When scientists mapped the human genome back in the early 2000’s it was thought that we would finally be able to understand why particular people got particular diseases. Scientists hoped to be able to see that one or two genes caused a particular disease state and so we would be able to predict this by looking at a person’s DNA.
What they actually found was that there was far fewer genes in the human genome than they predicted and that genes don’t seem to be playing much of a role in the disease process at all. Of course, there are some diseases where genes have a huge influence such as Cystic Fibrosis or Down Syndrome, but for the vast majority of chronic disease that about 70% of us die from these days, genes don’t seem to be the answer. So the old saying ‘it’s in my gene’s” has kind of lost its power.
You may have heard the term ‘epigenetics’? Epigenetics is the study of how our environment, lifestyle, behaviours and even our mindset/thoughts can cause changes that affect the way our genes work. In other words, it is the environment that we bathe our genes in that will turn them on or off. I’m totally simplifying here, but to give you an idea, you may carry a gene that makes you more susceptible to cancer, but under the right conditions it may never be expressed.
How does this make you feel?
a) Terrified that you have so much influence over your health
b) Empowered that you have so much influence over your health
c) Both!?
I think the important take away is that it is the choices we make on a day-to-day basis that have the greatest impact on our health. The simple choice to drink plenty of fresh, filtered water, to keep our body strong and supple with movement, to prioritise sleep, to eat fresh wholefoods that aren’t laden with pesticides and antibiotics, to manage blood sugar levels, to support detoxification and to control stress etc.. It’s all of these small daily choices that add up and have the greatest influence on our genetic expression.
And well, I think that is pretty cool.
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