What are Probiotics?  There are billions of bacteria living in the intestinal tract, often referred to as “microflora.” Probiotics are live, “friendly” bacteria in the microflora that work to keep a healthy intestinal balance, reducing the amount of harmful bacteria while replenishing and maintaining beneficial strains. Maintaining this balance is critical for overall good health.  

Up to 80% of your immune system is in your gut! If your gut isn't healthy, your body won't be healthy! ​

NEW Shelf Stable - 50 Billion Time Release Formula ​

22 Billion - Mix powder in food or a drink! ​

What makes spring so beautiful for many people leads to misery for those who suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms. Natural allergy treatments can be as effective and, in many cases, more effective than allergy medications, and they do not cause fatigue.
Fresh cut grass, blooming trees and flowers, and weeds release pollen, causing seasonal allergies.

UNDERLYING CAUSES OF ALLERGIES
Did you know that your risk of suffering from seasonal allergy symptoms increases dramatically if you have certain underlying medical conditions? Asthma, unmanaged STRESS, deviated septum, nasal polyps, recent trauma or illness, pregnancy, and even food allergies can put you at heightened risk.
These conditions, and others, can adversely affect your immune system functioning. Allergy symptoms are caused when our bodies release histamine in response to an allergen. A strong immune system is key to fighting seasonal allergies.
Allergies are actually disorders of the immune system. The body over-reacts to harmless substances and produces antibodies to attack the substance. This is what causes the symptoms. 
You’re particularly susceptible to a weakened immune system after a physical trauma or surgery, underlying illnesses, or during times of emotional and physical stress. A lack of sleep can even make you more prone to allergies; not getting enough sleep weakens your immune system. 


Foods to increase:

• Vitamin C and beta-carotene found in berries, dark green vegetables and numerous fruits contain the main antioxidant found in our respiratory passage and therefore these foods can offer relief from hay-fever symptoms by having a possible antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect.
• Essential fatty acids: Foods rich in Omega-3 oil such as oily fish, nuts, seeds and their oils are recommended for fighting allergy symptoms. They contain prostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals with anti-inflammatory properties. As nuts are a fairly common allergen, please make sure you are not allergic to them first!
• Ginger and peppermint can also have an antihistamine effect and offer relief from allergy symptoms.
• Garlic and onions, kale and broccoli are sources of Quercetin, another powerful anti-inflammatory that can reduce allergic symptoms. Garlic and onions also boost the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells, which deal with allergic reactions. Quercetin can also be found in blue-green algae, spirulina, chlorella and kelp.
• Bromelain in pineapple is useful in boosting the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.  
• Consider taking a tablespoonful of local raw honey every day starting a few months before the pollen season starts - this may act as a form of oral desensitization (the honey will have been contaminated with pollen).
• Bone broth,
• Probiotic-rich foods
• Grass-fed beef, wild caught fish, free-range poultry (growth hormone/antibiotic free)
• Hot and spicy foods
• Fresh fruits and veggies

Foods to avoid: 

• Wheat, dairy (cow A1 casein), soy
• Alcohol, caffeine, 
• Chocolate
• Peanuts, Sunflower seeds
• Sugar, Artificial sweeteners
• Processed foods
• Melons, Bananas, Bottled citrus juice, dried fruits
• Cucumbers
• Shellfish
• Echinacea
• Chamomile                                                                                 
•  **If you have a ragweed allergy, it’s important to avoid melons, bananas, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, echinacea and chamomile, as they can trigger allergic response in your system. The overall goal of limiting foods that you have sensitivity to is to lighten the overall burden on your immune system and allow it to function more optimally.

                  2 SUPPLEMENTS THAT MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
AllerEase 120 capsules ALLERGIES  
"Practitioner Discount" - 120 caps - $27.51+gst
  ✔ Strengthen mast cell walls
  ✔ Decrease cellular histamine load
  ✔ Reduce hypersensitive reaction
This potent and natural formula provides relief for hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis, and is a safe alternative to over the-counter anti-histamines.
Medicinal Ingredients: Each vegetarian capsule contains:
• Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) 650 mg
• Grape seed (Vitis vinifera L.) extract* 100 mg
*Standardized to contain 12% catechins.
Suitable for vegetarians.
Recommended Dosage: Take two capsules two times a day with food or as directed by a health care practitioner.

Quercetin Bromelain Complex
"Practitioner discount" 100 caps - $37.21 gst included 
Natural antioxidant, bioflavonoid & BEST anti-histamine

• Antioxidant
• Bromelain helps the quercetin to absorb
• Pure, high-dose quercetin
• Citrus-free for those with sensitivities (citrus is high in histamines)
• Serving Size: One Capsule (Take 1 to 2 times/day with meals)
  Quercetin* 250mg *Source : Dimorphandra mollis
• Quercetin is a potent anti-oxidant that helps control the free radical damage from the immune response. As an anti-oxidant it also stabilizes the cell membranes of the immune system.
• Quercetin is the best natural anti-histamine. It inhibits histamine release thus reducing common allergy symptoms. Many anti-allergy medications were developed to work like quercetin, but they are not as effective and have various side effects.
• Quercetin suppresses the development of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8.
• Quercetin restrains antigen-specific IgE antibody formation.
• Quercetin possesses strong antiviral activity.

                                   TO ORDER THESE SUPPLEMENTS with my "practitioner discount" email me at                                                                                                                                                            renewedhealthandnutrition@gmail.com

or 
Metabolic Balance Weight Loss Program - Customized meal plan.

Genetic Metabolic Weight Loss Program - using Genetic Analysis. 

Renewed Metabolic Balance Weight Loss Program - Nutritional Counselling using a customized health & nutrition plan. 

Through metabolic balancing, you can improve your overall health, sleep, energy, balance hormones, and most importantly prevent Metabolic Syndromes like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, cancer & autoimmune disorders. ​       ​

Renewed Health & Nutrition Testing Services:
Symptomatology Analysis 
Genetic Analysis
Blood Type Testing

For more information on our Weight Loss Programs or to book an appointment, email us at renewedhealthandnutrition@gmail.com or go to FORMS and submit a request.​

Supplements to Pack:

• HMF "Travel" Probiotics - A MUST!!! Provides the strains needed to protect you in places like Mexico, the Caribbean or countries where water and food may be contaminated.   
• Vitamin C - boost your immune system to help fight viruses.
• Zinc - to help fight any stress in your body and improve immune health.  Also helps with skin/tissues healing. 
• Vitamin D (yes, if you're wearing sunscreen all day you will not absorb vitamin D) - For optimum immune health, and bones of  course.
• Digestive Enzymes - To help digest food/nutrients, and prevent digestive issues while away, and eating new foods. 
• Omegas - To keep inflammation down and prevent free radical damage while in the sun and eating at buffets:)
• DGL tabs (Deglycerized​ Licorice Root) - for indigestion/Gerd/acid reflux. 

Colloidal Silver Antibiotics - A MUST!!! For any infection, sore throat, viral or bacterial illness, UTI's, cuts/sores. *I used it for my son's mouth  abscess and it cleared it right up!!

Homeopathic Remedies:

• Arnica - for pain/inflammation)
• Nux Vomica - to prevent or stop vomiting, for nausea.  
• Tabiccum - for over indulgence:)  
• Belladonna - for sunburn, fever with red face
• Apis - For sunburn, colds
• Ferum Phosphoricum - for Fever, and bleeding noses

Callus pads/bandages, tensor bandages: Walking with sandals after months without them, calluses develop fast and can cause a lot of pain making walking difficult. Tensor bandages are helpful with any sprains ..OR broken Ribs!!

Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen - especially for those really white skinned individuals, like my son, William.  He burned 5 days straight with regular sunscreen. 

Zinc Oxide Face Foundation - I use It Cosmetics Foundation with 50 sunscreen in it.  The zinc oxide completely protects your face and is water resistant.  It's a full coverage and gives a lovely glow.  No CHEMICALS!

THINGS TO EAT THAT NATURALLY PROTECT YOU FROM THE HARMFUL RAYS OF THE SUN & HELP AGAINST FREE RADICAL DAMAGE:
Blueberries...top of the list!
Green Tea...next runner up!!
Black berries
Fruits & Veggies high in Carotene - watermelon is top of the list, carrots, sweet potato, cantelope, butternut squash.
Greens - spinach, all green leafy vegetables.
Omegas - These help against free radical damage from the sun and calm inflammation.  


FOODS TO LIMIT
Sugar ..it lowers your immune system and causes inflammation
Processed foods - Causes inflammation, stresses immune system
Overconsumption of dairy, and refined carbohydrates/gluten - all can cause inflammation, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, indigestion/acid reflux. 
Alcohol - it dehydrates you, and is loaded with sugar and some, food colouring.  


FOODS TO ENJOY LOTS OF:
Fresh fruits & Veggies
Fresh wild caught fish/salmon
Lean meats - chicken and turkey breasts and lean beef/steak
Healthy Fats - avocados, nuts like walnuts, pecans, almonds, extra virgin olive oil, salmon. 


LAST BUT NOT LEAST...Get enough SLEEP! Try to get to bed between 10 & 11, so your adrenals have time to reset, leaving you refreshed in the morning and will keep your immune system strong.  AND... get EXERCISE!  Walk, hike, swim.  A walk along the beach can be so relaxing and grounding (walk with bare feet for the grounding).  You will  calm your adrenals, and boost your energy, keeping that metabolism going, and mood up!


For more information or to book a consultation go to FORMS to submit a request!

Hormones — such as estrogen, testosterone, adrenaline and insulin, are extremely important chemical messengers that affect many aspects of your overall health. That’s why a hormonal imbalance can be problematic, so you want to make sure you know how to balance hormones. 

What are hormones?
Hormones are molecules produced by the endocrine system that send messages to various parts of the body. They help regulate your body’s processes, like hunger,  blood pressure, temperature, mood, sleep and sexual desire. While hormones are essential to reproduction, they are fundamental to all the systems of your body.  Hormones are released from glands in your endocrine system. They tell your body how to breathe and how to expend energy.  Hormones flow through the whole body, but only affect certain cells designed to receive their messages. Hormones and hormone receptor sites work together like a lock and a key. 

What do hormones do in my body?   
All bodies experience hormonal shifts constantly throughout the day.  When you eat a meal, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin to help regulate blood sugar. When you slam on the brakes to avoid a car collision, your adrenal glands pump out the hormone adrenaline (epinephrine) to help you act quickly. Your pineal gland works to produce the hormone melatonin to help you get restful sleep at night.
When hormones aren’t balanced correctly, an endocrine disorder can be to blame. Having too much of a hormone (also known as hyper-function) or not having enough of a hormone (known as hypo-function), can cause problems. 

Hormonal imbalance can cause: 

• Diabetes/Obesity
• Thyroid disorders (e.g. hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism)
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)   
• Cancer - any cancer, but more often breast, ovarian and thyroid
• Adrenal insufficiency or overactive adrenals 

Tiny but mighty, our bodies depend on hormones to function. Some people are more sensitive to hormones than others. This might explain why some people suffer from premenstrual syndrome or postpartum depression, while others aren’t bothered at all by the hormonal changes of menstruation and pregnancy. 

SOME SYMPTOMS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE
- Depression/Anxiety 
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Weight gain or loss, water retention
- Appetite loss or lack of satiety
- Pain/inflammation
- High Blood Pressure/Low Blood Pressure

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BALANCE YOUR HORMONES

• Get enough sleep.  8 hours is extremely important! Get to bed between 10:00 & 10:30 helps you get into deeper sleep and allows your adrenal glands to regenerate.  Your stress and hunger hormones will balance.
• Manage STRESS.  Laugh lots and have fun. Stress causes hormonal imbalance and inflammation, and that causes disease.  
• EXERCISE...it helps to increase hormone levels, if lacking and also to balance them.
• Eat 3 meals a day spaced out 5-6 hours.  This allows your insulin to come ALL the way down and it takes this long to do that. Your insulin is then able to fully balance, which directly impacts hormonal balancing.  Don't eat past 9:00 pm or within 2 hours of going to bed.  When you eat before bed your body is busy digesting all night long and isn't able to rest and heal.  
• Eat balanced meals.  Get a good protein source in, healthy fats, (organic extra virgin olive oil, organic cold-pressed flaxseed oil, ground organic flaxseeds, avocados, walnuts), lots of organic veggies, and berries. *FATS HELP TO BUILD HORMONES.
• Eat lots of cruciferous vegetables.  Broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, kale, arugula all help to balance hormones naturally.
• Make sure to get enough protein in your diet and reduce unrefined carbs and the amount.  Protein helps to balance blood sugar. Too much carbohydrates/sugars will spike insulin, causing a spike in estrogens, then they drop, causing low estrogen symptoms (weight gain, hot flashes, fatigue, and overall hormonal imbalance) 
• Cut processed sugars out of your diet.  They cause inflammation which is the cause of all disease but it also causes high insulin, and that causes hormonal imbalance.  
• Take supportive supplements for hormones, stress and overall health. 

SUPPORTIVE SUPPLEMENTS TO HELP BALANCE HORMONES
​#1 - DIM     "NATURALLY BALANCES HORMONES"
Great for PMS, menopause/all symptoms, PCOS, prostate health, prevent and support breast, ovarian, thyroid and prostate cancers, great for acne, and weight loss.
Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a compound created when you digest cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli or Brussels sprouts. DIM supplements are very high doses of cruciferous vegetables. Research suggests that DIM affects estrogen levels in your body, helping to balance them, preventing estrogen dominance.  HELPS a variety of hormone-related conditions, including acne, menopause symptoms, prostate issues, and certain forms of cancer such as breast, ovarian and thyroid cancers.

• Probiotics - REMEMBER...if your gut isn't healthy, your body will not be healthy and cannot heal. There is a gut mind connection.  When your gut isn't healthy, your mind will not be healthy. We make some serotonin in our gut as well as our brain.  
• Vitamin D3 - Is a HORMONE!  We need it for our brain to function well, and stress hormones to do what they need.  
• Vitamin C - helps with stress, hormones and energy.  
• Zinc - besides preventing colds and flues and relieving sore throats, and acne, zinc helps against STRESS...of any kind!  . 
• Omegas - Helps to support your gonads (sex hormones)
• Pure Genomics Multi (Pure Encapsulations) - An optimum dose multi with B complex which increases energy in our cells and STRESS).  It also has high dose zinc and selenium, which supports thyroid and adrenal health, directly affecting our stress hormones.  It also has high amounts of beta carotene to build the immune system to help prevent flues, colds, cancer etc. YOU ONLY NEED 1/DAY. 
• NAC (N-Acetyl Cystein) -  NAC is a potent antioxidant. It is the precursor to glutathione, the most powerful antioxidant made by the body, and is a rich source of sulfur, a mineral needed to make some vitamins, hormones, and tissue.

 
I'M HAPPY TO OFFER MY PRACTITIONER DISCOUNT. I get between 40-50% off on products. Text me at 587-436-2922 if you would like me to order for you.   ​

​ Find out why you're hungry all the time.  Are you stimulating your Ghrelin Hormone causing food seeking behaviour? Did you know that your DNA can tell you if eating so many grams of saturated fat or carbohydrates stimulate your Ghrelin Hormone, or if you are okay with carbs and removing them is causing you to gain weight.  
Find out how much protein you actually need, and if your stomach has the right amount of enzymes to properly break down nutrients so you can utilize them stimulating your Leptin Hormone, which signals that you are full.
Fine out what type of exercise your body needs.  Do you have fast and slow twitch muscles that allow you to do HIIT training for longer intervals or are shorter intervals better for you? Can you lift heavy weights without gaining subcutaneous fat or does it cause it?  
Find out if your thyroid isn't converting T4 hormone to T3 the way it should, causing your thyroid to run slow.  If this is the case, we work at correcting that with supplements and proper diet, and raising your thyroid level so that your metabolism will increase.  
Find out if intermittent fasting is for you or not.  Should you eat three meals spread out 5-6 hours, or eat later morning, only having 2 meals per day and eating in an 8 hour window?  
Do you have the Fatso Gene expressing?  If you do, we correct it through supplements, proper diet and timing, to increase metabolism.
Do you have a sleep disorder that doesn't allow you to get into REM sleep, causing high cortisol and making you HUNGRY!  Lowering cortisol and taking certain supplements will help you get into phase 4 deeper sleep, allowing your body to heal and cortisol to lower.  It will also lower inflammation, which we know causes disease.  

​The five cornerstones of health in my practice are metabolism, diet, stress, inflammation and detoxification. Optimizing these is the foundation of good health and the reduction of disease risk. We will be looking at genes and SNPs that impact your metabolism, diet and stress. These three factors are closely interlinked when it comes to your weight, energy levels and diet. Some of them are associated with the development of diseases such as type 2 diabetes but it is important to bear in mind that such diseases have multiple etiologies and contributing factors. So, while you may have a “risk allele” you may never develop the condition. Personal genetic analysis lets you identify your own personal strengths and weaknesses and allows you to make sensible lifestyle choices to potentially improve your overall health and well-being. It may also help you achieve your ideal weight. If it can help reduce your risk for certain diseases, then that is an added benefit.

​
VIRAL & BACTERIAL INFECTIONS...A lifesaver with COVID!    OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT...kicks infections fast!
Did you know the fruit of the olive tree isn’t the only part of this amazing plant that provides health benefits? The leaf extract contains components that have potent antioxidant activity thought to be responsible for its immune and cardiovascular health benefits. It also promotes multiple immune functions, making it the ideal go-to when you’re feeling under the weather. Olive oil may be a staple in your kitchen, but Natural Factors Olive Leaf could be the next staple in your supplement cabinet!

• Promotes multiple immune functions
•  Source of antioxidants for the maintenance of good health
• Supports cardiovascular and immune health

​

​N'acetyl Cysteine...Helps with mucus from colds and infections. 
Provides nutritional support as an antioxidant to protect against free radical damage for the maintenance of good health. N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid required by the body to make glutathione, a key antioxidant. Pure NAC 600 mg provides 600 mg of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, and helps to:

• Scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress
• Replenish depleted glutathione stores 600 mg NAC  2.1 mg Vitamin C    No gluten, dairy, soy, sugar

Immuno-Zn 90 Lozenges...for sore throats & overall immune health.
Immuno-Zn™ Lozenge is a combination of zinc and elderberry delivered in a fast-melting lozenge with a delicious mixed berry flavour to support overall immune health.
Each lozenge provides zinc (as zinc gluconate combined with zinc citrate) and elderberry fruit (Sambucus nigra), and it has zero grams of sugar. The lozenge delivery system is ideal for targeted absorption and may help support the upper gastrointestinal tract (i.e., throat) and upper respiratory tract health. 
Ingredients: 
Each Lozenge Contains: Zinc (Zinc gluconate, Zinc citrate dihydrate)25 mg, European Elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. nigra - fruit) extract (5:1, 500 mg Dry Equivalent)100 mg. Non-Medicinal Ingredients: Xylitol, Magnesium stearate, Berry flavour, DL-Malic acid,                                                                                                      Monk fruit extract, Mannitol. Purity: GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, SOY FREE, NON-GMO.

SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS TO KEEP ON HAND 
 For cold & flu - Bio Boost drops or Fluen-Z (BIOMED) - helps with all of the symptoms.  Homeopathic pellets - Oscillococcinum.  Great for cold and flu relief too!
Bacterial Infection - Immunoplex (BIOMED)
For sore throats -  Homeopathic pellets Belladonna, Ferum Phos (Boiron). Colliodal Silver -  Sovereign Silver (Amaranth) - to use in place of antibiotics. 

REMEMBER TO...Keep PROCESSED SUGARS out of your diet - just ONE teaspoon of sugar can drop your immune system for up to 
8 HOURS  & make sure to GET ENOUGH SLEEP!  This is MOST IMPORTANT

OFFERING MY PRACTITIONER DISCOUNT - 40-50% off on any product.  You just need to pick it up at my home and e-transfer the day I order:)   I take supplement orders for friends, family and clients the last week of every month.  Let me know if you need anything.  I'm happy to share my practitioner discount with you and your family. 

For more information or to book a consultation go to FORMS to submit a request!
​
RENEWED HEALTH & NUTRITION SERVICES
Genetic Analysis  -  Symptomatology Analysis - Cancer Care  Digestive Disorders  -  Inflammatory Conditions  -  Chronic Fatigue  -  Hormonal Imbalances  -   Insomnia  -  Allergies   -   Autoimmune Conditions - Neurological Conditions -  Heart Disease  -  Diabetes  -  Weight Loss &  METABOLIC BALANCE  "RESET YOUR METABOLISM  Weight Loss Program & "Customized Nutrition Plan."    

​#1 Get enough sleep.  This is the MOST IMPORTANT one! If you can get 8 hours sleep in and get to bed between 10 and 11:00 pm, you will allow your adrenals to regenerate and hormones to balance.  This will help you to avoid over eating. Your leptin hormone will kick in to say when you've had enough, and shuts the ghrelin hormone off, so you don't continue to feel hungry, and over eat. 
#2 Drink plenty of water.  Drink 8-10 cups of water/day.  If you drink a full cup of water 15 mins before a meal, it will make you feel full quicker and also helps you produce more HCI (Hydrochloric Acid) so you digest your food better, and feel satiated.  Good for bowel health too, which quite often suffers throughout the holidays.  Drinking enough water will also help detox your body, and get nutrients to the cells.  
#3 Start your meal, snack, or treat with a protein, first.  This will help prevent insulin from spiking, and then dropping, leaving you feeling tired and hungry again.  A few almonds or one or two bites of any protein is all it takes to keep your insulin balanced, and prevents over-eating. 
#4  Don't skip meals. This will only set you up to BINGE EAT!  Eat 3 well balanced meals spaced out 5-6 hours.  Make sure to get enough protein, healthy fats (nuts, seeds, cold-pressed organic flax and olive oils, avocados) and try veggie carbs (squash, sweet potato, rutabaga, parsnips) instead of grains, to avoid bloating.  Eat your fruit at the end or dessert.  Protein turns the hunger signal off, and fats keep you full longer.  Vegetables and fruits are full of fiber, so they make you feel full, and are great for blood sugar control because of their high fiber content.  
#5 Limit Sugar. It's ADDICTING...and will make you want more and more.  As well, it takes 1 tsp of processed sugar to lower your immune system for 8 hours, and leaves you feeling tired and susceptible to catching viruses.  
#6 Bake your own treats instead of buying them & use healthier ingredient options. Bake with monk fruit/erythritol sweeteners instead of processed sugars, and try almond flour/butter recipes or gluten free flours. SOME HEALTHY TREAT IDEAS -  70% or higher plain dark chocolate instead of processed chocolates.  Try Cassava grain free chips, and create beautiful fruit and veggie plates, like in the above photo.
#7 Avoid planning too many get-togethers. Take time to rest and enjoy doing things you don't normally have time to do.  This not only builds healthy adrenals, but allows you too keep healthy throughout the holidays and feel well. 
#8 Get moving!!! Do what you love.  Walk, snowshoe, ski, skate, short exercise videos, dance to carols:) 

The genetic analysis incorporates numerous algorithms and looks at genes affecting diet, metabolism, exercise, vitamins/minerals, neurotransmitters, hormones, detoxification, immunity, inflammation, thyroid health and sleep. 
We used to think there was little we could do about the genes we’d been given. They were carved in stone and we were at the mercy of their bidding. It was a fatalistic attitude often used as an excuse to avoid making changes to our lives. What was the point if our genes were immutable?

Well it turns out that we were wrong! Although it is true that we cannot change our genetic code, we can greatly influence the expression of many genes and control the effects they have on our body. By making small changes to our lifestyle, our diet, our supplements, we can not only optimize the genetic blueprint we have been given but we can actually alter the way genes work. We can turn them on or off, up or down to maximize their beneficial side, while minimizing their adverse effects. We can steer them in a specific direction that enhances our health today and we can modify them to prevent problems in the future. Genes, it would appear, are malleable and with the right tools we can shape them to create better health and longevity.
 
​As increasing numbers of clients both presented with their genetic analysis or elected to complete it having consulted with me, I recognized that this truly was the next exciting frontier of medicine. Clients were unique and did not fit into pre-designed boxes. As I went over their results, explaining why they felt a certain way after different foods, with varying types of exercise and when stressed or losing sleep, their eyes lit up with a recognition that I truly understood them and their individual issues. “Yes, that’s me” would be a common expression at the end of our discussion. I would receive emails a few weeks later from patients seeing improvements in their health, their energy, their sleep and their weight, problems they had struggled with for years without an answer, and were now doing amazingly well.  

The five cornerstones of health in my practice are metabolism, diet, stress, inflammation and detoxification. Optimizing these is the foundation of good health and the reduction of disease risk. We will be looking at genes and SNPs that impact your metabolism, diet and stress. These three factors are closely interlinked when it comes to your weight, energy levels and diet. Some of them are associated with the development of diseases such as type 2 diabetes but it is important to bear in mind that such diseases have multiple etiologies and contributing factors. So, while you may have a “risk allele” you may never develop the condition. Personal genetic analysis lets you identify your own personal strengths and weaknesses and allows you to make sensible lifestyle choices to potentially improve your overall health and well-being. It may also help you achieve your ideal weight. If it can help reduce your risk for certain diseases, then that is an added benefit.
____________________________________________________________
​Genetic Case Study
Anna is a 36-year-old professional woman who wanted help with unwanted weight gain despite her strict diet and exercise regimen. Her weight had increased 18 pounds in 8 months. She felt hungry all the time, had low energy and had muscle and joint soreness.
Anna had originally wanted to eat more healthily and planned to lose about 5 pounds. On the recommendation of a friend, she had radically changed her diet from a higher protein, moderate carbohydrate diet with “minimal fats” to more of a “ketogenic” diet incorporating high fat, low to moderate protein, and restricted carbohydrates with fewer vegetables and no fruits, whole grains or starches.
Within a couple of months of starting the diet she began to feel “puffy” and inflamed and then started to put on weight. To counteract this she increased her exercise, running 30 minutes to 1 hour, 4 times a week and became stricter with her diet. Despite this she reported increased feelings of hunger and craving and continued to gain weight. She felt progressively more fatigued, particularly during exercise.
Prior to our initial consultation, Anna had run herself through the 23andMe DNA test. Having signed up though the 23andMe website, Anna received a testing kit within 1 to 2 days, which included a specimen bottle for a saliva sample and instructions on how to fill it. She returned the specimen to 23andMe in a pre-paid envelope along with a signed form. 3 to 4 week later Anna received an email indicating that her genetic data was available. She was then able to log into her account and access both her raw data and a basic report. The raw data is a huge file containing gene and SNP codes for approximately 1500 genes and is not useful in any practical manner. However, I am able to process the file using my GeneRx program to produce a report, which is both informative and practical in terms of providing a diet, lifestyle and supplement protocol. Anna sent me her raw data file and prior to our meeting I ran it through the program. Part of the report based on Anna’s genetic profile (details at the end of this chapter) indicated the following:
• Significantly increased weight-gain and hunger when consuming more than 22 grams of saturated fat per day.
• Moderate increase in desire for energy rich foods and increased weight gain with a low protein, high saturated fats diet.
• Higher risk of progressive weight gain and worse with a high saturated fat diet.
• Overall she handles carbohydrates well.
• Increased inflammation with endurance exercise.
By ignoring her genetics and following the latest “ketogenic” dietary trend, Anna not only failed to lose weight, she actually gained more. In addition, the diet had caused an imbalance in the systems in her body and brain controlling feelings of hunger. The diet had also resulted in higher levels of inflammation resulting in feelings of soreness, “puffiness” and fatigue.
By dropping her carbohydrates and increasing calories from saturated fat Anna’s genetic coding had led to increased fat accumulation, particularly around the abdomen, which posed a significant health risk. It also led to higher levels of her hunger hormone (ghrelin), which resulted in poor satiety and cravings for energy-dense foods. Restricting her carbohydrates was unnecessary as she actually coded well for these and by doing so she limited her energy supply leading to additional fatigue. Increased fatty weight contributed to increased inflammation.
Based on her genetics, this was her recommended protocol to follow:
• Reduce her daily lean protein intake calculated according to her body weight.
• Slightly increase whole grains to 2/3 the physical size of her protein portion.
• Vegetables and salads allowed in unlimited quantities.
• Reduce her saturated fat intake to less than 22 grams per day.
• Supplements (see Appendix 2)
o Resveratrol Extra
o Tri-Metabolic Control (TMC)
Anna lost 3 pounds in the first week, and 16 more over the next 8 weeks. The “puffiness” and inflammatory feeling were significantly reduced by day 10 and completely gone by 2 weeks. Energy levels, both day-to-day and with exercise, were back to normal by 4 weeks. At 2-year follow-up Anna continued with a moderate and balanced diet and had maintained a healthy weight.
This is a good example of why there is no one diet that suits everyone. Diet trends come and go and they work for some people but not others. In some cases, like Anna’s, they can be detrimental. Genetics provides insight into your individual metabolism and allows a highly personal, safe and effective program to be designed.
Anna’s Detailed Genetic SNP coding:
• APOA2: CC – significantly increased weight-gain and hunger when consuming more than 22 grams of saturated fat per day.
• FTO: TA – moderate increase in desire for energy rich foods and increased weight gain with a low protein high saturated fat diet.
• PPARG: GG – higher risk of progressive weight gain and worse with a high saturated fat diet.
• TCF7L2: CC – handles carbohydrates well.
• IRS1: TT – handles carbohydrates well.​