FAQs
What is Genomics?
Genomics is the study of the human genome through specific panels to evaluate and understand how genes interact with each other and the environment, and how this may contribute to health, healing, diseases, detoxification, etc. This knowledge can lead to new ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease.
Using this information as a foundation to build upon as concrete evidentiary information can give precise information to each individual concerning their health recommendations.
Each of us has about three billion nucleotide pairs that make up our DNA, and only about .1% differs from person to person, but those differences are exactly what makes each of us unique and different from each other. This applies to HOW our bodies accomplish cellular actions.
At this time, Genomics have become a sub-specialty of almost all areas of health care. Medical practitioners can evaluate risks of pathology and diseases, pharmacology can evaluate risks of drug categories, and integrative practitioners can evaluate how nutrition and supplementation can affect health, healing, and longevity based on specific genomic panels.
Our panels offer assessment of gene variants that affect many of the following:
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How we assimilate and convert many vitamins
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Likelihood of certain deficiencies
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How we process certain neurotransmitters
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Identification of histamine response
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Inflammatory responses
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Identifiers of cognitive decline
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Efficiency of detoxification of heavy metals, chemicals, etc
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Clotting factors
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Identification of specific antioxidant needs
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Impact of stress responses
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Conversion cascades of numerous hormones
As a practitioner, I have often been frustrated by the approach of matching symptoms to supplements. This is an imprecise and not quantifiable method that too often leaves individuals confused on what they should be taking in. This has often applied to the limitations of annual blood work as well, in which we may only see a momentary assessment. We are living in an unprecedented era in which our food is non-nutritive and unhealthy for us, as well as depletion of our soils which means even when people try to eat healthy, our sources are depleted. I often say we no longer have the luxury to NOT supplement. But what should that look like? And with a crowded market that often uses synthetics, people do not know what they should be taking, in what forms, at what time, at what doses, or from what sources.
This is where a genomic panel can establish a starting foundation. It can be square one for building a health plan for life. We can assess with complete accuracy what areas to focus on and in what forms. Putting all the information together is unique for each individual, and the information is permanent. Your genetics remain the same whether you are six or ninety six.
The information allows us to make recommendations on further medical evaluation, monitoring, and lifestyle changes. True preventative medicine includes an action plan for life before issues, illness, or disease occurs. The information and resources available today can be integral in maintaining vitalistic health in our future.
Why Should I Consider a Genomic Panel?
What is Epigenetics?
Epigenetics is the science of how genes are expressed – meaning turned on or off. We are now aware that many factors (including diet, exercise, sleep, stress, chemicals, etc) determine if and when certain genes are expressed, or “on”.
As an evolving area of study, we continue to see how much the interaction between nutrition and our gene expression really matters. The ability to impact HOW our genes are functioning is an exciting and new field that will greatly impact how we influence health and healing.
Unfortunately, our health care system is overburdened with crisis intervention. The focus remains on diagnosis and treating disease or injury. There is very little offered as an action plan for healthy living.
When the average American is on six or more medications, most are overweight, in pain, massive increases in autoimmune disorders, mental health crisis, skyrocketing infections and illnesses of unknown origins, we often do not know where to even begin with a health care plan.
This is why seeing a practitioner who has education and credentialing in primary health care, orthomolecular nutrition, endocrinology, and genetics can offer a more comprehensive assessment and recommendations that begin to look at foundational reasons for illness and disease and what may be verifiable action plans based on genetics.