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Download A Beginners` Guide to Nutrigenomics
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* By Jack Shapter * To understand nutrigenomics, you need to know about genes. A gene is defined as being, "The fundamental, physical, and functional unit of heredity". This means genes are the code that make you who you are. A gene is a segment of DNA which is responsible for your characteristics. It's found on a specific segment of your chromosomes which are inherited from your parents. Genes provide instructions to produce certain proteins and can be turned on and off by several factors like switches. This is where nutrigenomics comes in... * * Everyone is unique, inside and outside. You may have heard before that no two fingerprints are the same; this is also the case with people's genes. That's why everyone looks different (excluding identical twins but they make this more complicated so we'll ignore them for now). In addition to all looking different on the outside, we are also all slightly different on the inside. Our cells all contain our unique DNA and genes. * * Nutrigenomics takes ideas put forward by epidemiology and tailors them to an individual's unique genetic information. Epidemiology tells us the optimal diet and lifestyle for the average person. Nutrigenomics takes the average optimal and specifies it to the individual's needs. Different genetics can cause individual people to be susceptible to certain diseases and illnesses but can also cause certain nutrients to affect them more. * * Different blood types have different properties: Type O=less susceptible to certain strains of cholera but the effects are more severe if infected. Resistant to malaria and syphilis and some cancers. Type B=slightly resistant to cholera. Type A=Even more resistant to cholera. Type AB=Virtually immune to cholera. * * Changes in the environment cause certain genes to turn on and off in order for you to be best able to survive in those conditions. Nutrients are part of the environment and therefore, can influence the way genes are functioning. This is why it is quickly becoming an ‘individualized’ form of medicine, which works with the unique genetic profile of each person. * * Polymorphisms are small changes in our genetic code that we inherit. Each change came about in order to increase survival chances by helping us adapt to environmental challenges. Every single polymorphism is beneficial in the correct environment. Therefore, by tailoring the environment for an individual, it will benefit them in a unique way that wouldn't necessarily benefit others. * * As genes respond to the environment, and everyone's genes are different, we can manipulate each individual person's environment to maximize the benefit to that individual. This can be achieved through: developing a positive mental attitude, exercise plans, diets, mindfulness and other changes to a person's lifestyle. * * Therefore, patients can be genetically screened and a diet can be created to suit them. * http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article/future-nutrigenomics * Nutrigenomics is a promising field of study and is the future of personalised diets and health care. It is helping to explain many health problems that had previously defied explanation and therefore is offering hope in the prevention and cure of these issues. Thank you for reading and I hope this has been informative for you. Jack *