It turns out that genetics has a lot to do with whether someone will suffer from gout – the disease once associated with gluttonous indulgence and King Henry VIII.
Diet clearly plays a role, but genetics has a big influence on whether a person will develop this painful form of arthritis, which is caused by high uric acid levels.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19518 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Henry-VIII.jpg" alt="" width="627" height="766" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Henry-VIII.jpg 627w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Henry-VIII-246x300.jpg 246w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" />
Estimates are that about four percent of people in the U.S. have gout at any given time, and 10-20 percent of people may suffer a gout attack at some point in their lives.
Gout has become increasingly prevalent in recent decades as rich diets have become more commonplace. But genetics also plays an important role in the condition, specifically variants in genes involved in the excretion of uric acid from the kidneys.
Variants in the genes ABCG2 and SLC2A9 are associated with increased risk for gout. The gene ABCG2 encodes a protein that transports uric acid out of cells, while SLC2A9 encodes a protein that helps regulate the amount of uric acid removed from the blood by the kidneys.
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 250px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Editor’s note: 23andMe no longer offers customers a genetic health report on gout. Customers who purchased prior to November 22, 2013 will still be able to see an archive health reports.</div>
Gout can be quite painful. When the body produces too much uric acid, the uric acid can form crystals in the joints that trigger attacks from the immune system. Consuming rich foods, <a href="http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2013/09/10/annrheumdis-2013-203600.full">sugary drinks</a>, red meats and beer can increase the risk for developing the condition. For those at risk or who already have the condition, there are treatments and recommendations for keeping attacks at bay. Among the recommendations are staying well-hydrated, limiting the intake of red meat, beer and sugary drinks and regular monitoring of the uric acid level in your blood. There are also some<a href="http://gouteducation.org/medical-professionals/gout-treatment-options/"> medications</a> used to help control the condition. Gout is also associated with other conditions including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney disease and obesity.
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
&#8220;KING OF DISEASE&#8221;<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1890" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/smiling_dalmatian-150x150.jpg" alt="smiling_dalmatian" width="150" height="150" />
</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Everywhere there is DNA being made or broken down, there is uric acid. The build up of uric acid causes gout, but uric acid is also a molecule that is one of the building blocks of genes.</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">So why is it that gout is an extremely rare disease in the animal kingdom?
The answer goes by the name &#8220;uricase.” This gene produces a protein that breaks down uric acid. Uricase evolved a very long time ago and exists in organisms ranging from<a href="http://www.ijps.ir/?_action=articleInfo&amp;article=1833"> single-celled bacteria</a> to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2594778">almost all vertebrates</a>. Its existence protects against uric acid build-up and, therefore, against gout.
Unfortunately, for us humans, the uricase gene in our DNA is so mutated it no longer works. But we are not the only species to suffer from the so-called “King of Disease.”
</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Dalmations also <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/gene-links-gout-in-humans-with-bladder-stones-in-dalmatian-dogs/">famously get gout</a>. In their case the mutations occur in a gene called SLC2A9 that helps excrete uric acid from the body. Interestingly, variations in this same gene are also associated with gout in humans. <a href="http://www.2ndchance.info/gout.htm">Most birds</a> and some reptiles also develop gout, especially when kept as pets. This seems to be the result of extremely high protein diets and kidney failure.</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Perhaps the most surprising species afflicted with this disease is the T-rex. Fossil evidence of damaged joints have provided a convincing argument that the King of Dinosaurs, perhaps appropriately, harbored the King of Diseases. However, in this case, we may never be sure whether it was caused by a genetic mutation or a diet rich in red meats.</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Fossil evidence of damaged joints have provided a convincing argument that the King of Dinosaurs, perhaps appropriately, harbored the King of Diseases. However, in this case, we may never be sure whether it was caused by a genetic mutation or a diet rich in red meats.
</div>

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

A 23andMe Gout Out

New rules issued by the US Food and Drug Administration earlier this month mean we may finally know what it means when a label on food we buy says “Gluten-Free.”<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-8468" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iStock_000014686955XSmall-300x199.jpg" alt="Flour wheat celiac" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iStock_000014686955XSmall-300x199.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iStock_000014686955XSmall.jpg 425w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The new standards are hugely important for the more than 3 million Americans with celiac disease as well as many others who for other reasons may need to avoid gluten.
Gluten, a protein found in wheat, triggers a mistaken immune response in those with <a href="http://www.celiacdiseasecenter.org/">Celiac</a>. This in turn can damage the lining of the small intestines and undermine the absorption of nutrients, ultimately causing symptoms that range from stomachaches to diarrhea and iron deficiency.
For those without Celiac who are also trying to avoid gluten – namely people who have allergies to wheat or simply a gluten intolerance – <a href="https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/Allergens/ucm362880.htm">the new standards</a> are also important.
Now anyone buying food with a “gluten-free” label, knows that means that to get that label the food must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten.

New Standards Regulating Gluten Labeling

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-18384" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Vulvodynia-Graphic.jpg" alt="Vulvodynia Graphic" width="704" height="457" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Vulvodynia-Graphic.jpg 704w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Vulvodynia-Graphic-300x195.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px" />For the live-updated, fully-labelled, interactive version of this graphic, <a href="http://curetogether.com/vulvodynia/ig/treatment-effectiveness-vs-popularity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>.
By Alexandra Carmichael, Co-Founder of CureTogether
Nearly two years ago, CureTogether released a <a href="http://curetogether.com/blog/2011/07/26/9-most-effective-vulvodynia-treatments/">list of the top patient-rated treatments for vulvodynia</a>, a common form of female reproductive pain that makes regular activities like wearing jeans or having sex extremely painful.
A staggering 20 percent of women will experience vulvodynia at some point in their lives, so we at <a href="http://curetogether.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CureTogether</a> decided it would be helpful to repeat the analysis and release an updated list of treatments rated by women living with the condition.
People in the study said they found that non-drug interventions like physical therapy, ice and wearing loose-fitting clothes were effective treatments. Conversely, those in the study said some treatments like NuvaRing, Replens, Capsaicin cream, and Lanacane actually made the condition worse.
These are all treatments suggested and reported by patients, so some redundancy in the terms used is to be expected. In addition, the term “treatment” in this study refers to anything patients describe using to help them feel better whether it is an officially prescribed medical treatment or not. 

<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 200px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
Most Effective Rated Treatments for Women with Vulvodynia 
1. Wear loose-fitting clothes 
2. Ice 
3. No underwear 
4. Physical therapy 
5. Avoid sex 
6. Rinse with water after urination 
7. Trigger point therapy 
8. Mysofascial release 
9. Avoid bicycling 
10. Osteopathic manipulation
</div>
<a href="http://curetogether.com/vulvodynia/symptoms/">Vulvodynia</a>  is a very common kind of female pain, but it is rarely talked about because many women are embarrassed by it. CureTogether is a free resource owned by 23andMe, and it allows people to share information about their health and treatments. In turn they can learn from others dealing with the same conditions.
CureTogether’s study compiled responses   over four years from 1,969 people with vulvodynia, who rated the effectiveness of 120 different treatments. We’d like to thank those who participated. And just as they shared their experience with treatments, we’re freely and openly sharing the results of the vulvodynia study. We hope this will help raise awareness and let people feel like they’re not alone.
This is part of a regular series of CureTogether <a href="http://curetogether.com/blog/category/research-findings/">research findings</a>. CureTogether’s research findings are different than <a href="https://www.23andme.com/about/factoids/">those made by 23andMe</a>, which look at genetic associations with illness, traits and drug response. But as we continue our work with the CureTogether community, 23andMe hopes to incorporate more of this kind of self-reported information into our own research. CureTogether present its findings just as they are – patient-reported data – to stimulate discussion and generate new insights for further research.
Please tweet, blog, or pass this along to anyone who can benefit or is interested in vulvodynia. Thank you!

Alexandra Carmichael

What Patients Say Works for Vulvodynia

By Amick B.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-18399 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/mug_drinking.png" alt="" width="507" height="407" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/mug_drinking.png 507w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/mug_drinking-300x241.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 507px) 100vw, 507px" />
There are many studies that look at the health impacts of drinking coffee, but you’d be forgiven if you weren’t clear about whether it’s good for you.
Research has found consuming coffee could potentially prevent heart disease, type-2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and liver cancer, but the results are often conflicting. Beyond that, other variables can potentially negate any benefits from drinking a cup of Joe.
<h6>Variables</h6>
Whether you like your coffee black or with a bit of cream and sugar, for example, makes a difference for your health.
How much you drink and even the kinds of filters you use to make coffee could also have an impact.
All the conflicting information is enough to keep non-coffee drinkers from lining up at Starbucks, while those who indulge are left scratching their heads about whether they need to cut back or keep on imbibing.
<h6>Love Coffee</h6>
But there’s one area where the science seems certain:   Some of us are just more genetically wired to like coffee. A number of studies have identified certain genetic variants associated with <a href="http://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/caffeine-consumption/">caffeine consumption</a> and metabolism, which helps us know why some of us choose coffee, and others don’t.
Recently, a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21876539" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new study</a> found some additional genetic variants associated with a tendency toward java enjoyment, including one near NRCAM, a gene implicated in vulnerability to addiction.   The study looked at nearly 8,000 Caucasian coffee drinkers and found significant evidence of gene association at the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) near NRCAM.
Using coffee consumption as a model, this new research may help scientists better understand genetic problems with addiction and how to treat them.
<h6>Metabolizing Caffeine</h6>
The recent study also looked at two SNPs that lie in the region between CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes — CYP1A1 is known to metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are important constituents of coffee, whereas caffeine is primarily metabolized by CYP1A2. The study confirmed previous studies and added a new SNP, to the list of those associated with consumption of coffee and metabolism of caffeine.
23andMe looks at a variant that affects how quickly a person  metabolizes caffeine based on preliminary research of the SNP. People with and the slower version of the CYP1A2 enzyme who also drank at least two to three cups of coffee per day had a significantly increased risk of a non-fatal heart attack, according to the research, while, according to the study, fast metabolizers could actually reduce their heart attack risk by drinking coffee.
<h6>A Look Back</h6>
Additionally, in a 2011 blog post, 23andMe discussed <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/snpwatch/coffee-i-must-have-coffee/">two studies</a> that found an association between coffee and caffeine consumption and SNP variants near the CYP1A1 and AHR genes, helping us know which genes influence the amount of coffee people consume.   One study found the SNP near CYP1A1 had a fairly consistent effect – people with the T version were prone to drink about a quarter cup more of coffee a day — and the other showed that people with two copies of a T at near the AHR gene drank  about a third of a cup of coffee more each day than those without any copies.
To find out whether genetic variants influence their caffeine consumption, 23andMe customers can look up their data for and using the Browse Raw Data feature.
Amick Boone is a freelance writer who&#8217;s written about health and life sciences for nearly 10 years.  When she&#8217;s not at her computer, she&#8217;s usually in motion &#8211; doing yoga, riding her bike or traveling.

Amick Boone

Craving Coffee Might be Genetic

Robin Smith, Health Content Scientist
Some scientists believe that lobsters could live virtually forever, barring injury, disease, or capture. They are among a select group of animals, including tortoises, clams, and jellyfish, that are &#8220;negligibly senescent.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-17393 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Telomere_caps-300x236.gif" alt="" width="300" height="236" />
They don&#8217;t age much. So why aren&#8217;t we so lucky?
<h2>Consider the Lobster</h2>
Unlike lobsters, our cells cannot replicate and renew themselves throughout our lives. One cause of this limitation is our telomeres, which are DNA segments at the ends of our chromosomes that get shorter with each replication.
When a cell&#8217;s telomeres get too short, it can no longer replicate and eventually dies. A few cells—namely adult stem cells, sperm, and egg cells—are not limited by this process, though. These cells have a telomerase enzyme that can rebuild telomeres when they get too short. This process is hijacked by cancer cells, which become effectively immortal by turning on telomerase.
<h2>Telomeres and Aging</h2>
There are several indications that telomere length is a good predictor of longevity. In newborns, telomere length varies from about 8,000-13,000 &#8220;<a href="https://www.23andme.com/gen101/genes/#basics">base pairs</a>&#8221; (DNA letters) in length and declines by about 20-40 base pairs each year. Telomeres are also longer in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1196417/">women than men</a>, mirroring the difference in lifespan between the sexes. In elderly twins, the twin with shorter telomeres is roughly <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=17925004">three times more likely</a> to die first.
The variability in telomere length between people of the same age is not random and has a genetic component that has interested scientists for decades. In a recent <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.2528">study</a> in the Nature Genetics journal, scientists identified multiple markers associated with either shorter or longer telomeres.
The strongest of these resides near a gene named TERC. Each copy of a “T” at this position is associated with an average 117 base pair decrease in telomere length, equivalent to having the &#8220;biological age&#8221; of a person about four years older.
<h2>Other Factors in Aging</h2>
A person&#8217;s genetic makeup is not the only determinant of telomere length; environmental factors such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=16112303">smoking and obesity</a> bring about premature telomere shortening.
Telomere length is also highly influenced by the father&#8217;s age at conception. Because sperm cells are one of only a few types of cells that maintain or even increase their telomere length over time, the trend is for older fathers to have children with longer telomeres.
This effect can even carry over to a second generation, including grandchildren. It&#8217;s interesting to speculate that trends in some societies towards delaying parenthood may have the unexpected benefit of boosting life expectancy. Any such benefit, however, would have to be weighed against the known <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/for-older-dads/">risks</a> of being an older dad.

Getting Long in the Telomeres

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1138" title="fundus" alt="" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/fundus-300x222.jpg" width="300" height="222" /> 
Genetics plays a big role in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of vision loss among older Americans.
Luckily, there are ways to lower the risk through diet.
Recently the National Institutes of Health slightly<a href="http://www.nei.nih.gov/news/pressreleases/050513.asp"> changed its recommendations</a> regarding a combination of vitamins and minerals recommended to protect against AMD.
About two million Americans have advanced AMD and another eight million are at risk, according to the NIH.
Millions of Americans are already taking high daily doses of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and the minerals zinc and copper. Earlier studies showed that that formula – known as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation – could significantly cut the risk for AMD.


Now the NIH is recommending replacing the beta-carotene with the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, both found in leafy greens such as kale, spinach and broccoli. This is based on a new study that found that making the change improved the protective power of the formula.


Looking at participants in the study, researchers found that the revised formula reduced the risk of AMD by about 18 percent compared to the previous formula. For those individuals who prior to the study didn’t get a lot of lutein and zeaxanthin in the diet, the change had an even greater beneficial effect, cutting the risk of AMD by as much as 25 percent.

For Your Eyes Only

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-8490" alt="" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mammogramblog.jpg" width="300" height="199">
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html?ref=health">Angelina Jolie’s revelation</a> in the New York Times today that she had a double mastectomy after learning about her genetic risk for breast cancer focused attention on the difficult dilemma faced by many women in similar circumstances.
Jolie said she decided to write about her case to help other women.
&#8220;I chose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know they have strong options,&#8221; she wrote.
The revelation has also prompted some of our customers to ask about what 23andMe reports concerning breast cancer.
First 23andMe’s test is not diagnostic. Our report on BRCA1 and BRCA2 looks at only three mutations in those two genes associated with breast cancer.
Finally, we inform customers that the absence of the mutations does not rule out the possibility that they may carry another cancer-causing variation in one of those genes.

Talking About Breast Cancer Risk

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-17920" title="Football" alt="" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Football-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Football-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Football.jpg 424w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Mounting <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1007051">evidence</a> points to brain trauma as a risk factor for mental decline. Football players who’ve had multiple concussions <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10485682">perform worse</a> on tests of brain function and are more likely to have memory <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16239884">problems</a> later on. Repeated blows to the head can also cause certain types of dementia &#8212; medically referred to as “chronic traumatic encephalopathy” and historically called “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia_pugilistica">punch-drunk syndrome</a>” in boxers. These <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3400421/">athletes</a> usually suffer repeated onslaughts, but <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1007051">research suggests</a> that even an isolated severe brain injury might be enough to increase risk for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
(A severe traumatic brain injury is one that leads to a concussion and unconsciousness for 30 minutes or more.)
Research also suggests that DNA may play a role in how susceptible we are to mental decline after head trauma. Numerous genes have been <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474442212702260">implicated</a> but the most plausible connection is with a gene named APOE. A version of this gene called e4 is firmly linked to higher risk for Alzheimer’s and researchers are studying people with the e4 variant to see if they are more likely to show signs of mental decline after brain injury compared to people without this genetic variant.
But how might the APOE e4 variant affect our ability to recover from a traumatic brain injury? Research on Alzheimer’s offers some clues.
<div style="float: right; text-align: justify; width: 250px; background-color: #e6e6e6; padding: 10px; margin-left: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; font-size: 12px;">Sizing up head trauma 
More than <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18162698">10 million</a> people around the world suffer a traumatic brain injury every year and a staggering <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/statistics.html">1.7 million</a> of these injuries occur in the USA. This makes traumatic brain injury the leading cause of death and disability in Americans under the age of 35. Most <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/traumatic-brain-injury/DS00552/DSECTION=causes">cases of brain injury</a> result from falls and car accidents, but contact sports and modern warfare are also contributors. </div>
It’s not clear exactly why people with the e4 variant are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, but it is known that the brains of people with this variant <a href="http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/APOE">have more protein clumps</a>, called amyloid plaques, than the brains of people without the variant. It’s possible that these plaques cause neurons in the brain to die.
Up to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8163989">30% of people</a> who suffer a severe traumatic brain injury also have plaques. These plaques seem to develop very quickly &#8212; sometimes <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014488604002420">within two hours</a> &#8212; after injury. It’s possible that people with the e4 variant are simply more likely to develop plaques in their brains &#8212; perhaps even more so with trauma &#8212; and this predisposes them for developing cognitive problems.
Scientists have long thought that our genes interact with our environment to impact our health. In the case of mental decline and dementia, preliminary research suggests a connection between the APOE e4 variant and severe brain injury, but findings are inconsistent and more research is needed to know for sure.
Not everyone who suffers a brain injury or has the e4 variant will develop dementia or other cognitive problems. But being aware of the risk can help you be proactive in avoiding head injuries in the first place. You can keep your brain active, through social engage ­ment or “<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/23/brain-games-may-help-thwart-alzheimers-study/">brain games</a>” like Sudoku, in order to lower your risk of mental decline.
Recommended reading:

<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimers-disease/AN01710">What types of brain injury carry a risk for mental decline?</a> 
<a href="http://www.alz.org/dementia/traumatic-brain-injury-head-trauma-symptoms.asp">Traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease</a> 
Prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s disease 
<a href="https://dopasolution.com/dementia/">Online Resources That Meet W3C Guidelines for Accessibility</a>

Brain Injury, Mental Decline, and the APOE Gene

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-17819" title="mediterranean diet" alt="" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mediterranean-diet-200x300.jpg" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mediterranean-diet-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mediterranean-diet.jpg 283w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />
Your diet has a huge impact on your health, particularly influencing your risk for things like heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide.
Your genetics equally contributes to your risk for heart disease the same as your diet, your environment and overall lifestyle does.
Understanding your risks can help you take the right actions to stay as healthy as you can. With heart disease, the simplest ways to reduce your risk is with diet and exercise. A recent<a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1200303?query=featured_home?=article"> Spanish study</a> published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that changing what you eat may go a long way at protecting you from heart disease. The study suggests a Mediterranean diet – which is rich in vegetables, fruit, legumes, fish, olive oil and nuts – can significantly reduce the risk of death from heart attack or stroke in people at highest risk.
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 200px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
How Your Body Responds 

A Mediterranean diet could ward off heart disease, but how does it effect whether you gain or lose weight?
Your genetics can influence how your body metabolizes and uses food. This   explains a bit about why some people have a much easier time losing weight than others.
</div>
The study gives hope. The researchers looked at more than 7,000 Spaniards who were overweight, smoked or had other conditions that put them at them at higher risk for heart disease. The participants ranged in age from 55 to about 80. Researchers at the University of Barcelona separated the participants into three groups, one on a Mediterranean diet, another group that were on a Mediterranean diet that included additional extra virgin olive oil, nuts, fish, vegetables, fruit and wine. And a third group that was simply advised to stay on a low-fat diet.
About five years into the work, the benefits of the Mediterranean diet were so strong – groups on the Mediterranean diets were 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack or stroke – that the researchers stopped the study early.
While there are some caveats to the study, it strongly suggests a simple change in what you eat – independent of whether you lose weight or exercise – could significantly reduce your risk for heart disease. This is particularly good news for people who want to lower their risk but are having a hard time losing weight.
While the benefits for this high-risk, elderly population of Spaniards seems pretty clear, what is less clear is whether changing to a Mediterranean diet would offer the same benefits for everyone. Because the study specifically looked at people who were at high risk for heart disease, it’s unclear if diet alone can reduce heart disease risk in the general population, too. Unfortunately the study also didn’t look at how people with different genetics might respond to the diet changes. We know genetics has a strong influence on your risk for heart disease, but we don’t know if people with different genetics would respond differently to this diet.
Whether the benefits could apply to people who are at low risk is not yet known, but it probably couldn’t hurt to reduce the amount of sweets, saturated fats and processed foods in favor of a diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables. The fact that the diet also includes a drink of wine with each meal is a nice bonus as well.

Health + Traits — Page 26