AI is everywhere. From writing emails to planning workouts, tools like ChatGPT make life easier. It’s tempting to ask them for health advice too. But when the goal is a longer, healthier life, the kind of AI you choose makes all the difference.

Let’s look at why a popular generalist like ChatGPT can be helpful—but falls short for true personalised care—and how CLIA, working inside the Shae precision-health platform, sets a completely different standard.

ChatGPT: Brilliant Wordsmith, Limited Health Guide

ChatGPT is a language expert. It has learned patterns from billions of pages of text—articles, books, medical papers and everyday conversations. That training lets it explain complex ideas clearly and even follow multi-step reasoning.

It can:

• Translate research into everyday language
• Summarise long guidelines
• Draft patient emails or clinic handouts

Where it stops short is knowing you.
Unless a custom patient model is built on top, ChatGPT does not keep a living, causal map of your unique biology. Two people can type in the same blood results and get almost identical advice—even if their underlying risks, genetics and daily rhythms are worlds apart.

It’s not that ChatGPT is careless. It does have safety policies. But those rules are broad and not medically specific. They help avoid obvious harm; they don’t provide the deep, personalised guardrails that clinical care demands.

CLIA/Shae: Designed to Know the Person, Not Just the Problem

CLIA (Clinical Lab Interpretation AI) was created with one goal: precision medicine.
It isn’t a general chatbot that happens to talk about health. It’s a precision-health engine built from the ground up to understand each individual and predict how their body will respond over time.

CLIA works by:

• Integrating phenotype, genotype, bloods, imaging, microbiome data, lifestyle habits, and wearable inputs

• Modelling cross-system interactions like gut–immune–neuroendocrine loops and cardio–renal links

• Forecasting what will change over the next 6–12 months and adjusting recommendations as new information flows in

Every output is clinically supervised. A specialist panel and evidence-based guidelines define what CLIA can and cannot recommend. If a plan could put health at risk, the system won’t bend to pressure—it simply won’t suggest it.

Real-Life Scenarios Show the Difference

Gene confusion, like MTHFR variants
In online forums, people often wonder whether to take methylfolate based on a single gene result. ChatGPT can explain the pathway and urge caution, but it cannot weigh that gene against full blood panels, medications, diet, stress and lifestyle. CLIA brings all of those pieces together before giving an answer.

Rare but serious conditions
Consider gadolinium deposition disease, a rare complication of MRI contrast. CLIA can link MRI history with neurological symptoms, lab trends and phenotype, raising GDD as a possible issue and suggesting the right next tests. ChatGPT could describe the condition but would not rank it for that particular person.

Two patients, same labs
Imagine two people with the same BMI and similar cholesterol numbers. ChatGPT might provide the same diet advice to both. CLIA will not. It can spot differences in circadian rhythm, food timing tolerance and stress load, then create unique plans with different forecasts for each.

Critical red flags
A cholesterol reading around 500 mg/dL is a genuine emergency. ChatGPT will recommend immediate medical care—good. CLIA goes further: preparing a concise referral summary, flagging phenotypic risk modifiers and suggesting safe interim steps while urgent care is arranged.

Built on Big, Meaningful Data

Precision medicine only works with deep and trustworthy data. CLIA’s engine is fed by:

• Volume – decades of carefully collected, clinically supervised person-level data representing an incredible amount of human follow up data
• Variety – contributions from 140 countries for broad, bias-resistant insights

• Veracity – every data stream reviewed and quality-checked by medical experts

These foundations let CLIA create precision reference ranges for each person—something generic AI simply cannot do.

Proven Impact

Technology is only as good as the outcomes it delivers. Independent audits and internal studies show that people using the Shae app powered by CLIA experience:

• Lowered risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes through targeted lifestyle changes

• Reduced risk of mental health issues in workplace populations thanks to precision coaching

This is real-world evidence that personal data, when analysed correctly, can lead to measurable improvements in health and well-being.

Privacy and Professionalism at the Core

Health data deserves the highest level of care. CLIA stores all identifiable information, including genomic and wearable inputs, in secure, closed systems that meet or exceed Australian and international privacy standards. Users know how their data is used and can opt out at any time.

Equally important, CLIA is not a diagnostic tool. It supports doctors, allied health providers and health coaches by providing a comprehensive review of each person’s data, leaving the clinician firmly in charge of decisions.

Where Each AI Fits

The takeaway isn’t to avoid ChatGPT entirely. It shines in areas like:

• Education and translation of medical language
• Summarising new research for busy practitioners
• Brainstorming discussion questions for clinic visits

Use it for knowledge and communication.
Use CLIA/Shae for individualised health planning and precision decision support.

The Future of Health Is Personal

We all want convenient tools. It’s natural to ask a free online AI about diet or symptoms. But health is not one-size-fits-all. Your genes, microbiome, daily rhythms and environment create a unique blueprint. Acting on generalised answers can delay the care you truly need.

Choosing CLIA inside the Shae platform means choosing AI that knows the person, not just the problem. It translates complex science into practical, personalised guidance with proven outcomes.

Bottom Line

ChatGPT is a powerful companion for learning. CLIA/Shae is a trusted partner for living well.
When it comes to your health, choose the AI designed for precision medicine—and step into the future of care that understands you.

“I have my food dialed in.” 

No matter your niche in the health industry, sooner or later, you’re going to hear these words from a client. This is the client who can list the latest Superfoods off the top of their head (and get the spelling and pronunciation right, too). They rattle off the top sources of vitamin B on their plates as well as the six different podcasts that proclaim the “worst” food of the minute. (Which they categorically avoid).

To their knowledge, they have conquered the frontier of food. Yet they are baffled as to why they can’t summon the energy of a teen, can’t shed those pesky last 5 pounds or can’t get their tummy to shut up after lunch.

The fact is, they’ve just scratched the surface of the first W of food: What’s on their plate. And they’re probably leaving the most important aspects of the food picture on the table (pun intended). 

Let’s be honest, life isn’t lived in a vacuum of perfectly balanced Superfood salads.

If you peered in on their lunchtime routine, it looks like this: 

The clock hits noonish and they randomly thrust one hand into their triple-insulated YETI lunch bag, while furiously typing an email with the other. They’re snarling, either at the screen or because their fingertips can’t blindly find their fork; or both. Fast forward a few minutes. The snarls are equally mingled with ferocious chomping as they decimate that perfectly configured Superfood Salad, eyes still glued to the computer screen, mind still lasered-in on the latest drama unfolding in cyberspace. 

Enter the first secret W of food: Where

Now imagine your client savoring the decadence of that same power packed lunch on a quiet park bench with a side of fresh air and a backdrop of babbling brook. Feels different, right? 

The body thinks so, too.

Stress, whether it’s the overt kind with infuriating emails, ringing phones and irate customers or the background hum they’ve learned to live with, does more than dampen digestion; it can actually impair nutrient absorption. When cortisol takes the wheel, their body isn’t focused on thriving, it merely wants to survive.

So, simply tell your client to reserve a park bench at mid day and all their troubles will be carried away on the lilt of birdsong, right?

If only it were that simple.

What launches one client into stress could be exactly what another needs to relax into rest and digest. It’s all shaped by their unique physiological and sensory needs. Some people thrive in calm, minimalistic spaces, while others find relaxation in lively, bright, even noisy surroundings. A sunny park bench could be the perfect dining haven or a nightmare of glaring light, scents on the breeze and uninvited flying things.

So what’s the trick to this W?

Precision. Encourage your client to grab that illusive fork and superlative salad and seek out their ideal dining sanctuary. Creating an intentional eating space, tailored to their individual needs is next level nutrition. It’s a small shift that can lead to big improvements in digestion, satiety, and even mood.

Fantastic, your client is no longer balancing their salad in one hand and typing with the other. But as they settle into their serene eating environment, another question arises: Who is sitting next to them? Or perhaps, who isn’t?

Food and Friends: The Secret of Who

Sharing meals isn’t just a tradition; it’s hardwired into our biology. Eating together naturally activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is precisely what we’re aiming for to get all those Superfood molecules to reach their right destination. 

Enter real-life. 

Especially if your client is busy (and who isn’t?), meals are reduced to stolen moments of grabbing and chomping. It’s one thing to carve out a tiny optimized corner to gobble down some greens, but completely another to set up your social calendar around your stomach. 

That’s precisely why this is next level because the fact is WHO your client eats with can shape their entire dining experience and their digestion, absorption and wait….

Even the original W: What! 

Your clients don’t just bring their own habits to the table, they pick up on those of their dining companions. Social mirroring is a powerful, often subconscious force.

When clients eat with health-conscious peers, they’re more likely to make better choices themselves. A meal with friends who load their plates with nutrient-dense foods can subliminally encourage your client to do the same. Conversely, indulgent social settings (think all-you-can-eat buffets or celebratory feasts with an “anything goes” vibe) may divest them completely of their dreams of better health.

Great, so now you’re tasked with culling their contacts list like a helicopter parent?

On the contrary, while sharing this insider W might just make you their go-to expert to completely reshape their relationship with food, all you have to do is help them make it personal. 

Just like that perfect “Where”, The right ‘who’ looks different for everyone. Some clients recharge with joyful, communal meals brimming with conversation, while others need a quiet moment with one close friend, or the peace of complete solitude. Your mission? Guide them to discover which social dynamics foster the balance and support they need. 

Alright, they’ve got their dream team at the table (or they’re flying solo on that peaceful park bench). Let’s make a powerful impact with the King of the Titans: Chronos

Cracking the Code: The Secret of When

Chronobiology, the study of biological rhythms, reveals the profound influence of time on digestion, metabolism, and overall health. Meals consumed in sync with the body’s natural cycles honor the wisdom of Chronos, optimizing function and reducing stress on the system.

This isn’t about hurriedly gulping down a smoothie between battles with your inbox, it’s about unlocking the full potential of nutrition, and letting time work for you, not against you.

When clients eat out of sync with their internal clocks a phenomenon called chronobiological dyssynchrony occurs. It disrupts digestion, metabolism, and hormonal balance, increasing risks for inflammation, metabolic disorders, and chronic diseases. Even subtle misalignments, like eating a heavy meal late at night, can strain the body, causing fatigue, weight gain or those illusive belly groans and gurgles.

Here’s where things get even more exciting: not all clients operate on the same chronobiological blueprint. Some thrive on a hearty breakfast and feel energized all morning, while others perform best with lighter morning meals and a robust lunch. Helping clients identify their optimal eating windows and pair them with perfect portions sets the foundation for every other health goal on their list.

From Insights to Action: The Ws Made Easy

Your client who has their “food dialed-in” doesn’t need another list of Superfoods, they need a health professional who sees the whole picture. The where, who, and when of eating offer the missing pieces to their health puzzle, and put them on the path to achieve the energy, balance, and health they’ve been striving for.

And here’s the good news: using science-backed AI technologies to enhance your practice means you don’t have to figure it all out alone. You can seamlessly integrate the latest in every nutrition W (including the What, Why and How) with your expertise to easily deliver precise, individualized strategies for every client.

Ready to redefine what’s possible for your clients?

Bring the science of when, where, who and more to life in your practice with our Level 1 Course for Health Professionals.

From alert to tired, clear to foggy, motivated to sluggish. The function and behaviour of your mind is a clear and ever-present indicator of your body’s response to the world around you, but in these cases in particular your food. The foods you consume directly and indirectly change the function of your brain, which can influence how you work, perceive people around you, your patience and general resilience.

Not eating enough of the right things can create deficiencies which alter critical pathways needed for sharp thinking in your brain. Inadequate macros can leave your brain tissue on empty (carbs), unable to repair (essential fatty acids) or without key nutrients for neurotransmitters (amino acids). Too much of the wrong thing (processed sugar, high fat, high calorie non-nutritious processed foods, irritants/allergens) can cause inflammation, blood sugar and blood fat spikes which short term can send you on a rollercoaster of mental energy. Food contents, nutrients and fibers change your gut microbiome which has a powerful link with brain function, mood, mental health and energy levels. Then even old faithful ‘caffeine’ creates whole system changes that quickly alter your mental state for better, worse and everywhere in between. 

Another way of saying it is that the right foods enhance your mood, mental function and zeal, while the wrong foods will cause pain, discomfort, inflammation or a reaction that DISTRACTS your brain and makes it tougher to stay focused.

Drawing from the knowledge the scientific world has now, it is very clear that it’s not about whether a food is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ persè, it’s about whether it is good or bad for the INDIVIDUAL, because we are all different. 

Based on a number of factors captured by the Shae HealthTypes (genetics, hormones and developmental pathways, current state of health and stress) we all have some differences in what is likely to have great, and/or very negative effects on our mental function. Knowing these differences in metabolic pathways and organ function allow us to be more specific with nutrients and foods that are going to have the most positive impact on our mental function faster.

Lets have a look at how food affects brain function differently, in different people.

The Sensor

Sensors typically have lower BMIs, have difficulty thermoregulating (due to low muscle and fat mass), and are particularly impacted mentally by the cold. Warming their body from the inside has an immediate and positive impact on mental clarity and focus. Make sure their meals are warm when eaten, include warm drinks throughout the day, whereas cold foods will genuinely DISTRACT their mind and reduce their mental output.

The Crusader

Crusaders are likely to have heightened use of their pre-frontal cortex due to the way dopamine influences them to be highly goal oriented, and thrive best when a good supply of nutritious laden carb-rich foods are provided for ongoing mental performance around every 2-3 hours. However, when a crunch is added to the food, this can increase their attention and focus through some fascinating feedback loops. Crunchy carbs can dial them right back in to better focus when fatigued.

The Activator

Activators have a brain that is designed for high intensity activity, a good supply of amino acids. Animal proteins provide the building blocks for the right balance of neurotransmitters that support this activity, but also keep their glucose levels stable, supporting focus as well. Rather than being distracted and searching for their next meal (they are likely to get hangry), these foods satiate and stabilise. Deliver these foods straight after exercise for even greater mood stability and performance.

The Connector

Connectors have a body and brain that requires variety. Generally they thrive with an omnivore diet, but this intake needs to have change and new tastes to satisfy this need for variety. They do well with a jolt of energy from fresh fruits, preferably with a low GI profile so it doesn’t spike them too much. Citrus fruits are often great for this purpose. It provides energy, great flavour and quality nutrients to stay focused and not get distracted looking for something new to do. Get the variety from the food to maintain focus on the task!

The Guardian

Guardians develop with a greater incidence of insulin resistance, and are more sensitive to spikes in glucose. To support this, being semi-fasted through time-restricted eating is one of the best ways we’ve seen for Guardians and will also help to improve their focus. Generally a very light dinner and tripling vegetable consumption through the day makes a very fast and important difference. Alginates – a biocompatible polysaccharide combined with sodium found in seaweed and algae constrict the stomach and contribute towards feelings of fulfilment, which can support a Guardian when attempting to lower their meal frequency. 

The Diplomat

Diplomats are in their best mental state when they are calm, and enjoying the day with a well laid out schedule. Great serotonin production system wide is very important for this. Similarly, they are more influenced by the health of their gut more than other types. A good dose of magnesium rich leafy greens provides support for the gut itself, contributes to a positive environment for the microbiome and these nutrients are supportive of serotonin balance. 

Food is a powerful influencer of focus and mental performance. However, as everyone’s biological makeup is slightly different, the foods to support the mind need to be tailored to the individual! To find out your type, or the type of your clients, check out the PHA Level 1 course and learn more about the power of personalized nutrition. 

Want to lose weight? Exercise and eat healthy.

More energy? Simple, eat right and exercise. 

What about reducing the risk of chronic disease? Duh! Move your body daily and increase your veggies. 

The starting point for most health professionals when it comes to helping their clients achieve goals is nutrition and exercise. Two absolutely foundational pieces of the health puzzle. But did you know there are other areas you could address that can in some cases, have just as much of an impact on our clients overall health as a change in activity and nutritional intake?

Let’s explore the uncommon areas of your clients’ lifestyle you might be leaving on the table in your consultation room and how to address these in your next session. 

Environment 

Assessing your client’s indoor places and outdoor spaces.

Why?

Because dampness in a home can cause molds harmful for health and clutter can restrict air flow, causing build up of dust and other allergens. In the outdoor setting, particularly if you live in a city or built up area, you have to consider air pollution which can contribute to heart disease and respiratory conditions such as Asthma, as well as noise and light pollution which can interfere with circadian rhythms and sleep cycles.

What can you do as a health professional?

Assess your clients’ indoor and outdoor environment to see if there are any potential stressors or factors that could be influencing their quality of life. Recommend frequent bouts in nature for those who live in built up areas and support the reduction of light and noise pollution to improve down time and sleep patterns.

Seek to increase your understanding around environmental issues relating to health so that you can better support your clients to make changes to their environment.  

Work

83% of US workers suffer from work-related stress, with 25% saying their job is the number one stressor in their lives. For many it is work that is the cause of poor health habits and the frustration for many health practitioners as it gets in the way of positive behaviour change. Whilst it may seem like the only solution you can provide to your clients is for them to ‘leave their job’. There are many things you can do to help reduce stress at work and actually use it as a place to practice healthy habits.

• Feeling a sense of purpose

When was the last time you sat with your client to discuss their deeper why? Working with clients on finding a sense of purpose can be a powerful way to increase motivation and increase feelings of both physical and mental wellbeing. When they are able to tie this sense of purpose into the work they do, it may help to reduce stress associated with their job, or it might just show them that what they are currently doing is not right for them. Either way it can open a positive conversation to take action on improving their feelings around the work they do.

• Becoming aware of natural strengths

Some of the major contributors to work stress are; poor team cohesion, lack of clarity, insufficient support and poor management/communication. Whilst you may not be able to control the work environment when it comes to management, you can support your client in ‘controlling the controllables’ by increasing awareness of their natural communication styles vs others to help foster better relationships and communication pathways. As well as creating more awareness around their natural strengths (and weaknesses) so that they can meet daily tasks with greater feelings of self-efficacy and clarity.

• Planning and Time-management

Gaining an understanding of your clients typical day at work can help you when it comes to setting realistic and achievable health goals that can work into the demands of the work environment. Supporting your client to plan these health goals into their working day and keeping them accountable to them may also naturally start to help create more structure and routine in other areas of their work schedule as they aim to add new healthy habits into their to-do list.

Workplace wellness has become a hot topic due to the significant risks associated with both physical and mental health. As a practitioner it is important that you have the tools to support people in all walks of life.

Social 

Wide-ranging research suggests that strong social ties are linked to a longer life. In contrast, loneliness and social isolation are linked to poorer health, depression, and increased risk of early death.

As a result, assessing a client’s social life and relationships should be as high up the list as looking through a diet diary or exercise history. Does your client spend quality time with friends, family members/loved ones? Are there any relationships that are currently causing stress? Does your client feel loneliness or isolation?

If diving deeper into relationships is not within your skillset or scope of practice, seek out a strong referral network with a psychologist or counselor, so that when you do begin to assess the social aspects of a person’s life, you can safely support your client by referring them to an expert to help deal with any deeper issues should they arise. 

Remember, ALL aspects of the environment can influence gene expression and consequently affect health. Just because a person is exercising regularly and eating healthy does not mean your work is done. Sleep, work, stress, social life, the environment all have important roles to play in the overall health picture. It is your duty as a health professional to understand the bigger picture of your clients lifestyle to formulate a personalized and integrative health program, which can and should of course involve other expert practitioners within your network to support as needed.

This is the future of client-centered, precision health care.

Want to learn more about assessing and managing these areas of your clients lifestyle AND join a network of health, fitness and medical professionals who practice with precision? 

Enroll in the PHA Level Course, details on the next intake can be found here