Understand Your Genetics. Personalize Your Nutrition.
Your DNA offers clues about how your body handles certain nutrients. At Valley Chiropractic Clinic in Juneau, we review those clues alongside your health history, diet, and relevant lab results to help you decide what to focus on.
A Different Kind of Health Information
Blood work can tell us how things are going at the time of collection. Genetic testing looks at selected inherited differences that generally stay the same throughout life. Together, they can help frame questions for longer-term nutrition planning.
Genetic Testing
- What it examines
- Selected inherited DNA variants.
- What it can explore
- Tendencies related to nutrient processing and metabolism.
- How often it changes
- Inherited variants generally stay stable.
- What it leaves open
- Current nutrient levels and the amount of any supplement you might need.
Blood and Other Laboratory Testing
- What it examines
- Current biomarkers, such as blood glucose or nutrient levels.
- What it can identify
- Findings that may need investigation, treatment, or monitoring.
- How often it changes
- Many results vary with diet, medication, or health.
- What it leaves open
- Which factors caused the result and what may happen over time.
Different information. A more complete conversation. Keep up with any blood work and medical evaluation your clinician recommends.
What Does Your DNA Have to Do With Nutrition?
DNA contains inherited instructions. Genes carry instructions that cells use to make proteins. Many proteins called enzymes help the body carry out chemical reactions. Some DNA variants can affect how these proteins work.
A SNP, pronounced “snip,” is a common difference in one DNA letter. Many SNPs have little or no known effect. Nutrigenomics studies how nutrition and genetic biology interact. Nutrigenetics looks at how inherited differences may affect the way people respond to food or nutrients.
These two example sequences differ at the third letter, G in one and A in the other.
The recipes are the inherited instructions. Bookmarks show which recipes a cell uses. Different cells can use different recipes even when they have the same cookbook.
Your Genes Are Not Your Destiny
Epigenetics describes some of the ways cells regulate when and how much they use a gene. Chemical tags on DNA or nearby proteins can affect gene activity while the DNA letters stay the same. Development, aging, and environmental exposures can influence these processes. Researchers also study how diet, sleep, and physical activity relate to gene regulation.
The MaxGen cheek-swab panels read selected inherited variants. To learn how active a gene is today or measure epigenetic marks, researchers use different tests. Your health depends on many factors, including the choices you make every day.
What Can Genetic Testing Explore?
Methylation and B Vitamins
Methylation is a normal chemical process in cells. Folate and vitamin B12 take part in related reactions. MTHFR is one gene involved in folate processing. A common variant alone leaves your folate status and supplement needs open.
Nutrient Processing
Some genes are involved in how the body processes or transports nutrients such as folate, B12, and choline. These findings can raise questions to review alongside your diet and relevant lab results.
Antioxidant and Cellular Pathways
Some variants occur in pathways involving glutathione and other antioxidant processes. The report describes inherited variation. Current exposures and antioxidant status require other information.
Brain and Stress-Related Pathways
Researchers study variants involved in chemical signaling and stress responses. Symptoms such as anxiety or difficulty concentrating deserve their own clinical evaluation.
Fatty-Acid and Metabolic Pathways
Some genes help determine how the body processes fats. Findings can inform a conversation about eating habits alongside measures such as cholesterol and blood glucose.
Food and Digestive Tendencies
Some inherited differences affect how the body handles components of food. Symptoms of food allergy, intolerance, or celiac disease warrant an appropriate clinical evaluation.
A Simple Test. A New Perspective.
We work with MaxGen Labs. A swab collects cells from the inside of your cheek. Follow the kit instructions for collection and return. The lab analyzes selected DNA variants and explains them in an educational report.
MaxFunction
100+ genetic variants
Covers methylation, vitamin processing, histamine-related genetics, and antioxidant pathways.
The Works
180+ genetic variants
Includes the MaxFunction topics and adds broader coverage of food, nutrition, metabolism, and fitness.
Turn Information Into a Thoughtful Nutrition Plan
Dr. Nardi reviews your results alongside your health history, food habits, symptoms, goals, medications, supplements, and relevant lab results.
Together you might choose a change to your diet, a lifestyle goal, follow-up testing, or a supplement when there is a clear reason to use it. We also work with Professional Health Products (PHP). Supplement choices are individualized, and purchasing supplements is optional.
Evidence for using genetic results to guide nutrition varies by finding. Researchers are still studying whether adding this information improves health outcomes.
- What you eat and what you want to change
- Your health history and current lab results
- What your report adds
Then choose a practical next step together.
How Testing Works
Consultation
Discuss your goals and decide whether testing is appropriate.
Select a Genetic Panel
Choose a genetic panel that covers the topics you and your doctor want to explore.
Collect a DNA Sample
Use the cheek swab and follow the kit instructions.
Review the Report
Discuss the findings, their limits, and how they relate to your health history.
Create a Personalized Plan
Choose practical next steps. Follow-up labs or a referral may be appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does genetic testing replace blood testing?
Blood work measures current markers. Genetic testing adds information about selected inherited variants. Continue with any testing your clinician recommends.
Will my DNA change after the test?
Inherited variants generally stay stable. Testing the same variants again is usually unnecessary.
Does an MTHFR variant mean I need methylated vitamins?
A common MTHFR variant alone does not establish a deficiency or a need for methylated vitamins. Your dietary intake, health history, and relevant labs provide more context.
Can genetic testing tell me exactly which supplements to take?
The report can raise questions to discuss. Supplement decisions also depend on your diet, medications, lab results, and the evidence for a particular use.
Can the results diagnose a medical condition?
These are educational wellness panels. If a finding or your family history raises concern about an inherited condition, we can discuss referral or confirmatory testing.
How is genetic information handled?
Before deciding on testing, ask us who receives the report, where it is kept, and how the lab handles your sample.
Start With a Genetic Testing Consultation
Bring your questions about the panels, what the results might add, and how they could fit into your nutrition care. New patients can choose New Functional Medicine Exam in online booking. If you already see us, call to confirm which visit to book.