Using genetics to tailor your diet to prevent disease seems to be a good way to address lifestyle changes, for example for those who have a genetic predisposition to diabetes. Do you think that with new technology, people are now approaching health from a genetic perspective solely and not from an empirical or observational perspective? In other words, are we now becoming too reliant on genetics to dictate to us what we should eat on a daily basis? If our bodies need a multitude of nutritional supplements, wouldn't it seem obvious that maybe we should diversify our food? For many Americans, this can be difficult. What factors contribute to the lack of diversity of food in meals in the US? And how about in other countries? According to the causal mechanism model, several component causes work in combination to cause disease. In the article, Farooq Ahmed says, "Teasing out the relationship between food and disease is a tricky task, one that involves tens of thousands of people and encompasses hundreds of nutritional and genetic factors." How do you assess the strength of the role of genetics and nutrition on disease?
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http://www.nature.com/nature/
I think that one of the factors that contribute to the lack of diversity of food is the globalization and exportation of the Western diet found around the world— namely, fast food diets. Specifically within the U.S., the diet is high in animal products, fried foods, and salty snacks. These food types are hugely responsible for the risk of heart attacks and strokes globally. On the other hand, a “prudent diet,” as the article describes, is one rich in fruits and vegetables. For instance, Americans who eat a lot of meat, have high levels of biomarkers which points to high blood pressure, as opposed to healthier people who have a principally vegetarian intake.
ReplyDeleteI assess the strength of nutrition and genetics on disease to be strong. For example, the gene activity of polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs), found in leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach, lowers the levels of fatty acids and triglycerides in the liver, speeds up the breakdown of fatty acids, and limits fatty-acid synthesis. These functions create an important advantage to health and disease because it fights bad cholesterol as well as atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke. Further, the International HapMap Project found that SNPs that are controlled by PUFAs affect the ability to lose weight, which is a significant role in managing diabetes. This shows that disease is characterized by the contribution of genes and metabolic pathways alike.
Conversely, a lack of adequate nutrition also develops disease (e.g. diarrheal). In other words, the fruits and vegetables do not only help Americans maintain healthier lifestyles, but the sole availability of healthy food can prevent disease in the impoverished people of developing nations.
i do not think that with new technology that people are approaching heath solely from a genetic perspective. i believe that genetics may aid in the understanding of what we see, the phenotype, when environmental factors are not enough to explain the outcome.I think it would be beneficial for individuals who eat a healthy diet but still develop diseases, such as diabetes, to know if they are not capable of digesting certain metabolites properly, thereby putting them at an increased risk for developing such diseases. This would enable such individuals to modify their already healthy diet to one that would aid in their own prevention.
ReplyDeleteI think diversifying our diets is easier said than done. Many individuals are satisfied with their current diets, they may not wish to change or try and do not enjoy the taste of a healthier diet. Also eating healthy food, especially produce, can be very expensive, limiting those who can afford such nutrients. Also, not all individuals have access to supermarkets and by their food at convenience stores which sell cheap, low nutrient foods. Other countries do not have the same access to resources as Americans which may limit their access to balanced diets. I think genetics can aid in understanding why otherwise healthy individuals develop some diseases but may not be as beneficial for individuals who have very poor diets and many different diseases.
I agree with T. Contreras that one of the main factors that contributes to the lack of diversity of food in meals in the US is the globalization of the Western diet where fast food has taken over. Fast food provides a quick fix for busy American families, leaving children with diets that are high in fats and fried foods. Even if a child knows their family history puts them at a higher risk for such diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure, they are unlikely to see the connection from what they eat at a young age to what problems this could cause 30+ years down the road.
ReplyDeleteThe strength of the role of nutrition and genetics on disease is clearly very strong, as the article states that PUFAs such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 act more like hormones in their powerful ability to change gene expression. However, as the article points out this issues needs to be addressed at a mass scale to truly be valid and cannot be proven by looking at the expression of single genes. The interplay between genetics, diet, and exercise is too complicated and studies need to involve massive amounts of people to look at the role diet and exercise play on innate susceptibility to disease. Without looking at massive amounts of people, disease cannot be attributed genetics or lifestyle factors alone and could be due to a number or combination of these elements.
I do not agree that the sole availability of healthy foods can prevent disease, as this problem needs to be addressed from a young age, when children are least likely to take advantage of these healthy foods if not encouraged by their parents. Knowledge of a genetic predisposition to disease allows us to take advantage of prevention options, but by the time the person is old enough to make the necessary changes and steps to a healthy lifestyle, most of the damage may already be done.
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ReplyDeleteTwo factors that contribute to the lack of diversity in American diets are the widespread availability of unhealthy eating options (specifically, fast food) and the associated costs. Fast food chains offer a quick fix for individuals, especially parents, who are busy and do not have the time or energy to prepare a nutritious meal. These restaurants can be found almost anywhere and can provide an entire meal (albeit an unhealthy one high in saturated fat and salt) in just a few minutes. Additionally, the food offered at fast food chains is relatively inexpensive - a McDonald's Happy Meal costs $1-$3, which costs much less than the ingredients needed to cook a full meal of, for example, rice, vegetables, and chicken. The inexpensive nature of fast food that has become so common in the typical American diet, in combination with the easy access and availability of such eating establishments, has greatly contributed to the lack of diversity and overall decline in healthiness in meals in the US.
ReplyDeleteI think that individuals need to utilize a combination of both genetics and nutrition in order to prevent disease. If someone finds out that they have a genetic predisposition for diabetes, they should adopt a diet, such as the "prudent diet" mentioned in the article, in order to prevent diabetes from developing. For children, this means providing them with nutritious foods and teaching them the importance of healthy eating habits, as K. Brady mentioned. Overall, prevention must start early, and this can be accomplished with proper genetic information regarding disease status or predisposition.
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ReplyDeleteUltimately, as when looking at any health issue, it is important not to get caught up in the genetic determinism mind set. It is foolish to think that one's genetics dictates what foods will nourish their body best, just as it is unrealistic to think that one's genes alone can dictate whether one will develop a disease over the course of one's lifetime. The environment, socioeconomic factors, and lifestyle all contribute as well, and the list doesn't stop there. Currently, I don't feel as though the general population is catching on to the idea of nutrigenomics, but I wouldn't be surprised if, in the future, it was marketed as the latest lose-ten-pounds-in-ten-days nutrition fad. Genetics is a very advanced concept to most people, most of who don't know too much about it but do know it's a very promising field that is likely to have great implications for the health of the population in the future. This makes for a very attractive marketing strategy, as consumers are interested in the newest, most advanced products that make appealing promises. Due to the patchy, unregulated nature of DTC genetic tests, including nutrigenomic tests, making such promises to the public without them having been proven is both possible and likely. Combined with the general population's limited knowledge and provided education concerning the subject, there is potential for a popular but misleading new product.
ReplyDeleteIn light of this, it is important to educate consumers about the reality of the connection of food and nutrition to one's body and genes, so they can look at nutrigenomics both skeptically (as they should) and realistically. There needs to be more research done on the true connection between genes and nutrition, and how much of an impact the former can have on the latter. Without this knowledge, companies can easily promote their products making promises that could very well lead to misuse and wasting of resources.
Although many people are approaching health from a more genetic perspective, especially as research in genomics is expanding and developing, I don't necessarily believe that people are relying on that perspective alone when it comes to deciding their daily food intake. Applying the knowledge of one's genetics to one's nutritional habits is definitely a beneficial way to prevent disease and develop a healthier lifestyle, especially for those who have a genetic predisposition to diabetes. There are those people who specifically use their knowledge of genetics to take precautionary measures and purposefully adapt their diets according to that information. The article mentions how tailored diets can become early therapeutic interventions and be effective forms of prevention. But, even with new technology to help access genetic information, many people are still eating what they want when they want, without worrying too much about future consequential impact on health. Several people are uninformed and thus do not take initiative to find out what can be done. People also often find it difficult to diversify their food and receive the multitude of necessary nutritional supplements, settling for what is easy, convenient, and cheap. As the other students have said, the convenience, regarding ease of access and price, of fast food has definitely contributed to the inability of Americans to effectively do so. Most people have the tendency to fall into a comfortable diet pattern, which may not always be conducive to their health. I believe that people should thoroughly consider the role of genetics in their lives, but not feel overly inclined to base their entire future on it. Research and various past occurrences have showed the impact of genetics and nutrition on disease and so people should use this information to cautiously maintain their health for the future.
ReplyDeleteAlthough many people are approaching health from a more genetic perspective, especially as research in genomics is expanding and developing, I don't necessarily believe that people are relying on that perspective alone when it comes to deciding their daily food intake. Applying the knowledge of one's genetics to one's nutritional habits is definitely a beneficial way to prevent disease and develop a healthier lifestyle, especially for those who have a genetic predisposition to diabetes. There are those people who specifically use their knowledge of genetics to take precautionary measures and purposefully adapt their diets according to that information. The article mentions how tailored diets can become early therapeutic interventions and be effective forms of prevention. But, even with new technology to help access genetic information, many people are still eating what they want when they want, without worrying too much about future consequential impact on health. Several people are uninformed and thus do not take initiative to find out what can be done. People also often find it difficult to diversify their food and receive the multitude of necessary nutritional supplements, settling for what is easy, convenient, and cheap. As the other students have said, the convenience, regarding ease of access and price, of fast food has definitely contributed to the inability of Americans to effectively do so. Most people have the tendency to fall into a comfortable diet pattern, which may not always be conducive to their health. I believe that people should thoroughly consider the role of genetics in their lives, but not feel overly inclined to base their entire future on it. Research and various past occurrences have showed the impact of genetics and nutrition on disease and so people should use this information to cautiously maintain their health for the future.
ReplyDeleteAs previously mentioned, our diet lacks variety for many reasons. Mainly, many Americans eat what is cheap and convenient, which never really changes much. We also stay put in one place and rely on foods imported from different places for variety, which is a luxury that we don't take advantage of. Some countries have to rely solely no crops that they grow for nutrition.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that people are too reliant on approaching health from a genetic perspective yet since the information that we hear continuously contradicts itself. This is a case when it is important to remember that disease is multifactorial, and the role of individual genetic nutrition is probably not the biggest contributor. Given what we know now, the role of genetics and nutrition is probably not very strong. However, I think there is a lot of potential in using genetics to assist in creating a diet for and individual, as not every person is going to have the exact same needs. Like many other preventative methods, it has to be understood that a genetically catered diet is not a fix for anything, but may be a good preventative choice when used as a supplement to an otherwise healthy lifestyle. -Becca Adlman
I feel that as a country in itself, the US has been using genetic components to make the dietary needs of people with certain issues today. Several products of been produced for lactose patients, gluten-free patients, etc. Granted, we have modernized our production of foods but this is a good idea that this switch has come about. Today, with the help of genetic testing, the nutritional needs of the masses can be met much easier than by figuring it out on their own. A more effecient way of going about fixing a problem is always benifitial so with genetc testing, it is good that a better way to asses the nutritional issues of the masses has been produced.
ReplyDeletethe information is not soely in the hands of genetics but a good amount has been placed intheir hands. It is placed here so that a better understanding can be drawn as to why nutritional changes hace been made.
I do not believe that the public is now approaching health solely from a genetic
ReplyDeleteperspective. Although the field of consumer genetics is gaining momentum I don't think
that this is the driving force behind people changing their diet. I think most people
still base what they think they should eat off of the nutritional pyramid that says how
many fruits and vegetables we should eat per day. Sadly, many people especially in our
country do not meet the base line goals of nutrition not because they don't know what
they should be eating but because they don't have the money or time to eat correctly.
Lack of diversity in our foods can be contributed to our commercialization of food chains
that are cheap, quick, and easily accessible. Unfortunately, these foods are the least
healthy and contribute to higher rates of obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Our
meals do need to be diversified but so does the availability to low cost organic healthy
foods to everyone across the country. To asses the strength of the role of genetics and
nutrition it is important to conduct a study that encompasses many different ethnicities,
ages, and other demographic factors. The only way to see what the real genetic component
is would be to tease out all the other confounding factors that influence nutrition and
disease. Once this is done and more research is conducted I think it would be incredible
to educate people on their risk based off of their genes. By knowing that they are
predisposed but they can avoid a certain disease or condition by eating healthy there is
the possibility to reduce health care costs for them as well as the population as a
whole. It would also be important though when presenting this information to the public
to include that although their genes predispose them to a certain disease eating better
may not necessarily prevent it no matter how hard they try. Diseases are multifaceted and
are not only influenced by genes and nutrition but other factors like exercise as well.
In my opinion, the main factors contributing to the lack of diversity of food, as noted above, are convenience and time. In this country we have gotten so used to living life at a fast pace that we often resort to easily accessible fast food which is also very convenient. Another factor to take into account is socioeconomic status of the individual as many do not have the privilege of having to choose where their food comes from. I believe this is also true in other countries where people may not have the resources. However, I also feel that cultural beliefs have a stronger hold in other countries, and therefore, with the cultural beliefs comes diversity in meals. I believe that genetics and nutrition play a vital role in the possibility of a person getting a disease because I believe they are the two biggest sources for risk factors. If one looks at family history, he or she may get an inkling that their a certain disease or disorder is passed down in the family. After finding this out, if one is to take preventative measures such have a nutritious healthy diet; it lowers the amount of risk factors present. For example, if a person knows that diabetes is in their family they can keep away from certain foods (sweets) that will lower their chances for the onset of diabetes.
ReplyDeleteTime and money is always an issue that people have to tackle on a day to day basis. Finding out the right macro and micro nutrients needed on an individual basis would be a right step forward towards bettering lives of each person. However, as the article mentions, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact needs of each and everyone of us. I personally am big into nutrition and if I were to know how my genes played into digestion and regulation of certain aminos, lipids, and carbohydrates, I would be able to choose the correct kinds of food to not only better myself in the short term, but long term.
ReplyDeleteThe article mentions the schism between professional advice and insight on genetics and how they sometimes contradicts each other. Much like these contradictions, genetic testing and nutrigenomics is an ever evolving field, so individuals and families should take these kind of information with a grain of salt. If one day nutrigenomics and genomics as a whole is perfected, prevention of diseases by the interplay of diet and life style choices would be a relatively inexpensive and practical approach.
It appears as if the research conducted in regards to approaching health is more from an observational perspective, because the studies being conducted seem a little superficial by only assessing the diets of individuals with diabetes and the affects they have on them, which is only producing results that the average citizen has heard many times before (i.e. eat you fruits and vegetables, stay away from foods high in saturated and trans fats…). I feel that in order for people to actually start being more receptive of this information is if a rigorous study explicitly on the diet and gene interaction is necessary. In such a study, information on which foods and how these foods actually affect changes and mutations in genes, consequentially producing diseases and disorders. If what I am saying is not clearly stated, take the inconsistent findings about tea consumption and cancer risks found in the introduction of this research paper; these findings were incongruent largely because the research being conducted was on different sample populations. These studies did not exactly test the direct link between genetic components and food behavior, rather the link between food behavior and a phenotypic expression was found. And although a phenotypic expression is linked to a genotype, this link does not directly correlate a food behavior to the characteristic expression, because other things such as timing or exposure, and environment can be collaboratively responsible for producing this gene expression. Thus the results of these tests are only speculative, and aren’t as sound if there was a way to ethically conduct research on the direct relationship between genes and consumption of certain foods. Thus it is difficult to directly assess the role of genetics and nutrition in disease.
ReplyDeleteThere are several factors that impact persons ability to access foods and although some factors are controllable, others are not, however it is the inter-workings of both controllable and uncontrollable circumstances that predispose individuals to increased health risks. Globalization, industrialization, environment, socioeconomic standing, personal preference, and accessibility are among some of the many factors impacting a person’s consumption of food. In many remote foreign countries, the inhabitants thrive off of a few stable foods, which limits their access to variety and also predisposed them to increased risks of certain diseases or acts as a protective mechanism. I believe the big issue comes with industrialization and globalization because this is how the less healthy eating habits gets transferred to nations where the most need for improved food allocation is needed due to increased prevalence of malnutrition and starvation.
Similar to what everyone has mentioned, the American diet is one that is easy, cheap and convenient. The majority of Americans are aware that the foods they’re eating may not be healthy for them but that still isn’t enough to cause major changes to take place. Moderation should be the key for Americans to embrace. It shouldn’t have to be a choice between the western diet and the prudent diet, but rather a responsible balance.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, there’s definitely a link between genetics and diet, and the outcome of disease. Anytime we can become more aware about ourselves, and adapt our lifestyles to better our health in the future, we should take advantage of the opportunity. I agree with Stephanie Jackson and that if an individual discovers a predisposition to a certain disease, and their risk for developing that disease can decrease by a change in diet, it wouldn’t make sense for he or she to not make the change. But similar to Waylon said, this is still an evolving field and no drastic measures in lifestyle should be made without waiting for further development and research in the field.
First off, I do not believe people are solely tailoring their diets and health based on the genetic perspective. But rather as previously mentioned peoples diets in the US are based on SES, convenience, affordability, accessibility, and so forth. Even though people may hear and read about the genetic perspective based on diets and health, people are going to eat whatever they want. I also think that people base their diets on what they have heard from research and the media for many years now. For instance, like not eating a lot of high caloric food items, reducing the amount of salt intake, and so on. Since the genetic perspective on diets is a new field, it will take time to become embedded in the US populations lives, so that people will actually utilize these recommendations.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we need to consider both genetics and also incorporate other foods into our diets that research has proven to be good for us. Utilizing both of these areas of knowledge to tailor our diets will really help and benefit people in the long run.
Technology that is able to find genetic variations is still relatively new. Since it has not been explored completely, to most the possibilities of it seem incredible; it does not seem impossible that your genes could be the key to discovering the perfect diet for individuals. However, not enough is known yet about genetic testing to rely solely on it. Most people will not think about this new technology critically, though. If a doctor or professional tells them that they should tailor their diet a certain way because of their genes, I believe most people will take the information at face value. I do think that for many, their reliance on genetics to dictate what we should eat is too much of a focus. Empirical and observational perspectives have been around for much longer than genetic technology, and the results many have gotten from them have proved their successfulness. Rather than thinking genetic testing is “better,” I think it is important that we begin to incorporate genetic testing into the other perspectives, so diets are looked at from every angle. This should guarantee the most successful diet plan.
ReplyDeleteIt is also known that we need a variety of diets. It is difficult for many Americans to get such diversity in their daily diets. The most obvious factor contributing to this for many people is having low socioeconomic status. If they are not able to afford a healthy diet, then it is impossible to have a healthy diet, whether they know what the ideal diet for their bodies is or not. The lack of diversity is also probably because of many peoples’ busy lifestyles. Therefore, they eat and cook what is quickest and easiest, which may not include all the necessary nutritional supplements.
I believe that a person’s health and their diet should not solely be determined by their genetics. I think that in order for many to improve their health, lifestyle changes need to be made. Knowing one’s genetics could definitely help someone with a predisposition for a disease, but it is not the only factor that should be considered when making a healthy diet. In addition, many who hear they are not predisposed will not change their diet, but the possibility of developing a disease is not solely genetic, so the importance of stressing health regardless of genes is important.
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ReplyDeleteDue to all of the technological advancements made thus far, especially ones in genetic testing I do think that people are starting to take advantage of these and incorporating these results into their everyday life, especially when it comes to things like diet. However, I do not think that people are doing this solely form the genetic testing perspective, I do still think that people are taking other perspectives into account but still incorporating genetic tests to make these decisions. Specifically, I think that this use of genetic results to approach changes in diet and lifestyle are more used with people who are for example diabetic than with people who do not particularly have some type of disease, but instead just are considered overweight. I think that people are introducing this idea of using these genetic results but they are far from becoming completely reliant on them because in the end, this is something that has been newly introduced into our society and I think that some people do not completely trust some results from many of the genetic tests that can be done today so they are hesitant to rely on these results completely and consequently use these results to make huge changes in their lifestyle and diets when they do not know if these are completely correct.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to using genetic tests to asses diet and lifestyle changes, this is an idea that should be taken very carefully because of its complexity. As it says, there are many factors and different relationships that every one of us have in our bodies that make things work like they do and maybe why everyone gains weight form different things that other people don't gain weight from. Therefore, if genetic tests are used to identify things such as the "fat gene" or what your body takes in that causes more fats than other things, then it must be taken carefully because it does involve complicated relationships and mechanisms that might not be correct in the way they explain what is actually happening inside and may make these genetic tests unreliable.
Even with new technology, I do not think that people are now solely approaching health from a genetic perspective. I do not think that people are relying on genetics to dictate what they should or should not do on a daily basis. People will continue their routine that they have always had in regards to exercising and eating because it is just that: a routine. It is easier to continue a habit and disregard the idea of change because it is easier to do what is “normal” for them. It would have to take personal determination to change exercise and eating habits. It seems obvious prior to genetic testing to have a multitude of nutrients in our diet and eat well-rounded meals. Genetic testing is not necessary for this understanding; however, some individuals may need the testing to be persuaded into taking supplements instead of doing it on their own. Factors that may contribute to the lack of diversity in diet are financial and availability restrictions as well as possibly dietary allergies. Contamination of food products is a factor that affects food diversity in other countries, along with the restrictions mentioned previously. I believe that there is a correlation between genetics and nutrition but I do not think that that is the only contributing factor. Diet, exercise, and the generic overall health of an individual is a personal decision that may be slightly affected by genetics but is not solely reliant on it.
ReplyDeleteI think that using genetics to tailor diets is a wonderful and very appealing new approach to tailor lifestyle changes, however I do believe that it will somewhat difficult to implement in a global approach due to the lack of diversity of food, like many of my colleagues have mentioned. Most people, at least Americans, like the idea of something that is quick to be prepared and tastes good and is inexpensive, and generally speaking these foods are almost always extremely fattening and bad for you. There are many products out there that are being sold that are said that they are organic and filled with nutrients but more on the pricey side of the spectrum of foods, which “turns off” most people because they are either incapable or unwilling to spend the extra dollars for.
ReplyDeleteIn the past decade or so, there has been more advertising and information being shared about the hazards of having an unhealthy diet and the importance of adding prudent choices to ones diet because it leads to a healthier life and it prevents disease. Although some people have made some changes, there has not been a big wave of people going out and buying all of these fruits and vegetables or a large decline in the amount of fast food chains closing (in fact it has increased). I think this transition will be much easier in countries that have strong traditional values and do not follow the typical western diet because it would not be much of a change for them. Unfortunately I think the only way a big change will happen in the westernized culture to change diets is if something extremely drastic happens in a person’s life, and sadly that may possibly be too late.
To start off, I definitely agree with Jeanette and what she said about genetics and our genetic compositions' ability to act as information sources for our own health. However, I think something that has not been brought up is the differing mentalities between Americans and the non-Western world, on the subject of what I will call the "healing power of food". By this phrase, I mean to explain that I generally think there is a Western reliance on medicine and diagnoses to serve as an excuse mechanism, rather than a motivation; moreover, I believe that Americans are more reliant on quick-fix medicine, rather than doing something like adjusting their diet and eating more healthy foods.
ReplyDeleteIn examining the issue of nutri-genomoics, I do not think it is fully understood in Western society that foods can serve as a medicine for many disease. For example, in gallbladder disease, although surgical measures are extremely effective, diet adjustment, if started early, can prevent the initial cause of the disease. In considering genetics, if one knew they had a predisposition to gallbladder disease, they could take measures to cut out high-fat foods and other unhealthy food, rather than just getting a Cholecystectomy. Moreover, I think currently, genetics is acting as too much of prescription for medical procedures, than medical interventions. In acting as prescription and excuse mechanism, I think the western world has relinquished responsibility of their health, and seem to have developed a mentality that, "well its just my genes, I can't change them,: when in fact, research has painted a very different picture. Overall, if the Western world can adopt a personal health care model, based on ownership and responsibility of their health, I think genetics could be extremely useful in the way it was intended, and lead to better health outcomes overall.
As many others have already said, a lack of variety in many Americans' (and increasingly in other parts of the world as well) diets is a product of a number of factors, such as access or lack of access to healthy food options, convenience, and affordability of certain foods. While most people will certainly agree that most fast food options are unhealthy, they are easy and inexpensive, which to many time- and money-crunched individuals and families outweighs the benefits of a healthier but ultimately more expensive diet. Before any attention can be given to customizing diets on the basis of genetics, steps need to be taken to ensure that everyone at the very least has access to affordable healthy food options.
ReplyDeleteWhile the field of nutrigenomics may have potential, it is still a new and rather unknown method of approaching nutrition for the general public. As genetic testing becomes more readily available and affordable, I can see a greater demand for individualized services on the basis of a person's genetic profile. However, "tailoring" diets based on an individual's genetic profile should be more of a fine tuning, since the same general guidelines apply to most of the population. Even within the cross-cultural, international studies discussed in the article, while some groups may have displayed a different pattern of metabolites than others, a high-fat, high-sodium diet rich in animal products produced higher blood pressure and greater risk of heart attack across the board. Everyone should try to increase their intake of nutrient-dense foods and minimize calorie-dense and nutrient poor foods, regardless of whether they're more or less susceptible to diseases/conditions like type 2 diabetes or higher cholesterol levels. Nutrigenomics should come in to make more minor adjustments, such as increasing the intake of leafy vegetables even more for individuals at higher risk of developing or with type 2 diabetes, as the PUFAs found in leafy vegetables have been found to alter gene expression to maintain normal glucose levels. At the same time, we must be careful to not place too much emphasis on genetics and diet, since activity level and environmental factors also play a large role in the development of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. While improving Americans' diets is certainly important, it is equally important to address lifestyle and environmental factors such as physical inactivity and smoking, since these factors can have profound effects on gene expression as well.
As many others have already said, a lack of variety in many Americans' (and increasingly in other parts of the world as well) diets is a product of a number of factors, such as access or lack of access to healthy food options, convenience, and affordability of certain foods. While most people will certainly agree that most fast food options are unhealthy, they are easy and inexpensive, which to many time- and money-crunched individuals and families outweighs the benefits of a healthier but ultimately more expensive diet. Before any attention can be given to customizing diets on the basis of genetics, steps need to be taken to ensure that everyone at the very least has access to affordable healthy food options.
ReplyDeleteWhile the field of nutrigenomics may have potential, it is still a new and rather unknown method of approaching nutrition for the general public. As genetic testing becomes more readily available and affordable, I can see a greater demand for individualized services on the basis of a person's genetic profile. However, "tailoring" diets based on an individual's genetic profile should be more of a fine tuning, since the same general guidelines apply to most of the population. Even within the cross-cultural, international studies discussed in the article, while some groups may have displayed a different pattern of metabolites than others, a high-fat, high-sodium diet rich in animal products produced higher blood pressure and greater risk of heart attack across the board. Everyone should try to increase their intake of nutrient-dense foods and minimize calorie-dense and nutrient poor foods, regardless of whether they're more or less susceptible to diseases/conditions like type 2 diabetes or higher cholesterol levels. Nutrigenomics should come in to make more minor adjustments, such as increasing the intake of leafy vegetables even more for individuals at higher risk of developing or with type 2 diabetes, as the PUFAs found in leafy vegetables have been found to alter gene expression to maintain normal glucose levels. At the same time, we must be careful to not place too much emphasis on genetics and diet, since activity level and environmental factors also play a large role in the development of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. While improving Americans' diets is certainly important, it is equally important to address lifestyle and environmental factors such as physical inactivity and smoking, since these factors can have profound effects on gene expression as well.
I think that nutrigenomics has a more beneficial place in developing better nutrition for developing countries than it does for reducing obesity and excess in the developed world. As the article described, malnutrition contributes to very significant deaths worldwide and influences the effectiveness of vaccines. Nutrigenomics can improve these outcomes by rethinking aid programs such as the development of more nutrient rich crops, etc.
ReplyDeleteHowever in developed Westernized countries that have problems with excess, I think changes in the diet are more appropriately targeted by lifestyle and cultural factors rather than new gene studies. As K. Brady said, a lot of Americans grow up with poor diets as the norm in their household, and therefore overlook it when they think about why they develop health conditions. J. Esposito mentioned that healthy foods are more expensive, but I think that this is more of a perception or issue of how important it is to people to eat well - most Americans think of it as normal to buy expensive meats and don't value as much buying produce which is actually much cheaper. These cultural influences on diet are so significant, that to focus on genes would be to look at a something relatively minor in comparison, and can also lead to blaming genes for conditions vs. taking initiative to change a poor diet. I think that the obesity epidemic in the US is not something that can be entirely explained by genes, but given the large numbers of increasing people with weight related health problems there has to be an even more important cultural and social factor on diet and exercise. I think it would be more worth it to look into reducing processed foods, sedentary lifestyle, etc. than to be too concerned with obesity genes.
Having genetics as an indicator of how nutritional foods can prevent disease is an increasing approach that has the potential to benefit society in many ways. The diabetes example is a prime one that illustrates how genetic information can significantly help improve someone’s future years of life. If a teenager receives a genetic test that indicates to her that she or he has the gene for diabetes, that individual now has the knowledge and potential to prevent getting or worsening her condition. Another example that illustrates the benefits of this approach is getting tested for Celiac Disease, which is a stomach disorder that worsens extremely as individuals eat Gluten. The condition and symptoms that results from eating Gluten, which they are unable to digest, can be severe and life changing. If individuals were tested for the gene for Celiac Disease, they would have the knowledge and potential to adapt to the appropriate eating habits and improve their life.
ReplyDeleteOn the other spectrum, I do believe that this approach has the potential to be abused in our society. Like the article describes, “there are several component causes that work in combination to cause disease.” People with little or no knowledge about this new approach might become too reliant on it due to its flawless view from the outside; however, nutrition is not the only aspect that dictates disease. I think this idea has the potential to save lives and prevent disease, however it is pertinent that its use be monitored.
I agree with T. Contreras regarding the globalization and exportation of the Western diet found around the world that leads to a lack of diversity in the American diet. American food includes processed preservatives, antioxidants, bleaching, coloring and saturated fat among other harmful components so our diet is rich in animal products, salty snacks and fried foods. Fast food in America is cheap, fast, easily accessible, and available anywhere one goes in the US. I do not believe Americans will approach health from only a genetic perspective with the new technology available. Even if young adults know they are prone to certain health problems, especially overweight individuals, it is unlikely they will change their eating habits over the long term. They are not likely to make the genetic connection unless a physician informs them they are at risk for a dietary disease like diabetes. Like J. Tingley said, American’s dependence on medications serve as excuses to allow the “healing power of food” to form our mentality, instead of actively changing our lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteThere is clear evidence that states the strong relationship between genetic factors and diet. For example, as mentioned in the article, “InterAct and Interheart both demonstrate that the metabolic pathways at the epicentre of dietary-related illnesses, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are strongly related.” Every American, especially parents, should adopt “prudent diets” to provide their children with early prevention starting with nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables and important health/diet information. We should take responsibility for our health.
I know a lot of us have thought it, but why is it our skinny friends can gobble french fries and you struggle to stay slim attempting to crunch on carrot sticks and celery all day while running 80 miles? I mean, is has been made evident that there is a powerful connection between our genes and our diets. Some people are wired to be naturally thinner while others may have been born with a genetic makeup that predisposes them to being overweight.
ReplyDeleteWestern culture has idolized thinness while promoting and persuading us with processed, preserved foods and of course FAST FOOD. We are expected to try to attain this beauty characterized by thinness while being urged to buy a big mac. In our culture, we consider those who can do both, be thin and shove their face with burgers, "lucky" people blessed with "skinny genes." People who have the knowledge of their own possession of such traits allow the fact that they can eat and genetically stay skinny to morph their lifestyle choices.
From food allergies to diet-related cancers, the best nutrition advice is tailored to your lifestyle, environment, food preferences and even personality. You don’t have to accept defeat due to your DNA. Genes matter, but they’re not necessarily destiny. Learning what our genetic makeup is could be very beneficial in learning susceptibility to disease but regardless of such people should practice a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and exercise regardless of their genetic makeup.
Food intake and Exercise---two components of almost every diet imaginable. It comes as no surprise that what we put into our bodies is what were going to get out of them. I don't understand why people are so surprised by the high prevalence of so many diseases that are all linked to diet—diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol problems, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis—the list goes on and on. Diet is probably one of the most important factors in determining an individuals overall health, but yet what remains by and large prevalent in today's american society? Fast food. Burgers, fries, shakes, apple pie—all these foods have grown to be synonymous with America and Americans. It comes as no surprise that our culture is a breeding ground for obesity and all the health problems that come along with it.
ReplyDeleteVirtually all fast food restaurants are tailored to a diet rich in animal products. The main component of almost every meal at every fast food place is either pork, chicken, or beef. The article brings up this point but its significance is seriously understated. While other countries, particularly developing ones, suffer from a lack of food,—high prevalence rates for infant mortality, mal nutrition, anemia, etc.--Americans suffer from a food surplus. The advent of fast food has revolutionized the kitchen and the way we eat.
I believe solely using genetics as a way to determine diet is a dangerous thing. Genetics should be used in addition to what most people already know. Proper diet—one rich in fruits and vegetables—and exercise, in addition to drinking lots of water and sunlight is the best way to stay healthy and out of the doctor's office. Such negative stereotypes are given to vegetarians and vegans. Many myths are also associated with the lifestyles but by and large the community continues to maintain superior levels of health relative to the rest of the population. As a society and nation, if Americans want to stem the prevalance rates of diseases the first thing we need to look into is educating the American people on the importance of proper diet. Rather than subsidizing corn and corn products—which results in the use of corn in virtually everything american, from ethanol in gasoline to sugar substitutes in soft drinks—we need to subsidize sustainable methods of growing and producing organic fruits and vegetables. Its not okay that someone can purchase a McDonald's meal for $7, yet a package of organic strawberries cost's just as much.
As other people have previously mentioned, the Western diet—high in animal products, fried foods, and salty snacks, though convenient for many people have caused a third of the risk of heart attacks worldwide. Our bodied do need a multitude of nutritional supplements, and as obvious as it is to diversify our food, it isn’t though, as easy to do so. One of the main factors that contribute to the lack of diversity of food in meals in the United States is the still widening racial, ethnic and health disparities, as well as those living in economically disadvantaged communities. Unfortunately, a “prudent diet” rich in fruits and vegetables, especially organic choices, can be more expensive than simply buying a burger and fries. Another factor is the lack of proper education and information that is distributed to consumers, nationally and internationally. Those living in third world countries have less access to nutritional information than those living in the United States. If they had more information about eating omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to benefit general heart health and cholesterol for example, they would lead healthier lives and reduce the amount of heart-associated deaths.
ReplyDeleteI think the strength of genetics and nutrition in association with disease is very important and powerful and the more knowledge we can gain, can only benefit our society. The two main studies the article discusses, InterAct and Interheart, have started to make steps towards valuable information of the association of healthy nutrition and incidence of disease, especially diabetes and heart disease. Now researchers need to understand how nutritional intake affects a wide range of ethnicities and races—how the body works to help eliminate these diseases in an African American teenager, compared to an 80-year-old Japanese native. Once this can be discovered, science will be on its way to cure these diseases, for everyone in the world—regardless if they are rich or poor and black, Asian, or White, and where they live.
I think that often time Americans look for the quickest solutions and outcomes to problems, which may not always be the best options. Although genetics may be an important factor to look at when it comes to diet, it is certainly in every individual’s best interest to be able to be in control of the food choices we make to and learn what foods we should be putting into our bodies instead of just relying on genetics and then blaming genetics when something goes wrong. Genetics may define us, but so do many other factors that we can control and so I feel that we should take control of the foods we eat, in addition to looking at the genetic aspect of what foods we should be eating. Although it is great that we are now able to look at the genetics of an individual and correlate that to increased risks of diseases, I think that we should focus on the factors we can in fact change, which may be just as important in triggering the diseases as knowing that we are more likely to get the disease than someone else (because we have had our genetic test done). However, I also think that people are not in fact looking solely at genetics. I feel that with health classes often taught in schools people are learning to be more aware of the value of nutrition and proper eating, but this education must be put into action in the homes. Parents should be both trying to eat healthy themselves and trying to teach their children on proper nutrition. Although there are in fact many fast food restaurants in the US, we should strive to look for the best food options, not the easiest ones.
ReplyDeleteAs many of my peers have stated, I don’t think that with the new technology people are approaching health from a genetic perspective solely. On the other hand, in our present society people have become more aware of the impact that exercise, and healthy eating habits have in our body. In my opinion, recent studies and the genetic perspective helps understand the predisposition to certain diseases and people who have this predisposition need to adhere to a stricter healthy lifestyle. Nowadays, we understand better the impact of nurture over our nature. Also, our lifestyle is way more sedentary than it was years ago. As T. Contreras mentioned, the US has a greater difficulty due to globalization and exportation of ‘fast foods’. In some ways, we are spoiled to choose what we want to eat even as a child. In other countries and cultures, you HAVE to eat everything that is given to you. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful to the person preparing the foods. The US soil is sometimes not appropriate for certain foods to grow, therefore we have to get it from other countries and sometimes people from low-income can’t afford these foods. The lack of food diversity is a complex problem—from cultural, to access, to globalization.
ReplyDeleteMany things contribute to the lack of diversity of food in America. Some of these include accessibility, money, culture and social pressures. I believe the main contribution is our culture, we are accustomed to fast food and quick easy fixes for dinner like frozen meals. Children are growing up going to fast food restaurants because they are quick and cheap, and unfortunately these foods are addicting and delicious so people want to keep eating them. There is a rising problem in our country of childhood obesity that we have never had before kids are eating poorly and not exercising enough. I think this shows how the environment has a large impact on health and how its not just genetics. We have not had a problem with childhood obesity until now and I don’t believe that our genetics have drastically changed therefore this is due to our environment. Another point is that even if there a correlation between genetics and weight it is going to take changing their environment to help bring them down to a healthy weight. I think that this research is interesting but I don’t think it will help fix the problem. Now from the article I think that there is a strong relationship between genetics and nutrition on disease. I believe that if you genetically are predisposed to a disease and a certain diet can reduce your chances this would be valuable information. I think that genetics in this case should be used as a form of prevention that can be followed up with change in their environment through changes in diet an exercise.
ReplyDeleteAs many others have already said, a lack of variety in many Americans' (and increasingly in other parts of the world as well) diets is a product of a number of factors, such as access or lack of access to healthy food options, convenience, and affordability of certain foods. While most people will certainly agree that most fast food options are unhealthy, they are easy and inexpensive, which to many time- and money-crunched individuals and families outweighs the benefits of a healthier but ultimately more expensive diet. Before any attention can be given to customizing diets on the basis of genetics, steps need to be taken to ensure that everyone at the very least has access to affordable healthy food options.
ReplyDeleteWhile the field of nutrigenomics may have potential, it is still a new and rather unknown method of approaching nutrition for the general public. As genetic testing becomes more readily available and affordable, I can see a greater demand for individualized services on the basis of a person's genetic profile. However, "tailoring" diets based on an individual's genetic profile should be more of a fine tuning, since the same general guidelines apply to most of the population. Even within the cross-cultural, international studies discussed in the article, while some groups may have displayed a different pattern of metabolites than others, a high-fat, high-sodium diet rich in animal products produced higher blood pressure and greater risk of heart attack across the board. Everyone should try to increase their intake of nutrient-dense foods and minimize calorie-dense and nutrient poor foods, regardless of whether they're more or less susceptible to diseases/conditions like type 2 diabetes or higher cholesterol levels. Nutrigenomics should come in to make more minor adjustments, such as increasing the intake of leafy vegetables even more for individuals at higher risk of developing or with type 2 diabetes, as the PUFAs found in leafy vegetables have been found to alter gene expression to maintain normal glucose levels. At the same time, we must be careful to not place too much emphasis on genetics and diet, since activity level and environmental factors also play a large role in the development of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. While improving Americans' diets is certainly important, it is equally important to address lifestyle and environmental factors such as physical inactivity and smoking, since these factors can have profound effects on gene expression as well.
Diet and genetics is an extremely interesting topic to me. I believe genes play a major role in our diet and in how our bodies respond to what we are eating, but I don't believe this is the problem in our country. The problem in the lack of diversity of food in the United States is because of the type of food we are eating and the way food is advertised in this country. Fast food restaurants and chain restaurants get our minds wandering about eating standard foods like burgers, fries, pizza etc. I don't necessarily think we are relying solely on our genes to distinguish what we eat, I believe it would be a good thing to base our diet on things that are related to our genetics. I believe it would help people to live a better lifestyle and have a better more nutritious diet. Many people don't even know that genetics plays a huge role in how our bodies respond to food and certain things we may eat too much of. I think educating and making people aware that genes are very effective could change the way we live or our lifestyle as healthy human beings. I believe this is a gradual process. It won't happen over a few days or over a few years, many people don't want to know about their genetic material because they don't want it to effect how they live and nutrigenomics is no different. I believe people aren't going to want to change their diets based upon their genes because many people don't understand or simply don't care about their genetic material. This is different for other countries because of the culture of certain countries. For example in the mediterranean diet is full of fishes and omega 3 fatty acids and they statistically have lower occurrence of heart disease, this is the culture there, it is the way of life. We have a large mixture of cultures here and it makes it difficult to be accustom to a diet when we have so many different types. I believe nutrigenomics is an extremely interesting topic and should be gradually introduced to our society.
ReplyDeleteUsing genetics to tailor individual diets to prevent disease is a great lifestyle maintenance and control option for everyone, especially those who have a genetic predisposition to diseases heavily influenced by weight. Thinking back to the most basic technology interventions of weight, scales made monitoring weight incredibly easy. Since then, we’ve witnessed the development of electronic calorie counters, even iPhone applications like PhotoCalorie that uses a picture recognition system to counts the calories of foods we take pictures of. As a population, we gravitate toward “easy”, which is why technology booms in the ways it does. In the greater sense, we have become too dependent on technology and the media presented on it to form our rationale. But while technology makes our lives easier, it also gives us an easier way to place blame on causative factors other than our behavior. So when genetic technology suggests there may be a “fat gene”, social tendency (as 2/3 of the population is obese) is to translate the hypothesis literally without considering any outside factors. The thought then becomes “I am fat because that is my genetic destiny, therefore, losing weight is too challenging” instead of “I am more likely to be overweight due to a genetic factor, therefore, I should spend more time monitoring and controlling the lifestyle factors that I can to correct this.” I believe that everyone can benefit from monitoring diet and exercise, with or without a genetic predisposition to disease. Many say they fail at this because they do not have access to healthy foods, that healthy foods are too expensive, that they aren’t properly educated on what’s healthy or not, or that they didn’t know they were considered overweight to begin with. As future healthcare professionals, we should be using technology and media to promote an “eat this, not that” campaign, and we should be emphasizing that exercise doesn’t just take place in a gym. Technology should be used as an education system that negates those false claims while emphasizing that new research findings have potential implications for dietary health in addition to the existing suggested lifestyle changes.
ReplyDeleteI think its great we can utilize our knowledge of genetics to help combat issues of obesity and modify diets. This progression of technology and its' use in medical practice indicates we are moving in the right direction with genetics and the field of nutrition, as well. Additionally, since many Americans lack the variety in their diets to provide enough essential vitamins and minterals, utilizing our knowledge of genes and their influence on how our bodies metabolize food can help supplement the lack of variety. This in turn can improve the health of millions of Americans and perhaps even reduce the incidence of obesity and diet-related illness.
ReplyDeleteI think that nurtigenomics is similar to things such as the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a very effective tool in providing a personalized diet to an individual to maintain their necessary energy needs while assisting in keeping them at their healthiest BMI. The largest complaint with the glycemic index is that it is too complicated! Often Americans eat when they have time to eat. They follow their work schedule to take one lunch break and then they eat again when they get home from work after completing errands and cooking their meal or ordering in food. With the glycemic index it is necessary to eat at specified times, drink water at specific intervals and track these things each day. Most people do not want to go through all that work. Systems like "Nutrisystem" are effective because they use the glycemic index in pre-made foods making it easy for clients to use. Nutritionist and dietitians will often acclaim the effectiveness of following a glycemic balanced diet but it is not what they treat their clients with because their clients crave ease of a program. Nutrigenomics seems to be similar. Although certainly effective and informative, it is a complicated process to pay attention to the nutrient breakdown of each food you put in your mouth. It is also expensive to get genetic testing. Nutrigenomics can be a useful piece to nutrition of the future but the basic components of fitness will always apply. Eat a varied nutrient rich diet in small meals throughout the day to maintain energy levels and optimum health. There will certainly be advances in the process that may lead to "Nutrisystem" programs of Nutrigenomics--Pre-made meals to meet your genetic requirements. Further studies should continue in this field of nutrition with genetics to assess how eating certain ways can help prevent disease or cure disease. But until this information is easily utilized by the public, it is not practical to everyday use.
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