Have you ever been asked “Why do you take that vitamin or supplement?” and simply replied “Well, because it’s supposed to be good for me”? We all have, and while most of the time that approach is well intentioned it is rarely as individualized as it could be.
We have known a lot of the body’s biochemistry for years, but the problem was that we didn’t have a great way to predict which pathways may be causing problems. We could look at symptoms and lab values and determine what seemed to be the problem by order of elimination, but we could rarely know where to look ahead of time. Taking a snapshot of what your body is genetically predisposed to doing and have a head start with where to look can be a tremendous value and time saving approach. Not to mention, many of the pathways we can look at genetically are often not evaluated with lab work.
How do we best use this genetic testing and who should do it? The answer is easy… for everything and everyone. Ok, so I am being a little excited there, but seriously knowing your genetic predispositions (especially early in life) gives you tremendous power in terms of prevention and treatment! If you have a common marker MTHFR for example, making small dietary and supplement changes now can give you HUGE benefits down the road and prevent major issues. If you are already dealing with a major health issue, understanding your genetic predispositions allows you to know how and where to fortify your “foundation” so that your body is as resilient and fortified as possible for recovery.
How do you get started with this? First, you need to get a genetic test completed. I like 23andMe because for the price they are by far the most comprehensive option available and they give my patients a Discount, but there are lots of other options for doing the testing. Then, we would connect and I would interpret the data for you, putting together a protocol including nutrient (supplement), dietary, lifestyle, and lab work recommendations.
Call my office to set up a quick chat with me to discuss the testing, options, and how it can be used.
Read more about using the testing for Anxiety and Depression and MTHFR and Methylation.