You might be able to relate to this: you’re eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, yet you still feel tired, bloated, or anxious for no clear reason. You go through cycles of feeling okay, only to have your energy, mood, or digestion suddenly spiral again. You’ve seen doctors, had tests that come back “normal,” and tried a cupboard full of supplements, but something’s still not right.

This is one of the most common scenarios I see in clinic. Many of my patients do everything right yet still don’t feel like the most vibrant version of themselves.

If you’ve ever searched for an answer to why you still don’t feel your best despite a healthy lifestyle, genetic testing and DNA-based health insights could be the missing link.

Once I began integrating gene analysis into my naturopathic practice, I realised how powerful this information could be. It often reveals the missing puzzle piece and the “why” behind symptoms that don’t seem to make sense on paper and helps uncover what your body uniquely needs in order to function optimally.

What Your Genes Can Tell You 
Ever heard the saying, “Your genes load the gun, but your lifestyle pulls the trigger.”? Whilst your genes don’t determine your destiny, they do provide the blueprint for how your body functions determining how efficiently you metabolise nutrients, detoxify hormones and toxins, manage inflammation, produce energy and respond to stress.

Some of the key genes I focus on assessing include: 

• MTHFR: Influences how efficiently your body activates folate (vitamin B9), impacting detoxification, cardiovascular health, neurotransmitter balance, and hormone metabolism. 

• COMT & MAO-A: Affect the breakdown of stress hormones and neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, crucial for mood, focus, and calm. 

• DAO: Regulates histamine levels, influencing gut health, allergies, and anxiety.

• PEMT & GST: Play roles in liver detoxification and antioxidant protection, helping your body clear environmental toxins. 

• APOE: Linked to cholesterol transport, brain health, and longevity. 

• BDNF: Impacts brain resilience, focus, and adaptability. 

 
How This Information Can Change Your Health 
Understanding your genetic profile allows for highly personalised strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. This information can help you tailor your nutrition, supplementation and lifestyle in a way that works with your body, not against it.

Genetic testing can guide:

• Diet: Does your body thrive on higher protein or fats? Or do you have gene variants that affect how you metabolise carbohydrates or oxidise omega-3s?

• Mood & Focus: Are you prone to anxiety or low motivation due to fast or slow neurotransmitter metabolism? 

• Detoxification: Does your body need extra glutathione, cruciferous vegetables, or targeted support for phase I and II liver pathways (the two key detoxification stages your liver uses to process hormones, toxins, alcohol and chemicals)?

• Hormones: Does your body need extra support to process estrogen and move it out efficiently, or could estrogen be building up due to a slow detox or methylation issue? Methylation is one of the key processes your body uses to break down and deactivate estrogen, so if your methylation pathway is sluggish due to genetics your body may need extra support to process hormones effectively.

• Nutrient Metabolism: Do you efficiently use folate, B12, B6, plant-based omega-3s, Vitamin D and Vitamin A or do you need activated forms for proper absorption?

• Longevity: Are you genetically predisposed to inflammation or cardiovascular issues that may benefit from proactive support?

 
Real Results in Real People 
Genetic insights have helped my patients resolve long-standing issues that conventional testing couldn’t explain:

• A chronically anxious woman with severe PMS was found to have a slow COMT gene and a double MTHFR mutation, meaning her body couldn’t efficiently clear stress hormones or methylate. By supporting these pathways her mood and cycle were dramatically stabilised.

• A patient struggling with lifelong constipation had a PEMT gene variant affecting bile flow and detoxification. Simple choline, and magnesium as well as gut motility support changed everything. 

• A vegan client with persistent fatigue discovered she lacked the genetic capacity to convert plant-based omega-3s and B12, leading to an easy fix with the right supplements. 

• Another, with severe focus issues, turned out to have a fast COMT gene explaining why caffeine worsened concentration rather than improving it. 

 
The Future of Personalised Health 
We are entering an era where generic wellness advice is no longer enough. Genetic testing empowers you with clarity on how your body works and how to support it for optimal health, performance and longevity.

By understanding your genetic blueprint, you can finally answer the questions your body has been asking and take action that delivers real results.

At Lively Shift, I combine DNA testing with functional pathology and personalised naturopathic treatment plans to help men and women understand the root cause of how they feel, and what to do to feel their best now and long term. 

If you feel like you’ve tried everything but still don’t feel well, genetic testing may be the tool that finally gives you answers.