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* Cite as: CMAJ 2017 January 9;189:E40-1. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.109-5352
Perhaps you're a "protein seeker." Maybe eggs are your "hero food," or it might be spinach. This is the type of "personalized nutrition" information based on DNA and blood analysis that Habit, a new California-based company, will soon be delivering to health-conscious consumers - with a salmon fillet and avocado on the side.
Some researchers in the field of nutrition genomics are skeptical, suggesting that even if the concept holds promise, the science has not advanced enough to allow companies to craft an optimal diet for any given person. But Habit is optimistic that its "patent-pending and proprietary platform," which considers more than 60 biomarkers, can make good on its promise.
"Habit's optimal goal is to increase people's understanding of their bodies from a systems biology perspective and what foods and nutrients work best for them, helping them achieve optimal health," Neil Grimmer, founder and CEO of Habit, said in an email.
The six-step process "to a better you" begins with a home test kit to collect samples of your blood and DNA, which you send to a lab for analysis. The test results, combined with self-reported health information and goals, are fed into Habit's "nutrition intelligence engine" to determine...