NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS (Diagram above is adopted from http://www.csupomona.edu/~nutrigenomics/conference.shtml site for getting the message out regarding the Nutritional Genomics Conference in Nov 12-14 2009 in CAL POLY POMONA):
The Impact of Dietary Regulation of Gene Function on Human Disease

Purpose

The purpose of this blog is to introduce and define Nutritional Genomics. It will also discuss why we need to educate ourselves on this topic, and resources available to us to expand our knowledge on this topic. Finally, I will discuss how we can apply this new knowledge to our daily lives for healthier lifestyles.

Scope

The scope of this blog is for education and general awareness to be used for enhancing our knowledge specifically for preventative measurement and not designed to be used to diagnose or cure any existing disease.

Introduction

Healthcare costs are rising every year. If we really do not take responsibility of our health NOW there will be consequences sooner or later. We have an option of educating ourselves in the field of Nutritional Genomics and implementing individualized diet plan along with individualized exercise programs. We can design these with a competent and trust worthy health coach to keep us in balance and healthy.

We tend to seek out the quick fix and take comfort in well established and commonly accepted solutions for almost every problem whether it is in business, financial, or personal health matters. By observing the economy and government over the last year, we have learned that there is no such thing as a quick fix that is dependable! Any lifestyle change takes initiative, commitment, and time. So my hope is that this blog will provide new and useful information that you can consider and possibly implement for maintaining your and your family’s good health. Bear in mind that it’s as important how you eat as what you eat.

What is Nutritional Genomics?

Nutritional Genomics - or Nutrigenomics — The study of how foods affect the expression of genetic information in an individual and how an individual’s genetic makeup metabolizes and responds to nutrients and bioactive such as vitamins and minerals.

According to Wiki definition:

Nutritional Genomics is a science studying the relationship between human genome, nutrition and health. It can be divided into two disciplines:

Nutrigenomics: studies the effect of nutrients on health through altering DNA (or for many types of virus, RNA), protein, metabolites and the resulting changes in physiology.

Nutrigenetics: studies the effect of genetic variations on the interaction between diet and health with implications to susceptible subgroups.

More specifically, nutrigenomics studies how individual differences in genes influence the body's response to diet and nutrition. For example, people with mutations such as deficiency in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase cannot metabolize foods containing the amino acid phenylalanine and must modify their diets to minimize consumption. With modern genomic data, severe gene mutations with less severe effects are being explored to determine whether dietary practices can be more closely personalized to individual genetic profiles. However, there have been few validated studies for these kinds of classical gene mutation effects.

Why study Nutritional Genomics?

Unlocking the key to our vitality and good health is at the core of what Nutritional Genomics seeks to learn and accomplish, intending to apply up-to-date knowledge in genetics and nutrition to the old saying ‘ You are what you eat’.

Dr. Mark Hyman defines:

Nutrigenomics is the new model of medicine, based on molecular medicine which began about 50 years ago with the discovery of DNA. Unfortunately, most doctors are still looking for the "magic bullet," or medication to cure illness, but chronic diseases will never be cured that way. Discover how to balance the basic life forces within your body to send new messages of health and healing.

The New Science of Nutrigenomics Unveiled:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prwds4eVEiA

Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo’s book Eat Right 4 Your Type in 1996 and The GenoType Diet in 2008 reflects the modern applications of Nutritional Genomics.

Applications of Nutritional Genomics

I personally recommend the practical approach put together in The UltraMind Solution DVD or AUDIO CD BOOK with a workbook by Dr. Mark Hyman.

This book recommends six week program to start with dairy and gluten free diets to determine whether you have any allergy to any of these ingredients and slowly reintroduce them one at a time at the end of the program.

The ultramind solution companion guide covers details of Your Six-Week Eating Plan to an Ultra Mind Recipes.

To download the free ultramind companion guide see following link:

http://www.ultramind.com/guide_signup.php

As an alternative approach see also Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo’s book Eat Right 4 Your Type and The GenoType Diet.

Where Dr. Adamo describes diet based on our blood type and biometric measurements.

In his most recent book “The GenoType Diet” Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo uses blood type, RH type, secretor or non secretor from saliva test and biometric measurements such as body type, size, finger prints, index finger vs ring finger length, jaw shape and teeth patterns for example to determine your ideal diet.

In the Genotype Diet Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo draws on epigenetic, the study of the interaction between genes and environment, to argue that tailoring diet and lifestyle to "GenoTypes" (genetic survival strategies that predate ethnicity and race and correspond to such external traits as body type, size, finger prints, jaw shape and teeth patterns) is the most effective means to achieve optimum health.

If you would like to learn more about blood types, epigenetics and why Dr. D'Adamo decided to write The GenoType Diet see the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ZHUu-cLYA

In the beginning it may seem like a drastic change and overwhelming whichever diet program you may choose to select. From my experience I personally use the Kaizen way of change – a small step at a time and it is easy and effective.

Even if you decide not to follow the entire program if you at least adopt some of the key strategies described in these books of healthy eating you will see a significant difference in your energy level and well being within a few weeks.

As far as supplement is concerned please consult with your physicians before adopting any new supplements specifically if you are taking any medications or are allergic to certain type of food or ingredients used in the supplement.

Current Event

NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS CONFERENCE:

The Impact of Dietary Regulation of Gene Function on Human Disease

Today, it is not uncommon to discuss the etiology of human disease in the context of genes, environment, and nutrition. With the sequencing of the human genome and the rapid scientific advances in technology that followed, researchers have been able to explore the linkage between diet and those molecular processes that govern long-term health and disease outcomes.

For Current Event and Conference Agenda on NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS please visit the link below:

http://www.csupomona.edu/~nutrigenomics/conference.shtml

The Nutritional Genomics Conference was organized jointly by the Department of Human Nutrition at Cal Poly Pomona and the Center of Excellence of Nutritional Genomics at University of California, Davis.

The final session of the conference will identify future directions for Nutritional Genomics research as well as challenges and opportunities for improving global health and wellness by preventing, delaying or mitigating chronic diseases and cancer with diet.

Conclusions
There is a lot of research in the field of NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS and it’s applications to improve human health. Indeed doing the root cause analysis and implementing the right diet with the right physical and mental exercise plan can alleviate most of our chronic diseases such as Obesity, Type II Diabetics, Inflammation, Hyper tension, Cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer The field is expanding as more and more Universities and Non-profit organizations in the US and abroad are doing additional research and collecting data to validate this new field and it’s potential benefit to humanity to in the years to come. I hope and trust that our health and governmental organizations, hospitals, and maybe even pharmaceutical companies will soon take interest to sponsor some of these very important studies in this field as complimentary treatments or as part of personalized medicine plans.

Nutritional Genomics can be considered as part of a personalized medicine program. Several Universities in the

including Cal Poly Pomona, University of California, Davis and Tufts University have formal department of Nutritional Genomics. The same topic is covered under Human Nutrition in many other

and European Universities.

I have reviewed a few of the existing works and research reports available via the internet and have listed them below with links for further studies. I have also created the group Nutritional Genomics in LinkedIn to facilitate learning and if you are interested in joining the group please visit the link below:

http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/2364664/

Additional Resources

1. Nutritional Genomics definition:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritional_genomics

2. Advanced nutrition and human metabolism

By Sareen Annora Stepnick Gropper, Jack L. Smith, James L. Groff

To preview the google book above simply paste the link below in your browser:

http://books.google.com/books?id=rXSO9YLr72YC&pg=PT51&dq=What+is+Nutritional+Genomics%3F#v=onepage&q=What%20is%20Nutritional%20Genomics%3F&f=false

3. MyPyramid offers personalized eating plans and interactive tools to help you plan and assess your food choices based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

To visit follow the link:

http://www.mypyramid.gov/

My Pyramid Plan:

http://www.mypyramid.gov/downloads/animation/Presentation_English.wmv

http://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramid/index.aspx

4. Nutritional Genomics: discovering the path to personalized nutrition By Jim Kaput, Raymond L. Rodriguez

To preview the google book above simply paste the link below in your browser:

http://books.google.com/books?id=bDgTA9x4rZUC&dq=Nutritional+Genomics&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=qjI4cu4gsd&sig=Tnn8_K3-iFyZakiVho5VtjRFsSo&hl=en&ei=TpvXSpb9DoLVlAeVt4iiAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CC0Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=&f=false

5. NCMHD Center of Excellence for Nutritional Genomics

http://nutrigenomics.ucdavis.edu/nutrigenomics/

6. To review Nutrigenomics Q & A simply click or paste the link in your
browser

http://www.complementarynutrition.org/docs/Q_A_NDI_Qtr_1_2006.pdf

7. To visit Human Nutrition Research

Aging Resources at Tufts University simply click or paste the link below in your browser

http://www.hnrc.tufts.edu/1192109687036/HNRCA-Page-hnrca2ws_1192109688473.html

8. To see Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics

Vol. 5: 71-118 (Volume publication date September 2004)
(doi:10.1146/annurev.genom.5.061903.180008)

NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS