Broscience Friday Digest: Genetic Testing and True Optimization
The past year has seen an explosion of lab testing for consumers. People are getting “Bloodwork” done and wanting to optimize their health, become their own doctors, and make informed decisions.
I support this 100%. Ive told people to get labs done for years, and to make data driven health decisions.
However, there is ONE major cornerstone of health that has been overlooked
The Role of your GENETICS
Your genes determine your underlying health more than any other factor. One book Ive been reading recently that has been driving this point home is Biochemical individuality
It was written in 1956, but it is as cutting edge today as it was 70 years ago.
Everyone IS unique in their metabolism and anatomy.
Lab testing ranges are based on massive data sets. The numbers are averaged from thousands of people to find a mean range.
These ranges DO NOT demonstrate optimal health or function. These ranges do NOT reflect your own unique genetic needs. Considering that “Homo Sapiens” consist of many distinct ethnic sub-races with KNOWN genetic differences in metabolism, it becomes insane when you consider that EVERYONE is treated the same
Recently I had Genetic Testing Done,
This was through a company called Fitness Genes.
Gene data has come a long way since the human genome project, and current genetic testing is able to identify thousands of genes and how they correlate to different traits The Testing assesses your genetics across multiple areas -Weight Loss (and weight gain) -Muscle Building -Endurance -Appetite Control -Heart Health -Sleep Health -Brain health -Blood Sugar Levels -Vitamin Requirements -Mineral Requirements -Inflammation -Hormone Health -Biological Aging -Gut Health
What was fascinating about this was how the test results lined up with my own lived experience
For example, cardio has always been a major struggle for me. Im innately NOT good at it, my default cardio ability is that of a fat boy, even though Ive never been fat. Ive also noticed it takes way more training for me to get a minimal level of cardio adaptation. As it turns out, my genetics for cardio ARE dismal, in the bottom 10% of the population.
Not uplifting news by any means, but it affirmed to me the necessity of cardio, and gave useful suggestions on how to periodize. It also contextualized why Ive always seemed to benefit from any kind of “mitochondrial” enhancing or stamina supplement; my body’s innate energy production is lower and Im more likely to benefit from these things as a result.
At the same time, the data on cardiovascular health showed that I have certain genetics that make me predisposed to higher LDL and heart disease (which Ive always seen in my lab work) and my digestive genetics indicated that I am more prone to gut inflammation (My having a sensitive stomach over the years made sense as well) I could give many more example, but it was remarkable how each report lined up with my observational insights.
Now I have a true holistic framework to optimize from with my health habits, and my labwork has more context.
I would recommend everyone reading get a Fitness Genes Test you can also watch my recap of the testing and my perspective on incorporating it with lab testing
Watch here
Optimization is meaningless without Holistic Knowledge
The original biohackers of the 1990s and 2000s focused largely on acute effects with various supplements, hormones, nutraceuticals, and devices
What they lacked was a holistic philosophy of Health and definition of the essential practices that enable humans to physically thrive, reproduce, and live satisfying lives.
The Health X community, while decentralized, has pioneered a more complete paradigm
The goal of everything is to restore your biology to its most healthful state.
Abud had a fantastic description of this continuum
We need Bio-Restoration, not Bio-Hacking
Salutogenesis > pathogenesis
“Health influencers” try their hand at salutogeneiss but leave out actually understanding human illness
Doctors are pros at pathogenesis but tend to not look at makes you THRIVE
Need to be able to do both well to actually help people
Articles this Week: I have been on a TEAR, with articles almost daily
The Best Prompts to Turn an LLM into a DoctorAI
9 Simple Broscience Strategies for Bulking
What is Biofeedback and How to Use It
On the Youtube Channel: I started a DAILY Broscience blog, covering topics of the day, the most recent ones were on genetics and peptides
Watch and Subscribe
Supplements Ive Been Using:
Nattokinase from Pure Blood-After getting my reports back, I am set on using this for the rest of my natural life.
NMN from Elite Research USA-Based on my genetic testing, mitochondrial enhancing molecules and peptides would definitely benefit me. NMN is easily taken daily as an oral capsule
Use code AJAC10 at Elite Research USA for all your peptide research