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SelfDecode Review: Everything You Need to Know

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Overview

  1. Products: DNA testing, personalized health reports, precision health GPT, smart recommendations engine, lab analyzer tool
  2. Cost: Free (limited), plans starting at $319.
  3. Reports: 650+ health & trait reports, personal genetic health predispositions, personalized diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations, ancestry, pharmacogenomics, carrier status, longevity.
  4. Raw data access: yes, free to download.
  5. Privacy: data encryption, limited employee access, data never sold to third-parties.

Pros

  • Personalized health recommendations based on your genetic predispositions, lab results, symptoms, and health goals
  • Access to the world’s first Precision Health GPT, a 24/7 AI health coach
  • Easy-to-understand presentation of genetic information through DNA reports
  • Privacy-focused
  • Ability to analyze lab test results
  • Detailed ancestry, pharmacogenomics, and carrier status reports

Cons

  • Although SelfDecode reports are backed by solid, peer-reviewed research, they focus on assessing risks, preventing diseases, and optimizing health, not diagnosis or treatment.
  • Most reports are available with a DNA upload, but some advanced insights are only unlocked with the SelfDecode DNA kit for the best accuracy.

About SelfDecode

SelfDecode was founded in 2015 by Joe Cohen. After improving his own health through genetics, Cohen set out to help others do the same. He started the website selfhacked.com, which publishes articles about health and biohacking, and then expanded to SelfDecode to help others improve their quality of life in the same way he did by analyzing their DNA.

Today, the SelfDecode team includes over 60 highly skilled scientists, MDs, PhDs, NDs, and software engineers working to provide the most accurate health information to users.

Review of SelfDecode Products & Features

SelfDecode offers users the ability to explore their genetic health predispositions in an accessible way. They focus on providing personalized lifestyle, diet, and supplement recommendations to help improve your quality of life.

A subscription to SelfDecode provides you with access to 650+ DNA Reports, Precision Health GPT, Lab Test Analyzer, Smart Recommendations Engine, and Personalized Meal Planner, among other features.

The DNA Reports aim to explain how your genes may affect you when it comes to a particular health topic, such as sleep, gut health, or mood. These reports contain easy-to-understand information about your personal genetic predispositions and prioritized recommendations that help you counteract that predisposition.

Users are also able to interact with the world’s first Precision Health GPT, an AI health coach available to users anytime, anywhere. You simply need to ask a question, and DecodyGPT will analyze your DNA, labs, lifestyle, symptoms & conditions, and health goals to provide tailored recommendations and detailed insights into your health.

SelfDecode provides an AI-driven Smart Recommendations Engine with over 20,000 recommendations designed to deliver highly accurate and personalized health guidance. This tool prioritizes recommendations based on five key health areas, presenting them from most to least effective. Users can click on any recommendation to understand how it addresses their individual risks and health goals.

If you do not have a DNA file already or you would like an updated analysis, you can purchase a DNA testing kit from SelfDecode that uses a genotyping chip tailored to the database. Most importantly, SelfDecode uses AI to analyze up to 200 million genetic variants from your typical DNA file.

Regardless of whether you upload your DNA file or choose to get tested with SelfDecode, you will receive an analysis of millions more variants than with other DNA companies.

As part of the SelfDecode subscription, you will also gain access to the Lab Test Analyzer. You will be able to upload your lab results to learn whether you fall within the optimal range for a particular marker. If you are outside of the optimal range, the service suggests lifestyle changes that can help you get there. Alternatively, you can also purchase lab tests from SelfDecode.

If you already have a DNA file, you can upload it to SelfDecode for free to get started before committing to a plan.

Review of SelfDecode Health Reports

Each SelfDecode DNA Report covers a different topic in detail. New reports are being released regularly, but currently, there are over 650 DNA health & trait reports, including topics such as:

  • Skin health
  • Gut health
  • Pain
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep
  • Heart health
  • Weight
  • Stress
  • Inflammation
  • Mental health
  • and others

Each report begins with an overview of its analyzed traits and how your genetics predispose you to them. Before the detailed analysis of each recommendation, you can see your genetic risk score, lab results, and lifestyle assessment for the particular trait. The sample report below shows an increased genetic predisposition to cognitive decile.

SelfDecode thoroughly explains the health topic analyzed in the report and discusses how genetics can play a role. After you learn more about the condition, you can find a detailed section containing your diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations. Every report explains how the science of genetics works and how it can help you. It reminds the reader that environment and lifestyle factors can change the way your genes affect your life.

By navigating to the Recommendations section, you can see a list of personalized and prioritized health recommendations based on what is more likely to work for you based on your unique DNA, lab results, and lifestyle. SelfDecode also showcases your impact and evidence scores for each recommendation. This offers an easy way for users to understand how the suggestions will likely impact their health.

You can also easily add your suggestions to your regimen by simply clicking on the button on your reports. By doing this, you can edit and keep track of your recommendations by setting the frequency and duration of each one to fit your wellness routine.

After giving an explanation of a health recommendation, the report will inform which genes can affect the health topic and explain how that particular recommendation can help with that topic. Users are also able to see if a recommendation helps with a suboptimal lab result. Links to references for each conclusion are always available for easy access.

As stated before, the recommendations are prioritized by their effectiveness, although they all have the potential to make a difference. SelfDecode recommends that you start with the first few recommendations as they are likely to have the most significant impact.

SelfDecode’s reports utilize a lot of well-referenced scientific information but present it in a way that is accessible to anyone, even if they have no prior knowledge of genetics. This makes SelfDecode a great way to get a lot out of your DNA analysis because the recommendations can be implemented with relative ease by just about anyone.

In addition to the DNA reports, members also have access to the lab analysis tool where they can upload their results to receive insights into over 1,000 markers. Below you can see an example of a suboptimal ferritin result.

SelfDecode Review labs

Review of SelfDecode Ancestry Reports

SelfDecode analyzes over 200 million genetic variants to give you an in-depth ethnicity percentage breakdown, as well as a color-coded map that can help you discover where you’re from.

In addition, SelfDecode’s AI-backed technology allows them to analyze more data points than other ancestry companies, which provides a more accurate ancestry breakdown.

Users can trace their maternal lineage back through the ages, learning where they started in the world and their journey. You can also learn more about the history and culture that is connected to your DNA through extensive reports that help them get an even better understanding of your roots.

Review of SelfDecode Longevity Screener Reports

The SelfDecode Longevity Screener gives you a full picture of your disease risks, helping you understand your predispositions for over 130 conditions that could impact your lifespan, including Alzheimer’s, coronary artery disease, and more. By pinpointing the health risks that matter most to you, the screener empowers users to take control of their long-term well-being.

In addition to identifying risks, it also gives you personalized prevention strategies tailored to your unique genetic profile and health data. These recommendations are designed to help you lower your chances of developing certain conditions and support a healthier future.

Review of SelfDecode Pharmacogenomics Report

SelfDecode’s pharmacogenomics report helps you understand how your genes can affect your response to more than 50 common medications, including those for heart disease, mental health, pain, and more. It looks at key genetic markers that influence how your body processes these drugs, helping you and your healthcare provider choose the safest and most effective treatments for you.

With this information, you and your healthcare provider can make more informed choices about your treatment, reducing the need for trial and error and minimizing the risk of adverse side effects.

Review of SelfDecode Carrier Status Report

The SelfDecode Carrier Status Test helps you identify any genetic conditions you may carry that could affect your future children. The test covers over 40 genetic conditions, providing essential information for family planning.

By understanding your carrier status, you can explore options and make informed decisions about potential health risks for future generations. The reports are based on scientific research and offer practical guidance for planning your family’s health.

Cost of SelfDecode

SelfDecode operates with a Build Your Own Health Plan model.

Step 1: Subscribe to SelfDecode ($9.99/month, billed annually)

Subscribe to the Health Insights Membership from SelfDecode to gain access to:

  • Over 650 DNA health & trait reports
  • Precision Health GPT
  • Smart recommendations engine
  • Lab analyzer and tracker
  • Lifestyle risk analyzer
  • Personalized meal plan builder
  • Health scores
  • Precision Health Regimen Builder
  • Genotype results for 200 million SNPs
  • And more!

Step 2: Analyze your DNA

  • Upload your DNA file for $199
  • Order a SelfDecode DNA kit for $298

Step 3: Choose your add-ons (optional)

  • Longevity Screener + Medical Reports ($249): The Longevity Screener + Medical Reports bundle is a brand new scientific test that provides you with risk scores for over 130 medical conditions like Alzheimer’s, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and many more.
  • Pharmacogenomics (PGx) Report ($99): The PGx report provides personalized insights into how your genes affect your response to 50+ medications. This helps you and your doctor make smarter decisions, improving treatment effectiveness based on your DNA.
  • Carrier Status Report ($49): Identify your genetic carrier status to understand potential risks and make informed decisions for your family’s future.
  • Medical Health Reports ($99): These reports require additional analysis of your genetic file to produce your genetic risk score for more than 55 serious conditions and diseases.
  • Ancestry DNA reports ($79): Learn more about your ancestors and heritage with a complete ancestry composition breakdown and mitochondrial ancestry reports.

If you already have a DNA file, you can upload it to SelfDecode for free before committing to a plan.

Health Recommendations from SelfDecode

One of SelfDecode’s most useful features is the smart recommendations search engine with a database of over 20,000 recommendations. These recommendations are centered around diet and lifestyle changes and the introduction of natural supplements, and are personalized and prioritized based on your DNA, lab results, lifestyle, symptoms & conditions, and health goals.

Users can search for any recommendation, symptom, or health condition to discover the best health strategies based on their DNA and labs.

In addition, each Health Report is concluded with a list of recommendations based on the genes and lab markers related to that health topic. Most importantly, these suggestions are given based on an analysis of up to 200 million genetic variants.

The recommendations are prioritized so that you can know where to start and which recommendations are most worth your time and money. SelfDecode suggests that you start with the top three recommendations from each relevant report.

Each recommendation is made because it beneficially interacts with the genes and lab markers that are relevant to the health issue at hand, so everyone’s recommendations are personalized. All of the recommendations are based on scientific research that has demonstrated each substance or behavior’s ability to interact positively with the relevant gene.

Review of SelfDecode Privacy & Data Security

SelfDecode takes the security and privacy of your data seriously and takes multiple precautions to ensure that your data is well-protected and is for your eyes only.

SelfDecode promises that they will never sell your data or enter into partnerships with companies that could benefit from access to your data, such as pharmaceutical companies.

The lab that processes your data does not store it alongside any of your personal information. Once the lab sends the data to SelfDecode, they destroy it, so the only copy of the information is the one uploaded to your account.

The data is always transferred in an encrypted form. It is only available in an accessible form within your account and if you choose to download your DNA file from SelfDecode’s site yourself.

SelfDecode also promises that only trusted and well-vetted employees will ever have access to your account information.

In addition, you can permanently delete your data any time you want to.

Comparisons

  SelfDecode 23andMe AncestryDNA
Personalized & holistic health recommendations Yes No No
Personalized blog posts Yes No No
Products DNA testing, health reports, smart recommendations engine, precision health GPT, ancestry, pharmacogenomics, carrier status, longevity screener DNA testing, health reporting, traits, ancestry DNA testing, ancestry reporting
Raw data access Yes Yes Yes
Cost (USD) Plans start at $319 $119-$999 $99-$199

SelfDecode Reviews

Trustpilot – 4.8 of 5 stars

Reviewers on Trustpilot have a generally positive opinion about SelfDecode. Many reviews mention how they appreciate the actionable suggestions and easy-to-understand reports provided.

Product Hunt – 4.6 of 5 stars

Reviewers on Product Hunt really appreciate that SelfDecode allows them to do something meaningful with their genetic data.

SelfDecode Review Summary

SelfDecode is an excellent choice for those who are looking for actionable information about their personal genetic health predispositions. Whether you have never had your DNA analyzed before or you feel lost about what to do with the information you have from another service, SelfDecode makes the impact your DNA has on your health easy to understand.

This is a service that is perfect for those who are health-focused. The reports are presented in an easy-to-understand manner, and the recommendations are prioritized based on your unique DNA, labs, symptoms, and health goals to help you understand where to focus. SelfDecode is a very powerful tool for improving your health.

The personalized health recommendations are what separate SelfDecode from the rest and give it excellent value for your money. These recommendations make it simple to improve your quality of life using the new data you will receive from analyzing your DNA. Plus, by analyzing your lab results alongside your DNA, SelfDecode is able to provide you with a complete picture of your health.

SelfDecode also offers cutting-edge ancestry analysis with in-depth ethnicity percentage breakdown, as well as a color-coded map that can help you easily discover where you’re from. You’ll be able to trace your maternal lineage back through the ages, learning where they started in the world, and the journey that they took to get to where you are today.

SelfDecode uses predictive algorithms to analyze around 200 million genetic variants (up to 1 million+ per wellness report), giving you the most accurate health & ancestry data based on your genetics.

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