GeneFood review – Can genetics determine the right diet?
Fiyin Ebemidayo, B.S. · · Updated
GeneFood Review Summary
Summary
GeneFood provides an easy to understand nutrition plan that is ready within minutes of uploading raw DNA data. Customer reviews on the company’s website indicate they are pleased with their results. The price can be a bit high, especially if you include the price of the kit from a third-party seller.
This review is written with the intent to be as unbiased as possible. However, it represents the opinion of an individual reviewer and is therefore subjective. Furthermore, at Nebula Genomics we seek to educate the public about the benefits of Whole Genome Sequencing. Information about our Whole Genome Sequencing DNA test is therefore incorporated into the review.
February 1, 2022
Table of contents
7 Facts from our GeneFood Review
- Location: San Diego, California
- Products: Gene Food Custom Nutrition Plan
- Cost: $80
- Reports: Nutrition information and ideal diet type
- How it works: Users upload their 23andMe, Ancestry, or MyHeritage raw data and purchase a diet-specific report. The results will be available in their account the same day
- Upload option: Yes
- Alternative Products: Nebula Genomics offers 30X Whole Genome Sequencing that decodes 100% of your DNA and offers reports on diet and much more!
GeneFood Introduction
GeneFood is a DNA upload and genetic analysis company that uses raw data to create a customized diet report. The company does not sell its own DNA test and customers must first have their DNA sequenced with 23andMe, AncestryDNA, or MyHeritage and upload the raw data file to GeneFood. The company may also accept DNA data from other companies, such as Nebula Genomics, that decodes your entire DNA. This ensures that the genetic variants GeneFood needs are included in the submission.
Gene Food analyzes up to 120 genetic factors and a vast range of genes to help customers decide the type of diet that will work best for them. It compares your genetic profile to up to 21 diet plans, and after the analysis will show the user the particular diet or range of diet plans that they can go for to get the healthiest version of themselves.
It also provides information on a person’s nutrition and even suggests the intensity of exercises needed to sustain a healthy lifestyle.
Logistics
Physician Dr. Steven Brody and health entrepreneur John O’Connor founded GeneFood as a wellness company that provides counseling and advice on nutrition to help people make healthy lifestyle choices. Over time, the company grew to include reporting based on genetic predispositions. It’s CLIA-certified laboratory is based in San Diego, California.
Gene Food previously sold a DNA test kit for $250. It would decode your DNA to generate the nutrition report. However, that test is sold out and the company does not appear to have plans to bring it back, focusing instead on users uploading previously sequenced DNA files.
The Science Behind GeneFood
GeneFood takes submitted DNA into a technologically advanced system algorithm that categorizes people’s genetic predisposition into one of the available twenty diet types. The company’s position is based on the idea that there is no “one size fits all” diet. Our unique genetic makeup plays a role in personalizing nutrition so that what works for one person may not work for another, despite having similar goals and body types.
The company analyzes genetic markers that impact food by evaluating hundreds of peer-reviewed studies and ranking them on a science based scoring system called Science Grade. It weighs the most validated genes more heavily in the algorithm.
Also known as “DNA diets”, the field of nutrigenomics is growing. Unlike other genetic testing companies, GeneFood does not believe a single gene determines any health outcome, including nutrition. Thus, the company takes a comprehensive, inclusive approach by recommending a diet based on many genes. A summary of the most relevant genes to nutrition that have been strongly validated are available on the company’s website.
It’s important to remember that the information provided in the reports is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, customers should consult their doctor.
Taking a GeneFood Test
Customers must first purchase and submit a DNA sample to another company such as 23andMe, Ancestry, or MyHeritageDNA to perform the nutrition analysis.
Once results are available, customers download the raw data files to their computer and can upload them using the contact form available on the GeneFood website. After that, the GeneFood Customized Nutrition Plan can be purchased. Results are ready in 5 minutes.
Review of GeneFood Customized Nutrition Plan
This analysis provides you with a personalized diet plan with the help of your DNA.
Your genes are analyzed for protein, fat, carbohydrate, metabolism, histamine ApoE4, MTHFR, sulfur, lactose, wheat tolerance sleep, and many more genetic variants that determine your overall health profile. After uploading your raw data from another testing company, you receive a custom diet type and nutrition plan customized to your genetics almost instantly.
GeneFood does not offer genetic testing.
There are 20 assigned diet types that may be recommended based on over 120 genetic factors:
- California Keto Diet
- Pegan Diet
- Paleo Plus Diet
- Modified Paleo Diet
- Trainer Diet
- Urban Grazer Diet
- Mosaic Diet
- Pescetarian Diet
- Agrarian Diet
- Wayoan Diet
- West Angeleno Diet
- Okinawan Diet
- Villager Diet
- Learn Machine Diet
- Forager Diet
- California Coastal Diet
- Vegetarian Diet
- Nordic Diet
- Mediterranean Diet
- Hunter Gatherer Diet
Review of GeneFood Cost
GeneFood Customized Nutrition Plan costs $79.99. While this price is reasonable given the comprehensive report, it is important to know that you first need to purchase a different genetic sequencing test to obtain your raw genetics.
Review of Gene Food Reports
The Gene Food report analyses different genes, SNP and alleles and attaches a Science Score to them. The Science Score shows the extent to which the particular gene, SNP, and allele affect nutrition.
The report can largely be broken down into three sections:
- An overview
- Nutrition breakdown on things like fat, methylation, micronutrients, and sleep
- A detailed look at your genes
The overview describes the type of diet that best fits your genetics and gives you five food rules that will help guide your diet.
The next, and largest, section includes specific breakdowns on nutrition aspects such as fat, HDL:LDL ratio, sodium, sleep, blood sugar, NSAID tolerance, etc. It also indicates specifically food that works best for each diet.
The sections will look different based on the aspect being described. Generally, each section will describe how your genes influence the aspect being described and in turn, how that affects your optimal nutrition uptake. Each subsection provides dietary recommendations and a meal plan based on the overall diet type.
The final section is a detailed breakdown of your genes, including your genotype and the Science Score for each gene.
The scoring system is based on the level of validation each gene is assigned, which is a reflection of the strength of the association and evidence for that gene. Higher scoring genes are weighted more heavily in the algorithm used to recommend a diet type.
Review of GeneFood Privacy
GeneFood uses a secured encrypted connection to protect its client’s genetic data, one of their top priorities. The company also notes that it does not share or sell its client’s genetic data to a third party. The website and software are fully HIPAA compliant and SSL encrypted.
Other GeneFood Reviews
GeneFood has a 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot with 32 reviews. The score ranks very highly. However, the reviews talk about the amazing food, indicating that the reviewers may have mistaken the company for a restaurant of the same name.
The company also shares some customer reviews on their website. As expected, the shared reviews are very positive, with many indicated that the service helped them lose weight. Customers found the reports helpful, interesting, and noted noticeable improvements in their health. They also had valuable interactions with customer support.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Comprehensive reports focused on personalized nutrition
- Results within 5 minutes
- Result is easy to interpret and accessible by the customer directly
Cons
- Does not offer ancestry or health tests
- Need for third-party DNA testing causes higher costs
Nebula Genomics
GeneFood provides one of the most comprehensive genetic reports that help users choose the right diet. A positive about those analyses is that it is extremely fast, and you can quickly get fitted into the diet plan that would help you achieve a healthy weight and other nutrition goals.
However, the fact that this genetic company is only focused on how genes affect a person’s diet, overall weight, and healthy lifestyle make it limited compared with similar reports that can also cover disease, traits, and ancestry. First, GeneFood does not sequence all genes, and even for the ones that are sequenced, they only provide information on their roles in helping people personalize their diet and nutrition. While the information provided is comprehensive for those specific genes, there are other testing companies that can expand on the whole genome, inclusive of the ones associated with nutrition.
Therefore, a user would need a company that offers full genome sequencing to get better and deeper information on genetics’s roles in certain conditions that they are experiencing or are concerned they may experience.
Nebula Genomics offers 30x Whole-Genome Sequencing to provide full and accurate information on a person’s DNA. The testing method makes it one of the few standouts globally that provide extremely comprehensive analyses on a person’s entire genome. Plus, whole genome sequencing with Nebula is affordable. Sequencing 100% of your DNA costs $299 or less.
At this time, GeneFood only allows for the upload of DNA from other genetic testing sites. By sequencing your full genome with Nebula, you can submit the raw data (which always belongs to you) to GeneFood knowing that you have the information for this nutrition company to create the most focused diet plan for your needs.
GeneFood vs. Nebula Genomics
| GeneFood | Nebula Genomics | |
| DNA testing method | Does not offer testing; analyzes specific SNPs from other tests for nutrition | Sequencing all 20,000 genes and regulatory regions |
| Ancestry reporting | No | Performs deep ancestry reporting with the complete Y chromosome and mtDNA sequencing |
| DNA upload | Yes | Yes |
| Data access | No | Yes |
| Report for making medical decisions | No | No, but data is of the highest quality and can be used by physicians and genetic counselors |
| Cost | $79.99 | $0, $99, $299 |
Did you like our GeneFood review? You can read more reviews on our blog and check out our complete guide to the best DNA test kit and other home tests.
Other companies
If you’re interested in analysis for DNA diets, you may also be interested in:
- DNAFit (in partnership with CircleDNA)
- Fitness Genes (data upload and DNA testing kits)
- FoundMyFitness (one-time report or lifetime updates and other perks on a subscription plan)
- Genopalate (data upload and DNA testing kit)
- Noom (subscriptions based nutrition service)
- Nutrigenomix (personalized nutrition based on 70 variants)
- Orig3n (various DNA tests – no longer available)
- Vitagene (diet and health)
Or, if you already have raw data and are looking for more, check out these other DNA upload sites:
Ancestry:
- Ancient DNA Origins (DNA upload for comparison against ancient civilizations)
- DNA Land (free DNA upload for trait and ancestry analysis)
- DNA Painter (for genealogy – the first one is free and subscriptions are available for others)
- GedMatch Genesis (free DNA upload and paid advanced options)
- Gene Heritage (inherited allele reports)
- Living DNA (free upload for ancestry)
- MyHeritage (free upload for genealogy)
- MyTrueAncestry (learn your connection to ancient populations)
- WeGene (a focus on Asian populations, cost of reports)
Health:
- BioStatus Health (upload apps for personalized fitness and nutrition)
- Dash Genomics (personalized Alzheimer’s disease risk)
- Genetic Genie (free for health reporting)
- Genomapp (DNA analysis app and individual reports)
- LifeDNA (upload and health reports, DNA kit and updates available at an additional cost)
- LiveWello (variance reports and community sharing)
- Nowgenome (genotyping test and data upload option)
- NutraHacker (DNA upload for reports on certain health conditions)
- Silverberry Genomix (free upload and options to purchase additional reports)
- StrateGene (detailed reports based on biological pathways)
- TrueReport (personalized functional medicine)
- yourDNAportal (free expanded reports on health and ancestry)
If you have whole genome sequencing data, also take a look at YFull for Y-DNA and mtDNA analysis.
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