You work out. You eat better. You make positive lifestyle changes. Yet, your body isn’t responding the way you thought it would. To complicate matters, we are all responding to the Coronavirus pandemic in different ways. What gives?
The answer has to do with something called Functional Genomics. We sat down with Dr. Mansoor Mohammed for a new podcast episode, hoping to understand the unique relationship between diet, detoxification, addiction and more during the COVID-19 outbreak. Mohammed is a world-renowned pioneer in Medical Genomics with several patents and is one of the most sought-after speakers for Personalized Medical Genomics. He is on the Canadian Board for Autistic Research and is a consultant for the Toronto Center of Applied Genomics.
WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS?
Many of you have done a genetic test like 23 and me to get a report. Functional Genomics studies how all of your genes in that report work together. It treats your DNA as a language, rather than a black and white report.
Our bodies are an orchestral masterpiece playing together in harmony. Everyone’s body is different and responds differently to diet and exercise, which is why calorie counting is so harmful.
WHY GENETIC TESTS ARE SHORT OF THE MARK
Nothing in the human body works based on single genes. Again, it’s a SYSTEM. All of your genes have variables that affect the way the whole system works. And they will change based on external factors like environment, pollution, temperature, available food, etc. Without looking at the big picture, genetic tests are too simplistic and simply report how your body functions.
HOW DOES DNA AFFECT YOUR DIET?
First, understand that digestion works in three phases.
1. Your brain wants you to eat something based on genetics and preferences. This is actually the first step.
2. Your saliva breaks down food right away. Depending on your genetics, this process could be optimal or not.
3. Your body absorbs nutrients. When vital nutrients get into your gut, your body creates a taxi cab that picks up things like B12 and escorts it to parts of your body. Some of us have better taxis than others.
All three of those areas are affected by Functional Genetics, but the first part is important during the Coronavirus pandemic. Our relationship with food has a profound impact on our bodies. It is what comforts us and brings joy. With so many people self-isolating and working from home, food can be the comforting item that gets us through. So even though you know that piece of bread (a big FASTer Way no-no) is going to be bad for your body, your dopamine got the best of you. That’s the beginning of the digestion chain. Before we even begin to eat or chew, our metabolism has already begun. Our pleasure response is important because emotional responses often overrule our sense of controls. That’s because our brains respond differently to stimuli that draw us to certain foods.
Genetics play an important role in not only how we respond to diet, but what we are attracted to to begin with.
HOW CAN GENETICS HELP DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
The pandemic is teaching us one important thing: health from the beginning is critical.
1. What aisles at the grocery are most bare right now? When we go into crisis, we jump to processed foods, canned foods and frozen foods. These are high in sugar and salt. When hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes are two big indicators of serious issues, we are going after the very foods that cause such symptoms.
2. We don’t get enough sun exposure. Without Vitamin D, we’re not boosting our immune systems.
3. Mental health is key. Stressors are high about incomes, jobs, rent, loved ones. Based on our genetics, we’re having different responses to these stressors.
CAN A DNA TEST HELP US UNDERSTAND IF SOME PEOPLE ARE STRONGER AGAINST COVID-19?
In short, no. The COVID-19 virus enters our body through a doorway in our cells via receptors. Scientists are trying to determine if some people are built so that it’s more difficult for the Coronavirus to get in through the door, but so far, there is no evidence of that.
What we are seeing is those who have underlying health issues suffer the worst. Where we can make a difference is preparing our bodies to avoid those serious symptoms. Such as diabetes, obesity, etc. Those are good indicators of poor outcomes. Less than 20% of the United States population is metabolically healthy. That’s why it’s tricky to use data from other countries.
Genetic testing helps you discover what you’re susceptible to. Avoiding those problem areas can prevent you from getting underlying issues.
If you understand the way your body works, you can cater a routine and nutrition plan that keeps you on track and eliminates unnecessary stresses like inflammation and gut problems.
DON’T GET FRUSTRATED
Even if you’re sticking to the FASTer Way to Fat Loss program, you can still have results that are different than others. That’s why scales have no place in our program (you can go ahead and put it in your closet). There are many ways to progress and everyone’s body is different. Getting to know how your specific body reacts to workouts and food is key to optimizing results and reaching the goals you’ve set for yourself. If you know someone who needs to read this, share this article so they can better understand their body and become a leader in their community! The FASTer Way to Fat Loss program has a ton of information and coaching to help you eat better, exercise and live a better, healthier life.
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FASTer Way Yoga Mat
FASTer Way Mini Resistance Bands
