"One man's food is another man's poison." - Lucretius (99-55 B.C.)

Axar.az reports citing CNN.

Most people have this basic understanding of genetics: You inherit genes from your parents, and their DNA combines to create your unique genetic makeup. This can include more obvious traits such as eye color and height but also more complex traits that may involve multiple genes, such as the risk of diseases including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer, as well as all aspects of metabolism.

The Human Genome Project -- an international 13-year collaboration that mapped out all of the genes in humans -- discovered approximately 50,000 variances (differences in the individual DNA code) in our genetic code that can make a difference in how your body functions.

The DNA Diet, which offers a digital weight-loss program based on personalized diet and lifestyle recommendations resulting from DNA, aims to support the behavioral changes that are essential for successful use of a DNA-based diet. Whether the specific genetic variants the company utilizes really help improve weight loss beyond the personalized recommendations has not been adequately investigated.

One potentially promising application of nutrigenetics is medical foods, which, unlike supplements, are strictly overseen by the Food and Drug Administration and must be prescribed by a health-care practitioner.

The genetically savvy health care provider should know how to incorporate and act on genetic information as one of several precision nutrition-related factors, including the gut microbiome, standard blood tests and health risk assessment, and newer methods of assessing nutrient metabolism. According to Kohlmeier, "biohacking will not cut the mustard."