How do our genes control our response to what we eat?
Dr. Vimal KaraniNot only does DNA control physical characteristics like height, but it also shapes how our bodies react to food. Is it true that you are what you eat?
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We know that 'nurture' plays a vital role in shaping our relationship with food. But what can we learn from investigating the ‘nature’ behind our dietary habits?
Our DNA determines many of our physical characteristics, from the colour of our eyes to the size of our feet. In recent years, we also discovered that it controls how our body responds to certain foods – a pioneering field of study that has shone a light on why some people are more predisposed to digestive conditions than others.
Dr. Vimal Karani’s work sits at the intersection of food and science. In this fascinating talk he will give us a glimpse into the world of 'precision nutrition' and explore how the genes in our body dictate our relationship and response to food, providing fresh insight into why we eat the foods we do and how we can adapt our diets to fit our specific nutritional needs.
Read this talk's transcriptTalk outline
50 minutes
30 minute talk
20 minute Member Q&A
Vimal Karani is a professor in Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics, as well as the deputy director of the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health at the University of Reading. He researches areas related to nutrigenetics and non-communicable diseases.
Thank you notes from Garden members
How do our genes control our response to what we eat?
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