Epigenetics

Feb 24

4 min read

Updated: Feb 25

Epigenetics is what controls how your genes are turned on or off...

The way to think of autism being 'inherited' is to think of family history of illness and inflammation. The fact that inflammation and autoimmunity in parents are correlated with autism in their offspring is unsurprising. Impaired sulphation can run in families. Impaired sulphation impairs detoxification pathways, and behaviours and lifestyles are known to run in families. As I said above, the genetic predisposition might have been passed down, but it is the environment that catalyses the onset of ill health and all sorts of diagnoses. Environmental toxins have increased year on year since the '50s. It is estimated that there are now upwards of 70,000 chemicals circulating in us, many of which are untested. It is not surprising that we are seeing such surges in severe autism rates and other diagnoses.

Epigenetics Controls Genes. This is achieved through (a) nature: epigenetics is what determines a cell’s specialization (e.g., skin cell, blood cell, hair cell, liver cells, etc.) as a fetus develops into a baby through gene expression (active) or silencing (dormant); and (b) nurture: environmental stimuli can also cause genes to be turned off or turned on.
Epigenetics Is Everywhere. What you eat, where you live, who you interact with, when you sleep, how you exercise, and even aging – all of these can eventually cause chemical modifications around the genes that will turn those genes on or off over time. Additionally, in certain diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer’s, various genes will be switched into the opposite state, away from the normal/healthy state.
Epigenetics Makes Us Unique. Even though we are all human, why do some of us have blonde hair or darker skin? Why do some of us hate the taste of mushrooms or eggplants? Why are some of us more sociable than others? The different combinations of genes that are turned on or off is what makes each one of us unique. Furthermore, there have been indications that some epigenetic changes can even be inherited.
Epigenetics Is Reversible. With more than 20,000 genes, what will be the result of the different combinations of genes being turned on or off? The possible arrangements are enormous! But if we could map every single cause and effect of the different combinations, and if we could reverse the gene’s state to keep the good while eliminating the bad… then we could hypothetically* cure cancer, slow ageing, stop obesity, and so much more.

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There are a plethora of factors that can influence how genes are expressed. And even behaviour can influence which of our genes are turned on or off. See below. Fascinating that ALL of which are within our control...

Things that impact genetic expression (Epigenetics)

Diet

Too many processed carbohydrates
Too much sugar
Too much protein
Not enough protein
Not enough healthy fat
A shortage of nutrients required for genes to work properly, such as B vits, zinc, copper, vit C

Exercise

Living a sedentary lifestyle
Exercising to excess - and putting the body under strain
Dehydration

Sleep

Not enough deep restorative sleep
Going to bed late and causing imbalances in the circadian rhythm
Irregular, disrupted sleep patterns

Environmental Toxins

Food
Water
Air
Self care
Cleaning products
Mould
EMF

Stress

Psychological stress, trauma
Physical stress - chronic infections/ sensitivities/ intolerances/ allergies
Your own mindset

Behaviour

Connectedness to nature and surroundings
Sunlight
Community and loved ones
Hobbies
Breathing pattern and style

Hormones

Oestrogen
Testosterone

Nutrigenomics

Nutrigenomics by Amy Yasko..

In her book 'Autism Pathways to Recovery' Amy explains how she has evolved a holistic approach for bypassing genetic issues in the methylation pathway through the use of the budding science of “Nutrigenomics.” Nutrigenomics is a hot new area of research that you may have read about, based on the understanding that, while we cannot change our genes, we can change the way our genes act.

For example, certain foods or supplements prompt our genes to act in healthy or unhealthy ways. Through the study of Nutrigenomics, scientists are learning what to eat (or to avoid) to promote healthy vs. unhealthy “genetic expression.” Using Nutrigenomics, labs compare the genomes of a large sample of individuals to determine which genetic “print-outs” represent “normal” vs. mutated variations.

The goal of Nutrigenomics is to supply the body with the specific nutritional ingredients it needs for healthy functioning on a daily basis. Most of us have genetic mutations of some kind. Nutrigenomics is genetically targeted supplementation. These mutations impair our ability to perform all the biochemical actions necessary for ideal function. As a result, we may produce too much or too little of something, creating biochemical imbalances that lead to dysfunction and ultimately to health problems. Through supplying the missing nutritional ingredients that the body requires but cannot adequately produce itself due to genetic mutations, Nutrigenomics helps us to, in effect, “bypass” the genetically induced decrease in function, and restore proper functioning.