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Promethease Personalized DNA Report Made Simple and Better

Curos Health Medical Team May 22, 2019

Promethease Personalized DNA Report Made Simple and Better

Whether you’re interested in DNA testing simply out of curiosity or because you are concerned about your health, your DNA report should be easy to read, allowing you to extract key pieces of information.

After all, what good is your personalized genetic data if you are unable to interpret it? If you cannot understand the data presented to you, how can you take informed, positive action?

While Promethease offers detailed reports, analyzing your raw DNA data can be rather challenging considering their not-so-friendly interface and clear limitations. But there is a simpler, more efficient way to access DNA test results. If you would like to examine your raw DNA data in a way that is approachable and easy-to-understand, here’s what you need to know.

What Is DNA Testing?

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It wasn’t until the 1940s that researchers realized DNA molecules were passed down from one generation to the next. DNA’s structure and function were then discovered in 1953, which continues to influence and advance key areas of health, forensic, and genealogical research.

It wasn’t until 2003 that the entire human genome was decoded, and since then, genetic research has become a key area of interest, especially across areas of study such as nutrigenomics. This is the field of study that focuses on how foods and supplements influence health outcomes.

Within a more clinical setting, genetic testing is often implemented in order to provide a more personalized approach, especially in terms of lifestyle variables. For example, if you display an inherited risk for heart disease, beginning a behavioral action plan could help curb your lifetime risk.

Today, direct-to-consumer DNA testing is quickly reaching new heights, allowing the general public to gain access to family genealogy and associated health risks. Currently, some of the leaders in this space include 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and FamilyTree.

Although a complex process, DNA testing revolves around deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in relation to your genetic code. Considering your genetic code is composed of around three billion nucleotide pairs, the key to DNA testing is knowing what to look for in terms of key genetic markers.

Once you submit a sample (which is typically a saliva collection), you generally need to wait around 3 to 5 weeks to obtain your results. Once you receive your report, it’s important to understand what the data actually means. While you can clearly see which variants are present, it can be challenging to understand what those variants mean in regard to your well-being — and how your day-to-day behaviors potentially impact these genetic variants.

Why Does DNA Testing Matter?

By testing your DNA, you gain greater insight in terms of your risk of various diseases, including Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, celiac disease, and other chronic conditions. In that sense, the information you receive will allow you to make more informed medical decisions. For example, just some of the information that DNA testing can provide includes:

Specific health risks — Reports can offer insight regarding your risk of Parkinson’s, late-onset Alzheimer’s, hereditary thrombophilia, and more. In this case, you can actively intervene, particularly in regard to your diet, exercise, and supplement regimen.

Carrier screening — Understanding genetic risk factors associated with your fetus can help minimize the risk that your child will inherit a disorder/disease.
Wellness and traits — In some cases, key variants can impact specific traits, including your genetic weight. For example, your DNA could provide clues in relation to how your body gains weight and distributes fat. In turn, you could use this information to improve your current lifestyle and eating habits.

Cellular aging — Genetic pathways associated with aging have been discovered, helping you understand the relationship between your genes, environment, and long-term health. This is often based on information relating to your telomeres, which influence cancer risk and the aging process.

As stated in an NPR article, the at-home genetic testing industry is reaching new heights, particularly in terms of accessibility. Many physicians are welcoming this booming trend, as they believe that their patients are gaining access to valuable information — the type of information that could potentially alter their future health.

The key is determining what risk factors may play a role in terms of your health so that you can take steps to protect yourself. This issue lies in how the data is delivered, as the information itself can be overwhelming and confusing.

Bottom line: In order to truly benefit from your DNA test results, you’ll need well-thought-out, thoughtfully-presented information. The key is understanding what your DNA has to say so that you can become empowered to improve your future health. When broken down and presented in a manner you can actually understand, your results can easily become actionable steps — the type of steps that will significantly improve your future health and quality of life.

How Are DNA Tests Conducted and What Does the Data Mean?

As discussed, DNA is the genetic code that governs the way in which our body biologically functions. Think of it almost as if it were a blueprint.

All humans share around 99.9 percent of DNA — the remaining 0.1 percent is what represents all the differences we see in terms of diversity and risk of disease. It’s these differences or “genetic variants” which actively influence the development of serious diseases and disorders — especially when considering the complex relationship between your genetics and lifestyle.

If you provide a sample of your DNA, most commonly in the form of saliva, a lab can analyze your genetic material in order to find variants present in your specific code. These variants offer clues in relation to your personal health, allowing you to gain insight into the complex interactions that occur between your current environment and genes.

Simply put, your DNA test results can act as a personalized tool, helping you intervene in a more proactive manner. For example, it is important to understand which genetic risk factors you carry and in turn, how lifestyle factors further influence those genetic variables.

This is where your Nutri-Therapy report comes into play, as it will help you better understand what you need to do with your data.

Your DNA Doesn’t Change, but Your Environment Does

We’re all aware that our genetics do not change. The billions of letters which make up your personalized genome remain the same from birth until death. However, that does not mean that you cannot influence how they operate.

While your environment does not technically change your gene sequence, it can impact the way in which your genes work. This is what’s known as gene expression. Whether external factors circulate around diet, toxins, or drugs, these variables can alter gene activity.

Most often, diseases develop as a result of both your environment and genes. The choices you make on a day-to-day basis, such as what you eat and how much you exercise, can have a direct impact on your genetic risk, particularly in terms of possible mutations, gene-gene interactions, and the overall impact of epigenetics — which is the study of biological mechanisms that switch genes on and off, based on factors outside of your DNA sequence.

For example, if your DNA shows a higher risk for certain diseases, including cancer, you can then take that information to improve your current approach towards healthy living — before issues have a chance to develop. This means that targeting your diet could potentially alter your health at the genetic level. This has been documented across a number of scientific studies as diet, exercise, and supplementation all offer positive support — which can often “tip the scales” in a more favorable direction.

Comparing Promethease and Nutri-Therapy™

While Promethease is a common system used when aiming to create a personal DNA report, it is overly complicated, often defeating the purpose. After uploading your raw data from a DNA testing company, such as 23andMe, you’ll receive a personalized report. However, the report itself can be quite tough to decipher.

This is why we developed the Nutri-Therapy™ report. As long as you have your DNA results, you can gain access to this insightful report for free. This will help empower you to truly take control of your health.

Unlike Promethease, Nutri-Therapy™ breaks down your data based on your immediate needs.

The ultimate goal is to take key pieces of information and turn them into actionable recommendations.

Incorporating all possible areas of improvement, you will be able to focus on lifestyle, diet, exercise, and supplementation suggestions — all of which target varying biological categories.

You will receive an overall Health GPA™, in addition to grades associated with each category. For example, if your neurological health receives a grade of D, you can then take targeted action in order to reduce your risk of future complications.

More on How Nutri-Therapy™ Works

As discussed, you can use your existing DNA results, originally sourced from companies such as FamilyTree, 23andMe, and Ancestry.com in order to develop an actionable plan.

If you do not have DNA results, we can send you a saliva sample kit.

Once your DNA has been analyzed in a lab, you’ll need to answer a few simple questions in relation to your lifestyle and health-related history. After all, your environment has a significant impact on how your genes respond.

In turn, you will also gain insight into what variables may impact your DNA expression. When you have your DNA results, obtaining your free Nutri-Therapy™ report is quick and easy. It’s generated within minutes, and you will be able to see which biological functions may require your attention.

View a sample 100 percent personalized report here.

In addition to your specific health grades, all of which are well-organized, you will also gain access to “lifestyle action bonus points.” For example, based on your overall Health GPA™ and specific data points, more exercise may be recommended, helping you target risk factor x, y, and z.

Best of all, your report will change based on the latest available scientific research, providing you with greater insight.

It’s Time to Take Back Control

There is no denying the fact that your lifestyle impacts your genes, which provides you with an upper edge. As they say, knowledge is power, and perhaps nothing is more powerful than positive health.

For years, so many believed that they were simply at the mercy of their genes. However, we now understand otherwise. In many ways, your genes are technically at the mercy of your habits and lifestyle choices. That is why DNA testing is so valuable, increasing your awareness.

As stated by Harvard Medical School, approximately 70 to 80 percent of heart disease risk can be explained by your lifestyle choices. Considering there are 35 genes known to influence obesity, if you carry several of these genes, your body will accumulate body fat more rapidly and in turn, your risk of cardiovascular disease could increase as a result.

Understanding your genes will allow you to balance your risks and in some cases, you can even turn off harmful genes. This concept continues to fuel personalized medicine and in the future, DNA testing may even play a role in how individual patients respond to select medications.

At this time, there isn’t a single “magic pill” that will allow you to reset problematic genes. However, you’re not necessarily stuck with your current genetic profile, either.

Researchers are also finding that although you cannot change your genes, you may be able to impact the composition of various kinds of bacteria — which, once again, is highly dependent on your lifestyle choices. This will continue to be an interesting and enlightening area of research.

Of course, the sooner you adopt healthier habits, the better. However, research shows that even if you are in your 60s or 70s, lifestyle changes can significantly impact your well-being while reducing your risk of serious health complications.

Ready to generate your free Nutri-Therapy™ report? Have questions? If so, please feel free to contact us today!

Curos Health Medical Team

The Curos Health Medical Team is lead by our Chief Medical Officer, Josh Trutt, MD. The team is dedicated to a patient-centric approach to medicine providing integrative, concierge medicine delivered via telehealth. Curos Health is also please to be able to accept most major health insurance providers in Florida.