Genetic Analysis – Your Key to Optimal Health!

Since the Human Genome Project was completed in April of 2003, the scientific community has been scrambling to find practical applications of human gene sequencing. We’ve heard everything from cloning sheep to correcting genetic flaws that could prolong our lives in the future…but what can our understanding of genetics do for YOUR health TODAY? It turns out that a few labs have brought genetic discoveries to market that make your health journey a more specific reality.

The Birth of Epigenetics

In 13 years and with 1 billion dollars, scientists around the world were able to sequence the approximately 20,500 genes that make up the human genome. This solidified the groundwork for the field we refer to as genomics, while clarifying those of epigenetics and nutrigenomics which study how we are programmed to respond to our environment and our diets respectively. Companies like Ancestry.com and 23andme.com (traditionally known for their family genealogy) have expanded their offerings to include gene testing along these lines. From hereditary disease predispositions to even the types of exercise you are more genetically adapted to perform, these services have begun creating insights into how YOUR genetic sequence can hurt or help you on your health journey. Other companies like Nutritiongenome.com have specialized even further into the nutritional side of things to let you know which specific foods your body needs to function to its genetic potential! Things have come a long way since Conrad Waddington hypothesized in 1942 that our genes could determine different expressions within our environment…and now you get to benefit from these advancements.

Ancestry or 23andme?

At Oracle Health, we’ve taken the genetic tests from both of these companies in an effort to see how practical the health information that they provide would be to our clients. Ancestry’s “Ancestry Health” offering costs $179 and would be best for those wanting to know if they have predispositions for hereditary diseases and a couple general health markers. They test for breast or ovarian cancer traits, Lynch Syndrome, cardiomyopathy, endurance fitness predisposition, muscle fatigue time and metabolism of six nutrient groups (vitamins A, B12, C, D, E and omega-3). 23andme’s “Health + Ancestry” service costs $199 and checks for late-onset Alzheimer’s, Celiac and Parkinson’s Diseases as well as Type 2 Diabetes; so if any of those are more prevalent in your family, this could be a better choice for disease markers. The “Carrier Status” section of 23andme’s offering also features 44 different reports for other genetic diseases compared to the 3 that Ancestry offers, so they are more thorough in that department. While Ancestry tests for nutrient metabolism and 23andme does not, 23andme DOES check for markers related to how deep and how much you are predisposed to move while sleeping, your genetic wake time and your genetic weight that Ancestry does not. If you are curious about more in-depth checks for genetic disease risks, general wellness or even physical traits (like balding, toe length, dimples, etc.) then 23andme is generally the best choice. If you are more concerned about specific disease markers or nutrient metabolism, then Ancestry would be better. Both have their merits, depending on what you are looking for, and include their genealogy products, so either way you’ll get to find out your percentage of different heritages at roughly the same price for either choice.

Don’t Forget About NutritionGenome.com

Unlike the more commonly known options above, NutritionGenome.com skips the genealogy and focuses more specifically on how your body responds to foods and your environment. This test costs $359 and includes 8 sections that detail your genetic needs for over 60 pages of information. If your health questions include “is XYZ diet healthy for me?”, “how does my body process ABC nutrient?”, etc. then this test would be more appropriate. It looks at how you digest and metabolize nutrients, how you create and utilize hormones/neurotransmitters, cardiovascular and exercise predispositions, and much more. While the first two companies are more appropriate for genetic disease predispositions, NutritionGenome.com wins out when it comes to how you should tweak your diet and lifestyle to perform optimally.

The Gamma Gate of Oracle Health

By taking one or more of these assessments in the Gamma Gate of your Health Journey, we will evaluate your results and you will be able to incorporate recommendations most specific to you that are needed with your Health Atlas. The blood labs or other metrics taken in the Alpha and Beta Gates will change as you move closer and closer to your goal, but genetics stay the same overall so these tests are only taken once, and the specific recommendations will remain unchanged. Genetic testing usually takes up to 6 weeks to receive your report, so getting started in the Alpha Gate will allow you to move forward in your journey while awaiting your results to be processed.

By taking one or more of these assessments, you will be able to incorporate recommendations most specific to you that will always exist. In the Gamma Gate of your Health Journey we will evaluate your results to incorporate the specific recommendations needed with your Health Atlas. Incorporating such genetic information into your interpretations can be likened to finding the specific ambrosia (elixir of the Greek gods) that will bring your best health forward! With either of the genealogy and health reports, we are able to narrow down long term supplementation needs in your Beta Gate recommendations; while with the NutritionGenome.com testing, your long term dietary recommendations can be divined. If you are curious to figure out which of these tests could be used to optimize your lifelong health journey, we encourage you to set up a FREE consult with us to discuss further. Now that you know the basics about how genetic testing could benefit you, we look forward to teaching you more about how your personal genome can be used to refine your Heroic Health Journey in the future!