DNA of Holiday Meals

THE DNA OF HOLIDAY MEALS WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE? HOW GENETICS PLAYS A ROLE IN YOUR HOLIDAY FEAST 22,333 – Estimated number of genes that make up humans. True or False? Feeling drowsy during a holiday meal has more to do with overeating than tryptophan in turkey meat. TRUE. tryptophan Overeating is usually the main culprit. There's no more tryptophan in turkey than there is in many other meats. Is overeating influenced by genetics? Women with an AA genotype at rs1726866 may be more likely to overeat, while women with the GG genotype may be less likely to overeat. The Mediterranean diet In people of European descent with the AG or GG genotype at rs1801282, a Mediterranean diet is associated with lower BMI. Self-control and feelings of hunger are all thought to be influenced by genetic variation. Sweet tooth Do you crave sweets constantly? If you think you have a stronger sweet tooth than others, it might have something to do with your genes. In fact, a study found that people with the AG or AA genotypes at rs5400 consume, on average, 16 grams more sugar per day than people with a GG genotype. sweets About 26% of 23andMe customers have a genetic predisposition to prefer sugary foods. Red wine = red face A flushing reaction to alcohol is almost entirely caused by your genetic makeup. The good news is that people who have an extreme reaction are also less likely to become alcohol dependent. Scientists found that... People with no working copies of the ALDH2 gene are prone to an extreme alcohol flushing reaction. alcohol People with two working copies have little or no flushing reaction. Got milk? 75% Approximate 20%-40% 90% 90% 75% Approximate rate of adult Approximate rate of adult rate of worldwide lactose lactose adult lactose intolerance in 40% intolerance U.S. and among Asian Americans intolerance Europe 20% Many Americans and Europeans are less prone to adult lactose intolerance, and that's genetic. The ability to digest lactose (the type of sugar found in milk) as an adult has been passed down through the generations, starting thousands of years ago in Europe and the Middle East. MILK Scientists found that... lactose People with GG genotypes at rs4988235 in the MCM6 gene are more likely to be lactose intolerant. No thanks! Approximately 25% of people are "taste blind" to the bitter tastes present in brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage. People with a CC genotype at rs713598 in the TAS2R38 gene are less likely to detect bitterness. A whopping 68% of 23andMe customers detect bitter tastes. Averse to cilantro? DNA may have something to do with it. People with the AA genotype at rs7107418 are more likely to think that cilantro tastes soapy. SOAP 23andMe found that a higher percentage of women (57%) than men (43%) pick up on the soapy taste. greens Making healthy decisions More than 2 million – Number of Americans with celiac disease. It's a condition strongly influenced by genetics that causes gastrointestinal issues in affected people who consume gluten. 23andMe may help clue you in to whether or not you're predisposed, so that if you're experiencing any stomach issues your doctor may be able to reach a diagnosis sooner and you can make good decisions about the food you eat. gluten Green or Black Tea Women of Asian descent with the AA genotype at rs4680 may help lower their odds of breast cancer by drinking these teas. For the coffee drinkers... Coffee-but not caffeine- may help lower their odds for type 2 diabetes and some cancers. caffeine Caffeine-not necessarily coffee-may help protect against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Want to know how your body processes caffeine? Your genetic makeup can tell you if you're predisposed to drinking more caffeine. For example, people with the cC genotype at rs762551 are slow caffeine metabolizers. carry a genetic variant are fast Of 23andMe's European associated with metabolizers customers... of caffeine. 34% higher-than-average caffeine consumption. 49% Just for fun 54% of 23andMe customers can detect the asparagus metabolite smell in their urine. This smelling super power is due in part to a variant in a region of the genome containing olfactory receptor genes. Would you like to know if your ancestors passed down a love of sweets? Or maybe you want to know why you get wired from one cup of coffee? Get a snapshot of your own genetic profile by visiting 23andMe.com. SOURCES: http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/how_to_eat_for_your_dna 23andMe http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-08/infographic-day-where-people-can-digest-milk http://www.statisticbrain.com/lactose-intolerance-statistics/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2898077/ https://www.23andme.com/