Maintaining health is among the most challenging thing that a person tries to do in their life. The primary reason is that it’s not easy to go through the journey without having an expensive trainer that no average earner can afford.
You may love hiking, climbing, running, playing a sport, or a range of other activities. You might even try to stick to various diets that famous people recommend. But still, you are not able to get to the level of fitness you want to even though you put in all, and more, of the work.
Being mentally and physically healthy is much more than something you try to do in your free time. It’s a lifestyle. But after going through all the exercise plans, dieting programs, and everything else, what do you do to reach your target? Take a look inside yourself.
Your genetic makeup can tell a lot about you, as it is the substance that makes you who you are. That is why genetic testing has been quite popular lately for people wanting to achieve a level of fitness that they’re not able to get with other methods.
Let’s take a look at how your DNA and health are related.
DNA Health Testing
In the world of medical care, when someone says jump, no one jumps. There needs to be proper research or testing to get sufficient evidence before anyone comes into action. Therefore, they might need to see the evidence and then do further testing to make sure the proof holds ground before the others jump.
That’s why several aspects concerning DNA testing raised questions among experts before the test was being recommended to the masses for any purpose. Mainly, is the gene in question modifiable? Can someone make a difference to the factors with a change in lifestyle and environment?
Now that there has been a substantial amount of research on DNA health testing, many experts can say that it can have benefits.
If you think about it, why is there no plan that is perfect for everyone? Why does every individual need a particular program that is made according to their needs? Your DNA is unique, and it can help you understand who you are so that you can focus your energy on what works for you. Also, it can be much cheaper than hiring a trainer.
Screening
DNA testing is commonly being used for a variety of reasons. That is why you must make sure that the home DNA test kit you purchase, or the service you pay, does precisely what you want from it.
For instance, some genetic tests look into your family’s medical history, particular diseases, ethnic backgrounds, and paternity.
While you can get all of those tests done, they may not help you achieve your desired level of fitness.
Furthermore, you must also find a genuine service or testing kit, as there are many frauds out there doing DNA tests for entertainment purposes.
Understand That DNA Is Not Your Destiny
It doesn’t matter what you might try to do, you are born with your genes and have to accept everything that it has in store for you. Whether it says you have a risk of developing a particular disease or nothing at all, you can’t get different DNA.
However, just because you have some flaws in your DNA doesn’t mean that they will ever show up in your life. The decisions that you make in the length of your life can have a significant effect on the odds, and the right ones might just make them tip in your favor.
Many medical conditions that have become quite common in the world aren’t affected by a single genetic cause. In fact, they come into effect by a range of small changes on multiple genes, as well as the way a person leads their life and their environment. These are called complex disorders and include type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
On the other hand, some diseases are caused by a single set of genes. These can’t be influenced by lifestyle or environment.
Genes Do Change
There is a process going on in your cells called gene regulation. This process allows cells to turn your gene on and off according to many different factors. Most of these aspects include diet, physical exercise, and stress.
That means you can develop certain illnesses because of your lifestyle, and not be affected by many because of the same reason.
Your Fitness
Many people adopt a mindset, and they believe they need to give everything they got into each workout session to get fit. While that mindset is fantastic, you need to also have an understanding or a path to go hard in.
If you tell a hard-working blind man to create a structure, he will work around the clock to make it. But without guidance, he will never be able to create your end product. He will end up making something useless to you.
A DNA health test can be the guide you need to achieve your desired fitness results. Depending on the test that you pick, you will be able to get specific details that can help you work out in the right way. That makes the test a crucial part of maintaining or achieving a high level of fitness.
What Can Your DNA Tell About Your Diet?
Since the diet is an integral part of your fitness, your DNA health test can give you quite a lot of information about that as well.
You may already be aware that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to diets, just like exercise. Your body has unique needs, and your genes can help you target those specifically.
Now, what type of diets can your DNA suggest? A lot of different kinds. Let’s look at the primary types of diets.
Low Carb
A DNA health test can tell if you have a higher than usual likelihood of having elevated blood sugar levels. This can be especially useful for anyone who wants to monitor their blood sugar, lower risks of developing heart diseases, or fight metabolic syndrome, among other things.
Balanced
A balanced diet is ideal if your DNA test reveals that you are not likely to have complications of high cholesterol or blood pressure. Although you might be able to tell from the name, a balanced diet includes eating a particular amount of each major food group.
Low Fat
You may have gotten this above, but a DNA test can reveal the likelihood of you having high or low cholesterol levels. You don’t want to see high levels of LDL and triglycerides, and low levels of HDL.
In case the test shows you are at risk, you may be suggested a low-fat diet to make sure the condition never presents itself.
Lactose-Free
A DNA health test can you if you’re at risk of having lactose intolerance. That can be very useful to find out if you might face unpleasant side effects from eating lactose in the future.
Finding this out can be very beneficial, as most people develop lactose intolerance as they get older.
Mediterranean
Depending on the various levels of health factors that your DNA test shows, you may be asked to try a Mediterranean diet. It has a high level of healthy fat and low carbs. That makes it ideal for maintaining healthy levels of blood sugar and cholesterol.
What Traits Can A DNA Test Bring To Light?
Caffeine Sensitivity
Caffeine is among the most consumed stimulant in the world. You might have a cup of coffee every morning to get an excellent start to your day as well. But were you aware that the effects of caffeine on your body are determined by your DNA?
In previous genetic tests, it has been found that some people have an incredibly high risk of heart diseases, as much as five times more, if they consume a certain amount of caffeine.
Potential to Recover
A proper exercise plan highly emphasizes the need for an excellent post-workout recovery. However, how your body recovers from rigorous exercises largely depends on your genes.
It might be necessary to have a good understanding of how your DNA affects your recovery rate. The reason is that it might be crucial for devising an excellent recovery plan to help you achieve your desired fitness results.
Risk of Injuries
Since workout sessions may involve plenty of strain, resistance, and high-impact motions, you might suffer some injuries. Fortunately, a DNA test can identify the risks of injuries for collagen-based parts of your body.
With an understanding of your injury risks, you can devise a better plan to make sure your workouts address preventative measures.
Risk of Iron Overload
Iron is an excellent nutrient that is vital for your body’s immunity and ability to carry oxygen. However, too much might lead to hemochromatosis.
Your DNA can help you understand whether you are at risk of overloading the iron levels of your body or not. This can be very beneficial in leading a healthy lifestyle.