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Can your DNA help guide your nutrition choices? Interest in personalized nutrition continues to grow, and many people are wondering whether genetic testing can make a real difference in their health, or if it’s just hype. Nutrigenomics is a legitimate and evolving field, but not all testing is created equal, and knowing who is qualified to interpret and apply the results is critically important in order to benefit from it. In this article, I’m going to break down what nutrigenomics testing is (and isn’t!), where to be cautious, and how it may fit into a personalized nutrition plan.
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This is the first step and if anyone is trying to sell you genomic testing that isn’t a medical provider who specializes in genomics (we’re talking MD, ND, nurse, or registered dietitian nutritionist), then you need to walk away. I’ve been approached by a lot of people who call themselves coaches or “nutritionists” who are working in this space and it just simply isn’t safe or ethical. So let me tell you about how I got into this field – I hope you’re already wondering – because it’s really, really important.
As you know, I’m a registered dietitian nutritionist with a masters and doctorate degree in nutrition. Dietitians or “RDN”s are required to have a university degree in nutrition, complete 1200+ hours of supervised practice (ie: clinical rotations in hospitals for a year), pass a national examination, and then complete a set amount of continuing education every five years. Different states will also license RDNs for the work they do.
My background is very clinical – the VA hospital, level 1 trauma hospital, oncology clinics – but when I got the opportunity to work at a start-up here in Seattle that focused on very personalized medicine through concierge nutrition which included blood and genetic testing, I jumped at the chance to learn something new. I spent nearly 4 years at Arivale (which is no longer, sadly!), and received in-depth training from the best scientists in the industry, including a founder who helped map the human genome in 2003. Because of this, I’m picky, picky, picky about genomic testing. And I’m a skeptic… but I’ve also seen the power in it. Nutrigenomics testing is incredible and it changes lives.
Your genes are your genes; they don’t change and that’s not the goal of our work together. Your genes are constantly responding to signals from your environment and lifestyle habits, which can influence how they “express” themselves. You can think of gene expression like a light switch turning on and off. A complex system in the body will dial certain genes up or down depending on the signals they receive.
Let’s look at how this might show up in real life. Many people come to me with questions about weight. Some genes are linked to a higher or lower likelihood of gaining weight, and knowing that can offer helpful insight. Instead of just saying, “Oh, I have that gene,” the information can guide next steps. For example, some gene variations may influence how much physical activity is needed to support fat loss. Others may affect how someone responds to certain types of fats. Research suggests that some people with specific gene variants may experience more fat loss when they reduce saturated fat intake.
Let’s be clear: these genes are not your destiny. Genetic testing doesn’t determine your future — it simply gives you insight into what you’re working with. From there, you can make informed choices that help you optimize your health and move toward your goals in a more targeted way.
Nutrigenomics testing is not the same as medical genetic testing, and it is not used to diagnose disease.
It does not assess high-risk gene mutations linked to conditions like cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, and it isn’t the same as carrier screening often done when planning a pregnancy. Those types of tests fall under medical genetics and should be guided by your physician or a genetic specialist.
Nutrigenomics focuses specifically on how your genes may influence nutrition, metabolism, and lifestyle responses — not on diagnosing or predicting medical conditions.
The information you gain can be life-changing. Research has found that when people work with a medical provider to connect genetic information to their individual goals and lifestyle, behavior change happens. You’ll learn insights about how your body may respond in areas like:
Genetic results aren’t meant to be a stand-alone answer — they’re a starting point. When paired with personalized guidance, this information can be translated into realistic nutrition and lifestyle strategies that fit your preferences, routine, and goals.
There are still many things genetics can’t tell us. While research in this area continues to grow, it’s important to understand what nutrigenomics is designed to do — and what it isn’t.
It will not provide:
If you’re looking for answers in these areas, other types of testing and clinical evaluations may be more appropriate.
There are a lot of things that genetics just can’t tell us. As the research continues to expand and improve, we’ll learn more and there will be much more information about how human genes affect health. But for now, there are a lot of limitations. If you’re looking for the following, genetic testing for nutrition isn’t the answer but there are places you can go to find these things out:
There’s a lot of noise in the genetic testing space — from miracle claims to supplement sales tied to your results. Not all programs are science-based, and not all companies are legitimate.
Working with a qualified healthcare provider, like an RDN, can help you navigate this safely. They should be able to explain their training in genetics, why they use a specific testing company, and how they apply results in a way that supports your health goals.
If you’re completing testing through an RDN, you can also feel confident they are using trusted partners that follow HIPAA and other privacy regulations to protect your information.
If you’re exploring testing on your own, look for companies that clearly explain their scientific approach and how your data is stored and used. This information should be easy to find and understand — if it’s not, that’s a red flag.
If nutrigenomics feels like it could be right for you, let’s talk! Reach out here and share a bit about your goals and what you’re hoping to improve. From there, we’ll talk through whether testing makes sense for you and how it can be used to personalize your nutrition and lifestyle plan.
Working together, we’ll use your results to guide meaningful changes and revisit them over time to make sure recommendations fit your life.
I can’t wait to work with you!
If you’d like more resources or want to see some of the work I’ve done in the nutrigenomics space, here are some resources to help you learn more:
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GINGER HULTIN NUTRITION SEATTLE
158 SW 148th St #1012
Burien, WA 98166
Phone: 509-557-0545
Fax: 206-539-0062
Ginger@gingerhultinnutrition.com