We’ve all reached a point at one time or another, where we’ve wanted to pay better attention to our health. This goal, as important as it is, is sometimes short lived because…where do you even start? The human body is a complex system and everyone’s needs are different. The skincare routine, diet or exercise programme that helped someone else, may not work the same way for you.
This is the conundrum I found myself in a few months ago. Desperate to make a meaningful change to my health, I started researching my options. I could have opted for to see a personal trainer, dermatologist or dietician right off the bat, but I wanted to know more about my own body first.
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Discovering Optiphi’s Helix DNA testing
I first read about Optiphi’s health, skin and diet DNA tests online. The lab looks at your genes and determines exactly what your specific genetic needs are, via DNA testing. The process is fairly simple. You visit Optiphi’s website, locate your nearest spa, and book an appointment with the spa for your preferred batch of tests. You’ve got skin, health, diet and hormone tests to choose from.
I chose skin, health and diet as my main focus, and visited my nearest Optiphi salon for the testing process. Just one quick cotton swab to the cheek later and I was good to go. Once my DNA had been shipped off to the lab for the geneticist to analyse, I had a three-week waiting period before I heard back from the salon with my results.
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Once Optiphi had put together a detailed report for my chosen tests, results were relayed to my local spa’s beauty therapist who then guided me through the three detailed reports. This was the most helpful part of this journey, learning about my body’s exact genetic needs.
I walked away feeling like I know myself better after going through my reports with a professional. With a diet plan, exercise routine and detailed analysis of what my genetic makeup is like, I was able to then implement meaningful changes to my body, for healthier skin, health and diet.
Let’s get in to what you get, when you take the test:
Skin
Optiphi’s Helix Skin Report locks onto genetic markers from your DNA which indicate your genetic predisposition to certain skin characteristics and risks, like dermal sensitivity, DNA protection and repair, pigmentation, volume loss, wrinkles and sun sensitivity.
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Based on their genetic findings, Optiphi’s report gets down to the skin characteristics that may be beneficial towards you.
In the detailed report, you’re given a breakdown on your genetic markers (which your spa therapist discusses with you) and personalised recommendations for your skin including topical at home care, professional treatments as well as dietary supplement recommendations.
From there on out, you can approach a skincare professional to prescribe the correct products based on your genetic code.
The most helpful part of the skin test, in my opinion, was the detailed breakdown of the various skin issues commonly related to my genetic code, and how I can prevent and combat any risks of those conditions beforehand.
Health
Just like the skin test, Optiphi’s health test identifies unique genetic markers which indicate your genetic predisposition to certain health risks. When it comes to health, these markers are called nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that occur in your genetic code.
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These variations may affect the expression or function of certain genes making you more susceptible to certain conditions or characteristics. Based on the variations detected, certain health characteristics may be a high-priority area for you.
You’re tested for eight health risks including oxidative stress, detoxification, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, bone health, lipid metabolism, methylation and iron overload. Then, according to your genetic markers, risks for these categories are then sorted into medium or high priority.
Once I had been briefed on what my health risks may be, the report also provided interventions to combat, or at least minimise, the risks associated with my own genetic markers. This included the diet best suited for my body, supplement and lifestyle recommendations.
The health test was greatly beneficial in helping me kick my lifestyle into gear with a better diet, supplements and exercise plan based on my body type. My two main risk priorities were identified as oxidative stress and inflammation, which made it easy to devise a lifestyle plan around eating an anti-inflammatory diet and ensuring that I move my body to get the blood pumping and combat the risk of oxidative stress.
Diet
This test was my favourite. The report provided me with a full roadmap on how to design my diet and exercise regimens, taking the guesswork out of what works for me personally. The diet report identifies unique genetic markers indicating genetic predisposition to the metabolism of certain macro and micronutrients.
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I was tested for metabolism and fat sensitivity, carbohydrate responsiveness, glucose and insulin sensitivity, energy regulation and exercise response, and food and nutrient response — including lactose intolerance, caffeine sensitivity, salt sensitivity, PUFA metabolism, circadian rhythms, feeding behaviour and sensitivity to bitterness.
Based on the results of the above, an exercise guideline was included along with low, medium and high priorities when it comes to my specific health risks. Based on these priorities, the report also gave me a summary of my nutritional needs, and recommended macronutrient ratios and even calorie intake, specific to my diet.
Why should you test?
Taking a DNA test has opened the doors to a better lifestyle for me. Instead of wondering about what will and won’t work for my body and health, I now have a clearer idea. It isn’t all smooth sailing once you know the results, but they’re the most important part of the journey — the start.
However, once you’ve got the key to unlocking a healthier lifestyle, it takes work stepping through the door.
If you’re looking at taking a DNA test like I did, I would recommend approaching a specialist within the given field of your concern to help you tailor a fleshed-out plan based on what Optiphi’s report tells you.
Since taking the skin, health and diet tests, I’ve been able to incorporate changes to my health which have not only left me feeling healthier now, but will also protect me against genetic risks in the future.
Visit Optiphi’s website to locate a spa near you and book your test in.
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