Genetic testing is all the rage. With a simple cheek swab you can find out what kind of medications are best suited for you, if you should jump on the high fat bandwagon, and if you are at risk for certain diseases. But before you mail off your saliva sample, there are a few things you need to know.

Genes are not your destiny.

Genes are like little light switches that can be turned on or off depending on factors like what you eat, how you exercise, exposure to environmental toxins, stress and more. But if genes only account for about 10% of human disease, what is driving disease? Read on to find out!

Not all testing is equal

Not all testing is equal and some testing is downright inaccurate. One study showed that up to 40% of DNA results from consumer genetic testing might be bogus. Tests like 23andme use “SNPS” which are fantastic for collecting data but they don’t give you the whole picture. It’s like assuming that an entire forest is sick because one tree in it is unwell.  Instead, you need to a test that uses copy-number variance (CNV). It’s a bit complicated, but if you want to learn more about why it’s so important to test different types of CNV’s, insertions and deletions; how this relates to the Russians being able to legally beat Olympic doping tests;  and what the most advanced genetic test you should get is, you’ll want to tune in to Ben Greenfield’s podcast with Dr. Karim Dhanani.

With the correct testing, you can find out amazing things. But what are the cons?

Sure, you can discover your ancestry and you can find out if you’re at risk for specific diseases but a really good genetic test can tell you so much more. You can find out if certain styles of exercise are actually healthy for YOU. For example, people with the 9P21 gene need to be incredibly careful when doing high-intensity exercise. All those stories you hear about ultra-healthy people who die suddenly? They have the 9P21 gene.

Just like genetic testing, CBD oil is another hot trend right now.  But there are some amazing pros that genetic testing can offer, but you also need to weigh the cons and see what the best choice for you is.