A company used a sample of my DNA to tell me how I should eat and work out — here's the verdict

Olympic medalist Andrew Steele knows that our current knowledge about genetics isn't enough to give complete predictions about health.

Nevertheless the company where he is Head of Product, DNAFit, is one of a number of organizations drawing on genetic data to give customers advice about their diet and exercise regimen. For £249 for the complete package, it uses a customer's DNA sample to create a personalized profile which provides diet and training advice that it believes best suits them, according to some limited genetic studies.

"There’s no scientific proof that this can be a prediction — it’s just learning more about you so you can better reach your goal," Steele told Business Insider.

Speaking on the concept of DNA testing, Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition and public health at New York University, told Business Insider reporter Kevin Loria, "The tests are fun but their usefulness has yet to be shown," adding, "I'd rather spend the money on good dinners."

A position paper from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offered the same sentiment, stating: "The use of nutrigenetic testing to provide dietary advice is not ready for routine dietetics practice."

Nevertheless, DNAFit has worked with several high-profile clients such as Greg Rutherford and the Egyptian National Football team. It's also used by trainers at some David Lloyd gyms, and the company is an official wellness provider for employees of LinkedIn.

Still, Steele said the core of its business is now "ordinary consumers who take the DNA swab test at home."

With that in mind, we tried it out. Scroll down to see how the process went.

SEE ALSO: 11 fitness myths that are doing more harm than good

DON'T MISS: Coconut oil's health benefits are a myth — here's what you should use instead

I'm Ali, Business Insider UK's Lifestyle Editor. I'm pretty interested in everything health and fitness, so when DNAFit, the company that uses DNA samples to produce personalized exercise and nutrition reports based on a person's genetic makeup, offered me a free trial of its services, I happily obliged.

After making a profile on the DNAFIt website, I was sent a kit that looked like this.

It contained a swab pack with clear instructions, along with some information on the company, privacy, and code of practice.