Five tenents of nutrigenomics
Under certain circumstances and in some individuals, diet can be a serious risk factor for a number of diseases.
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Common dietary chemicals can act on the human genome, either directly or indirectly, to alter gene expression or structure.
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The degree to which diet influences the balance between healthy and disease states may depend on an individual’s genetic makeup.
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Some diet-regulated genes (and their normal, common variants) are likely to play a role in the onset, incidence, progression, and/or severity of chronic diseases.
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Dietary intervention based on knowledge of nutritional requirement, nutritional status, and genotype (i.e., “personalized nutrition“) can be used to prevent, mitigate or aid with chronic disease”(UC Davis).
Nutrigenomics
According to University of California Davis, “nutritional genomics, or nutrigenomics, is the study of how foods affect our genes and how individual genetic differences can affect the way we respond to nutrients (and other naturally occurring compounds) in the foods we eat.” Nutrigenomics has received a lot of attention because of its potential for preventing, mitigating, or aiding chronic disease. Genetics cannot be “fixed” BUT we can support the system when we know where the broken link is and potentially prevent further damage.
The treatments in caring for children with autism have exploded and now include evaluating genetics. For example, we know children with autism have poor detoxification systems leaving them prone to long-term damage. So, what if you could be aware of the genetic predispositions and potentially prevent a diagnosis? This has changed the game because we now know what a child is genetically prone to, allowing your doctor to be proactive instead of reactive. The key to prevention and care is early intervention!
Common childhood issues/symptoms that may be linked to
biomedical/functional, dietary, and/or nutritional issues, may include:
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ADHD or ADD
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Aggression
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Allergies/sinus problems
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Autism
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Asperger’s
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Bedwetting
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Behavior issues
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Constipation/Diarrhea
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Developmental delays
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Digestive problems
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Eczema
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Emotional difficulties
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Failure to thrive
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Fatigue
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Growing pains
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Headaches
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Learning difficulties
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
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Picky Eater
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Poor sleep
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Recurrent ear infections
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Seizures
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Self-injurious behaviors
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Sensory processing disorders
You may want to consult with your primary care provider and discuss these factors.