Is It In Your Genes?

With a bit of your saliva and a few stamps, you can now discover how your DNA is driving your mood, your metabolism, your workouts, and more. Ramona Emerson took several of the latest direct-to-consumer genetic tests to see if it’s possible to follow your genome to a happier, healthier life

Mailing your spit to a company so they can tell you vaguely where you came from has been around for a while. But ancestral knowledge is not what’s projected to turn direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing into a multi-million industry by 2022. That boom will come from a major shift in focus: from our long-dead relatives to ourselves. For a vial of saliva, you can now get detailed reports on how your unique genetic variations may be affecting your sleep, mood, life expectancy, and the way your skin looks at 60.

I recently took many of these tests. Although the recommendations I got weren’t far off from health tips I’ve heard before, I found that I actually followed them. I upped my exercise and finally traded prescription sleep aids for melatonin. And I’m not alone. Research has shown that people are significantly more likely to make health changes based on genetic test results than on general medical advice from a doctor. Am I going to stop getting breast exams because 23andMe (a company that does DNA genetic testing and analysis) told me I don’t have certain breast-cancer-linked genetic variations? Definitely not. But I am going to keep running, wearing SPF 45, and eating more spinach. And, oh yeah, drinking espresso after 4pm— because one of the seven best pieces of genetic information I gleaned was related to coffee drinking. Read on for the results.

CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION