Sometimes buying something from a store for the holidays just doesn’t make sense. Whether your recipient doesn’t need anything at all or something from a store just doesn’t seem special enough, we all have people on our list who just need something different.
Helix is that “something different”, and it’s quite possibly the coolest thing you can surprise someone with. 
So, what is Helix? Helix is a marketplace of DNA-powered products. Products that can help you and your loved ones live healthier, happier, and fuller lives. Yes, I know, you’ve heard of this company or that company that runs your DNA and tells you where your ancestors came from. This isn’t that DNA company.
Helix is more like a DNA super center. Simply sequence your DNA once with Helix for $80 and you can unlock a variety of products across a range of categories. This $80 cost is one-time only and pays for your Exome+ sequencing which is done by the Helix lab in a matter of weeks. And, before you ask, sending in your DNA is actually really easy. Most kits simply require a saliva sample, and the more intense kits may require a few drops of blood. Easy peasy. 
After you are sequenced once you can then purchase as many DNA-powered products as they are interested in without getting sequenced again. The really cool thing is that when you want to order new products, the results are available almost immediately, or at the very least within a matter of days.
This of course includes ancestry, but it also has DNA products for family, entertainment, fitness, health, nutrition, and so much more. From these products you can get profound insights to who you are and how to best live, play, and sleep, or you can have fun and choose something purely for entertainment. 
Helix’s proprietary technology also sets itself apart by being the largest and richest data set available to consumers today. Most consumer genomics companies use microarray genotyping, but Helix uses Next Generation Sequencing and a proprietary assay called Exome+. Genotyping uses static arrays which look at individual positions scattered throughout your DNA. In contrast, Helix reads ~22,000 genes, which amounts to about 100X more raw data.
This holiday season my husband and I decided we would give each other the gift of us. We each identified specific goals we had in learning more about our unique DNA and found a Helix product that fit our needs. He chose the Exploragen Slumbertype kit for his needs, I chose the Everlywell Food Sensitivity kit.
SlumberType by Exploragen
With SlumberType you can explore how your DNA influences your sleep behavior, gain insights as to how your results may impact other areas of your life, and utilize the tools and trackers to monitor and adjust everyday behaviors that affect your sleep. The way you feel while you’re awake depends in part on what happens while you’re sleeping. The key to your best night’s sleep may be in your DNA.
Discover all the ways your DNA is associated with your sleep traits including how long it takes you to fall asleep, how long you stay asleep, the quality of your sleep, and your genetic similarity to self-reported “morning” or “evening” persons. You can also customize your alarm, fall asleep to natural sleep sounds, and wake up in the way that is best for you, available exclusively in the SlumberType iOS app. 
EverlyWell Food Sensitivity Kit
With EverlyWell’s Food Sensitivity kit you can learn the impact your DNA may have on your ability to digest certain foods and nutrients. Learn key information from your blood sample about what foods your body may be sensitive to and the extent to which your DNA plays a role in your ability to absorb certain foods and vitamins. Food Sensitivity+ accurately tests if you have elevated levels of immune antibodies in your blood, as well as your genetic predisposition to metabolize and absorb foods and vitamins. 
To get these insanely targeted results you will use their biomarker collection kit to provide a few drops of your blood using a small lancet as well as a typical saliva sample. In this process I’ve learned that many times food can trigger an immune response which manifests itself in physical symptoms such as headaches, acne, eczema, dry and itchy skin, food intolerance, bloating after eating, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, joint pain, and migraines. 
DNA results will provide key information about your specific genes associated with metabolism and absorption of certain foods, vitamins, and minerals such as dairy products, caffeine, B vitamins, and magnesium. EverlyWell will also provide advice about what to do after you get your results. While reactivity does not always equate with symptoms, it can help you prioritize your diet changes.
Helix for the holidays
Interested in giving Helix for the holidays? There truly is something for everyone. Just check out their holiday gift guide, which shows awesome discounts they are running just in time for gifting. 
I’m so excited about all the possibilities for Helix and love that they have so many products available as well as kits that are coming soon that we can look forward to. That way when we want to meet a certain goal, we can just order the new product from Helix and get quick results back!