Biochemical Individuality: From medicine for the masses to medicine for the individual
By Gloria Treister
We each are biochemically unique. This is a relatively new idea that is very important to our health. The concept has evolved through the findings of the Human Genome Project, the ongoing project of cracking the code of our DNA (Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid) by mapping and cataloguing human genes.
Each cell in our body contains DNA as well as the energy and ability to favor optimum health. Modern science has demonstrated how cells respond to nutrients, exercise and our environment and also how these factors cause changes in cell structure and behavior. So what does this actually mean, and how does it apply in our lives?
Each of us has an innate biochemical make-up that influences our personality, behavior, mental health, immune function, allergic tendencies and more. The number of different genetic combinations possible in a child from the same two parents is in excess of 42 million. Interestingly, we not only possess characteristics handed down from our parents alone, but instead have a diverse collection of characteristics from ancestors on both sides of the family. Except for identical twins, each human being has a unique biochemistry resulting in quite diverse nutritional needs.
For optimal functioning, we each have different nutritional needs and specific environmental requirements. In addition, our micronutrient requirements at age 30 are quite different from our requirements at age 40, 50 and beyond. Absorption difficulties, especially of vitamin B12, occur quite commonly as we age. Taking a “one-size-fits-all” pill or eating a “one-size-fits-all” diet to be healthier is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Companies with the right expertise can set the bar for a new approach to wellness by delivering state-of-the-art tests that result in DNA-customized nutritional solutions targeted toward the genetic identify of the individual. This “nutrigenomic” approach is emerging as a researched and reliable method for staying well and warding off illness and injury.
Who Am I Nutritionally?
Due to genetic differences in how our bodies process foods, most of us are deficient in certain nutrients and overloaded in others. Many people choose to enhance their health by improving their diet and using nutritional supplements without knowing which nutrients to emphasize and which to minimize. Commercial vitamin/mineral products are far too indiscriminate to be of much value because of our wide differences in genetic makeup. Even with an ideal diet, most of us have certain nutrients that are at very low levels; thus, the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) must be multiplied many times in order to achieve our personal healthy balance. On the other side of the spectrum, any nutrients in overload must be carefully avoided in vitamin supplements, or serious health problems can develop.
New Testing Capabilities
Periodic wellness screenings can improve our health. Patients willing to take greater control have access to an increasing array of medical tests that can assess their state of health and help them avoid costly health problems by identifying disease conditions early on. While a “traditional” lab test will look at the question of “What?” and identify a single cause of a problem with a separation of symptoms, a “functional” lab assessment asks, “Why?” Finding the right test for each individual helps direct the approach to wellness.
Included in a functional approach is the use of detailed blood, saliva and other tests to measure the level of oxidative damage, antioxidant protection and micronutritional status of our cells. Based on this information, specific nutraceutical regimens can be individually designed to balance out deficiencies and optimize cellular function.
Laboratory profiles can help doctors who specialize in nutrition, such as naturopathic doctors, tailor treatment programs specifically to the patient instead of relying on information used to treat whole classes of disease sufferers. These profiles provide information about the nutrient content in the cells and how well those cells absorb the various nutrients, resulting in a scientific and customized nutritional plan for better health.
Customized Core Nutrition is Key
Nutrient status is a vital foundation of health. Each micronutrient plays a uniquely important role in promoting optimal functioning of all our cells. When some of our cells do not function at their best, the foundation of our health is compromised, setting the stage for the development of disease.
It is a common misconception that the effects of poor nutrition are not that noticeable; especially if a person is not overweight or sick. However, if the diet is unhealthy, the supplementation is lacking or the person suffers from mal-absorption, many of the following symptoms may apply:
• Mood and energy levels are lower
• Digestive system is backed-up
• Toxins are stored and harbored in organs and tissues
• Energy is prevented from getting to important parts of the body
• Thinking is not as clear
• Productivity is reduced
• Sickness occurs more often
• Skin is swollen and inflamed
• Risk for chronic disease is increased
As a result, a person's relationships or career may suffer, which further decreases the quality of life.
Knowing our predisposition for disease helps us make smart decisions. For example, knowing the impact that nutrition has on our weight, blood sugar, heart health, cancer and joint disease, allows us to seek out an individualized solution to our health issues and encourages us to make lifestyle modifications to maximize our wellness.
Not surprisingly, many people are confused as they stare at millions of “one size fits all” products on the store shelves. Previously, the only way we were able to know whether a product would work or not was to try it. But beware, just because something is natural does not mean it is safe. Multiple vitamins and minerals made for the general public are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may do as much harm as good when taken by the wrong individual.
Because vitamins and nutritional supplements are unregulated by the FDA and are not subject to the same scrutiny as pharmaceuticals, their contents can be unreliable. On the other hand, nutraceuticals are pharmaceutical-grade supplements that have a beneficial effect on human health. High-grade nutraceutical companies manufacture as if they are regulated by the FDA and produce their products under strict compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification from the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA). To insure that you are getting the exact nutrients you need in the correct form and in the correct dose, look for companies that are in compliance and also get the advice of a trained professional.
If imbalances do occur and symptoms manifest, starting with a nutraceutical rather than a pharmaceutical intervention may be the least invasive and safer choice. Called “First Line Therapy,” this preferred approach is a starting point to cure imbalances, avoid potential side effects of and dependencies on more dangerous pharmaceutical drugs.
Empowered Wellness
Optimal health is not merely the absence of disease. Even the most minor symptoms can foreshadow more serious conditions later in life. This often happens via the "snowball effect," in which a minor imbalance within the body produces a cascade of biological triggers that can eventually lead to poor health and chronic illness.
People with better health habits survive longer, and in such persons, disability is postponed and compressed into fewer years at the end of life. By identifying and correcting functional micronutrient deficiencies, you are taking an important step toward maintaining optimal health for the rest of your life.
An award-winning 26-year veteran of the Northeast Ohio healthcare scene, Gloria Treister has always had a passion for wellness. After owning and selling a successful physical therapy business, she focused her energies on bringing together a collaboration of healthy aging medical professionals at Wellness Evolution. These individuals work together in assisting clients to achieve optimal health and beauty…naturally. She can be contacted at (440) 995-0303 or at Gloria.Treister@MyWellnessEvolution.com.
