The daily food intake of Turkish Taekwondo fighter and Olympic hopeful Nur Tatar, 20, is pictured in Ankara
The daily food intake of Turkish Taekwondo fighter and Olympic hopeful Nur Tatar, 20, is pictured in Ankara Reuters/Umit Bektas

Over the years, a number of dietary approaches were tried to determine what plan will best work according to their body type and lifestyle. However, research suggests that genetic makeup should be considered in creating the perfect diet plan. According to nutritional biochemist, Christine Houghton, there are thousands of plant chemicals that interact with each person's DNA. Genes cannot change, but people can still consume the right foods to change how genes react.

In 2012, Nutrigenomix is a genetic test that was conducted in Australia. According to dietitian Sue Radd, seven genes affect how people respond to saturated fat, vitamin C, whole grains, folate, sodium, omega-3 fat and caffeine. There is a genetic test that allows individuals to determine the kinds of food that will be best for their health, as well as items that they should eliminate from their diet. Since then, these put them at risk for a variety of disease.

There is no universal diet plan that will suit every individual. For example, some individuals are more likely to gain weight easily or may be more at risk for developing cardiovascular disease than others. People who eat only four ounces of red meat daily may become more prone to high cholesterol levels and heart disease than those consuming eight ounces or more. In a report by Yahoo! Lifestyle, nutrigenomics provides a specific diet plan based on each individual's actual health figures. Doctors and dietitians will then recommend specific foods for the dieter to comply with nutritional requirements.

In a study published in Personalized Medicine, some individuals are more predisposed to obesity than others, which is why they have to be more selective in their food choices. The metabolic process, hormonal status and physiological response of individuals can change depending on the kind of food they consume. Diversification is important in helping people attain their target weight as well as prevent diseases that may have been inherently passed on from previous generations.

Also, dietitians should consider a person's personal preference when it comes to taste, texture and appearance of food. Once a person's genetic code is assessed, specific foods can be recommended to ensure optimum health and well-being.