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Blood Sugar, Weight & The TNF Gene

Written by Joe Cohen, BS | Last updated:
Weighing scale

I want to let you in on a little secret.

We all know that blood sugar is important for your health in general, but did you know that blood sugar regulation is KEY if you want to reach your target weight?

And here’s another game-changing secret—

Our body’s ability to manage blood sugar starts with the chemical processes within our genes.

I’ll explain the science by telling you about Kayla.

Once Kayla understood her own DNA, she was able to get her blood sugar under control and finally lost the 30lb of body fat she’d been trying to get rid of for years.

Kayla’s story

I remember Kayla telling us about the doctor’s appointment that started it all.

It hadn’t gone well. Her lab work showed her fasting glucose and A1C numbers were on the high side of normal. Her doctor told her if she wasn’t careful, she was on her way to Diabetes.

The problem was Kayla was careful. She’d struggled with her weight her whole life despite eating healthy and exercising.

The genetic link

Kayla said one night shortly after that appointment, she just felt “blah”.

Despite being even more careful with her diet and exercise, the scale still wasn’t going down and her blood sugar swings were causing her energy to crash daily.

She and her boyfriend were sitting on the couch watching Netflix. Him, with his 6-pack abs, enjoying his bowl of ice cream while she sat with her sorry container of sugar-free yogurt.

“How can you get away with eating that?” she’d asked him.

He smiled at her and shrugged, “Guess I’ve got good genes.”

So, she was left with a question—

“If my DNA makes me more susceptible to high blood sugar and weight gain, what can I do about it?”

Here’s what she found.

Kayla had a few key genes that increased insulin resistance and higher blood sugar.

The TNF gene

High blood sugar is caused by a dysregulation of the hormone insulin.

Inflammation is one cause of insulin resistance.

The TNF gene creates an inflammatory protein called TNF-alpha that regulates how much insulin is secreted in the body.

Kayla has a variant on her TNF gene that causes her body to overproduce TNF-alpha making her have elevated insulin levels for longer than ideal.

The Fix # 1

Studies show that both olive oil and garlic can reduce TNF-alpha after meals.

Kayla started making herself a homemade dressing with these two ingredients and poured it over her salads at lunch and dinner.

The FTO gene

The FTO gene is one of the most studied genes when it comes to obesity. It’s involved in fat and sugar metabolism in the liver.

Kayla carries a variant of this gene that causes her body to raise insulin in excess and store calories, particularly those from carbs, more readily in her fat cells.

The Fix #2

Interestingly, an ingredient in green tea called EGCG has been shown in clinical studies to lower the insulin response that can come from FTO activity.

Kayla started drinking copious amounts of green tea.

I could tell you more of the fixes Kayla used to improve her insulin sensitivity and correct her blood sugar issues, but the truth is her fixes are unique to her because everyone’s genetics are different.

The Secret

The secret here for you is that once you know your own genetic profile, you can unlock the fixes that will work for YOU!

New Year, New You

And hey, I know you’re like the rest of us and are looking forward to a better year in 2021, right?

Take it from me…

If you want to start the year off with a healthier brain, improved immune function, better mood and energy levels, you need to balance your blood sugar.

This is why we put out the NEW Blood Sugar DNA Wellness Report. Plus, if you struggle with weight like Kayla, the Weight DNA Wellness Report is a must-have.

These reports will analyze all of the genes associated with these issues and give you specific health recommendations based on your unique DNA.

I want to help you get in your best health for 2021.

Are you ready?

About the Author

Joe Cohen, BS

Joe Cohen, BS

Joe Cohen flipped the script on conventional and alternative medicine…and it worked. Growing up, he suffered from inflammation, brain fog, fatigue, digestive problems, insomnia, anxiety, and other issues that were poorly understood in traditional healthcare. Frustrated by the lack of good information and tools, Joe decided to embark on a learning journey to decode his DNA and track his biomarkers in search of better health. Through this personalized approach, he discovered his genetic weaknesses and was able to optimize his health 10X better than he ever thought was possible. Based on his own health success, he went on to found SelfDecode, the world’s first direct-to-consumer DNA analyzer & precision health tool that utilizes AI-driven polygenic risk scoring to produce accurate insights and health recommendations. Today, SelfDecode has helped over 100,000 people understand how to get healthier using their DNA and labs.
Joe is a thriving entrepreneur, with a mission of empowering people to take advantage of the precision health revolution and uncover insights from their DNA and biomarkers so that we can all feel great all of the time.

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