You may have heard about an innovative approach to dietary intervention known as precision nutrition. This approach includes individualized meal planning based on your DNA. It is more than what you eat, as it includes physical activity, sleep habits, family medical history, and your microbiome.
Your microbiome is the collection of microorganisms — bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites — living in some regions of your body, primarily the intestines. The purpose of the microbiome is to help control digestion, stimulate the immune system and protect us from disease.
The premise of precision nutrition is improved management of a chronic illness, such as diabetes or heart disease. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, it can more specifically tell you how your body will respond to certain foods. For instance, it may reveal that you tend to gain weight from consuming saturated fat (animal fat). Or It may show that your body is deficient in vitamin B12, and you need to eat an egg every day.