OH! Magazine - Australian Version September 2018 | Page 16

( FOOD & NUTRITION )
EATING FOR
THYROID HEALTH
ASHLEIGH
FELTHAM
Ashleigh Feltham explains thyroid health and how to achieve it.
The nutrients needed to help repair
damage to DNA include:
ould you like to be able to tailor
your nutrition to your individual
needs, based on your genetics? Following are two important nutrients you
can add to your diet, to optimise the
health of your DNA: Nutritional genomics could be the future
of nutrition, which could result in the end
of blanket recommendations for optimum
nutrition. Carotenoids
These are antioxidants found in orange,
yellow, red and green leafy vegetables like
sweet potato, kale, broccoli, capsicum. As humans, 99.99 per cent of our genes
are identical, but it’s the 0.01 per cent
that makes you unique; and these are the
very genes that are targeted when you
individualise a diet using a method called
‘nutrigenetics’. Vitamin E
This antioxidant is contained in seeds,
nuts and avocado. The nutrients your body requires to help
create DNA include: Folate
Yep, this is a double-dipper when it
comes to DNA health. As mentioned,
fresh fruits and vegetables are the best
way to meet your folate needs, as well as
fortified products like breads, cereals and
juices.
Nutrigenetics enables you to receive the
specific nutrients your body requires for
optimum health, and its based on your
genetics and your body’s response to the
nutrients eaten (which will differ to the
person sitting next to you), and this is
what’s called ‘nutrigenomics’. Folate
A and B vitamins are found in dark green
leafy vegetables. All breads in Australia
(except organic bread) are fortified with
folic acid. You can also source folate from
fortified cereals and juices, legumes,
pulses and oranges. After seeing this list, you might be
tempted to point your trolley towards the
supplement aisle in your supermarket;
but this is not the best choice for your
body as whole food options will tend to far
outweigh the benefits from artificial
sources of a single nutrient.
While this is very exciting, the research is
still not substantial enough to be able to
create such tailored diets. However, the
good news is, the knowledge around how
we can eat to help protect our DNA from
damage, as well as to help repair it when
damage occurs, does currently exist. And
it’s important because it’s this type of
damage to your DNA which is linked to
chronic diseases and cancer. Vitamin B12
Sources include animal-based products
like meats, dairy and seafood. The take home message
W
Zinc
This mineral is present in foods such as
wheatgerm, pumpkin seeds and nuts.
Magnesium
This mighty mineral is found in avocado,
bananas and cocoa (yes, dark chocolate
is a healthy food when eaten in moderation
and with a cocoa content of 60 per cent
or higher).
Vitamin B3 or niacin
Found in peanuts, mushrooms, sunflower
seeds and some animal products such as
chicken.
While the ability to create your perfect
diet based on your genes is still a way off,
you do have the power right now, to eat a
diet that can optimise the health of your
DNA and help repair any damage it
incurs. So what are you waiting for?
For more tips to achieving optimum
nutrition visit feedyourfuturedietetics.com
YOU CAN CONTACT ASHLEIGH VIA:
Web: feedyourfuturedietetics.com
Facebook: FeedYourFutureDietetics
Instagram: @feedyourfuturedietetics
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OH! MAGAZINE ( SEPTEMBER 2018 )