For a no BS report on what's really going on inside your body and all the things you should/shouldn't be doing/eating to make it perform the way it was designed, there are few things more accurate than a DNA test.
Having people microscopically analyse your strands is pretty much the only way you're going to find out exactly what you're made of because what's being extracted is your very essence.
I had mine tested towards the end of last year by a company called DNAlysis and, though I'm a health-conscious and active person, I discovered there were quite a few things I was doing wrong, or wasn't doing at all, things that wouldn't have been picked up so easily in other tests.
Here's how it works: the DNAlysis test kit will provide you with something that looks like a very big earbud - you put the cotton bud inside your cheek and roll it around for about a minute.
 This is called a "buccal swab" and it's the easiest way to collect DNA cells from your body. Send the swab back to the lab and within two-to-three weeks you'll receive your genotype report, a 20-odd-page document charting your exact genetic makeup.
The report is fairly simple to understand in some areas, but it's recommended that you consult with one of DNAlysis's practitioners (they're all over the country) to properly understand what's going on, because seeing codes like COL1A1 G>T and TRHR T>G can be a little overwhelming.
DNAlysis offers several kinds of tests that focus on specific aspects like diet, health, oestrogen levels (women) and sport. There is also a range of pharmacogenomic tests, pharamocogenomics being the study of the relationship between genes and medications.
I had the tests done for health and sport and, though I was aware of certain risk factors in my family, there were more specific "defects" that needed to be attended to, such as a "deletion" of a gene that's partly responsible for detoxifying my body.
The deletion of this particular gene also makes me susceptible to certain cancers, the test going so far as to say I should avoid exhaust fumes because they're particularly toxic to me.
The sport test revealed a tendency towards acute inflammation and a reduced ability to metabolise caffeine, so sports gels containing caffeine are pretty much useless to me, but I can't deny that being told I have the genes for increased aerobic capacity was nice for my ego.
Yes, it's kind of alarming to be told you're prone to, say, certain cancers, but genetic testing is all about preventative medicine. After your consultation you'll walk away with a list of suggested diet changes and supplements that'll enhance all your good genes and work to suppress the activation of the not-so-good ones.
The cost of the tests starts in the region of R3,500 - not exactly cheap, but when you consider the long-term benefits you might decide it's money well spent.
• For more information visit dnalysis.co.za...