If you’re struggling to stay slim or regularly feel zapped of energy, your genes could be to blame
Ever cut down carbs at the same time as your friends, only to watch their pounds slip off, while your waistline stays the same? Or do you often feel like a nap after a plateful of pasta? It could be down to your DNA, says genetics expert Dr Sharon Moalem*. ‘We have a gene called AMY1 that produces amylase, an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates,’ she explains. The more copies of that gene you have, the more able your body is to process rice, bread and pasta. ‘Eat more carbs than your body can handle and this may lead to high blood sugar levels, which can cause the body to store the excess as fat,’ says Dr Moalem. Take our simple tests to see how you are affected.
The cracker test
‘If you have a lot of duplicates of the gene that produces amylase, you’ll have more of it in your saliva,’ says Dr Moalem. ‘So when you eat carbohydrates, it will start breaking it down quickly into simpler sugars, so you’ll notice a sweet taste. If you have little amylase, you won’t notice a taste change.’
1 Place a plain cracker in your mouth, start the timer on your phone or stopwatch, and start chewing. Don’t swallow.
2 Pay attention to when you detect a change in the taste of the cracker to be slightly sweeter (it can be subtle). Take a note of the time. If you get to 30 seconds without noticing a change in taste, stop timing and note down 30.
3 Repeat the test two more times and take an average of the three results.
Your score
0-14 seconds = 0 points 15-30 seconds = 3 points Over 30 seconds = 6 points
Carbs aren’t the enemy
Carbs are the body’s main fuel when exercising. So if you exercise regularly, you may need to up your quota so you have the energy to push yourself and not feel exhausted afterwards.
The carbs quiz
Answer each question, noting down your points. Then add all your points to the result from your cracker test for your final score.
1 IF YOU EAT A MODERATE PORTION OF PASTA, YOU...
A Slump. You’re totally wiped out.
B Become lethargic, but nothing major.
C Feel normal.
2 AFTER EATING A CARBY SNACK, HOW LONG IS IT UNTIL YOU’RE REACHING FOR YOUR NEXT FIX?
A Not for a while – you feel satisfied.
B Right away.
C You can hold out – until someone shows you a doughnut.
3 IF YOU CU
