DNA Heresy: The Science of Epigenetics
The Human Genome Project, completed in 2000 at a cost of $3B, was hailed as possibly man’s greatest scientific achievement. The mapping and knowing of ‘evolution’ – our unique human structural make-up – would allow science to, at worst finally control and manage disease and discomfort while at best eliminate them from our experiences.
Anyone notice a boost in their health and wellness since the mapping of our more than 25,000 genes? No? Well what about society in general? Nope. In fact every poor health indicator is rising so fast that the word alarming is woefully insufficient. That’s because the solution to our decreasing wellness is not about manipulating our genetic code with pharmaceuticals and chemistry experiments it is about Lifestyle Choices. Choices that “turn on“ our optimal functioning and turn down our negative expressions.
This heretical branch of genetics, known since the 1970’s, is called Epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity that do not involve alterations to the gene code BUT do effect the expression of our genes. It was a heretical branch of genetics because it was antithetical to Medicines’ sacred tenants of ill health: which are bad germs, bad genes and bad luck. However the implications and practices of epigenetics are absolutely central to our health and wellness.
Epigenetics: What It Means To Us.
- We are not hard wired to a predetermined health & wellness destiny
- The expression of our health is determined by our choices/our lifestyles not our genes.
- “What matters most is how you superimpose your lifestyle on top of your genetic background”, Dr. Stuart Lipton, director of neuroscience Sanford-Burnham Research Institute, The Free Lance Star, January 29, 2012
- “For years, scientists thought that Alzheimer’s was primarily genetic. We now believe that while there’s a genetic component. Alzheimer’s is primarily a lifestyle disease”, Gary Wenk, professor of neuroscience at Ohio State University, The Free Lance Star, January 29, 2012
- “lifestyle choices…can change the epigenetic marks atop your DNA in ways that cause the genes (for diseases) to express themselves too strongly and the genes for longevity to express themselves too weakly. …it’s becoming clear that those same bad behaviors can also predispose your kids – before they are even conceived – to disease and early death” – Time January 6, 2010
- The negative mediators of epigenetic expression are: caloric imbalance, chemicals (esp. BPA), pharmaceuticals, inflammation, oxidative stress
- The negative effects of the epigenome can be changed through Lifestyle Wellness Care
- Posture & mobility are positive mediators of epigenetic expression
- Whole food Nutrition, via methylation, is a positive mediator of epigenetic expression
- B-vitamins, Betaine, selenium, reservatol, turmeric, ginger, other phytonutrients (over 10,000 PubMed refrences)
- “The innate plasticity(changeability) of the epigenome also enables it to be reprogrammed by nutritional physical and chemical factors” – Lessons from The agouti mice –Jirtle and Waterland, Duke University (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/epigenetics.html)
- Beware chemical and synthetic solutions as research suggests that they likely do not keep the epigenetic mediators at an optimal volume, the potential side effects are massive and they themselves are known factors for negative epigenetic expression
The take away is simple but not necessarily easy. There are significant, often subconscious habits that need to be changed and some that need to be eliminated. The first step is to sit down, one on one, with a Lifestyle Wellness Care doctor to assess and measure your current state of health and wellness which must then be followed by a specific, measurable and realistic game plan to achieve and sustain your goals.
God so loves us that he gave us the freedom to worship or deny him; To live for him or for us. Turns out that same choice is available with our health.
God Bless,
Dr. Scott Stachelek
www.lifetimefamilywellness.com and Facebook at Core Chiropractic
