By Lena M Butler
Introduction
If you are constantly struggling with your weight, then you are probably very much aware of the hundreds of diets that you can choose to follow. In fact, you've probably tried a few of these diets. You may have also noticed that a specific diet does not always work for everyone who tries that particular program. People may follow one specific diet, but not everyone will have the same results.
A genotype is a person's genetic makeup. Genotypes constitute a cell, organism or individual. Studies show that there is a connection between genetics and a person's diet and lifestyle. Surprisingly, genotypes can provide a multitude of information. This information can be used to create a diet tailored to the needs of your body.
Eating Right For Your Genotype
You can obtain a massive amount of information just from your genes. Your genotype can give you insight as how your genotype responds to dietary fat, for example. Data like this can help you figure out if you need to follow a high fat diet or a low fat one. You can also see if certain eating behavior traits such as binge eating, overeating or snacking are in your genes.
Your genotype can supply you with valuable information on your nutritional needs. Knowing information such as needing more folic acid, vitamin E or even beta-carotene is extremely important when it comes to your diet.
Your genes can also show if you have any genetic risks for obesity, elevated blood pressure or blood sugar or even elevated triglycerides. Knowing such information can be beneficial to you since you can take necessary preventive measures.
You will have a better chance of success with your diet if you have the right information on your genotype and understand what works best for your body.
The GenoType Diet
Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, a naturopathic physician, explains in his book "Change Your Genetic Destiny," that individuals can reprogram their gene responses to lose and maintain weight, repair cells, avoid illness and age well. He refers to epigenetics, which is the study of the interaction between the environment and genes. An individual's lifestyle and diet can be tailored to suit one's genotype in order to effectively achieve optimum health.
With his groundbreaking research, D'Adamo creates a customized program that works for an individual's genetic makeup. This program is designed to result in weight loss, maximize one's health and prevent or even reverse disease. D'Adamo claims that with environmental factors such as lifestyle and diet, you can control when and how your genes express themselves. With the right approach, you can turn on good genes and turn off the bad genes.
Factors such as your blood type, family history, fingerprints and even measurements of your jaw angle can map out your genetic makeup. With this information, you are able to discover which of D'Adamo's six genotype profiles are right for you: the Hunter, Gatherer, Teacher, Explorer, Warrior and Nomad. Each profile has a flexible list of foods that enhance that particular genotype and each profile also has a list of foods that should be avoided or limited.
A Study on Genotype and Weight
One can reap benefits not just in terms of weight loss but also in terms of factors related to weight loss, such as a person's blood lipid level. A small study was conducted on 141 overweight women, all of whom were premenopausal. These women followed four different diets.
Studies show that people who followed the proper diet tailored to their genotype lost approximately 5.3% of their body weight. Those who were following a diet that was not designed for their genotype only lost about 2.3%. The study also included low carbohydrates and low fat versions of the four diets. The women who followed the right diet for their genotype saw about 6.8% weight loss, while those who did not follow the diet suited for their genotype only lost approximately 1.4% of their body weight.
This Article is written by Lena Butler, the author of [http://abouttesting.testcountry.com/]Test Country Articles a longer version of this article is located atAll You Need to Know About Eating Right For Your Genotype, and resources from other home health and wellness testing articles are used such as [http://www.testcountry.com/products.html?product=1856]Genetic Testing.
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