YOUR DNA AND YOUR DIET
¿Do your genes determine what you should or should not eat? Welcome to the world of Nutrigenomics. Genetic experts enlighten us on the subject.
¿What is Nutrigenomics?
¿Have you ever wondered why some rice eaters have a slightly slimmer figure than those who in an effort to lose weight don't eat it at all? If we could know how our genes would respond to what we eat, it would be easier to decide what to eat and what to avoid.. This has resulted in the branch of science called Nutrigenomics, which has evolved in recent years. This This branch of science studies the interaction between nutrients and genes, and their impact on our health and diseases. "Because the genetic makeup of humans varies from person to person, our responses to the food we consume also differ. In a broader perspective, people's genetic makeup is based on geography, and genetic susceptibility to food ingredients changes from one individual to another,"explains Dr. Dnyandeo Chopade, Medical Consultant Geneticist and Director of the Nashik Health and Genetic Research Center.
¿What is gene expression?
To understand the complexities of this science one needs to understand the concept of gene expression, a process through which information from our genes is used to produce the proteins required for growth, development, repair and function of our body.. "Our genes are expressed in response to different stimuli in our environment, including the food we eat. So, sometimes, our genes are expressed in response to different stimuli in our environment, including the food we eat, nutrients in our food cause an altered expression of our genes, resulting in various conditions such as obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases.. This explains why the different human races (with their different genetic compositions) have different eating habits. Their susceptibility to disease is also different. This means that a certain nutrient may have a positive effect on one individual and absolutely no effect on another, as well as probably causing a negative one on a third,"explains Dr. Chopade.
Analyzing this theory further, Dr. Javier Escobar, CEO of OverGenes, says, "I am very excited about this theory.Genes can be turned on or off due to various factors, including food, our lifestyle, physical activity, or even exposure to various chemical and physical factors in our environment.. Whether a specific gene remains inactive or is manifested to a lesser degree or at its maximum expression, it is controlled by many biochemical nutrient molecules. The study of this variable expression or suppression of genes due to specific diets is known as Epigenetics.. The nutrients we get from meat, fruits and vegetables definitely vary in their protein content, having a variable impact on the expression of our genetic makeup..”
¿Written on the body?
Humans around the world are different from each other because they have evolved in different environmentsand, consequently, have developed internal and external characteristics that have helped them to survive in their habitats.. For example, darker skin pigmentation provides an advantage against prolonged exposure to the sun. "It is clear that different environments provided different food sources, and that humans adapted to the foods available in those environments. A recent Cornell University study found that people with vegetarian ancestry, are more likely to have genes that rapidly metabolize fatty acids of plant origin and that the descendant generations of these individuals have an increased risk of cancer when they switch to a non-vegetarian diet.. This also means that even vegetarians will naturally have high cholesterol if they carry these genes, however, this is still an emerging field of research with much more to be discovered in the coming years. There are still many specific questions about the interaction of the Indian genetic type with modern foods that need to be investigated.says Dr. Abdur Rub, Co-Founder of Xcode Life, Chennai.
It is interesting that large number of Indians are lactose intolerant. According to a study by the Sanjay Gandhi Institute, Lucknow, approximately 66 percent of North Indians and 88 percent of South Indians cannot metabolize lactose. "Milk is obviously not for us, although cheese has a lower lactose content than whole milk, making it more tolerable for lactose intolerant people.says Dr. Rub. Indians are genetically diverse across the geography of the country. So if you are adapted to digest fibers grown in your native environment, then you can extend that ability to fibers that were not grown locally. This means that if you find it easy to digest oats, you might also find it easy to digest ragi. However, speaking of nutrigenetics, we have barely scratched the surface and there are still many interesting discoveries to be made," says Dr. Rub.
Food is no longer just a source of calories containing protein, carbohydrates and fat. Nutrigenetics sees it as information that can be considered a remote control of our genes, turning them on and off. through a variety of modifications. “The problem arises when unwanted gene activation is triggered by the wrong food or even the right food at the wrong time.. Consequently, our goal should be to understand how to control these genes through food. For example, if a person is genetically intolerant to gluten, consuming foods with gluten, such as wheat, can unleash inflammatory genes in an unpleasant way, resulting in various unpleasant symptoms such as swelling, numbness and pain. Today it is possible to understand which foods activate our genes and how to use this information optimally." Dr. Raut adds.
The right diet
Genes cannot be altered and remain as they are throughout life.however, the way in which they are expressed can be controlled. While there is no one right diet for every person, different peoples not only consume different foods, but their bodies also use them differently. "The people of northern Canada and Greenland and other places where the temperature is below freezing, eat and digest more fat than other peoples.. This adaptation to local nutritional opportunities has resulted in the evolution of genetic differences around the world. Undoubtedly, this indicates that we should eat as much natural and locally produced products as possible.,"says Dr. Escobar.
Eating like a global Indian
With the growth of globalization, Western diets have become dominant. This coincides with the increase in obesitytriggered by a sedentary lifestyle. There are studies on the high rate of diabetes among people who have switched from their native diet to a Western diet. An investigation of the University of San Francisco on the risks of different communities has made surprising findings. He claims that the people from South Asia (inhabitants of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka) have high rates of heart attacks and strokes, and comprise 60 percent of cardiac patients worldwide.. They also have the higher heart disease mortality rate in the United States compared to that of other ethnic groupsand carry a higher burden of cardiovascular risk factors at a younger age. Having said that, in a 2014 study conducted by Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA), the team found that both people strongly rooted in their South Asian cultural traditions, as well as people with weak cultural ties, were at high risk of heart disease. - indicated by the thickness of its carotid arteries. "Bicultural people who maintained some of their traditional beliefs, but adopted some of the Western customs, had the least carotid artery thickness. So we see that it is not only Westernization that is affecting the risk of cardiovascular disease, but also those who may be more entrenched in cultural decisions - expressed either through their diet, exercise of their beliefs, or social pressure. It is not only about biological risk factors.,” says Dr. Chopade.
Some keys to implementing a genetically based diet
- .. Consume foods with anti-inflammatory properties if you suffer from symptoms of inflammation, such as pain, swelling, acne, numbness and heartburn.
- .. Antioxidants mask the harmful effects of some undesirable genesor they can trigger the synthesis of beneficial chemicals in our body that help us reduce oxidation (low energy levels, dermal problems, hair-related problems, etc.).
- .. Using the right mix of active vitamins such as Vitamins B6, B9 and B12 can help those genes that fight anemia, anxiety, heart disease, etc. These can be citrus fruits, and leafy vegetables, etc.