Lifestyle Choices vs Bad Genes
"We are the cooks of our soup that influences if our genes are healthy or diseased. Lifestyle choices may actually reduce the chance of repeating your family’s history of poor health, according to a concept that is picking up steam in the medical community.
According to Dr. David Rakel, director of integrative medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, a concept known as "EPIGENETICS" empowers people to take control of their health by making choices that may override their genetic code. Rakel says behavior and environment can affect how those genes are "expressed," that is how the information in a gene gets translated into proteins.
Epigenetics means ‘around the gene.’ We have the ability to influence whether our genes are healthy or diseased. Just because your parents or grandparents had heart disease, doesn’t mean that your fate is sealed because of your genes. The reverse is true, as well. Your parents may never have smoked cigarettes or indulged in eating fried food high in fat content, loaded with sodium and sugar. We can see the effects of fast food all around us and lifestyles that involve less physical exercise and more time spent as a "couch potato."
For example, if your brother or father had prostate cancer, there’s probably an area in your genetic code that puts you at high risk for prostate cancer. Research tells us that you can prevent that gene from expressing itself. Healthy lifestyle choices may mean your genes may produce healthy prostrate tissue instead of tissue that is diseased or cancerous.
What can we do to minimize our risk of cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or other illnesses that may be part of our genetic predisposition?
Dr. David Rakel says changes in diet, exercise and personal attitude could actually influence the genetic code and reduce the chances for declining health. Rakel says the concept of epigenetics espouses that lifestyle choices can influence genetic expression. We have a choice to surround our genes with joy, happiness, exercise, nutritious foods or flip the switch to bad consequences with anger, lack of hope, junk food and sedentary lifestyle. This area of research holds so much potential and gives us the hope to say, "Even if my genes indicate a history of family illness, I can make choices that can keep a gene in check and prevent it from being expressed in disease."
Rakel cites a 2007 review by Dr. Steven Schroeder of the University of California - San Francisco. Schroeder’s study concluded that the largest influence on the risk of death in America is attributed to personal behavior, such as smoking, obesity and stress. The paper adds that the largest reduction in death — 40% — will result from the adoption of healthier habits.
"Human attitude has a tremendous influence on health" says Rakel. "If you are happy, you are more likely to go out jogging or adopt positive lifestyle behaviors because you have hope. You see what’s good in the world instead of the bad. If you have hope, you are accentuating the positive, eliminating the negative and that can lead to positive lifestyle choices.
Studies of laboratory rats with a gene that increases the risk of diabetes further builds the case for epigenetics. When the pregnant mothers of genetically identical rats who had this gene ate foods that influence gene expression (garlic, beets, onions), their offspring did not develop diabetes. What the mothers ate influenced the expression of genes in their offspring. This evolving research is teaching us that Epigenetics influences leave an imprint on our genetic code that is passed down to future generations.
"If I choose to eat fruits and vegetables versus high-fat foods, if I choose to fill my heart with compassion versus hate and hostility, this can leave a mark in my code that can be passed on," says Rakel. "The question is not who you are now, but who do you want your kids and your kids’s kids to become? Choices now may influence future generations."
Rakel says epigenetics also advocates less dependence on drugs and greater reliance on recruiting self-healing mechanisms. A pill or prescription for lower cholesterol is treating one thing. Whereas exercise, eating healthy, playing with friends and family, laughing and giving something to make the world a little better can reduce the risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and the list goes on. Forgiveness can go a long way in improving your health. You may even feel a lighter load on your shoulders, feel lighter, stop the headaches or neck pain. That’s an Epigenetics example of how that choice or forgiveness results in a tremendous change in your overall outlook, well-being and physical health.
I see these changes in the activities and attitudes of people playing badminton, tennis, and enjoying the exchange of joy and happiness. Thirty years of observing these people has proven their effect on longevity. Nine of them are now in their late 80's, three of them are in their 90's and still active tennis players and others marvel at the role models of these national treasures. I believe that the combination of "Make Eating A Lifestyle Change," Senior Tennis League and the Badminton Club of Greater Buffalo combined with social gatherings involving picnics, biking, swimming, hugs, kisses and laughter have lightened the burden and made the road ahead easier. Looking forward to friends and playing was observed by me as I watched the original 59-year-olds live a happy existence, loving one another and caring enough to be with them in their final hour. At 89, these survivors passed on knowing that love was all around them and prayers were being said. God bless all these dear hearts and gentle people who taught me how to live a better life. Doctors are amazed at the way I have changed the genetic code of my own DNA. They express no doubt that I have extended my life through the many changes I made in food, physical activities, friends and a strong faith. He has taught me to reach out to Him in my need and to lead others to Him by my example.
According to Dr. David Rakel, director of integrative medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, a concept known as "EPIGENETICS" empowers people to take control of their health by making choices that may override their genetic code. Rakel says behavior and environment can affect how those genes are "expressed," that is how the information in a gene gets translated into proteins.
Epigenetics means ‘around the gene.’ We have the ability to influence whether our genes are healthy or diseased. Just because your parents or grandparents had heart disease, doesn’t mean that your fate is sealed because of your genes. The reverse is true, as well. Your parents may never have smoked cigarettes or indulged in eating fried food high in fat content, loaded with sodium and sugar. We can see the effects of fast food all around us and lifestyles that involve less physical exercise and more time spent as a "couch potato."
For example, if your brother or father had prostate cancer, there’s probably an area in your genetic code that puts you at high risk for prostate cancer. Research tells us that you can prevent that gene from expressing itself. Healthy lifestyle choices may mean your genes may produce healthy prostrate tissue instead of tissue that is diseased or cancerous.
What can we do to minimize our risk of cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or other illnesses that may be part of our genetic predisposition?
Dr. David Rakel says changes in diet, exercise and personal attitude could actually influence the genetic code and reduce the chances for declining health. Rakel says the concept of epigenetics espouses that lifestyle choices can influence genetic expression. We have a choice to surround our genes with joy, happiness, exercise, nutritious foods or flip the switch to bad consequences with anger, lack of hope, junk food and sedentary lifestyle. This area of research holds so much potential and gives us the hope to say, "Even if my genes indicate a history of family illness, I can make choices that can keep a gene in check and prevent it from being expressed in disease."
Rakel cites a 2007 review by Dr. Steven Schroeder of the University of California - San Francisco. Schroeder’s study concluded that the largest influence on the risk of death in America is attributed to personal behavior, such as smoking, obesity and stress. The paper adds that the largest reduction in death — 40% — will result from the adoption of healthier habits.
"Human attitude has a tremendous influence on health" says Rakel. "If you are happy, you are more likely to go out jogging or adopt positive lifestyle behaviors because you have hope. You see what’s good in the world instead of the bad. If you have hope, you are accentuating the positive, eliminating the negative and that can lead to positive lifestyle choices.
Studies of laboratory rats with a gene that increases the risk of diabetes further builds the case for epigenetics. When the pregnant mothers of genetically identical rats who had this gene ate foods that influence gene expression (garlic, beets, onions), their offspring did not develop diabetes. What the mothers ate influenced the expression of genes in their offspring. This evolving research is teaching us that Epigenetics influences leave an imprint on our genetic code that is passed down to future generations.
"If I choose to eat fruits and vegetables versus high-fat foods, if I choose to fill my heart with compassion versus hate and hostility, this can leave a mark in my code that can be passed on," says Rakel. "The question is not who you are now, but who do you want your kids and your kids’s kids to become? Choices now may influence future generations."
Rakel says epigenetics also advocates less dependence on drugs and greater reliance on recruiting self-healing mechanisms. A pill or prescription for lower cholesterol is treating one thing. Whereas exercise, eating healthy, playing with friends and family, laughing and giving something to make the world a little better can reduce the risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and the list goes on. Forgiveness can go a long way in improving your health. You may even feel a lighter load on your shoulders, feel lighter, stop the headaches or neck pain. That’s an Epigenetics example of how that choice or forgiveness results in a tremendous change in your overall outlook, well-being and physical health.
I see these changes in the activities and attitudes of people playing badminton, tennis, and enjoying the exchange of joy and happiness. Thirty years of observing these people has proven their effect on longevity. Nine of them are now in their late 80's, three of them are in their 90's and still active tennis players and others marvel at the role models of these national treasures. I believe that the combination of "Make Eating A Lifestyle Change," Senior Tennis League and the Badminton Club of Greater Buffalo combined with social gatherings involving picnics, biking, swimming, hugs, kisses and laughter have lightened the burden and made the road ahead easier. Looking forward to friends and playing was observed by me as I watched the original 59-year-olds live a happy existence, loving one another and caring enough to be with them in their final hour. At 89, these survivors passed on knowing that love was all around them and prayers were being said. God bless all these dear hearts and gentle people who taught me how to live a better life. Doctors are amazed at the way I have changed the genetic code of my own DNA. They express no doubt that I have extended my life through the many changes I made in food, physical activities, friends and a strong faith. He has taught me to reach out to Him in my need and to lead others to Him by my example.
posted by Stan Kent at
10:40 AM
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