or even feel worse?
Or maybe you want to understand why your hormonal symptoms don’t respond to standard treatment approaches?
The answer lies in your DNA.
You are 100% unique, made up of pairs of genes inherited from your mother and father. These genes strongly influence your biochemistry such as how you metabolise and transport nutrients, fats, neurotransmitters and hormones.
As a naturopath and nutrigenomics nerd, I often work with people who have complex case histories who have seen multiple practitioners and haven’t got the answers they need and so they come to see me as a last resort. This is my passion and I LOVE empowering patients with the knowledge they need to supercharge their own genetics and improve their health and wellbeing.
So, who can benefit from genetic testing?
Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
Chronic low-grade inflammation is the driver of EVERY SINGLE autoimmune and inflammatory condition including Hashimoto’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, endometriosis, PCOS and chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) which includes breast implants disease, to name just a few.
Understanding how your body deals with inflammation and oxidative stress is empowering. There are so many ways to positively influence and regulate your genetic activity and you will learn how to do this through diet, lifestyle and with the correct supplementation for YOU.
Metabolic diseases and weight issues
Metabolic diseases include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, obesity and fatty liver, as well as many others. DNA testing can uncover specific genetic variants that may be impacting on your risk of developing these conditions and allow you to offset these risks. Every single gene that is tested is known to respond to nutritional, herbal and lifestyle interventions, which means we can significantly influence your genetic expression and improve your health and wellbeing.
For example, there are several genes associated with hypertension and, depending on which genetic variants you have inherited, there are likely to be different interventions that will help you. Not everyone needs to avoid salt for example.
Similarly, understanding how your body metabolises and transports fats and lipids can help you to choose the right foods to manage cholesterol and promote weight loss. For some people, following a ketogenic or low-fat diet (as an example) can be the exact opposite of what they should be eating for health. If this sounds like you, genetic testing could be the BIG answer you are looking for.
Hormonal issues
I have worked with a number of women with oestrogen-dominant conditions, such as fibroids, various cancers and endometriosis, to help them understand how their body processes and clears hormones. In most cases, genetic testing has uncovered what is missing in their hormonal health picture and been the key to achieving the change they require. This is particularly important for women who have a history of hormonal contraceptive use, multiple IVF rounds and hormonal replacement therapy.
This is a perfect example of where DNA testing can literally be the missing link for women, as every single case has been different and therefore treatment approaches need to be different too.
Unexplained infertility and preconception care
There are so many factors that contribute to unexplained infertility including methylation issues (i.e. MTHFR genetic polymorphisms), hormone receptor issues and inflammation and oxidative stress. DNA testing has identified issues for many couples I have worked with over the last two years at Kismet and meeting these new Kismet babies is one of the best parts of my job.
How genetic testing works
Genetic testing is available in clinic and is performed by way of a simple, non-invasive oral swab which is then processed by one of two reputable Australian companies. Both companies have the highest standards when it comes to privacy and your data, and only test genetic variants that are evidence-based and known to have a significant impact on human health, unlike many commercially available tests.
Your results are then analysed, and a clinical interpretation is undertaken. This important part of the process requires an experienced practitioner trained in understanding and interpreting the tests (that’s me!).
Nutritional and lifestyle interventions are clinically shown to alter genetic expression or compensate for the effect of their variation. Following the clinical interpretation, a personalised treatment plan is provided which incorporates your genetics and environmental factors.
Ready to take the next step?
As an experienced naturopath and nutrigenomics specialist, I can organise genetic testing for you, determine your unique underlying drivers and develop a treatment plan that will include specific advice to optimise your genes and improve your health and wellbeing.
Written by Denise Berry BHSc
Naturopath
