Atkins, keto, paleo. Which diet is for you?
Now, there are many different types of diets out there, but most target macronutrients. Macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) form the crux of your daily diet. Dietary fats we often care about include cholesterol, unsaturated ('good') fats, and saturated ('bad') fats. It is important to note that although dietary fats have gotten a very bad reputation over the years, recent research has shown that saturated fats are not as bad for you as previously thought. Still, evidence shows that we should all work to include more unsaturated fats in our diets. While many different social, cultural, and environmental factors affect why people eat different amounts of carbs, proteins, and fats, our preferences for diet may also be genetically based (research suggests that macronutrients intake is up to 65% heritable!).
Several gene loci have been implicated in their link to fat intake in multiple genome-wide association studies. Among them, loci in the fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) gene and the fat mass obesity-associated protein (FTO) gene are of great interest. For example, individuals with the minor variant at a FGF21 gene locus had more energy coming from carbs, and less from fats. These studies are especially interesting because genes like FGF21 and FTO have been implicated in lipid metabolism and obesity, respectively. Learn more through this study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23636237
What is your genetic predisposition for fat intake? Check Genomelink today!
