Want to know that your lifestyle choices are going to give you the best chance of staying healthy and well? The Evergreen Life DNA Test helps you understand how your genes influence five key areas: diet, fitness, happiness, metabolism, and skin, with practical and evidenced recommendations on how to make meaningful lifestyle changes.

The science behind our DNA health tests

Let’s dive into the science bit first. So what exactly is DNA and how can knowing your genetic makeup help you take steps to improve your health and wellbeing?

What is DNA?

The best way to understand DNA is to think of it as your body’s instruction manual. It’s unique to you. Every one of the trillions of cells you’re made from has a copy of the manual that your body uses to both make and repair you.

Your DNA is packed into the nucleus of those cells in structures called chromosomes. You have 23 pairs of chromosomes that are inherited from your parents, half from your mother and half from your father. These chromosomes are organised into short segments of DNA called genes, that instruct your cells on how to function.

What can your DNA tell you about your health?

Your DNA and genes determine certain traits such as height and eye colour, as well as how your body functions. For example, your genes can determine whether you’re likely to have food intolerances, vitamin deficiencies, how you metabolise different parts of your diet, and aspects of your skin’s reaction to sunlight.

Advances in research in recent years have enabled us to both read and understand more about our genetic makeup. Unlocking this code is helping to develop new treatments and personalised therapies. So, by knowing more about the variations of the genes YOU have, you can decide to make changes to your lifestyle to optimise your health and wellbeing. That’s where Evergreen Life DNA testing comes in.

What can the Evergreen Life DNA Test tell you about your health?

The Evergreen Life DNA Test can identify which genetic traits you have, so you can consider making adjustments which may bring you positive outcomes for your health and wellbeing.

The Evergreen Life DNA Test can show your likelihood of vitamin deficiencies, how well you tend to sleep, how you break down carbs, whether you’re suited to cardio or strength training, how your skin ages and many more insights. The results are delivered with explanations and steps you could consider to make informed decisions to improve your health and wellbeing.

The Evergreen Life DNA Test will only tell you things that you can actually do something about. It doesn’t tell you anything about your ancestors or things you can’t act on, like whether you might be predisposed to a disease, like Alzheimer’s for example.

Designed by Wellness Experts

The Evergreen Life DNA Test and results have all been designed and reviewed by our team of in-house Wellness Experts, with guidance from the Scientific Advisory Board. Meet our Genetic Expert and Head of Scientific Testing, Dr Farrah Leigh Winterbottom, who’s immersed in the world of genetic research, looking for the latest science to inform all your DNA insights.

Drive health research. Make a difference.

With the Evergreen Life DNA Test, you’ll get the chance to power groundbreaking research which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone. We curate more data than we initially analyse for you so that we can offer you more insights in the future without you having to take more samples. In addition, your anonymous contribution could help unearth discoveries that one day could not only help you live a longer, healthy life, but also improve the health of your family, friends and people all over the world. Yeah, science is pretty amazing. 

Your data is always secure

From ordering the Evergreen Life DNA Test, to processing your sample, to receiving your DNA results, your personal data is always encrypted and protected.

How the DNA health test works

Our Evergreen Life DNA Test kits are available to order here. Your DNA testing kit will be delivered within 7 working days of confirmation of your order.

What’s in the box?

When your DNA testing kit arrives, you’ll see that it’s really simple to take the test - no blood, just a saliva sample.

How to do a DNA test at home

The instructions leaflet in your home DNA test kit shows you, step by step, how to get the best possible DNA saliva sample. Before you start, make sure to read the leaflet. You’ll also need to download the Evergreen Life app and register your kit so you can receive your results in the app.

Ready, set… spit!

When you’re ready to collect your sample and have read all the instructions, you will need to spit into the funnel until the level of the liquid reaches the 2ml line - which should only take a few minutes. Then pop the saliva collection tube into the box, stick the return address label provided, and post it back. The saliva sample that you provide to us is transported to the lab in liquid called ‘stabilisation buffer’. This liquid ensures your sample is preserved to the highest quality possibly for the duration of its journey.

Tips to get the best sample

We've got some helpful hints and tips to help you collect the very best DNA sample you can! These are also found within the instructions leaflet in your DNA collection kit. Make sure you read it carefully before you start spitting! Here's what else we advise:

• Avoid eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum, brushing your teeth or using mouthwash for at least 30 minutes before collecting your sample.
• Clean and dry your hands thoroughly before collecting your sample.
• Spit into the funnel until the level of the liquid in the tube reaches the 2ml line - try to do this in one continuous go. Do not include bubbles when measuring the level.
• After sealing the collection tube, shake the tube several times to mix the saliva with the solution.
• You should post your sample back no longer than 4 days after collecting your saliva.

These are all things we suggest to help you collect the very best DNA sample possible. And giving a good sample means we can provide a more complete, quality set of results for you!

What happens during the testing process?

Here's where the discovery begins! When your Evergreen Life DNA Test sample arrives at our certified lab, we’ll securely scan it using the barcode/unique identifier and we’ll let you know we’ve got it. From there, the lab will extract your DNA from your saliva and ensure it’s a good quality sample to process.

SNP genotyping

We analyse the DNA using a method called ‘SNP Genotyping.’ This means we look at specific points in your DNA that are known to influence certain traits or ‘phenotypes’ in individuals with the same ‘genotype’ or ‘variant’ as you. We combine your genotype with research about particular SNPs so that we can provide you with insights and recommendations on how to get the best out of your health and wellbeing, based on your genetics.

Storing your sample

Your Evergreen Life DNA Test sample is stored until you or we request the sample to be securely destroyed. This means we may consult you at a later date to perform further testing that may be of benefit to you as more technically advanced equipment becomes available, without you needing to provide us with another sample. We’ll always ask your permission before performing any further analysis.

When and where will I get my results?

You’ll receive a notification when your results are ready to view in your Evergreen Life app. This is typically within 6-8 weeks of the lab receiving your sample. Simply open your app and tap on the 'Tests’ section to navigate to your results.

Your test results are designed to provide you with insights into your health, wellbeing and fitness. You’ll receive your results with an explanation of what they mean and recommendations of how you can get the most out of your genetics.

After looking over your detailed results, you can then start to make changes to your lifestyle to suit your unique DNA.

How to make lifestyle changes based on your genetic results

If you know that you’re a slow metaboliser of caffeine, you can choose not to have a coffee late in the afternoon in case it disrupts your sleep.

You can learn what vitamins your body is more likely to be lacking, so you can enhance your diet to suit your unique nutritional needs. Or, if you know that you are genetically more likely to respond to high-intensity exercises over endurance sports like long distance running, you can adjust your fitness plan to achieve faster results.

Discover your Wellness Score

Alongside your DNA test results in the Evergreen Life app, you can also explore the in-app Wellness Check questionnaires which are researched and reviewed by our clinical experts. The questionnaire results provide practical insights on how to improve areas of your wellbeing like sleep, fitness, diet and happiness – with new questionnaires added all the time to help you discover more. Your answers to the questionnaires are scored and contribute to your overall Wellness Score (scored out of 100), helping you understand where you can do more to stay as healthy as possible.

Order your DNA health test now

Take control of your health and wellbeing with the Evergreen Life DNA Test into five key lifestyle areas. Get insights, take action. You're in control.

Order your Evergreen Life DNA Test on our website here

Want to know more?

Check out our DNA help pages for more information about our DNA testing kits.