DISCOVERING MORE ABOUT YOUR BODY
Have you ever wondered what your unique genetic makeup looks like? I always emphasize that our bodies are very different from one another when it comes to giving your individual system proper care, so what works for me may not apply to everyone and we should all get to know ourselves better! There are basic principles for health - like drinking enough water, exercising, and getting vital nutrients through the foods we eat - though there are ways to find out what our body needs and what we should stay away from when it comes to diet and lifestyle choices.
Personal DNA testing
Cory and I recieved kits from dnaPower which contained cheek swabs for each of us to take a sample of our DNA, then we sent back to their lab with the convenient prepaid postage. We were excited to get the results back and find out how we could take better care of our bodies and how we could prevent potential future diseases based on our genetics.
My results
As we age, gene variations are more likely to be "switched on," so by knowing our DNA better, we can make more proactive decisions about overall health. This kit allowed us to identify our bodies' strengths and weaknesses, including what kind of diseases we may be predisposed to and how diet can affect unique needs. Knowing which nutrients the body metabolizes best (and which ones it doesn't) can be a huge step in the right direction for people looking to optimize their nutrition. For example, some people thrive on high carb diets, other on high fat or protein diets - it's all determined by our DNA! Also, figuring out the way your body responds to macro and micronutrients allows one to tailor their nutrition for better physiological outcomes.
Some results I could have made an educated guess about, such as the fact that my body responds really well to a high-protein diet and I'm at an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease due to my family background. There were other potential disease risks that I was unaware about until this testing, and I know now that there are certain kinds of foods that I should stay away from in order to have my body performing its best!
Overall, it's a good idea to have evidence of factors which may affect your health both now and in the future, even if you think you know what to watch out for! Exercise and nutrition can make all the difference when it comes to taking care of your system and living your best, most vital life.
