DNA NUTRITION TESTING WITH VITLDNA testing has been something I have been a little sceptical about since the release of kits available to buy online. I always wondered if the results were actually accurate and if they really meant anything to if they were simply made up and not accurate at all. There are tests out there for all kinds of things; intolerances and allergies, nutrition, vitamin deficiencies, cholesterol levels and so many more! Today I am here to talk to you about the VITL DNA Nutrition test. 
When the team at VITL were kind enough to offer me a DNA Nutrition test kit I decided maybe this is the one to try and test. I've had offers from other companies but none of them seemed the right fit for me to try out so when a nutrition kit came along I decided to go for it. This test is to help people understand how our DNA influences our bodies responses to environmental factors like lifestyle and diet. The test itself was really simple to do; once you've received it all you do is register online, swab the inside of your mouth and then send it back, it's as simple as that. It comes with a pre-paid parcel bag so all you have to do is pop it in the post when you've swabbed and ready to send it. Easy peasy :) The test measures things like alcohol sensitivity, metabolic rate and digestion as well as a number of vitamin levels. 
the resultsThe results can take up to 4 weeks to come back via email but for me it was fairly quick and I had my results within 2 weeks.
Here are my results- 
Lets break it down into each section-
Alcohol According to the test I have a normal sensitivity to alcohol meaning that I'm less likely to experience something called 'alcohol flush' which causes the skin to go red and blotchy and you can feel nauseous. It also means that my hangovers won't be any better or worse in comparison to others. This one I can quite believe- I have never had red or blotchy skin from drinking alcohol and to much of many of my friends anger, I don't really get hangovers. I obviously can's speak for others but when I do drink (which isn't often) I don't feel it affects me any quicker or slower than it does others around me. Appetite According to my results I have a normal appetite and satiety response which means I am less likely to binge eat. Again, I think this isn't far from the truth; I don't binge eat and I am quite in tune with my stomach so I know when I'm hungry or simply just thirsty or bored. I like that VITL have taken the opportunity hear to explain that not all calories are equal and that a healthy and balanced diet should be consumed, alongside regular physical activity and enough sleep. Caffeine metabolism In this area my results came back as likely to have a slow metabolism when it comes to caffeine meaning that I am likely to feel the effects of caffeine for longer so I should monitor my caffeine intake. My caffeine intake isn't big anyway; I maybe have 3 or 4 coffees per week. The only time I drink coffee more is when I'm feeling tired or if I'm heading out for breakfast or brunch. I'm a little unsure on this result due to not drinking coffee that often so I have never really felt the benefits when I do drink it. I will have to start seeing how I feel when I consume coffee in future and get back to you on this one :). Digestion and IBS My results here are actually quite interesting; I have increased likelihood of IBS and/or digestive health issues. I am intrigued with this one as yes, I do get quite bloated after some meals and foods but I haven't put my finger on which foods those are. From a conversation I had with someone a few weeks ago I am leaning towards certain carbs- oats and bread mainly, but I really can't be sure. Maybe I need to look into this further?! 
In this section of the results we look at fat and muscle- The Fat gene According to the results everyone has 'the fat gene' but the extent as to which it affects weight is dependant on the variant of gene. The fat gene contributes to the speed of metabolism and the regulation of appetite. My results indicated that I am likely to have a moderately high risk of obesity but the results do explain that the gene itself doesn't play a part in weight alone. Diet and being active also play a role in this. This result is interesting but I do lead a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and plenty of exercise so I wouldn't really know how much my fat gene plays a role in my weight without doing a complete 360 and giving it all up just to see. Metabolic rate and snacking The results here show I am likely to have a slow metabolism. If you had told me this a few years ago then I would have said it's completely wrong but now, I can agree with this. When I look back at when I was 20/21 my metabolism was on fire! I can tell now that I'm 29 that this has definitely slowed down and I have to make that little bit more effort when thinking about foods and what I'm eating. Fat and muscle composition My results here again, are pretty interesting. The results tell me I am less likely to develop muscle and less likely to have reduced fat levels. Thinking back to when I trained with a PT every week and we were working on fat loss or muscle gain, my fat would go down but my muscle never really budged at all. I couldn't tell you now if that was correct or not as I haven't worked on a fat loss or muscle gain/strength programme in a long time! I feel an experiment coming on... Efficient use of dietary fat Based on my results, I am less likely to use fat as fuel and more likely store instead. This result pretty much tells me what I already know; eat less saturated fat and sugary foods and eat healthy fats such as fish, avocado, nuts, etc. 
In this last section we look at vitamins and minerals- Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Iron and Omega 3 and 6 metabolism The results show that my levels of the above vitamins and minerals aren't likely to be low which of course is of course good news! Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Folate (Vitamin B9) According to my results I am likely to have low absorption all of the above vitamins. With regards to B12 the results tell me to consume more B12-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. I have cut my meat consumption down (a while ago) and I only really eat fish once, sometimes twice a week, I do eat eggs almost everyday and I do have milk in my tea daily but that probably doesn't count. Some food for thought here. Vitamin D; I'm not sure I believe this one as I take a Vitamin D supplement every day. The only time I don't is if I will be spending time in the sun (like when I was on holiday). As with Vitamin B12, Vitamin A comes from foods rich in retinol, which is a form of Vitamin A and only comes from animal-drives foods- whole milk, butter, eggs, meat and fish. As mentioned above I probably don't consume enough of these so again, it's something for me to look at and think about. Folate is another I am less likely to absorb properly which can lead to weakness, fatigue, premature greying hair and irritability. I wouldn't say I am irritable but I am often tired and the grey hairs?! Well, I put that down to working with children and being stressed but maybe I was wrong?! CONCLUSION This VITL DNA test has been interesting to do and although I am on the fence with a couple of the results, when I really think about it, I can completely agree with some of them. It will be interesting to see if I make some changes to my diet to include more vitamins that I am a little low on, if that actually makes a difference to how I feel. I am also very intrigued to know if I can make a difference to my fat and muscle composition. If anyone has been thinking of doing a DNA test for any reason I would definitely recommend this one. Each result comes with scientific details which explains each result in a lot of detail and different genes, something I found vert interesting! It also gives advice on things you can do to help with any low or high results but focuses greatly on promoting a healthy and balanced diet alongside regular exercise and plenty of sleep which to me are the key things to lead a healthy lifestyle! The test is RRP £199 but VITL currently have it for £99 on their website. To save another £10 on the test and get it for £89 go to their website here to get yours! Amie xx |
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THE GIRL BEHIND FITNESS FORSTERMy name is Amie and I am the face behind Fitness Forster.
I am a freelance recipe developer, content creator and qualified personal trainer. I developed this website to share my passion for healthy recipes, fitness and travel. FITNESS FORSTER ON INSTAGRAM
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