Dr. Holly
Dr. Holly
Dr. Holly

Your genes are like off/on toggle switches. I can remember way back in both Medical School and Naturopathic School we were taught that we had about 90,000 genes – we don’t, we have about 25,000 genes; we were taught that genes were absolute – they are not, they are more like toggle switches. Actually we were taught a number of things that I challenged and have since been proven right. Great for the ego, but sucks horribly for those who suffered because of misconceptions. Let’s focus on our DNA today:

  • Yes we have around 25,000 genes on our 23 pairs of chromosomes
  • Yes, genes are like on/off switches (simplistic analogy but epigenetic modifiers attach to genes)
  • I argued that if bacteria and viruses could change their DNA within 15 minutes and those pathogens can use our DNA to change theirs – couldn’t they also change our DNA? Yes, we have now proven that!
  • I also argued for a long time that if we didn’t have sufficient nutrients and/or if we have an overload of toxins (metal, environmental, etc) then couldn’t that also effect our DNA – well, we have now proven that is right as well

In fact I have argued that: cell membranes; cell organelles; cellular transport mechanisms; the toxins & nutrients within the cells; all act DNA. That’s now been proven true!! Yeah!!

That means we have a lot more control!! In fact, apparently up to 90% of our genes can be affected by our diet. WOW!! Huge control.

The challenge: we need to start way before the cellular structure!!  The gut! Food actually plays a part on how subsequent food is metabolized AND effects the behaviour of our genes!

Dr Ralser, the research lead, University of Cambridge, said:

“Cellular metabolism plays a far more dynamic role in the cells than we previously thought,” explains Dr Ralser. “Nearly all of a cell’s genes are influenced by changes to the nutrients they have access to. In fact, in many cases the effects were so strong, that changing a cell’s metabolic profile could make some of its genes behave in a completely different manner.

“The classical view is that genes control how nutrients are broken down into important molecules, but we’ve shown that the opposite is true, too: how the nutrients break down affects how our genes behave.”

Here’s to your health!
For more information, contact: Dr Holly at holly@choicesunlimited.ca

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