“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending” – CS Lewis. No words have been more true – in life, in love, and in health.
A few decades ago, you would have been laughed out the door if you thought that understanding your genetic makeup could possibly save your life. Today, genetic testing has made strides in detecting the BRCA gene, which is related to certain forms of cancer. Armed with this knowledge, women and men are saving their own lives by undergoing preventative surgeries to nip it in the bud.
Welcome to the future of health and life.
It has been said that the first person who will live to the age of 200 has already been born. Advancement in the medical field over the next few decades will be able to support this reality.
But what about now? What about finding out about health issues that when treated now can resolve bigger and more sinister health concerns?
Do you know whether you are lactose or gluten intolerant? Do you know what you have an intolerance towards? Or if you have a predisposition for absorbing certain types of vitamins?
At the last population count in 2017, there were 7.53-billion people on Earth. The reality is that no two humans are genetically identical. If you put this understanding into perspective, your very own blueprint through genetic testing could be tantamount to your health.
This is what DNAlysis does, using technologically-advanced equipment to analyse your mouth swab sample in order to determine what your specific health issues are. From imbalances to deficiencies to intolerances, they will send you a map of your issues which you can counteract with exercise, diet and nutrition.
They also give you an insight into genetic predispositions, injury risks and a deeper understanding of how you can change your diet, exercise and lifestyle to counteract potential future health risks.
Dietician Jessica Pieterse helped explain the concept of genetic testing for health benefits.
“Testing your genetics through DNAlysis can provide you with specific guidance to improve several aspects of your health. Genetics takes some of the guesswork away.
“You can lose weight easier, reduce risks for diseases, feel healthier, take trial and error away when starting new medication and overall optimise your health. Health impacts all aspects of our lives and you can see the beneficial ripple off effect,” she said.
What we didn’t know before is that there are different versions of a gene, and these versions can react differently to certain foods like gluten, sugar or caffeine. If you are on the same diet plan as a friend, but don’t seem to be getting the same results, this could explain why – your genetic structure is different.
Pieterse says it’s never too late to make changes to your lifestyle to benefit your health. The genes they focus on are affected by environment, diet and lifestyle.
“If you improve these factors, they can positively effect your genes and so improve health-makers. We say that genetics load the gun but lifestyle pulls the trigger. Genetics itself therefore, also won’t lead to a poor health outcome. Only if we combine poor genetics with a poor lifestyle,” says Pieterse.
If you were looking for the answer to be healthier, testing your genetics can provide you with specific guidance on how to improve several aspects of your lifestyle.
Prevention is better than cure, after all.
For more information on how to be tested, visit www.dnalysis.co.za
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