1.4) Studies Show a DNA Diet Outperforms Other Diets
Genetic tests are based on results of extensive scientific testing of genes and studies over many decades. However, the field of nutritional genomics, or nutrigenetics, is newer. Nutrigenetics is a science that studies the relationship between the genome, nutrition and health. It looks at not only single gene/single food relationships, but the broader combinations of genes and system biology. It includes how using genetic information to inform a diet and nutrition can impact overall health.
Thankfully, focused testing in nutrigenetics is growing. New studies are coming out that are demonstrating the benefits of DNA testing to help develop more targeted approaches to assisting people with their health.
The DNA diet versus the keto diet
An ageing population and sedentary lifestyle are contributing to a steady increase in common and costly chronic diseases. Studies show that a personalized nutrition regime using genetic information can increase both adherence to diet and post-diet outcomes leading to improved overall health.
In the past several years, social media and online health “gurus” have popularized the high-fat, low-carb ketogenic (or keto) diet as an effective way to lose weight and improve metabolic health markers.
The keto diet involves eating a very low carb, high fat diet to trigger the body to go into a state of ketosis. When this happens, the body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for fuel instead of glucose derived from carbohydrates.
Many of those who have tried the ketogenic diet report initial weight loss success in the first several months. However, eating a low carb, high fat diet can be challenging to maintain as a long-term solution to healthy weight maintenance. What’s more, some people report negative side effects from staying on a keto diet long term, including diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, mood fluctuations, accumulating extra fat in the liver, and symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies.
There are many health interventions, such as the keto diet, that promise weight loss results. Sadly, dieters often regain the weight they have lost or gain even more weight than they initially lost, resulting in a lack of motivation to achieve their desired weight and health goals moving forward.
Research is showing that the most sustainable approach to weight loss and weight management is by making small tweaks in your eating and lifestyle habits with personalized health recommendations. A “one-size-fits-all” approach to nutrition is generally not effective at keeping weight off long-term. Two recent studies published by BMC Nutrition and BMJ Nutrition proved precisely that.
Figure 1-3 Studies show that a personalized nutrition regime using genetic information can increase both adherence to diet and post-diet outcomes leading to improved overall health.
Comparing weight loss results between a keto diet
vs. DNA diet
The study conducted by BMC Nutrition compared the ketogenic diet to a DNA diet for weight loss. Participants were placed on either a ketogenic diet or a low glycemic DNA diet using genetic data from 28 SNPs. They were monitored in three intervals: 24 weeks, 18 months and 24 months.
Which group lost more weight?
After 24 weeks, the keto group lost more weight. However, at 18-months, the DNA diet group lost significantly more weight than those in the keto group who had regained some weight. Additionally, the DNA diet group reported better results for total cholesterol, HDL and fasting glucose levels.
At 24-months, 45% of the keto group subjects diverged from their nutrition plan due to family events, social gatherings, holidays, and a lack of motivation. Many of the ketogenetic group subjects had regained weight, while subjects in the nutrigenetic group continued to lose weight.
DNA diet outperforms keto diet for weight loss
This study demonstrates that long-term weight loss maintenance requires permanent lifestyle changes in exercise and eating habits. These changes may be significant but not necessarily radical or unachievable.
Although a keto diet offers the allure of rapid weight loss, compliance and adherence to a restrictive diet are often lower in the long-run.
As demonstrated in this study, a DNA diet promotes greater adherence, consistency, and sustainable weight loss. A DNA-based diet offers personalized nutrition solutions that are not complicated, merely requiring slight differences between diet types that result in remarkable changes over time.