Try GOLD - Free
PRECISION NUTRITION: Your Genes and Your Diet
Cooking Light
|Winter 2026 - Carb-Smart Recipes
Precision nutrition may sound like a new fad diet, but it is actually a credible emerging area of research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
-
Related to precision nutrition is nutrigenomics—or nutritional genomics—the study of how genes and nutrition interact. This new field of science is helping us to understand how our genetic makeup can influence our response to certain foods and how we can use this knowledge to make healthier choices. Researchers have identified a gene on chromosome 16 called the FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated protein) gene. Variants of this gene are related to metabolism, energy expenditure, and energy balance, and impact weight management and body composition. Based on genes, each person may have a different response to specific foods and nutrients, so that the best diet for one individual may look very different from the best diet for another.
HOW NUTRIGENOMICS WORKS
This story is from the Winter 2026 - Carb-Smart Recipes edition of Cooking Light.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Cooking Light
Cooking Light
SUPER SNACKS
Make the most of your between-meal nibbles with recipes that provide high-quality protein instead of empty calories.
7 mins
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Cooking Light
Build a Better Bowl
Leave your plates in the cupboard and create customized bowls featuring beans, chicken, and fish alongside hearty grains and fresh veggies. You can build color, texture, and flavor as you layer your favorite high-protein ingredients for easy one-dish meals.
4 mins
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Cooking Light
GO COASTAL
Fish and shellfish provide high-quality protein along with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Both are crucial for optimal body and brain function and strongly linked to a reduced risk of many diseases.
12 mins
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Cooking Light
Plant-Based Proteins
In a protein matchup of meat vs. plant-based proteins, research shows that the underdog, plants, are the true champions when it comes to your wallet, the planet, and your health.
12 mins
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Cooking Light
Count on Cottage Cheese
Rich, full of texture, and packed with protein, versatile cottage cheese can be used in a variety of recipes. Sometimes referred to as curds and whey, this dairy product differs from other cheeses in that it’s not aged or ripened.
4 mins
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Cooking Light
Protein Primer
Protein is essential in our bodies and plays a critical role in functions like bone health, digestion, and energy production.
4 mins
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Cooking Light
MAKE THE MOST OF MEAT
Rely on lean cuts of beef, lamb, and pork to maximize your protein intake each day without going overboard on saturated fat or sodium.
13 mins
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Cooking Light
PICK POULTRY
Make chicken and turkey your go-to sources of high-quality protein. They’re affordable, easy to prepare, and family friendly, too.
17 mins
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Cooking Light
BEYOND BREAKFAST
Who says that breakfast is only for the morning? These omelets, smoothies, and grains are ideal ways to pack in protein any time of day.
8 mins
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Cooking Light
Mushrooms for the Mind
Certain types of mushrooms may help stave off cognitive decline and lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression.
1 min
Spring 2026 - High-Protein Recipes
Listen
Translate
Change font size