Maximizing Your DNA: Know Your Health Risks
If you have taken an ancestry DNA testing kit, you have seen how powerful DNA analysis is. But, did you know that you can also learn a lot about your health with DNA testing? Many parts of the human genome affect your health directly. You can learn about a lot of health related information without hiring a genetic counselor or healthcare provider. This can help you make informed decisions regularly about your overall health and wellness.
Several companies are currently giving excellent health tests from your raw DNA data. This is a great way to supplement your ancestry DNA test and get a more genetic screening! Check them out below!
Promethease
Promethease is a company that connects DNA data directly to the scientific evidence found in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Promethease is a literature retrieval service based on the SNPs found in your genetic code that relate to health conditions. In other words, Promethease will show you exactly what scientists are saying about the genetic variants you carry!
Promethease can find every medical correlation that has ever been drawn between a particular part of your genome and various diseases and health outcomes. For instance, you can find genetic risk reports on breast cancer, and see what the science says about your risk level based on your genetic information. You may carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, which can increase your chances of breast cancer. You might also learn about your risks for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease or Celiac disease. Or, you may learn about your carrier status for a number of diseases like cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell anemia.
However, you will have to beef up on your science before you dive into the full gambit of features that Promethease offers. This is because scientific journals are written for scientists, not for everyone else. With that being said, it is still one of the most powerful tools you can use to research health-related DNA information. You can learn everything you need to know about the site in our full-breakdown of Promethease.
Silverberry Genomix
Silverberry Genomix, operated by LifeNome, is a great service for analyzing your DNA test results for traits related to health. Simply by uploading your raw data, you can get a free Basic Wellness report that will tell you about several aspects of your genetic health. While their comprehensive reports are more expensive, the company details all of the same genetic predispositions covered by 23andMe and other major genetic testing companies.
You can get information on traits related to nutrition, genetic health predispositions, general wellness, athleticism, skincare, and psychological predispositions. Before you get started, read our review of Silverberry Genomix to learn everything you need to know!
Athletigen
If you are an athlete or compete in any sort of physical competition, you may want to find a genetic testing company for fitness and nutrition. Of companies that offer these sorts of reports, Athletigen is one of the best. They offer many basic tests for nutrition and fitness that will help you improve your diet and workout routine. The company also offers more advanced tests related to sports injuries, recovery, and genetic predispositions you may have towards various types of exercise. These health reports can help you optimize your routine and avoid injuries you are at a higher risk of sustaining.
Read more about Athletigen and their offerings in our full Athletigen review.
Genopalate
As Hypocrites said, “Let food be thy medicine.”
Genopalate takes this charge seriously, offering a full review of how your DNA affects your diet and your ability to process and absorb certain foods. The company not only teaches you about nutrition, but it analyzes certain genetic markers to determine which nutrients you may need more of, and where to get them. Using Genopalate, you can develop a diet optimized to your genome that can help you perform better mentally and physically.
Check out our review of Genopalate to see the type of results you can get, as well as access to a full sample report from the company.
Genomelink
If all of the above companies interested you, take a look at Genomelink. Simply by uploading your raw DNA data, you can get 25 trait reports for free which address a variety of aspects from fitness, to nutrition, to personality, to intelligence. For instance, you can learn about your increased risk of heart disease and weight gain based on your genetics. Plus, if you subscribe to Genomelink, you can get full access to over 125 traits related to your DNA results, more detailed advice reports, and new Discovery Traits emailed to you weekly.
This is a great choice for people who want to learn the most comprehensively about their DNA. Not only do the reports provided give you information about these topics, but they have been written by a team of science writers trained to help you understand each trait in a digestible language, while showcasing the importance of each gene variant and the impact it may have on your health. You can get started with Genomelink on their homepage!
That’s not all!
While the above sites are recommended by our editors, there are several other sites you may want to check out that offer health, wellbeing, and genetic risk testing. Plus, there are a few that will allow you to find more information on your family history and additional DNA matches. Many of them offer free services simply by uploading your genetic data from any of the major DNA testing companies. Before you go, check them out!
To find out more DNA upload sites, check out our article "The Best DNA Upload Sites"
