AYURNUTRIGENOMICS: FUTURE OF HEALTH THROUGH FOOD

Ayurnutrigenomics is an emerging field of Ayurveda in which after assessment of the constitution type or Prakriti, a personalized approach in the predictive, preventive, and curative aspects is formulated by designing a suitable dietary, lifestyle and therapeutic regime as it determines the state of health and diseased conditions in an individual. With the advancement in genomics, human genome sequencing, cataloguing of human genetic variations and SNP mapping of human genome is possible and the investigators are now able to pinpoint the specific polymorphism linked to sensitivity to diet or an altered risk of disease. Certain diet regulated genes are likely to play a role in the onset, incidence, progression, and severity of chronic diseases. A nutrient in a diet can either interact directly by acting as a transcription factor and leading to expression of the respective gene or can interact epigenetically by changing gene expression by changing the epigenome/DNA structure or by inducing genetic variation in the building block of a genome itself. Similarly, in Ayurveda, condition of Doshas, Agni Bal, factors like geography, individual's ability to digest foods, vary person to person. In Samhitas, detailed description of eatables that are contrary to Deh Dhatus and behave antagonist to them in terms of properties, combination, processing, dose etc. or in natural composition aggravates Doshas but do not expel them out of the body, eventually, causing a varied range of diseases. This clearly verifies the need of personalization of diet and individualization of lifestyle prescription for improving health and preventing disease.