A research team from Exeter University is in the midst of investigating nutrigenomic diets, which offer personalized eating plans. Currently, the research suggests that people should alter their eating habits based on their genetic make-up. The lead researcher of the study, Dr. Paula Saukko, says, "There have been claims that the public has been misled."
The DNA diet kits sold on the internet are not only expensive due to the customized information and personal consultation that can be involved, but they are also freely available. The 'DNA Diet' has seen increasing popularity as dieters and those wishing to slim down searching the internet for more information.
Recent research has suggested some links between genetic variations and being vulnerable to certain illnesses or disorders, which might react to certain diets. But work has not yet been done that shows the reverse; that eating a certain diet can protect against a disease to which your genes make you vulnerable.
"I think a DNA-targeted diet can be very helpful to consumers," said Mike Adams, author of The 7 Laws of Nutrition. "We know that individuals metabolize and process foods and nutrients differently, and that those individual expressions of biochemistry can have an enormous impact on their health outcome. If accurate correlations can be made between DNA and nutrient utilization by individuals, I see great promise in nutrigenomics."
"But most people," Adams added, "need to cover the nutritional basics first, such as giving up hydrogenated oils, MSG, aspartame, refined sugars and fried foods. We don't need expensive DNA testing to tell us that junk foods and chemical food additives are harmful to virtually everyone."