What is nutritional genomics or nutrigenomics?

Nutrigenomics is the study of how food and its many bioactive components influence gene expression. There are many compounds found in plant foods that have the ability to "turn on" or "turn off" a specific gene. One example that has been published in the scientific literature is the ability of resveratrol, (a compound found in plants such as the skin of red grapes and peanuts) to partially mimic the effects of calorie restriction on gene expression. When given to mice, resveratrol has been shown to reduce the activity of genes associated with aging of heart and skeletal muscle. This is just one of many examples of the powerful impact plant compounds and other natural substances can have on gene expression. This is why a healthy diet can have such a powerful impact on disease risk. Jeffrey Bland, PhD has lectured and written extensively on the subject of nutrigenomics.