HealthFirst-The DNA Diet

UNDATED (WJRT) (WJRT) -- (11/08/06)-- After all of the controversy, it turns out those low-carb diets are good for you

HealthFirst reporter Leslie LoBue says a major study in the latest New England Journal of Medicine finds diets high in vegetable sources of protein, like beans, may actually reduce heart disease risk.

Now that the low-carb controversy has been settled, there is a new fad diet stirring up another round of debate

It's called the DNA diet.  You get an expensive test and find out which eating plan is best for you and your genes.

Diets everywhere. But which is right for you?

Dr. Stuart Trager says our weight loss approach needs an overhaul. "We've seen 30 years of a one-size-fits-all approach that have left two-thirds of the population behind."

He said the DNA Diet could be just what we need.  "Most people have to realize that they can't follow all the advice that's out there. If you can pick the small parts that have the greatest chance of impacting your overall health.  That's a tremendous opportunity."

Here's how it works. A swab of DNA reveals a person's risk of heart disease, diabetes and other problems. Diet suggestions are then made to lower those risks and weight.

Some doctors, like endocrinologist Serge Jabbour, say it's a sham. "There's no way you can find a specific gene, which can tell you if you can eat a burger or French fries."

Jabbour says a dietician is your best bet for losing weight, not the DNA Diet. "You may hear people saying that they are losing weight on it. Of  course, when you give people some common sense advice, people lose weight."

But Biljana Mihailovic has seen results on the diet. It revealed her optimal foods are spinach, broccoli,  citrus fruits and whole grains. She's lost 18 pounds. "My ultimate goal is 10 more pounds, and that is usually the hardest."

You can get a DNA test labs, wellness centers and nutritionist. There is even an over-the-counter version.

 

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