How to go from being sick to being healthy?
Do you know what is Genetics and Epigenetics?
The Family Tree represents several generations of a family.We all inherited 50% of our gens from our mother and 50% from our father.
In genetics—-we study DNA containing all genetic information needed for our bodies to function. The DNA is present in each cell into our bodies.
Genes are regions of the DNA sequence that in interaction with others genes are essential to define bodily characteristics. Example : eye colour, hair, and also diseases, like obesity.
- Epigenetics —-is the study of how the expression of DNA can be changed without changing the structure of the DNA itself. Changes on Epigenetics do not alter the DNA sequence , but the expression of the genes. They can control whether the genes are switched “on or of f “. The total of epigenetic marks also know epigenome , can change due to many environmental influences :
- How and what we eat
- What we drink
- How stressed we are
- What we inhale
- Which environmental we live, and so on..
These epigenetics changes are reversible!
Reversible —— means that a change in lifestyle or environmental can alter or prevent many diseases.
Your epigenome can predict for example, whether you will develop diabetes type 2 in the future or how the dietary intake influence your risk of developing diseases.
The difference between Genetics and Epigenetics is :
Genetic information is inherited during conception and cannot be influenced by environmental factors.
Epigenetic changes can occur at any time during our life course, and can be affected by multiple environmental factors.
Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics——- is the impact of nutrition on our genes. Food is no longer just a source of calories containing protein, carbs and fats. Food is information and can be viewed as a remote control to our genes, turning them ” on and off “ by a variety of modifications.
Nutrigenomics ——- is a field of science with the goal of understanding how foods and food components interact with different individuals, with consequent divergent effects on health due to the genetic variability of those individuals.
Can you think about inherited diseases like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer and Alzheimer’s ? If these diseases or others inherited diseases run in your family, you are not doomed to suffer. You are not hostage to your genetics. However, what you eat can significantly reduce or increase your risk of development future illness. You have the chance to transform your biology and change your behaviour.
Environmental Risk:
The environmental you live in, and the choices you make will largely determine your fate. With health living, you can reduce or neutralise some genetic risk factors. Several key environmental factors can affect your risk for developing disease. The leading preventable cause of death in the United States is smoking, followed by obesity. Avoiding tobacco and maintaining a health body weight will greatly reduce your risk of developing diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
Unhealthy Eating X Health Eating :
About Cancer:
To understanding the concept of epigenetics in relation to cancer, it is essential to have some basic knowledge about cancer biology :
Cancer is caused by changes in the genetic material of our cells. The DNA sequence contain clues, the genes for making proteins that carry out the function of a particular cell. Mutations (changes) in the DNA sequence can result in the development of cancer. If the DNA sequence of a gene responsible for cell death changes, this gene become inactivated, and cells will not die, and cells growth continues in an uncontrolled way, and a tumour develops. The cells have to die in a process called Apoptosis.
All our cells have the same DNA sequence, but with different functions. Each cell is specialized to perform a function, and it has to do with turning genes off or on. In cancer, we see that important genes are switched off, and with other mutations the cancer will develop.
We now know that with food , such as vegetables, fruits and grains, and specific group of nutrients (like B vitamins) and Vitamin D, it is possible to help in prevent some types of cancer like colorectal cancer risk.
About Diabetes :
Type 1 X Type 2 :
| Type 1 | Type 2 | |
| Age of onset | Under 30 years | Over 30 years |
| Insulin Production | None | Partial |
| Obesity | Not Common | Common |
| Genetic Component | Weak | Strong |
Diabetes type 1 —- may be caused by a virus or autoimmune disorder. The body no longer produces insulin to regulate blood glucose ( due to destruction of beta cells in the pancreas) and patients need insulin injections. There is no cure . Happens usually in children and teens.
Diabetes type 2 —- is a metabolic disorder in which the body has not enough insulin or not use effectively insulin. This process of insulin resistance develops over time, under influence of poor diet and lack of exercise.
People with obesity and excess belly fat, more often get diabetes type 2. Obesity causes a person’s cells to forget how to use insulin.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that is featured by a hight blood glucose level (called hyperglycaemia) due a problem with the hormone insulin. When is uncontrolled it has serious consequences for health and well-being. When blood glucose is chronically elevated, it damages the organs, nerves and blood vessels.
How Reducing risks and reversing Diabetes ?
The best way to reduce your risk for developing Diabetes type 2 is to stay active. Physical activity helps you maintain a health weight, and it help your cells use insulin more effectively.
A Healthy Diet with protein, vegetables and fats , avoiding tobacco and alcohol, will helps you to maintain your blood glucose in normal level and reverse Diabetes type 2.
In Conclusion :
Through genetics and epigenetics, we can better understand how diseases develop. Your genetic make up is defined at the moment of your conception. However through epigenetics you can modified your gene expression and to prevent and reverse almost all diseases. But to achieve this, it is necessary to lead a healthy life, practicing exercise, avoiding alcohol, tobacco and eating organic products when it is possible, less stress and a good sleep.
It is not easy, because follow the healthy style, sometimes is annoying and difficult. But if we want to avoid disease and get healthy in old age, we have to make an effort , and really understand the whole process of how through nutrition we can prevent and reverse diseases.
by Helena
Naturalize Yourself !
Ref:
Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics in functional foods and personalised Nutrition. author Lynnete R. Ferguson chapter 1
Epigenetics in Cancer Manel Esteller, M.D.PhD
Healthline.com
Learn genetics.utah.edu
Lancer. epigenetics come of age Peter A. Jones & Peter N. Laird