Genetic Lifehacks makes it simple to use your genetic data to learn about health and wellness, using your existing data from 23&Me, AncestryDNA, and more.
Discover your risks, learn about research-backed solutions, and find out your best diet, supplement, and lifestyle options.
Join me on the journey of optimizing health using research-backed solutions. Membership allows you to see your genes in each article (and much more!).
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Vitamins and Foods: Nutrigenomics
- Nickel Allergy: Genetics, causes, natural solutions
Nickel allergy can cause sensitivity to foods that contain nickel. Learn about how genes increase susceptibility and solutions. - Understanding the Connection Between Alcohol & Histamine Intolerance
Drinking alcohol is often a problem for people with histamine intolerance. Learn about the pathways that are involved and how to avoid alcohol-induced reactions. - BChE gene: Nightshade sensitivity, Anesthesia risk
Genetic variants of the BChE gene decrease its enzyme’s activity. This can lead to various and seemingly unconnected consequences…such as an increased risk for Parkinson’s or food sensitivity to potatoes.
>>> More in Vitamins and Foods >>>
Disease Prevention: Genetic Guides
- Lymphedema: Causes and Genetic Pathways
Lymphedema can be caused by various factors such as a traumatic injury, genetics, or even cancer. Discover how your genetics influence the risk of developing the condition. - Are Cold Sores Genetic? Who gets them and why
While many people carry the HSV virus, only about 30% will get cold sores. Genetics is one reason. - Chronic Lyme: Genetic Susceptibility
The interesting thing about Lyme disease is that the genetic variants you carry impact both how the disease affects you and how well antibiotics work for you. Learn whether your genetic variants are linked to post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms such as joint pain. (Member’s article)
More in Disease Prevention >>>
Mood and Brain Genes
- ADHD Genes: Exploring the Role of Genetics, Environment, and Neurochemistry in ADHD
Discover the complex interplay of genetics and environment in ADHD susceptibility. Learn how circadian rhythm and neurotransmitter genes contribute to the disorder, and how toxicant exposure may increase risk. - The Warrior Gene: Understanding the Role of Monoamine Oxidase Enzymes (MAOA and MAOB)
The MAOA and MAOB genes encode enzymes that break down certain neurotransmitters. People with low MAO may be prone to mood issues in certain circumstances. - Uncovering the Science Behind Alcohol Addiction: Genetic Factors and Targeted Treatments
Learn more about the genetic connections to alcohol addiction, how to check your genetic raw data, and what research-backed treatment options are available.
Longevity and Health Aging
- BPIFB4 Gene Linked to Longevity and Heart Health
Discover the impact of the BPIFB4 gene on longevity and immunity, and find out if you have the longevity variant in your genotype report. - Alpha-Ketoglutarate: A Key to Healthspan and Fighting Age-Related Diseases
Supplementing with Alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) might be beneficial for longevity since it plays a role in energy production and inflammation reduction. - Boosting NAD+ to Reverse Aging? Overview of NR and NMN
Explore the research about how nicotinamide riboside (NR) and NMN are being used to reverse aging. Learn about how your genes naturally affect your NAD+ levels and how this interacts with the aging process.
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Over 380 articles explaining genetics, health, longevity, and optimization:
Popular search terms: Histamine, MTHFR, Depression, COMT
Fertility & Pregnancy
- Trying to get pregnant? Targeted Approaches to Improving Egg Quality
Trying to get pregnant? Healthy eggs are vital for a successful pregnancy. Discover four key ways to improve your egg quality, according to research studies. - Folate Optimization: MTHFR and Fertility
MTHFR variants affect the conversion of folate into the active form. Learn how this can affect you if you are trying to get pregnant. - Genetic Causes of Male Infertility
Almost 10% of couples worldwide struggle with infertility. Learn more about your genetic susceptibility and dig deeper into the lifestyle factors that could affect your sperm.
Metabolic Health Genes
- HbA1c: Heritability of A1C testing
For some people, genetic variants can cause HbA1c levels not to accurately reflect their average blood glucose levels. Find out how your genes impact A1c readings. - Blood glucose levels: how your genes impact blood sugar regulation
Genetics plays a significant role in your blood glucose regulation. Discover your genetic susceptibility to blood sugar problems to help with blood glucose stability. - Picking the right diet for your genes
Is there an easy way to compare what diet might be best based on your genotype? Research shows some interesting associations between genotype and diet interactions and weight loss.
Detoxification & Medications
- Glyphosate Exposure: Genetics and the Impact on Our Health
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide Round-Up. A recent study showed that people with CYP1A1 genetic variants are more likely to have problems with acetylcholinesterase inhibition from glyphosate. - Detoxifying Phthalates: Genes and Diet
Phthalates are a type of chemical used as plasticizers to make plastics more pliable. There has been a lot of research on the endocrine-disrupting effects of phthalates. Your genetic variants may impact whether phthalates are a problem for you. - CYP2B6: Genetic variants impacting medication reactions
The CYP2B6 enzyme is part of the body’s first line of defense in detoxifying and breaking down certain and important for metabolizing several medications. Genetic variants of this enzyme can either speed up or slow down its function.
Inflammation and Immune Response:
- Lymphedema: Causes and Genetic PathwaysLymphedema can be caused by various factors such as a traumatic injury, genetics, or even cancer. Discover how your genetics influence the risk of developing the condition.
- Are Cold Sores Genetic? Who gets them and whyWhile many people carry the HSV virus, only about 30% will get cold sores. Genetics is one reason.
- Fighting Chronic Inflammation: Understanding the Role of TNF alpha and Your Genes
Do you feel like you are constantly dealing with inflammation? Joint pain, food sensitivity, etc.? Perhaps you are genetically geared towards a higher inflammatory response. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an inflammatory cytokine that acts as a signaling molecule in our immune system.
More articles in Inflammation and Immune >>>
Autoimmune Disease Genes
- Decoding the Genetic Factors Behind Multiple Sclerosis
MS susceptibility is linked to both genetic causes and environmental factors. Learn how those two combine – and possible solutions. - Breast Implant Illness: The Interplay of Genetics and Symptoms
What is Breast Implant Illness (BII)? Learn more about this illness, its research, and possible genetic connections to autoimmune conditions. - Sjogren’s Syndrome: Causes, Genes, Solutions
Are you dealing with dry eyes and dry mouth? Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that affects moisture-producing glands. Discover the underlying causes of Sjögren’s syndrome and the genetic variants that increase susceptibility.
More articles in Autoimmune >>>
Heart Health: Genetic Guides
- BPIFB4 Gene Linked to Longevity and Heart HealthDiscover the impact of the BPIFB4 gene on longevity and immunity, and find out if you have the longevity variant in your genotype report.
- Blood pressure, MTHFR, and riboflavin
The common MTHFR C677T variant increases the relative risk of high blood pressure. Learn how to add more Riboflavin (B2) into your diet to reduce risk. - Sudden Cardiac Death and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Genetic mutations that cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Traits: Genetic Guides
- The Genetics Behind Gray Hair: Causes, Factors, and Natural Solutions
Do our genes or environment influence how our hair grays as we age? Discover the science behind graying hair and what (if anything) can be done about it. - Does cilantro taste like soap to you?
Are you one of those people that thinks cilantro tastes like soap? If so, it may be due to a genetic variant. - Genetics and Color Blindness
Do you have difficulty seeing some colors? Discover how variants in genes related to color blindness may mean we all see things a bit differently.
Supplements & Genes
- Alpha-Ketoglutarate: A Key to Healthspan and Fighting Age-Related DiseasesSupplementing with Alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) might be beneficial for longevity since it plays a role in energy production and inflammation reduction.
- Creatine: Boosting Muscles and Increasing Brain Power
Creatine is an amino acid used in muscle tissue and the brain for energy in times of stress. Genes play a role in creatine synthesis. Find out what the research shows about creatine supplements for muscle mass and cognitive function. - Lithium Orotate & Vitamin B12: One Solution for Anxiety and Irritability
For some people, low-dose, supplemental lithium orotate is a game changer when combined with vitamin B12. But other people may have little to no response. The difference may be in your genes.
>>>More in Supplement Research >>>
Methylation Cycle Genes
- Creatine: Boosting Muscles and Increasing Brain PowerCreatine is an amino acid used in muscle tissue and the brain for energy in times of stress. Genes play a role in creatine synthesis. Find out what the research shows about creatine supplements for muscle mass and cognitive function.
- MTHFR Mutation: What is it? How to check your raw data.
The MTHFR gene is important for how your body utilizes folate (vitamin B9) for creating neurotransmitters, detoxifying toxicants, and maintaining a healthy heart. Check your 23andMe or AncestryDNA data for the MTHFR C677T and A1298C variants. - CBS Gene Variants and Low Sulfur Diet
Some clinicians recommend a low sulfur diet for people with CBS mutations. Find out what the research shows – and why that recommendation is not backed up. (Member’s article)
My Story…
Hi! I’m Debbie Moon. Welcome to Genetic Lifehacks.
When I first had my genetic data sequenced, I was both amazed at the research available in academic journals and frustrated by the difficult language and disconnected topics.
Genetic Lifehacks began as a way to share what I was learning about genetics with my family and friends.
My goal has always been to freely share information so that everyone can benefit.
As the website grew in popularity, I decided that I needed to know more… both more about genetics and more about how the pieces of the biological systems fit together. Since my undergraduate degree was in engineering, I went back to school and received my Master’s degree in Biological Sciences from Clemson University in 2019.
Now a full-time endeavor, Genetic Lifehacks has reached over 2.5 million readers, equipping people to use their genetic data to optimize their health.
~ Debbie Moon, Founder of Genetic Lifehacks