Now, follow a diet plan according to your genetic type

Dr Abdur Rub, Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder, points out that genetics can help create a personalised approach to prevent lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension. “We are more focussed on personalisation of human life. If you go to a dietitian, you get a low carbohydrate, low fat diet plan. There is no personalisation. But if two people go to the same restaurant and eat the same food, one will put on weight while the other may not. 

This is where genetics comes into play — from the way a person’s metabolism works right down to the colour of the hair or eyes,” explains Dr Rub, who holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida, USA. Dr Rub says they use an algorithm to read a person’s genetic type.  “The saliva test, which is simple and non-invasive, is used for the genetic assessment. 

People can spit into a tube, which is the easiest thing to do, and the cells floating in the saliva are separated and the DNA extracted, which is then tested. It takes around three to four weeks to get the results. We use the algorithm we have designed to configure the data according to genetic type. 

This is done using multiple traits like sensitivity to weight gain. Some people may be more prone to weight gain if they consume a little extra carbohydrate while some extra fat doesn’t affect them so much and vice versa. We also look at macro nutrient profiles as well as carbohydrates, fats and proteins. For instance, a classic example is the MTHFR gene, where if you have two good copies of the gene (one from each parent), your conversion rate of folic acid to methionine is 100%. But if one gene is less efficient, the conversion rate drops to 60%. 

If both genes are less efficient, you only covert 30%. Regardless of how much multi-vitamins you consume, the conversion efficiency is determined by your genes,” he adds. 

Dr Rub also reveals that Indians are more predisposed to lifestyle diseases when compared to other ethnicities. “If you have good genes and a bad lifestyle, the outcome is bad. If you have bad genetics and a terrible lifestyle, there is a very bad outcome. That is the reason why India ranks so poorly in many health metrics such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease. It is well documented that in Indians, cardiac disease strikes one or two decades earlier than other ethnicities. So, Indians need to be extra careful,” he cautions, adding that Corporates should play a larger role in the wellbeing of their employees, as poor health will directly impact their productivity.

This expert rues that awareness of preventive medicine is alarmingly low, despite high incidences of lifestyle diseases. “Prevention and health consciousness in India should start at a much younger age. Many think that one blood test a year is preventive healthcare. That’s not the case. The best thing you can do in preventive healthcare is understand where you are today and what you could do to actually extend your lifespan. 

Exercising daily for 30 minutes can cut down risks by 50%. Maintain your body mass index (BMI). Ensure that your diet plan is sustainable. Many people follow new diets that are a fad. But can they stick to it for three years? As much as 99% of people cannot sustain their diet plan beyond a few weeks. With genetic typing, you get to understand your body and know what you can do to take care of yourself,” he concludes.