When we look in the mirror we often only see what what other people talk about – my big thighs or my curly hair and how that helps us fit or not fit with current society and trends. But if we take a closer look, we can actually see that what we see in the mirror is a direct reflection of our genes in action: the innate person we are and how we react to the world around us.
What’s your waistline saying?
Studies have repeatedly shown that the Waist Hip Ratio and the Waist Height Ratio1 are associated with several health issues including cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.2-4 We’re all different and it’s not every day we have the inclination or the nouse to calculate our own ratios – that’s where programs like ph360 or the revolutionary new ShaeTM are sending us forward in leaps and bounds, allowing you to know exactly what can help turn those nasty genes off and get that waistline back to where it should be!
Figuring your finger length.
The relative length of your index and ring fingers is related to the levels of hormones in the body. Having an index finger shorter than your ring finger indicates higher levels of testosterone in the body, which can be confirmed by matching it with other factors of your body measurements too. This might make you naturally more active, or naturally dominant. What is less obvious is that this may also be related to susceptibility to parasitic infections.5 So incorporating more anti-parasitic foods into your diet may help you stay feeling and looking good through life.
Your skeleton.
Are your joints very small and fragile in relation to your height and weight? Or are they sturdy and strong? Being born with a body that naturally has a strong skeleton and large muscle mass means that endurance, muscle strength and power can be emphasized in your training program to increase your natural talents.6,7 Making sure you stay strong will be an important factor to keeping your hormone levels where they should be.8,9
Don’t be led astray!
It’s important to remember that paying attention to ONE sign only can lead you down the wrong path. Your body exists in an intricate state of balance to stay healthy – where correcting one thing (that may actually be quite normal for you) can lead to a host of other complications!
It’s holistic.
Today, we’re lucky to have digital tools like ph360 that will calculate your body and give recommendations based on all your signs, ancestry, and your current lifestyle and environment so it’s getting super easy to get and stay in top shape. What’s even more exciting is the evolution of ph360, Shae, that is your personal health assistant, following you through the day with helpful hints and suggestions and sometimes even offering to do them for you – like ordering a meal or finding a way to de-stress quick!
So remember, next time you look in the mirror, you can be awed by every single thing that you see – they are all signs – messages from your genes to tell you exactly what’s going on in your body!
References
Ashwell, Margaret, and Shiun Dong Hsieh. “Six reasons why the waist-to-height ratio is a rapid and effective global indicator for health risks of obesity and how its use could simplify the international public health message on obesity.” International journal of food sciences and nutrition 56.5 (2005): 303-307.
Huxley, R., et al. “Body mass index, waist circumference and waist: hip ratio as predictors of cardiovascular risk—a review of the literature.” European journal of clinical nutrition 64.1 (2009): 16-22.
Kizer, Jorge R., et al. “Measures of adiposity and future risk of ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease in older men and women.” American journal of epidemiology 173.1 (2011): 10-25.
Browning, Lucy M., Shiun Dong Hsieh, and Margaret Ashwell. “A systematic review of waist-to-height ratio as a screening tool for the prediction of cardiovascular disease and diabetes: 0· 5 could be a suitable global boundary value.” Nutrition research reviews 23.02 (2010): 247-269.
MANNING, J. T. (2002). Digit Ratio: A Pointer to Fertility, Behavior, and Heatlh. Rutgers University Press, New Jersey.
Morgan, Philip J., and Robin Callister. “Effects of a preseason intervention on anthropometric characteristics of semiprofessional rugby league players.” The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 25.2 (2011): 432-440.
Peeters, M. W., et al. “Genetics and sports: an overview of the pre-molecular biology era.” (2009): 28-42.
Crossley, Adam, and Darren Langdridge. “Perceived sources of happiness: A network analysis.” Journal of Happiness Studies 6.2 (2005): 107-135.
Rantanen, Taina, et al. “Depressed mood and body mass index as predictors of muscle strength decline in old men.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 48.6 (2000): 613-617.