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Nutrition guidance can be frustratingly general: Eat more greens. Prioritize protein. Skip the processed foods<\/a>. Precision, or personalized, nutrition has emerged as a tailored-to-you approach to deciding what belongs on your plate.<\/p>\n \u201cPersonalized nutrition is tailored to an individual\u2019s unique genetic makeup, lifestyle, and health goals, standing in contrast to general dietary advice, which applies broad, population-level recommendations,\u201d says dietitian Lauren Manaker<\/a>, RDN. Taking a more bespoke approach to your nutritional needs may help you hone your energy levels, stick with your nutrition goals, and improve your health in the short and long run.\u00a0<\/p>\n Interested? Below, Manaker and dietitian Wan Na Chun, RD, Owner of One Pot Wellness<\/a>, explain how precision nutrition works, its potential benefits, and what this area of nutrition hasn\u2019t quite figured out (yet).\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPersonalized nutrition uses genetic testing, lifestyle factors, health status, and goals to help provide specific dietary recommendations,\u201d Chun says. This one-size-fits-one approach is common for dietitians<\/a>. Now, technology\u2014and specifically artificial intelligence (AI)\u2014is making it easier to collect and parse the data necessary for precision nutrition.\u00a0<\/p>\n A new class of wearables<\/a> and at-home tests collect genetic information as well as health metrics such as blood sugar and blood fat. Some at-home tests, like ZOE<\/a>, even collect fecal matter that can be tested to learn more about your gut health<\/a>. \u201cWearable devices can also provide insights into factors including activity level, sleep habits, and stress levels that can also be used to provide realistic and sustainable nutrition advice,\u201d says Chun.\u00a0<\/p>\n Put together, all these metrics tell a story about your health and how your current nutritional approach is serving you. Dietitians and other health professionals can then take your personal data to come up with smart health solutions that may lead to better long-term health. Someone who is lactose-intolerant will need to avoid different foods than someone with celiac disease, for example.\u00a0<\/p>\n Your genetic makeup may also determine how your body metabolizes coffee<\/a>, how it reacts to carbs and fats<\/a>, and even which foods you prefer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Think about your physical fitness: Maybe once, you were following a general fitness plan that included walking, calisthenics, and some light stretching. Seeking a more personalized approach, you meet with a trainer who tests your VO2 max and muscular strength. After that, they identify your strengths and weaknesses and recommend specific exercises to increase your endurance and strength. Suddenly, you have a plan meant for you <\/em>and you only.\u00a0<\/p>\n The same logic applies to precision nutrition. \u201cPersonalized nutrition can help address a wide variety of health issues, chronic conditions, and health goals among groups of people across various life stages and health conditions,\u201d says Chun.\u00a0<\/p>\n Putting aside all the tests, precision nutrition also offers the opportunity for the individual to customize their food plan to suit their life, circumstances, and culture. \u201cThis holistic approach respects diverse dietary traditions and personal tastes, ensuring that the recommended dietary plans are not just scientifically sound but also culturally sensitive and practically feasible for the individual,\u201d says Manaker. \u201cIt relies on the premise that for any nutritional advice to be effective, it must be tailored to align with the individual\u2019s unique lifestyle, including their culinary heritage and palate preferences.\u201d<\/p>\n In the long term, following a personal nutrition plan may help with disease prevention<\/a> and increase your healthspan<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\nHow precision nutrition, or personalized nutrition, works<\/h2>\n
The benefits of personalized nutrition<\/h2>\n
The limits of personalized nutrition<\/h2>\n