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Unlock Optimal Health and Wellness Through Your Genetic Insights
True wellness embraces mind, body, and spirit. Our mission is to enable individuals to foster youthful ageing and longevity.
About NucleoHealth’s Philosophy
As a turnkey solution for our holistic approach toward optimal health, we seek to enhance overall well-being by addressing an individual's life's physical-, mental-, emotional-, and spiritual facets. Analysis of the body’s system biology acknowledges the interplay of various factors that impact health, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to achieve and maintain such optimal health. This philosophy supports an integrative strategy to improve physical health, vitality, emotional resilience, clarity of mind, and overall quality of life.
Dr Leunis van Rooyen (PhD)
As a registered Specialist Wellness Counsellor, I specialise in coaching individuals on health and wellness topics such as longevity, youthful ageing, chronic disease risk management, intermittent fasting, and long-term wellness strategies. I am passionate about empowering others to take charge of their well-being and live a healthier, more fulfilling life.
From Genes to Gut — from Nutrition to Personalised Medicine
11 Reasons Genetic Testing Unlocks Longevity
1. Personalised Health Insights and Management
Understanding your genetic makeup provides personalised insights into your current and future health risks, enabling proactive measures to reduce these risks. Tailored advice on diet, exercise, fitness, nutrition, supplements, and mental well-being can be guided by this genetic profile, often referred to as a “birth specification.”
2. Disease Susceptibility Awareness
The early identification of health risks strengthens strategies to prevent chronic diseases. Recognising genetic predispositions and associated risks early enables preventive care, lifestyle adjustments, and informed guidance for therapeutic choices.
3. Lifestyle Modifications
Understanding your genetic predispositions enables you to make informed lifestyle choices that support longevity, enhance strengths, and manage vulnerabilities. This knowledge is instrumental in optimising performance and addressing health risks. Lifestyle modifications may include changes in diet, exercise routines, stress management techniques, social connections, sleep patterns, and work environments. Such adjustments can significantly improve physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life.
4. Metabolic Pathway Insights
Genetic testing identifies issues in crucial pathways such as methylation, detoxification, oxidative stress, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and lipid metabolism.
5. Hormonal Health Guidance
Understanding oestrogen detoxification pathways is crucial for cancer prevention and for lowering the risk of hormone-related conditions. Hormone pathways are complex networks that regulate key processes such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and stress response, ensuring balance and stability in the body. Oestrogen, in particular, plays a vital role in the growth and function of many tissues, but when poorly metabolised, it can contribute to health risks. Supporting healthy oestrogen metabolism is especially important for women with oestrogen-dominant conditions, including endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome, and uterine fibroids. Testing these pathways provides valuable insight into how the body processes hormones and helps guide personalised strategies to reduce the risk of breast cancer and other hormone-driven diseases. This is especially significant for women using long-term hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives, where optimising detoxification pathways can provide protective benefits and promote long-term hormonal balance.
6. Pharmacogenetic Testing (Precision Medicine)
To enhance the effectiveness and tolerance of medications, your genetic information can be used to customise prescriptions based on your genetic profile, while taking into account potential side effects or dosage adaptations.
7. Resilience and Mental Health
Guidance on genetic predispositions can provide valuable insights into mental health, alongside strategies to manage stressors, build resilience, and promote overall well-being. This includes identifying potential mood disorders, dyslexia, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), stress responses, neurological risks, emotional stability, chronic pain management, and addictive behaviours.
8. Food Intolerance Confirmation
Genetic testing can provide valuable insights into food intolerances by identifying markers linked to sensitivities to certain foods, supporting personalised dietary adjustments. It can confirm lactose or gluten intolerance and reveal how the body processes different nutrients, offering a clearer picture of digestive health. These insights extend to gut health, highlighting genetic influences on microbial balance, inflammation, and nutrient absorption. Since the gut is central to immunity, metabolism, and mental well-being, understanding these predispositions allows proactive steps to protect long-term health. Testing can also reveal differences in taste and flavour sensitivity, guiding food choices that support gut health, reduce discomfort, and enhance enjoyment, making nutrition more personalised and sustainable.
9. Family planning
Genetic testing can enhance the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy and optimal birth outcomes by identifying hereditary health conditions. This allows for valuable insights and proactive steps to be taken for the unborn baby's health.
10. Empowerment and Awareness
Genetic testing empowers individuals to take proactive control of their health and deepens their understanding of how their bodies function. Awareness of genetic predispositions to ageing supports personalised recommendations that help sustain optimal health and quality of life. Understanding one’s genetic profile can also foster peace of mind and build resilience, as it enables informed decision-making and encourages preventive strategies that strengthen long-term well-being.
11. Immune-related Health Functions
DNA testing for autoimmune risks, particularly within the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) gene family, supports longevity by identifying genetic predispositions. This knowledge enables early interventions and personalised health strategies to lower the risk of autoimmune disease and improve overall wellness. Likewise, risks linked to microbiome imbalances and periodontal health deserve equal consideration.
Options for Your Genetic Testing
The Comprehensive Health Test
This report provides an integrated overview of an individual’s health, combining genetic insights with personalised recommendations. It examines biological processes, genetic pathways, lifestyle adjustments, supplement guidance, nutrition planning, exercise response, weight management, and essential dietary needs.
A key focus is methylation, the chemical process that regulates gene expression and influences numerous biological functions. The report also considers inflammation, lipid metabolism, detoxification, and predispositions to conditions such as gluten intolerance or coeliac disease. Additional insights include vitamin utilisation, insulin sensitivity, bone strength, salt sensitivity, iron balance, oxidative stress response, and metabolism of lactose, caffeine, and alcohol—factors that directly impact resilience and long-term health.
Dietary recommendations are tailored to individual genetic profiles. Instead of a generalised approach, strategies are aligned with personal traits, guiding whether a low-carbohydrate, low-fat, or Mediterranean diet may be more effective. By recognising genetic variability, the report supports sustainable weight management and more successful outcomes.
The analysis also explores exercise response and physical adaptability. Genetic influences on endurance, strength, recovery capacity, and training efficiency are considered, along with risks of muscle or ligament injury. Recommendations highlighted the importance of aligning activity with circadian rhythms, improving energy use, supporting circulation and respiration, and managing fuel reserves for better performance in daily life.
Together, these elements create a holistic framework for health optimisation. The report combines genetic knowledge with personalised guidance on diet, exercise, supplements, and lifestyle. By integrating pathways such as methylation, detoxification, inflammation, and nutrient utilisation, it offers a clear roadmap for building resilience, preventing disease, and sustaining long-term wellness.
Histamine Panel Test
The Histamine Panel genetic report gives insight into how the body metabolises histamine and offers guidance for managing high levels. Histamine is an important chemical messenger in the neuro-immuno-endocrine system, released by cells such as basophils and mast cells. It plays multiple roles: tightening the airways in the lungs, acting as a neurotransmitter in the brain, stimulating stomach acid, and driving skin reactions like hives or allergies.
When histamine levels are too high, the effects go beyond allergies. They are linked to conditions such as food intolerances, coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, malabsorption, and haemorrhoids. Excess histamine can also damage the glycocalyx—the protective layer covering cells—leading to inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and higher risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and stroke. Because genetic variations affect histamine breakdown and glycocalyx protection, personalised healthcare and tailored interventions are essential for preventing serious illness and supporting long-term health.
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) - Autoimmunity Risk Test
The test offers insights into genetic susceptibility factors for various pathophysiological mechanisms and environmental triggers associated with the adaptive immune response. The Major Histocompatibility Complex region, governed by HLA, can confer a predisposition to autoimmune disorders such as Alopecia Areata, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Coeliac Disease, Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy, IgA Nephropathy, Lyme Borreliosis and Tickborne Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Vitiligo from birth.
Brain and Mental Wellbeing Test
This test examines variations in particular genes crucial to essential biological pathways, encompassing serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, inflammation, and methylation, which have been significantly correlated with mental well-being. It offers tailored advice on diet, lifestyle adjustments, and nutraceuticals, along with valuable diagnostic insights. Enhancing cognitive function through nutrigenomics involves personalised diets aligning with genetic profiles and maximising nutrient intake for optimal brain performance.
Skin Health Test
Skin analysis is a genetic assessment providing insight into pivotal aspects affecting skin ageing, delivering personalised suggestions for topical treatments, nutraceuticals, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle modifications for enhanced results. Skin health can be evaluated by observing visible signs of ageing such as wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin texture.
Identifying genetic predispositions to skin ageing helps adapt recommendations for optimal long-term skin health. Genetic variations impact collagen production, nutrition deficiencies, and antioxidant defence sensitivity, affecting wrinkles and fine lines susceptibility.
Resilience and Stress Test
Resilience provides an understanding of seven molecular aspects of resilience, aiding in the recognition of strengths and challenges while proposing personalised strategies to enhance resilience outcomes and overall health performance. This methodology is crucial for detecting any epigenetic irregularities that could disrupt a patient's balance. Identifying genetic variations linked to alterations in critical biological domains influences comprehensive health and potential predispositions to diseases.
Pharmacogenomics Test – PGx (Prescription Medicines)
Personalised medicine has the potential to save lives and reduce adverse medication reactions. Pharmacogenomics, a field that examines how genetics affect drug responses, offers a cost-effective solution to the trial-and-error approach of prescribing. Adoption of PGx testing by labs and healthcare professionals can lead to better outcomes, lower costs, and a more personalised patient experience. Effective integration of PGx into clinical practice can make well-supported, accessible data a standard part of care.
Pain Management Test
Chronic pain is a debilitating issue, necessitating insights into the neurobiology of chronic pain for the development of innovative pain protocols. Pain is an evolutionarily conserved physiological phenomenon essential for survival. Understanding the biological pathways involved in chronic pain susceptibility is crucial for setting realistic expectations for therapeutic approaches. Interventions for chronic pain focus on addressing the root causes through personalised nutraceuticals, exercise regimens, lifestyle modifications, and customised dietary plans. The pain report provides valuable insights for individuals with a history of physical trauma, as well as those experiencing musculoskeletal, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Genetic Hormone Pathway Test
Significant inter-individual variability has been noted in biological domains involved in the metabolism of carcinogens, steroid hormones, and both phase I and phase II detoxification. Genetic variations in these processes can pinpoint a subset of women and men with increased lifetime exposure to estrogens, estrogen metabolites, and other carcinogens. The identified gene variants suggest potential inefficiencies in estrogen detoxification, warranting further support.
It also benefits those with a family history of breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer, as well as men with prostate cancer histories. Improving estrogen metabolism could lower the risk of breast cancer, particularly for women who are considering or are on hormonal treatments such as oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies (HRTs). Comprehending an individual's genetic differences enables personalised dietary, lifestyle, and hormonal interventions.
Periodontal Health Test
This genetic test is designed to offer insights into your dental and oral health, including vulnerability to periodontal disease and tooth decay. Oral health is significantly linked to the risk of developing chronic conditions such as cognitive decline, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, and heart disease. Early and precise interventions, using a comprehensive systems-biology approach, are vital for improving overall health outcomes.
Maternal Health Test
The report provides crucial insights into enhancing health prospects for both mother and child through tailored dietary, supplemental, and lifestyle modifications, considering genetic influences. It is advantageous for women contemplating pregnancy, aiming to improve health throughout pregnancy, or facing difficulties with conception and pregnancy.
Genetic Gut Health Assessment
The DNA Gut Test explores how genetic variations affect digestive health and the balance of the gut microbiome. Certain genes influence digestion, nutrient absorption, inflammation, and immune activity, while some predispositions may increase the risk of microbiome imbalances and gut-related conditions. By identifying these risks, the test provides insights into maintaining microbial balance, protecting the intestinal barrier, and supporting immunity. Results guide personalised nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle adjustments—such as probiotics or dietary changes—to strengthen gut resilience, reduce digestive discomfort, and promote long-term wellbeing.
Genetic Biological Age Assessment
A genetic biological age assessment estimates how well your body is ageing compared to your chronological age. By analysing genetic markers and pathways linked to ageing, inflammation, detoxification, and cellular repair, it provides insight into factors influencing longevity. These results can guide personalised strategies—covering nutrition, lifestyle, and supplementation—to slow biological ageing, enhance vitality, and support long-term health.
Athletic Performance Active Test
Athletic performance aids help trainers and coaches create personalised training and nutrition plans for elite athletes, integrating sports and dietary analysis to maximise fitness, support weight management, and achieve peak conditioning.
Metabolic and Systems Biology Tests
Dutch Complete Test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones)
Dutch Complete Test offers a thorough evaluation of sex and adrenal hormones along with their metabolites, encompassing the daily free cortisol pattern, organic acids, and melatonin (6-OHMS, and 8-OHdG). Additionally, this test addresses liver hormone detoxification challenges, potentially increasing the risk of developing various cancers and diseases.
Mineral Balance Analysis Test
Hair and/or urine uniquely accumulate divalent cautions due to their rich sulfur amino acid content, providing strong binding sites for various essential and toxic elements. The levels of toxic heavy metals, non-metals, and crucial trace elements in these samples are typically much higher than in other tissues, making them reliable indicators of long-term exposure to these minerals and metals.
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) - Autoimmunity Risk
The test offers insights into genetic susceptibility factors for various pathophysiological mechanisms and environmental triggers associated with the adaptive immune response. The Major Histocompatibility Complex region, governed by HLA, can confer a predisposition to autoimmune disorders such as Alopecia Areata, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Coeliac Disease, Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy, IgA Nephropathy, Lyme Borreliosis and Tickborne Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Vitiligo from birth.
Amino-Acid- & Organic Acid Test
Amino- and Organic Acid Tests involve screening metabolomic activity, which combines metabolomic data with insights from metabolic pathways and systems biology across various biological systems, including proteomics and transcriptomics data. This process generates a collection of endogenous metabolites that can be assessed for their role in influencing phenotypes.
Given that amino acids serve as the fundamental constituents of proteins in the body, the biochemical analysis encompasses approximately 5,688 protein (and DNA) sequences and over 5,000 potential biochemical reactions associated with these metabolite entries.
Bacteria Analysis Test (Bacteria, Parasites, or other Abnormal Organisms)
Bacterial analysis of stool specimens provides insights into gastrointestinal (GI) health by identifying imbalances in intestinal markers and microflora. Microflora usually consists of commensal bacteria that are neither harmful nor beneficial but can shift into imbalance, affecting gut function.
Disruptions in GI health are more likely in individuals with genetic predispositions to certain diseases. Related symptoms and conditions may include autoimmune disease, IBD/IBS, systemic inflammation, joint pain, abdominal discomfort, neurological issues, lactose intolerance, nutritional deficiencies, food allergies or sensitivities, and digestive complaints such as nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, or heartburn. Broader consequences may extend to calcium loss, decreased bone density, infertility, miscarriage, and impaired immune function. A weakened glycocalyx can further increase the risk of gut dysbiosis (see Histamine test).
Damage to the small intestine may result from factors such as bacterial overgrowth, pathogenic bacteria, yeast, parasites, malnutrition, chronic maldigestion, food allergens damaging the villi, reduced stomach acid, toxic irritants, or the use of antibiotics and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs).
Science behind testing
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
The current disillusionment felt by many who value longevity often mirrors a broad sentiment of distrust and a longing for change. The recent years, riddled with scandals and betrayals, have diminished trust in both institutions and individuals. A shift towards a system rooted in human-to-human interactions, where trust stems from personal relationships and openness, may offer a path forward. Such a model prioritises empathy, responsibility, and community involvement, paving the way for a deeply revised mission statement dedicated to health and wellness.
Historical Epistemology for Health and Wellness
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
As the nature of historical knowledge, epistemology is an approach to the study of (primarily) scientific knowledge pursued by science historians today. A human existence is aligned to and lived according to a personally constructed reality concerning cultural customs, religious beliefs, and socially conditioned interpretations of reality. Hence, mind/body approaches and psychosomatic aspects should always be considered.
Ontology – Nature of Reality
Trusted Relationship towards Medicinal Stakeholders
The concept of a web of existence highlights that everything, from the cosmos to the smallest microbe, is interconnected. Counselling should therefore be contextual rather than isolated. Wellness counselling emphasises care and support instead of cures, identifying deficiencies to create a health profile rather than diagnosing pathology. Its focus is on improving overall well-being, not simply treating disease. This approach marks a shift from the traditional allopathic model toward a more holistic practice that applies diverse tools and techniques.
Background for Genetic Testing
Since Watson and Crick discovered the DNA structure in 1953, genetic testing has evolved significantly. The introduction of high-throughput sequencing technologies and enhanced methods has reduced the costs of nutrigenomic genetic testing by about 90%. In 1959, a notable advancement was made in the study of specific phenotypes with the identification of Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), the most prevalent chromosomal disorder, which was initially described by John Langdon Down in 1866.
The Benefits of Genetic Testing
Genetic Analysis for Optimum Health and Well-being
Genetic testing is the analysis of a person's genetic material to understand its structure, function, variations, and interconnections. This testing enables individuals to make knowledgeable choices regarding their health, family planning, and lifestyle by considering genetic predispositions and ancestry. It encompasses the examination of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis to comprehend genetic characteristics, inherited conditions, evolutionary links, and various biological health risks.
Genetic Analysis for Optimum Health and Well-being
Genetic Analysis for Optimum Health and Well-being
Genetic analysis broadly pertains to health care rather than disease care. It aims to direct individuals on their path to longevity and improved quality of life, as well as achieving their peak health and wellness objectives. Wellness is primarily concerned with proactive treatment, unlike allopathic and homoeopathic medicines, which are more focused on diagnosing and managing or suppressing symptoms. Specialist analysis includes areas such as nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, metabolomics, microflora, hormones, and pharmacogenomics (prescription medicine).
The Difference Between Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics
The Difference Between Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics
The Difference Between Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics
Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics are scientific disciplines that explore the interplay between nutrition and genetics. The goal is to understand how an individual's genetic composition can influence their reaction to different elements, including lifestyle, environmental factors, tailored supplements, and dietary habits. This understanding is vital for preventing diseases and provides a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between genetics and nutrition.
Our Services
SPECIALIST COUNSELLING
Counselling can be easily arranged before and after test results. Our specialist counsellor provides support for individuals in comprehending complex genetic information, exploring options, and discussing implications with moral support. Wellness counselling delivers personalised advice for holistic well-being, addressing individual health needs with evidence-based strategies to empower individuals for optimal health results.