Epigenetics is probably one of the most exciting evolutionary discoveries in science in the 21st Century. What this means is that most genes have like a little dimmer switch on them. You can turn them up or turn them down. Therefore, people are actually more powerful than they thought they were. Pamela Peeke, assistant professor of medicine from the University of Maryland, and Nessa Carey, Author of ‘The Epigenetics Revolution’, share more on Epigenetics.
Your DNA is not Your Destiny
Most people know that your DNA is your gene. Furthermore, we used to think of it as almost being your destiny. However, in recent years science has enabled us to know that it is not valid. There is another layer of information called epigenetics. Epigenetics is how the genes and the environment talk to each other. One way is to think that the genetic code for DNA is like a script for a play. If someone has been in a play and been in rehearsals, you know that your copy of the scripts end-up with a lot of post-it notes where you are putting in additional information. This is similar to how the epigenetic system works. To empower yourself through epigenetics, these are the things you could think about: mind, mouth, muscle.
Epigenetics Vs. Mind
Current research shows that when you do meditation on a routine basis, you decrease the amount of inflammation in the entire human body. Inflammation is the basis of all diseases in the human body. Can you imagine the connection between your very thoughts and your genes?
During a scientific experiment, scientists picked people who had a massive expression of the obesity gene and had them walk approximately one hour a day. By the end of six months, just that one invention decreased the expression of the gene by 40%. The more an individual walks, the more the person convinces the genes to change and send a new message. Therefore, instead of passing an obesity message, the message changes to reduce body fat or become healthier.
Epigenetics Vs. Mouth
In another experiment, results showed that just eating whole, wonderful foods, and cooking for yourself and not just eating processed food in the microwave all day, is what the body needs. The human connection also plays a vital part in this whole process. Even smiling with strangers or making someone smile influences the inflammatory genes. These are genes that you want to keep under control; therefore, it is essential.
Epigenetics Vs. Lifestyle
People always think that epigenetics will give them some miraculous cure. However, this is not the case because you cannot separate epigenetics and lifestyle. They work together. Lifestyle has a significant influence on epigenetics, but there are artificial ways to change gene expression. Certain cancers show evidence that it is the epigenetic system that has gone wrong. Scientists and medics can modify the epigenetic system by using drugs specifically. However, epigenetic changes are not similar to genetic mutations. While mutation is a change in the DNA sequence, an epigenetic change does not alter the DNA itself. Mutations are relatively rare events, but epigenetics is incredibly common.
Am I too late?
“Is it too late? I am a mess.”
Many people tend to ask this question, and the answer is, it’s never late. Minor miracles take place when people simply discarded old habits that were highly self-distractive and turned it around.
What Does the Future Hold?
Some studies suggest that epigenetic changes can be passed on to later generations. Controlled experiments in mice have proven the intergenerational effects of trauma. However, more profound research is needed to support the idea of humans. It is only possible to show it at a population level than an individual. The best data for this happening in humans is during the period of Dutch Hunger Winter in the Second World War. Twenty thousand people died of starvation, and many others were able to survive, but they ate 500 calories a day. The generations related to these people ended up being at a higher risk of depression and had issues of nutrition.
In the future, we will start to understand the real link between epigenetics and what’s happening in our brains, particularly our mental and emotional health. Why people become traumatized? Why they develop issues like PTSD, among others. Epigenetics is like empowerment, having the power to decide how to live long and live well.
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