What genetic testing taught me – and was it worth it?

As a nutritionist, I spend my days focused on my own nutrition, my patients' nutrition, nutrition science and research, food, lifestyle, biochemistry and behaviour change – it is my life. But I was wondering if there was even more to know to provide an even more accurate plan for my patients and myself. So when I decided to do genetic testing myself (and invest in a nutrigenomic training), the obvious question was: will this really tell me anything I don’t already know?

Short answer: yes. And it was absolutely worth it. I didn’t try nutrigenomic testing, expecting to find something I didn’t consider before, something totally unexpected or miracle/light bulb insights. What I did hope for was a deeper understanding, nuance and a few missing puzzle pieces – and that’s exactly what I got.

When “doing everything right” still isn’t enough

Like many nutrition professionals, I already ate well (or at the best of my capacity), prioritised sleep, managed stress, trained regularly and supplemented thoughtfully. Yet there were areas where areas of my health that never quite clicked. Running has always been one of them.

I have always wanted to be able to go for a daily run, feeling the amazing rush everybody talks about and socialise with like-minded individuals in a running club. But no matter how consistent I was in my attempts, how well I fuelled or how carefully I trained, I consistently underperformed – huffing and puffing after 5 minutes (or less).

I didn’t just dislike running – I hated it. It felt absolutely exhausting, recovery was poor and painful, and the return on effort was minimal. On the other hand, weight training felt natural. I was strong, progressed well and recovered quickly, and absolutely loved every minute spent lifting weights.

Genetic testing helped me understand why. Looking at genes involved in muscle fibre composition, energy metabolism and oxidative stress, the picture made sense. My genetic profile favours strength, power and short-burst efforts over endurance. This didn’t mean I can’t run, but it explained why it’s never felt aligned with my physiology.

That insight alone was unexpectedly liberating. It reframed years of frustration as biology make-up rather than failure, and it allows me to train in a way that works with my body, not against it, without feeling guilty for being so underperforming at running/cardio.

The B-vitamin lightbulb moment

The biggest takeaway for me was around B-vitamin metabolism.

I thought I had a solid grasp on this already. I routinely assessed my methylation support, being pretty sure to have some SNPs (genetic variation) preventing me from methylating, taking methylated B12 and folate to overcome my SNPs. But still felt off and tired at times, something that prompted me to keep on checking my thyroid hormone levels (which have always been perfect). My genetic results highlighted additional SNPs involved in all B-vitamins activation and transport that I hadn’t previously considered.

These variants explained why I can be more sensitive to stress, why my nervous system benefits from consistent support, and why certain forms and doses of B vitamins work better for me than others. It also explains why my hair has always been fragile and prone to excessive loss.

Armed with this information, I have fine-tuned my protocol. Not dramatically – but precisely. The result was a noticeable shift: more stable energy, better stress tolerance and a sense of being fully supported rather than just “coping well” (also much better hair!).

Collagen, connective tissue and long-term support

The testing also confirmed something I had suspected but hadn’t prioritised enough: my collagen production needs support.

Genetic variations affecting collagen synthesis and turnover highlighted a predisposition that could impact joints, connective tissue, skin health and recovery over time. This wasn’t about aesthetics – it was about longevity, resilience and injury prevention.

By integrating targeted nutritional strategies and supplements to support collagen production, vitamin C utilisation and connective tissue health, I felt more robust in my training, injury prevention and recovery. Subtle changes, again – but meaningful ones.

Why this matters for you (especially if you’re not a nutritionist)

What struck me most wasn’t just what I learned, but how useful it was despite already having a strong foundation.

Understanding your unique blueprint via genetic testing will allow you to create a life-long plan which will be truly supportive of your body's needs, with the aim to enhance longevity, energy, detoxification and vitality.

It is a very useful tool if you have always been struggling for many years, finding that something is "off" or not as good as it can be despite doing "everything right" and working 1:1 with professionals.

A clear example can be vitamin B absorption – functional or blood tests give a picture of the here and now, maybe highlighting low levels leading to supplementation. But how do you know if you should keep up with your supplementation or the right format of that specific nutrient for you? Only via genetic testing.

The same goes for cutting out foods like gluten, dairy and coffee. While during a protocol might be beneficial doing so, via genetic testing, you will know if these foods agree with you or not – otherwise you might spend a life giving up coffee despite loving it, while there is no actual reason to do so.

Genetic testing doesn’t replace good nutrition or lifestyle work. It can enhance it. It adds context. It explains why certain approaches work brilliantly for one person and fall flat for another. Most importantly, it shifts the conversation from “What should I be doing?” to “What does my body need to thrive?”

For me, it was worth it not because it changed everything, but because it made everything clearer and allowed me to create a fully supportive and personalised plan which feels natural and truly enhances my health.