Why Genetic Testing is Mandatory for Health Optimization
The Self Knowledge You Have Been Missing
Recently I signed up FitnessGenes testing. It was the first genetic testing Ive ever done of any kind, and I was unsure what to expect.
To my pleasant surprise, it proved incredibly insightful, more than ANY testing Ive ever had done. So much so that I would argue its the missing piece in the entire longevity and optimization framework.
To understand why, we must take a step back and look at our health as holistically as possible.
Your Genes Are the Blueprint Of Your Life
When we talk about health and wellness, we tend to focus on habits, lifestyle, diet, exercise, maybe supplements. We can do testing for bloodwork. All of this is useful, but its lacking a fundamental context:
How Our genetics influence and direct EVERY function in our body
Your genetics are not a quirky footnote, they are the biological architectural for how your body operates, responds, and thrives to every input and every environmental condition.
Some people are uncomfortable with this idea. Genetic Determinism can seem as though it takes away free will and human creativity. That is not what Im saying.
Ultimately our choices and personalities are shaped by a combination of genetic inheritance, individual mutations, epigenetic adaptation, and the infinite complexity of the human experience.
In the real of physiological function and health however, there is no denying that genetics are the preeminent driver.
We have no issue with the statement that genes are responsible for height or skin color or intelligence (unless you are science denier),
But oddly when it comes to our physiological and metabolic health, genetics are not strongly considered.
We might casually refer to genetic conditions “running in our family”, but unless you have a rare disease that is heritable, most people dont fully consider the role of their genes in their day to day health.
But You SHOULD
There is no way to comprehensively list everything genetics effects, because its EVERYTHING.
Epigenetics is your innate genes responding in real time to your entire life.
From how easily you lose fat, or gain fat, to insulin sensitivity, to carbohydrate and fat oxidation, muscle recovery, muscle fiber size, hypertrophic response, lactate metabolism, endurance adaptation, caffeine sensitivity, vitamin processing…You can look at ANY system in the body and assess it from a genetic frame work.
The Pain of One-Size-Fits-All Failure
Practically everyone who has tried in earnest to get healthy has been burned by cookie-cutter fitness plans, diets, and solutions that promise life changing results and then do not deliver.
People struggle through all manners of diets, whether keto, veganism, paleo, fruitarian, carb cycling, carnivore, peating, or some bizarro practice from the niche corners of reddit or X. They do CrossFit, they copy fitpro influencers, they buy supplements, all in the hopes for holy grail outcomes.
If something does work, its an accidental discovery. Most things dont, at least not to the extent promised.
But Why?
Because these things all ignore the invisible hand of genetics
One person has the genes for living to 90+ and has unqiue resilience to cognitive decline.
Another has propensity for higher inflammation and premature dementia. If they dont live optimized, theyll decline faster as they age.
One person’s unique genetic aptitude for carbohydrate metabolism and their positive response to higher carb intake is another persons fat gain disaster that leaves them soft and fluffy. Insulin sensitivity has a genetic component.
One athlete’s has aptitude for endurance and faster than average lactate utilization and clearance.
Another individual has bottom 10% endurance genetics and will burn out quickly with increased DOMS and slower adaptation.
One person unknowingly has great fast twitch fiber adaptation and builds muscle easily. Everything WORKS for them and they dont have to think about.
They have no ability to relate (let alone coach) someone with slow twitch dominant muscle fibers and lacking most of the genes for hypertrophy adaptation.
Hardgainers are REAL.
So are Fast Gainers.
Apply this to everything from brain health to heart health to vitamin metabolism to immune system…
The Reality is that Everyone is Genetically and Biochemically UNIQUE
Historically there was no way to measure any of this. It could be learned only through trial and error experience and observation.
This is the process of Self Discovery
But its not an efficient process. Learning about your body takes time, and while it might be easy to identify whether you build muscle easy or excel at running far, its much less clear with organ health, cardiovascular health, and nutrition unless you are closely monitoring everything internally with bloodwork and other lab testing
Its only in the past few years that lab testing has become widely available and easier to access
Companies like Function exist that offer comprehensive testing and contextualize all your health data.
Sign for Function Here.
But without knowing your genes, you are still missing that cornerstone framework to understand your data
FitnessGenes is that framework. They have done an amazing job of categorizing your overall genome into 14 distinct categories and 180+ reports that translate these complex markers into crystal-clear insights. Backed by partnerships with the University of Oxford and Loughborough University, you have a level of insight that is unparalleled.
Knowing your genetics is cool, but FitnessGenes makes it useful
Each report comes with personalized, evidence-based recommendations that turn your DNA into actionable advice.
This what personally impressed me the most when I received my own report.
I could conjecture what I needed to do for my long term health based off my past labs, but the genetic window gave me specific confirmation and accuracy into ALL of my body’s systems and what could be improved with my training nutrition supplements circadian scheduling and stress management.
FitnessGenes reveals why your body works the way it does and gives you the directional tools to optimize it.
It has my highest recommendation.
You can use the code AJAC20 for a significant discount on the test
How Does It Actually Work?
The testing process is done via salivary samples.
After you order on the site the testing kit is sent to your house, and arrives within 1-2 weeks.
You give a secure saliva sample, and then mail it back.
You receive your results in 2-3 weeks.
Start the process here