“If you want to lose weight, keto’s still the best diet around.”
“I absolutely swear by the Mediterranean diet!”
“Intermittent fasting changed my life.”
“Sure, the DASH diet is boring, but it worked for me!”
Everyone thinks the answer to losing weight and finding their best health is one “right diet” away. Science shows they’re only half correct.
It’s not just about your diet, but how your genes interact with the foods you eat. In other words, your diet and your DNA combine to have a massive influence on not just the number on the scales, but how quickly you lose or gain weight, and even your overall health.
One major way how your DNA and diet can affect weight is the FTO gene, which has the not-so-nice nickname the “fatso” gene. When this gene goes rogue or in clinical terms, is a “variation”, keeping weight off can be much harder, even if you do all the right things.
The CYP1A2 gene (sorry, not all genes have great nicknames) is another example and can affect caffeine metabolism. This gene is why some women can sneak in that mid-afternoon cup of coffee and still sleep at night, while others toss and turn well past midnight.
Is My DNA My Destiny?
The short answer is…NO!
Genes can have an influence one way or the other, but it doesn’t mean our weight or health is set in stone. What we do and how we live can dial certain genes “up” or “down”, and sometimes even on or off without affecting the DNA sequence. This is called epigenetics.
What this does mean is that certain foods and diets may have a stronger positive or negative effect on you. For instance, variations in the LDLR gene can make someone more susceptible to high cholesterol, but that doesn’t doom them to spend their life battling cholesterol. They may just have to go light on the butter and cut down on foods high in saturated fats. The same goes for many other serious conditions, like heart disease or stroke.
How Do My Hormones Fit Into The Diet/DNA Picture?
One of the biggest ways genes affect our body is through any of the almost 50 hormones a woman has. As you can guess, this can cause all kinds of responses and reactions, from the mild to extreme.
Estrogen: Genes like CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 can affect how we metabolize estrogen. Slow metabolism can mean difficulty detoxing estrogen after it has been used, leading to symptoms of estrogen dominance and hormone imbalance. So if there are variations here, eating foods like cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts can help balance levels.
Insulin: Remember FTO? This gene can also influence insulin levels, so people with variations may need a low-glycemic diet to keep blood sugar stable and improve insulin sensitivity.
Thyroid: Differences in the DIO2 gene can affect your body’s thyroid hormone metabolism and where your thyroid levels should be in order for you to feel your best. (Not always what the lab range says). In some cases, foods high in iodine (seafood or some dairy products) and selenium (Brazil nuts, eggs) may be needed, toxins may need to be avoided or flushed, and lifestyle changes may need to be implemented.
Cortisol: If the NR3C1 gene has variations, it can affect our cortisol and how we react to stress. Herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola can help balance stress, while magnesium-rich foods like leafy greens or nuts can play their part to cut cortisol levels.
So, What Exactly Can I Do?
Step 1: Get Your Genes Tested
It’s almost impossible to predict if a change to your diet, or a brand new diet altogether, will do much without knowing which genes make you tick.
This is why I created DNA Made Simple. It’s a complete genetic testing package that lets any woman peer into their DNA to understand why their body behaves the way it does. For example, I discovered the keto diet I was struggling to stick to was NOT the best way for me to lose weight! Plus, I found out that my sluggish mornings weren’t because I was lazy, but that I was genetically predisposed to being a “night owl”.
Step 2: Match Your Diet To Your DNA
Got your results? Now you can start making the RIGHT changes!
A lot of women are shocked at what works and doesn’t work for them. For example, some people actually need more carbs to stay lean and strong. The thing is, you don’t really know what your body needs until you put your genes under the microscope.
Step 3: Tackle The Rest Of Your Lifestyle
Diet is a big part of your epigenetics, but it’s still only one part. How we exercise, sleep, or even how often we drink can interact with genes to affect health, weight, and risk of disease. So if you’re not “programmed” to deal with hours on the treadmill…STOP! If your genes don’t love jumping out of bed at 5am, don’t do it unless you really have to.
Once you know what your DNA “wants”, you can make lifestyle changes to see big changes with less effort. That’s what makes DNA Made Simple so valuable for women at any age. They see exactly what their genes are and know how to work with them to ditch the weight, clear up health conditions, and get their best health.
The Final Verdict?
Yes, diets can help lose weight, cut inflammation, and a host of other health benefits...so long as you know which diets your body will jump for joy at and which will leave you treading water at best. But without peering into your DNA, most women end up jumping from diet to diet and hoping the next one finally makes the difference.
Once you have real, genetic insights into your health and habits, you can stop the guessing game and change what you eat to see a transformation you’ll scarcely believe possible.
So…ready to take the first step?
