It is worth your time and money to take a DNA test, especially if you are interested in your longevity, ancestry, ethnicity. When you learn how your genes work, you will be able to control the environment to support them in the best way you can. One of the most valuable data that you will be able to get is genetic sequencing. So, before we go on to the reasons why you should take a DNA test, let’s first take a look at what DNA is.
What are genes and DNA?
You should think of DNA as a blueprint of your body. All of the cells in your body have DNA and anytime they need to produce something (like a protein or a new cell membrane), they will consult the DNA blueprint in order to see how it should be made. You genes basically direct the construction of the DNA. Genes are sequences of DNA that can be “turned on or off”, in response to your environment, mindset, diet, and various other factors. The genes are inherited from the parents, which is mainly why some things like your height, eye and hair colors are the same as one or both of your parents’.
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Here is what a DNA test can tell you:
1. You can learn more about your ethnicity
You have probably asked yourself questions like “Where did I come from and where did my ancestors live?” or “Am I really 100% Irish?”. By taking a DNA test, anyone can discover their ethnic origins that go back 500-1000 years, sometimes you can get data from 1500 years back. So, how can this be done? By taking a sample of your DNA, companies that provide these services test it against various regions of the world. And, after the comparison is done, the company will be able to give you an estimate of which region your DNA matches with. It is usually based on research done and it might change since there are various changes in science and technology. So, by doing a DNA test, you will learn what ethnicity mixes you are made up from.
2. It is important for your health
About 40% of people have the MTHFR gene mutation and you will want to know if you have this mutation since it increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, diseases, Alzheimer’s, and depression. This gene controls if you turn folic acid into methyl folate, which is an important vitamin that your cells use in DNA production. If you have these mutations, you will create 30-70 percent less methyl folate, which can affect your body and brain. Hence, by taking a DNA health test, you will be able to know if you will be affected by some of these illnesses in the future, as well as learn what are the ways you can protect yourself from them.
3. You want your children to be healthy
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Every parent wants to keep their child or children safe and healthy, so by checking out what is going on with your DNA, you will be able to do just that. For example, let’s say that there is a risk of Crohn’s disease running through your family. Of course, you will not be able to just delete that DNA part, however, you can find out how to minimize its impact. So, you could, for example, eat more healthy and avoid stressful situations. So, once you learn about what is tucked away in your DNA, you can do everything to avoid some illnesses or check if your baby will inherit it.
Conclusion
Taking a DNA test will give you various answers to the questions you might have. It can connect you to your ancestors, you can learn what nationalities are you made up of, and you can learn about the predispositions that you might have for some illnesses.
