Hi everyone, Monica Reinagel here. Welcome back to the nutrition divas quick and dirty tips for eating well and feeling fabulous.

On last week's show, I talked about a blood test that supposedly

reveals hidden food sensitivities. This week I want to talk about another

medical test that's being marketed directly to consumers.

Several companies now claim that they can tell you exactly what you should eat

and which supplements you need based on your DNA.

Here's how it works. You swab the inside of your cheek with a Q-tip and mail it to a lab.

And the lab analyzes the sample for a series of genetic variations that supposedly reveal your risk of certain diseases or explain why you can't lose weight.

Based on that, the company provides a customized diet and supplement plan that will allegedly

correct or compensate for any genetic weaknesses and help you lose weight or lower your

risk of diseases.

The test isn't cheap, it'll run you several hundred dollars

and the customized supplements are quite pricey as well.

So is this a good investment in your health?

Well, the goal of personalized medicine is not a bad one.

It's also not a new one.

When health practitioners ask about your family history,

they're seeking clues to your genetic background and then using that information to customize your treatment.

If you have immediate family members who have had colon cancer, for example,

your doctor might recommend earlier and more frequent

screening for you than he or she would for someone with no such family history.

And if I see someone whose parents both had type 2 diabetes, I know that person is at increased risk of developing diabetes, and I tailor my dietary advice accordingly.

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