DNA Testing May Be Your Answer to a Healthier Life

• Our DNA sets the course for our health, but it doesn’t direct the ship.
• Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are small DNA changes that add up and have real impacts on our health.
• DNA testing is the first step in The Yasko Protocol and the beginning of your health journey.

 

What is DNA testing? 

Many of us just think about DNA testing as a way to trace our heritage. However, DNA testing can play an important role in promoting health and wellbeing. 

DNA is the code that tells your body how to develop, grow, and operate throughout your life. Your DNA is a long chain made up of a combination of four different compounds called nucleotides. These include thymine (T), adenine (A), guanine (G), and thymine (T). A sequence of nucleotides that tells your body how to make a protein is called a gene. Your genome is the collection of all the genes in your DNA.

DNA testing determines the unique order of the nucleotides in your genome. Despite our physical differences, we all share 99.9% of our genetic code. Therefore, just 0.1% of your DNA is what makes you a unique individual.

Holistic Health International’s DNA Nutrigenomic Test (focused on the methylation cycle) only needs to be completed once since your DNA does not change. As such, DNA Nutrigenomic Test results will not change over your entire lifetime either. For a basic understanding of the methylation cycle, please view Dr. Amy Yasko’s book Feel Good Nutrigenomics: Your Roadmap to Health, available online or in hard copy. 

 

What are SNPs and why are they important?

SNPs in genes and some noncoding regions can cause changes to our physiology that can potentially harm our health2,3. It is important to note, however, that disorders are most often caused by a combination of factors, including multiple genetic variations and environmental factors rather than a single SNP4,5. 

For example, common migraines are associated with several SNPs in genes involved in brain function, pain sensitivity, blood vessel health, and metabolism6. Another set of SNPs in genes that repair DNA in sperm cells is linked to male infertility7. Psychological symptoms like aggression and suicidal behavior have also been associated with specific SNPs8. There is even evidence suggesting that a set of 27 SNPs are associated with a longer lifespan9. 

As stated by Dr. Amy Yasko of The Yasko Protocol: 

The first step that emerged from the Human Genome Project identified genes associated with a particular health condition. The next step would be to use this information and look for the presence of genes that can cause health issues in an individual person. Rather than looking at complete gene profiles, it is also possible to look at particular changes in the "spelling" of your DNA in only specific areas of interest. In this way, you can more quickly get a sense of known genetic weaknesses. Companies that offer this service enable you to look at genes of interest that may affect your susceptibility to heart disease, inflammation, detoxification or simply your ability to absorb nutrients. These tests are available using saliva samples, cheek swabs, as well as blood samples.

In order to find relationships between genetic changes and the susceptibility to health conditions, this testing is done utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms, otherwise known as SNPs (pronounced “snips”). This process systematically compares genomes of those individuals with health conditions to the corresponding DNA of the population. To identify a SNP is a very arduous and time consuming process as there may be 400 or more genes in a shared region, making it difficult to identify changes and trends. However, once it has been identified, making practical use of this information is quick and straightforward.

For more details about SNPs, you can purchase Dr. Amy’s book Feel Good About Your SNPs and view her FREE online presentation. 

 

How can DNA testing promote good health?

You can work with your health care professional to determine supplementation based on the SNPs found through one DNA test for the rest of your life. For this reason, Dr. Amy Yasko feels that everyone should take a DNA SNP test to have the data you need to optimize your supplement choices over time.

With respect to SNP testing, there is one critical point that Dr. Amy feels is extremely important that everyone understands: There are approximately 25,000 genes in the human genome, but Dr. Amy personally believes in looking only at SNPs that are in well-defined pathways where it is clear how to add nutritional support to bypass imbalances. 

Having a laundry list of SNPs without a way to use nutritional support is not consistent with the way she approaches supporting your journey to better health through The Yasko Protocol. As such, whether you have a test that gives you 1,000 or 5,000 SNPs, this is still only a fraction of the total number of genes in your body. 

However, no matter where you purchase your DNA test kit, Holistic Health offers a helpful service to assist you on your journey to better health. To learn more, please visit www.KnowYourGenetics.com.

 

What is a DNA Nutrigenomic Test and how can it help you?

Nutrigenomics is a growing field that combines our understanding of nutrition and wellness with the latest advances in genetics to explore how our genes interact with our diets14. A key goal of nutrigenomics is to help doctors and nutritionists design personalized nutritional plans based on a person’s genetic makeup. 

In regards to health, wellness, and DNA testing, Dr. Amy Yasko of The Yasko Protocol states: 

While there are thousands of genes and SNPs that I could look at, for my health program (The Yasko Protocol) I have chosen to focus on the 30 SNPs that are part of a nutritional pathway in the body. It is not a panel that looks at specific genes that are involved in cancer or various disease states. Rather, it is a panel that looks at a natural nutritional pathway that is central to overall health and wellbeing. While many DNA panels work on the ‘more is better’ philosophy, I do not. Even if you ran a panel that looks at more than the 30 key SNPs I review, it is still only a small fraction of the total genes and SNPs in your body as you have about 25,000 genes in your body, some of which may have SNPs or mutations that impact their function.

I only believe in looking at DNA profiles and SNPs that yield information that can be addressed with nutrients. I do not believe in testing just for the sake of testing, which is why I am not a ‘more is better’ advocate in terms of the number of SNPs data on a given test. I believe that DNA testing without any knowledge of how to address the issues that are uncovered is unethical. I believe in targeted testing in a defined nutritional pathway so you have options for natural supports to bypass imbalances that are found and make a positive difference.

The beauty of looking at targeted SNPs in the methylation cycle is that it is a nutritional pathway, so you can consider natural products to help support imbalances or SNPs that are found in this pathway. DNA Nutrigenomic Test results that look at SNPs in your DNA should help to put your mind at ease by giving you suggestions that you can act on. Nutrigenomics is a form of genetic testing that supplies information that can translate into positive constructive action. I see the ultimate goal of nutrigenomic testing to serve as a guide toward proper supplementation to bypass genetic weaknesses identified by SNP results. I believe in running follow up biochemical tests to be sure that the nutritional supplements added have the desired positive impact. My ultimate goal is to use nutrigenomic testing as a guide to proper supplementation to bypass genetic weaknesses, under the purview of your own doctor.

 

How do I get started with nutrigenomic testing?

Nutrigenomic screening begins with DNA sequencing, but it does not end there. For it to be truly effective, you need to know where to look in the genome. Fortunately, Dr. Amy Yasko has pioneered nutrigenomic screening as the foundation of her program, The Yasko Protocol. 

This protocol focuses on a pathway called the methylation cycle, which is critical for most aspects of human health. Dr. Yasko has pinpointed 30 SNPs within this pathway that interact to either support or damage this process. 

Holistic Health International offers DNA testing services to identify any potential weaknesses in this pathway. In fact, Holistic Health offers a free Methylation Pathway Analysis (MPA) whether or not you purchase your DNA test kit from their site. 

If you want to learn more about nutrigenomics, you can purchase Dr. Amy Yasko’s book Feel Good Nutrigenomics or view it online for free at www.FeelGoodNutrigenomics.com. Likewise, her book Feel Good About Your SNPs may help you to better understand how SNPs can affect the methylation cycle. This book goes hand in hand with Dr. Amy’s free presentation available online at www.FeelGoodSeminars.com. 

 

References

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