In this episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we explore the powerful but often overlooked relationship between hormones, genetics, and injury risk in athletes. While hormones are frequently discussed in the context of reproduction, this conversation shifts the focus to how steroid hormones influence muscle strength, connective tissue integrity, bone resilience, recovery, and long-term performance in both female and male athletes.

Hosted by Di White, this episode features 3X4 Genetics expert Marina Shanafelt, a certified nutrition specialist and nutrigenomics mentor, who breaks down how estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol interact with training load, stress, and energy availability to shape injury vulnerability across different life stages. Through real-world case studies, Marina explains how genetic insights can reveal hidden risks related to stress response, hormone metabolism, inflammation, bone health, and tissue repair, allowing athletes and clinicians to move from generalized advice to targeted, high-impact interventions.

Whether you are a developing athlete, elite performer, coach, or clinician, this episode provides practical, science-backed insights into how understanding hormonal balance through a genetic lens can support smarter training, better recovery, and long-term athletic resilience.

Key talking points:

• The role of steroid hormones in muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone health

• How hormonal shifts across puberty, menstrual cycles, and aging influence injury risk

• Differences in injury patterns between female and male athletes

• The impact of low energy availability and chronic stress on hormone balance and tissue resilience

• How genetics reveal individual vulnerabilities in hormone metabolism and stress response

• Case studies showing how DNA-guided nutrition and training adjustments reduce injury risk

• Using genetic insights to personalize recovery, fueling, and long-term performance strategies

In this episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we explore the connection between celiac disease, genetics, and athletic performance, and why many athletes experience fatigue, injuries, and stalled progress without understanding the underlying cause.

Hosted by Di White, this conversation features Registered Dietitian and nutrigenomics expert Nikki Grant, who explains how genetic predisposition to celiac disease can disrupt gut health, nutrient absorption, immune function, and recovery in athletes.

Through clear explanations and real-world examples, the episode unpacks how specific HLA gene variants influence celiac risk, why symptoms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed in sport, and how genetic insights help athletes move beyond trial-and-error nutrition. From smarter carbohydrate choices to rebuilding gut integrity and managing training load, this discussion highlights how DNA-informed strategies support sustainable performance and long-term resilience.

Whether you are an athlete, coach, or clinician, this episode offers practical, science-backed insights to help you train and recover in alignment with your biology.

Key talking points:

• What celiac disease is and why it matters in athletic performance

• Genetic predisposition and the role of HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 variants

• Common signs of undiagnosed celiac disease in athletes

• Why celiac is often misdiagnosed as overtraining or IBS

• The impact of gut health on energy, endurance, and recovery

• Nutrition strategies for athletes with celiac risk or diagnosis

• Using genetic insights to support long-term performance and resilience

In this exciting new episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we delve into the elite world of Pro Beach Volleyball Player and FIVB medalist, Evan Cory, and Sports Genomics Dietitian Sarah Amidon of Root & Fruit Nutrition. Hosted by Di White, they reveal how personalized genetic insights have transformed Evan's approach to recovery, inflammation, nutrition, and optimized performance as a professional athlete in the ultra-competitive realm of Elite Beach Volleyball. Whether you're a competitive athlete or simply intrigued by the future of genetics in sports performance, this episode is filled with practical and inspiring insights on data-driven strategies, mental resilience, and recovery science that can reshape your athletic journey. Key talking points: Introduction to Evan Cory: FIVB medalist and professional beach volleyball athlete navigating a demanding global circuit.

Genetics in Sport: How personalized genetic testing revealed Evan's heightened inflammatory risk and shaped his recovery strategies. Nutrition Evolution: Transitioning from generic nutrition to a tailored, DNA-informed anti-inflammatory diet, including the role of gluten sensitivity, omega-3s, sulforaphane, and timing.

Recovery as a Competitive Advantage: Why understanding individual genetic pathways can elevate recovery, prevent injury, and improve adaptation.

The Role of Mindset in Elite Sport: Insights on mental strategies, mentorship, and the psychological intensity of solo/team competition in high-stakes environments.

Wearables & Data Synergy: Integrating genetic data with tools like WHOOP and Oura Ring to contextualize performance metrics.

Challenges of Global Travel: Balancing performance nutrition with regional food risks; strategies for packing smart and supplementing effectively.

Team Collaboration in Genomic Sports Medicine: How dietitians, coaches, and strength professionals can use DNA data to personalize training.

The Future of Performance & Prevention: Using genomics to reduce overtraining, optimize NIL investment outcomes, and prevent costly injuries.