Your Genes don't control your health

[Guest guest]

I hear people saying every day, well my mom had it and so I am probably

going to get it. The genetic link to illness is now being researched more

and more. I have heard several talks from doctors who are studying this and

it is very exciting what they are finding out. Below are some thoughts on

this. You do have a certain amount of control over your health, don't let

your Genes rule you!! You can take control and fight back through diet and

lifestyle changes.

It's NOT Your Genes That Control Your Health

As scientists continue to study the human genome, it looks more and more

like DNA is not destiny.

The " Epigenome " Reacts to the Environment

The " epigenome, " a layer of biochemical processes that turn genes on and off

plays an enormous role in heredity and health. Researchers believe that by

mapping the epigenome, they can better predict and treat disease.

The epigenome is passed from parents to children, but changes according to

environment, and is one reason that " identical " twins can be so different.

Could Advance Knowledge of Diseases

Some human cancers have already been connected with epigenetic changes. The

same could be done for other diseases, which would further our understanding

of the environmental aspects of health.

More Difficult to Map Than Genes Themselves

Mapping the epigenome will be difficult, since not only does it change over

time, but it differs in every major cell type, of which there are several

hundred.

" We are well under 1 percent finished; 1 percent would be a massive

overstatement, " said Stamatoyannopoulos, who founded the

biopharmaceutical company Regulome. " But, ultimately, this type of knowledge

will revolutionize the way we diagnose and treat disease. "

Wired August 16, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Genes have been blamed for all sorts of medical difficulties patients face

when, in fact, it is the genes' expression that really counts. The study of

epigenomes, which regulate your genetic expression, continues to give

further support to this.

One of the main reasons scientists search for a genetic basis for disease is

so they can develop an expensive drug or therapy to sell you that will

generate enormous profits for one of the multi-national drug companies. It

is my firm belief that the influence of genes on your health has been

exaggerated.

I'm not saying that genetics play no role whatsoever, but our genes are

merely dumb storage facilities that do very little to influence our health.

Otherwise, you'd be helpless to do anything about your health, which, of

course, isn't true at all.

In fact, your environment and your lifestyle choices have great influence on

the expression of your genes, which is why healthy choices are the key to a

long and satisfying life, rather than just the luck of the draw.