Personalized nutrition uses in-depth insights to customize diets
Even though there are dozens of diets out there, so many that it’s a $100 billion industry, people often struggle to find one that really suits them. With advances in genomics, it’s become easier to analyze DNA and build diet recommendations tailor-made for individuals. Genetics only don’t always give the full story when it comes to personalized nutrition, however. Going deeper, companies are analyzing people’s gut microbiome’s and metabolic processes to design custom diets. As humans look to extend their lifespans and the quality of their lives, personalized nutrition will play a key role.
Gut Feelings
The gut microbiome – the trillions of microorganisms residing in our digestive tract – influences nutrient absorption, metabolism, and immune function. DNA sequencing technologies are allowing researchers to explore the complex interplay between genetics, diet, and the microbiome.
Companies like Viome use a combination of RNA analysis and gut microbiome profiling to develop personalized nutrition plans. This holistic approach aims to optimize not just the types of food people eat, but also how their bodies interact with them through their unique gut microbial community.
Viome’s $399 full body intelligence test uses stool, blood, and saliva samples to measure more than 50 health scores that determine which foods a user might want to avoid and which to eat more of.
“Measuring RNA offers a way to tell what is actively happening inside and the different levels of activities of various molecular pathways that make up health-related functions,” Grant Antoine, Viome’s translational science clinical expert, told Athletech News. “This is important for someone wanting to see which way their health is trending and how to suppress harmful activity and boost beneficial activity to lower inflammation and support a balanced microbiome, which is key to longevity.”
Good Metabolism
The human body isn’t static, of course. Metabolic processes are constantly ongoing on the cellular level, painting a complex portrait of metabolic function. Thanks to emerging metabolomic technologies, we can analyze thousands of metabolites at a time to offer real-time snapshots of a body’s biochemical state. These provide useful insights for precise personalized nutrition.
By analyzing a person’s unique metabolic profile, companies like Metabolon can identify potential deficiencies or imbalances and personalize dietary recommendations to optimize these pathways. This approach provides a dynamic and functional picture, allowing for more targeted nutritional interventions based on the body’s needs. Metabolomics’ biggest contribution might be in disease prevention by identifying risk areas and recommending diets that minimize the threat.
“Leveraging decades of experience in data curation, Metabolon provides intuitive visualization tools for pathway analysis and disease association,” said David Broadhurst, Professor of Biosystems Data Science at Edith Cowan University in Australia.
Machine Eating
Habit uses an AI-powered platform that can analyze vast datasets of genetic, microbiome, and nutritional information. These platforms learn from individual responses to different dietary interventions, creating personalized recommendations in real time then suggesting a customized meal plan that accounts for preferences and goals.
“With the advent of big data and computational biology, I believe it’s possible to provide everyone in this country and around the world a personalized blueprint to achieve their health and wellness goals,” Habit founder and CEO Neil Grimmer said.
Ahara combines machine learning and nutrition science backed by an international advisory board to deliver “a new frontier” in personalized nutrition. The platform, which comes with a $24.95 per year foundational plan or a $2,400 per year premium plan, identifies nutritional deficiencies based on a health questionnaire and at-home testing. The app then provides recipes and even interfaces with Instacart so users can quickly order the foods that are right for them.
“The more you can personalize it, the more likely it’s going to be effective and optimizing health for that individual,” Ahara co-founder and chief medical officer Dr. Melina Jampolis told Food Navigator. “But also, the more likely they’re going to stick with the plan because you’re personalizing it.”
Cutting out the middleman, Nourished 3D-prints super nutrient gummies with precise amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients. Some ingredients have higher bioavailability in gummy form, meaning the body can absorb them more easily and maximize the nutritional benefits. With an online quiz and lifestyle consultation, customers can get recommendations for a seven-layer gummy stack or design their own based on their nutritional goals.
Designing your own super nutrient gummy for wellness on the go. Nutrition doesn’t get much more personalized than that.
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