Stay healthy by studying your genes

By Han Sang-hee

Staff reporter

Checking your genes might be another way to stay healthy.

Cable channel tvN is bringing its new entertainment program ``Table for the Gods’’ and its search for the perfect meal depending on the human genome, to viewers.

Eating the right food depending on genetic factors and the condition of the body is an important way to stay healthy, according to ancient Korean medical records. Instead of listing famous restaurants and recipes, the show will invite celebrities, study their DNA and find out which food is best for them.

``We were thinking of making a health-related program and then came up with the idea of introducing the concept of `gene reading,’’’ a member of the channel’s promotion team told The Korea Times.

``I heard that rich people went to Japan and other countries and spend a lot of money to check their genes. This was to look out for future illnesses and make proper preparations. Now the cost has downsized, enabling us to make such a program for viewers,’’ the host Shin Dong-yeop said during a press conference last week at Sangam-dong, Seoul.

The cost for the check up is 20 million won ($16,000).

Shin added that his mother died from lung cancer in 1995 and that he was always worried he might be diagnosed with the disease in the future. Like Shin, many people whose parents or ancestors died from a specific disease worry they might suffer from the same illness. The program will hopefully answer those questions and offer them a healthy diet of local food.

The first episode shows host Kim Gu-ra and his son looking for answers. Kim’s father suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease and Kim has spent his whole life worrying that he may also have to deal with the illness sometime in the future. However, after checking his genes, it was later revealed that neither of them had the possibility of developing Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The show was planned a year ago and finally started shooting this year with the support of the Genetic Research Center at Seoul National University and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

``By prescribing local products, we believe this will be the perfect way to learn more about our health and promote Korean goods at the same time,’’ the program makers said.

``It’s very interesting to discover the possible illnesses you may confront in the future. This show will help people learn more about their bodies,’’ Shin said.

`` Table for the Gods’’ airs every Wednesday at 11:10 p.m. on tvN.