I’ve taken a deep dive into the research on how genetic variants can impact your life and how you can get around the problem spots. I’m freely sharing what I’ve learned to help you understand the link between your genes, nutrients, health, and longevity. Every article links to the peer-reviewed research so that you can read it for yourself.
My background is in engineering and teaching, and I’m almost finished with my master’s degree in biological sciences. This drives the way that I look at the evidence-based science, make connections, and then present logical applications for lifestyle and diet options.
This is not a website to give you one specific protocol or try to sell you on some pseudo-science based diets. I want you to learn about your health and your genes, and I’m providing you the tools to get started. Why? ‘Cause this science stuff is cool.
Genetic Lifehack’s Guides:
A printable, workbook-style format that digs deeper into the topic.
Got your 23 and Me results? Here are some pages to get started:
- Hemochromatosis — Everyone needs to check to see if they are at risk for iron overload!
- Lactose Intolerance Genes – Got milk? One genetic variant changes your lactase production as an adult
- Do you carry the Lp(a) variant that increases your risk of sudden heart attack?
- A Little Lithium and B12 Makes the World a Better Place… for some
Please support my work!
Like what you read here? Please consider supporting me on Patreon. Patrons get early access to most Genetic Lifehacks articles and to a community forum for asking questions.
Recent Articles:
Prothrombin and DVT - You wake up one morning with a pain in your leg, trying to think back as to what you did the previous day to cause it. Then you notice that your leg is a little Read more…
Are you genetically less likely to get the flu? - Have you ever wondered why some people never seem to get the flu when it is going around? Turns out that our genes play a role in both our immune response to the flu virus Read more…
Opioid Receptor Genetic Variants - Your body makes it’s own, natural opioids as a way to regulate pain, reward, and addictive behaviors. One example is the endorphin rush after a hard workout — a runner’s high. This is also how Read more…
Factor V Leiden - Say you are chopping up peppers for your morning omelet and slip with the knife. Ouch! While cutting your finger seems to produce a huge amount of blood compared to the size of the wound, the Read more…
Will vitamin E increase or decrease your risk of cancer? - I often think that if a little bit of something is good for you, more should be even better… But that is often not the case when it comes to health. arge, population-wide studies of Read more…
Is fasting right for your genes? - There are many internet docs and nutritional gurus promoting fasting as a way to lose weight and get healthy. The recommendations are often for intermittent fasting, for example, a 24-hour fast every week, or sometimes for Read more…
Genetic Variants Associated with PCOS - Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that causes an increase in androgen hormone production in women. It affects 5 -10% of premenopausal women, and genetics plays a large role in whether you have PCOS. Read more…
Resilience: Genetic Variants Involved in Surviving Childhood Trauma - Exposure to childhood trauma, such as exposure to abuse, violence, or repeated stress, can have a long-lasting effect. Adults who were exposed to childhood trauma have higher rates of depression, PTSD, suicide, and anxiety disorders. Read more…
Blue-blocking Glasses: Why? Which ones? - The biggest overall action you can take for your health, in my opinion, is to optimize your circadian rhythm. Yes, that is a big statement when there are so many other things you can do Read more…
The cheese effect and your genes. - Subtitled: Let’s all try not to have a heart attack this Christmas! Let me set the scene: You’re gathered ’round on Christmas Eve for a get together with all of your family, having traveled from far and Read more…
Do you wake up at 4am? - I used to wake up often between 3:30 and 4:00 in the morning. It was so irritating not to be able to fall back to sleep –or even worse, to fall back to sleep just Read more…
Genetic variants that increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease - Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder caused by the degradation of dopamine-producing neurons in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. It affects up to 10 million people worldwide. Symptoms of Parkinson’s include Read more…
MTHFR and Migraines - The MTHFR genetic variants have been well researched and linked to a number of different chronic conditions such as an increased risk of heart disease, depression, and neural tube defects. In a nutshell, the MTHFR Read more…
CRISPR Babies and HIV Resistance - Headline news from two weeks ago proclaimed that the first genetically modified babies (twins) had been born in China. The CRISPR gene editing tool had been used on the embryo to edit the babies’ genome Read more…
Bipolar disorder, depression, and circadian clock genes - Depression and bipolar disorder are often thought of as being caused by a lack of neurotransmitters. Many of us first learned about neurotransmitters by watching TV commercials for SSRI’s like the ones for Zoloft. New Read more…