Spotlights by Melissa Westphal 5/12
Interview with Daniel Guzman
Head of Performance at 3X4 Genetics
What inspired you to focus on sports genetics, and how does your background as a strength and conditioning coach play into this?
As a strength and conditioning coach, I spent years helping athletes push their limits, but I saw too many hit plateaus or injuries due to one-size-fits-all approaches. I conducted countless power and fitness assessments to better understand each athlete, but there were always too many unknown variables. A personal breakthrough came when a genetic test revealed my own histamine overload issue, which caused intense stomach pain that limited my training sessions. That sparked my passion for sports genetics. Addressing my personal health issues allowed me to optimize my performance plan and inspired me to help others do the same.
Can you explain what sports genetics is in simple terms and why it’s a game-changer for athletes?
Sports genetics, or nutrigenomics in the context of performance, is about understanding how an athlete’s DNA interacts with diet, exercise, and lifestyle to optimize their health and performance. It’s like having a personalized blueprint. Understanding your genetics can reveal whether you’re built for power or endurance, or how you process nutrients like gluten or vitamin D for recovery. It’s a game-changer because it eliminates trial-and-error, giving athletes and coaches data-driven strategies to train smarter, recover faster, and stay injury-free.
How has working with 3X4 Genetics shaped your approach to athlete performance?
Working with 3X4 Genetics has shifted my approach from reactive to proactive. Targeted genetic testing, which examines key biological pathways, allows me to tailor recovery, nutrition, and training to an athlete’s unique genetic profile. For instance, I’ve used insights from genes like ACTN3 to adjust sprint or endurance focus, or APOE to make informed decisions about brain health. This precision gives me clarity with my athletes, ensuring every decision is rooted in data, not assumptions.
Q: Can you share a real-world example of how you’ve used sports genetics to help an athlete or yourself?
My wife’s journey with chronic pain is a powerful example. She struggled for years, trying countless diets and therapies with no relief. A 3X4 Genetics test revealed a sensitivity to histamine-containing foods and a high inflammatory response that was affecting her pain regulation. By switching to low-histamine foods, adding targeted supplements, and managing stress, her pain eased, and her energy returned. For myself, learning about my COMT gene variant helped me manage stress better with magnesium and mindfulness, keeping me sharp under pressure. Simply understanding these aspects of our bodies empowered us to transform our quality of life.
What’s one key takeaway you want readers to understand about sports genetics?
Sports genetics isn’t about limits—it’s about empowerment. Your DNA is your superpower, revealing exactly what your body needs to thrive. With tools like 3X4 Genetics, you can stop guessing and start optimizing—whether it’s tweaking your diet, training, or recovery. Small, precise changes based on your genes can lead to massive wins in performance and health. It’s that simple!
