Nutritional Genomics

Nutrigenomics & Nutrigenetics

Nutrigenomics, also known as nutritional genomics, is a branch of science that studies the relationship between the human genome, nutrition, and overall health and wellness. According to nutrigenomics, food can affect gene expression, the process by which instructions from a gene are utilized in the biosynthesis of a functional gene product, such as a protein.

Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology that focuses on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. Nutrigenomics utilizes that information to create a custom dietary program to help improve a person’s overall health and wellness with food.

Nutrigenetics is a branch of science that focuses on how the human body responds to nutrients based on their genetic variation. Due to the differences in people’s DNA, the absorption, transportation, and metabolization, among other functions, of nutrients can be different from one person to the other. People can have similar characteristics based on their genes but these genes are actually not identical. This is what is known as genetic variation. Dr. Alex Jimenez discusses how the following series of articles on nutritional genomics can affect an individual’s predisposition to a variety of health issues, including chronic pain, sciatica, and fibromyalgia.