Pulkit's before and after photos

As the year comes to a close we wanted to give you the gift of hope by sharing a customer success story.

Pulkit, a 25 year old banking professional, struggled with his weight since middle school. As an adult, he made numerous attempts to shed significant pounds, relying on “common knowledge” – cut out the sweets and exercise – but like millions of people in the same boat, was never able to lose more than a few pounds at a time. “When you only lose 4-6 pounds after dieting and exercising for a month, it’s easy to give up,” he said. The ongoing struggle took a toll on his self-esteem and Pulkit had come to terms that he would be overweight for life.

When Pulkit learned about the Inherent Health Weight Management Genetic Test, he wondered if this could finally be the key to losing the weight and keeping it off. His test results indicated that his body would respond best to a diet low in carbs and high metabolic exercise (a change from the strength training that he previously engaged in). Although Pulkit tried “low carb” diets in the past, the test results educated him on the difference between good carbs and bad carbs and suggested foods that were best suited to his unique genetic makeup.

After one week, Pulkit lost more weight (7 pounds) by dieting and exercising according to his genes then with any of the approaches he had tried in the past.  Eight months later he was down more than 50 pounds; reduced his body fat by nearly one-third; and went from a size 38 waist to a size 32.

Pulkit credits the test with arming with providing the information and confidence that he needed to dramatically alter his life. In his own words, “I never again have to wonder if the latest diet trend would work for me because my genes will never change,” he said. “I have come to understand that losing weight should require work, but it should not be a constant struggle. I‘ve adopted the information from the test into my lifestyle to ensure I will always retain a healthy weight.”

As we head into the New Year, we hope sharing Pulkit’s story provides you with the encouragement you need to begin or stay on your own health journey. We wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season.

Until Next Year,
The Inherent Health Team

Eating well and exercise go hand-in-hand when it comes to committing to living a healthier lifestyle. How do know if you’re exercising enough to get the maximum benefit out of your workout? The key lies in tracking your METS. But what the heck is a MET?

A “Metabolic Equivalent of Task” is a way of measuring the amount of exertion expended during different physical activities. Values are assigned to each physical activity as a ratio of the rate of energy consumed during an activity compared to the energy used while your body is at rest. METs are essentially a point system for exercise. The more energy required performing the activity, the higher its MET value will be. For example, sitting and watching television for one hour has a MET value of 1 while running at a pace of six miles per hour has a MET value of 9.8.

Now that you know what a MET is, how do you know how many you need to maximize your fat burning results? The Inherent Health Weight Management Test not only determines whether an individual is likely to respond better to a low-carb, low-fat, or balanced diet based on their genotype, it also places an individual into two groups of exercise needs based on the intensity levels necessary to trigger the fat burning process. We call these two groups Moderate MET and High MET.

Individuals in the Moderate MET group have the luxury of benefiting from virtually any exercise and can still reap results by doing moderate intensity activities in the range of 3 to 5.9 METs for a weekly total of at least 7.5 METs. For example, consider the following exercise log for a Moderate MET individual:

Day 1: Sweeping the garage, sidewalk and outside of house for 30 minutes
MET value of 4 x 0.5 hours = 2 METs

Day 2: Running for 30 minutes at a pace of 4 miles per hour
MET value of 6 x 0.5 hours = 3 METs

Day 3: Taking a water aerobics class for an hour.
MET value of 5.5 x 1 hour = 5.5 METs

Day 4: Walking at less than 2.0 miles per hour for 20 minutes
MET value of 2 x .33 hours = .66 METs. (This activity does not count toward the total because the activity’s MET value of 2 is under the 3 MET minimum)

WEEKLY TOTAL: 10.5 METs and successfully over the minimum of 7.5 METs for the week

Meanwhile, those in the High MET group need to engage in activities that are 6 METs or greater per activity, for a total of 13 METs per week, in order to trigger the fat burning process. For instance:

Day 1: Running for 30 minutes at 5.2 miles per hour
MET value of 9 x 0.5 hours = 4.5 METs

Day 2: Running for one hour at 5.2 miles per hour
MET value of 9 x 1 hour = 9 METs

Day 3: Taking a one hour long pleasure walk
MET Value of 3.5 x 1 hour = 3.5 METs (This activity does not count toward the total because the activity’s MET value of 3.5 is under the 6 MET minimum)

Day 4: Riding a stationary bicycle at 15-20 miles per hour for 30 minutes
MET value of 8.8 x 0.5 hours = 4.4 METs

WEEKLY TOTAL: 17.9 METs and successfully over the minimum of 13 METs for the week

Remember, these are the minimum levels of effort required to trigger the fat burning process—more is always better. If you can’t perform exercises in the MET ranges suggested, start slow and build up to the appropriate MET value for your genotype. If you have a question about the MET value of a particular activity, download the MET Value chart by logging into your account on the Inherent Health Website, or visit the Compendium of Physical Activities for a full list of activities and their corresponding MET values.

Happy Exercising,

Gary Breton
Director, Genetic Test Brands

You’ve heard the term a million times, but what exactly is a carbohydrate? Carbs are a group of nutrients that include fiber but mainly consist of sugars and starches that serve as the body’s primary source of energy. The body breaks down carbs and converts them into a simple sugar, glucose, which is the central energy unit that powers our body. That’s not to say that dietary carbs are the body’s only fuel source. In fact, when the body doesn’t have enough carbs and requires additional energy to function, it will signal the muscles and liver to break down excess sugars that have been stored in the form of the chemical glycogen. The body may also tell fat cells to break down stored fat to create the needed energy. However, carbs from the diet or stored as glycogen are still the body’s first choice as the process to convert carbs into energy is more efficient than the conversion of fats into energy.

There are two types of carbs, simple and complex, that elicit very different responses. Simple carbs (i.e. white bread, candy, and soda) break down quickly and are introduced rapidly into the blood system causing a spike in glucose (sugar) levels. This spike causes the body to start to balance blood levels of glucose by pumping insulin into the bloodstream to help move the glucose into muscles where the energy may be needed. Consistent overindulgence in these simple carbs can cause a “shock” to your system and can lead to weight gain, poor overall health and metabolic syndrome. Conversely, complex carbs (i.e. fruits, whole grains, and vegetables) take much longer for the body to break down and convert into energy. Complex carbs therefore allow the body to more easily regulate sugar levels and continue to provide energy to the body for a longer period of time than simple carbs.

Those identified to respond most favorably to a low-carb diet, according to the Inherent Health Weight Management Test, are prone to over respond to simple carbs in their diet, causing them to produce excess insulin. The over production of insulin leads to an increased accumulation of fat around the midsection and actually reduces the burning of fat.

Carbs are a necessary part of a balanced diet filled with lean protein, healthy fats, and vitamins and minerals. For those considering a lifestyle change it’s important to take into consideration the quality of carbs you eat on a meal-by-meal basis. The trick is to get the right amount of energy from good quality carbs, good quality fat, and lean proteins that work for you.

Warm regards,

Dr. Ken Kornman
Chief Scientific Officer

Nutrigenomics – a bit of a mouthful, no? Well, “a mouthful” is not too far off base. The term nutrigenomics is the study of the interaction between food and your genes. More specifically, it examines two different questions: 1) what are the biological effects of different foods, and 2) how do differences in an individual’s genetic make-up influence the impact food has on that individual’s health?

Still lost? Consider a study where sets of identical twins were put on the same very low calorie diet. Weight loss between identical twins was very similar because they share the same genetic make-up.  However, there was a two-to-three-fold difference in weight loss among different sets of twins because of differences in genes.

Why did your neighbor lose 20 lbs on the Atkins diet, yet you didn’t lose a pound despite adhering to the exact same diet? How come your brother can eat a package of Oreos without gaining a pound while your love handles seem to grow just by looking at them? The answer to each of these questions: genetics. You must reduce calories to lose weight, but current science tells us that the amount of weight one loses is strongly determined by genetics.

Nutrigenomics looks at how tailoring your food intake to your genes can impact your overall health. This does not mean that each individual should have a custom made diet—that is scientifically impractical—but rather that individuals appear to fit into a small number of metabolic patterns that are genetically determined. By knowing some of your genetic responses to foods, you can make better life-long food choices.

Interleukin Genetics has worked in the field of nutrigenomics for many years and has recently leveraged advances in genetic science to demonstrate that genetic differences (via the Inherent Health® Weight Management Test) in carbohydrate metabolism and fat absorption and metabolism that influence weight loss can be used to determine whether an individual will respond best to a low fat, low carb or balanced diet. The test also outlines the most appropriate exercise regimen and the best foods to eat for their specific genetic pattern.

Best,

Dr. Ken Kornman
Chief Scientific Officer

A behavioral study by researchers from the National Human Genome Research Institute and several other institutions found that consumers who have received their genetic risk assessments through the web may improve their health outcomes through a more informed interaction with their doctors.

“Individuals who present to healthcare providers with online genetics information may be among the most motivated to take steps toward healthier lifestyles. These motives might be leveraged by healthcare providers to promote positive health outcomes,” concluded researchers led by Colleen McBride, chief and senior investigator of the Social and Behavioral Research Branch at NHGRI.

-More-

Researchers have found links between an individual’s genetics and their response to treatment with chemotherapy. The findings, by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and colleagues, show how a genetic variation, located in the SOD2 gene, may affect how a person responds to the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide. Cyclophosphamide is used in the treatment of breast and other cancers.

-More-