Here at Genetic Direction, we tailor make individualized fitness and health plans based on your very own genes. But what does it really mean when your test results come back from us and you test positive for certain genes that relate to obesity, difficulty methylating nutrients, rapid aging, and more? Well the truth is that while you may carry genes that put you at higher risk of these outcomes, your genes aren’t your destiny.
One of the worst parts about modern day medicine is the increasing number of ailments that doctors are able to diagnose you with. While putting a name to a health issue can in some cases be very helpful in treatment, often times diagnosis lead to nothing but anxiety for the patient. Being told that you’re more likely to become obese or develop diabetes or some other health issue should never be looked at as an end all be all. We never want your genetic results to cause you panic, and here’s why….
Epigenetics. Sounds fancy, but it’s a concept we’ve all heard of before, the old debate about nature vs. nurture. The idea behind this field of research is that genes can be influenced by external factors and ultimately be switched on/off without changing the actual code of the underlying DNA. Of course, certain genes don’t apply to epigenetics when you’re talking about changes in a single lifetime. For example, you can’t change your eye color just by eating more vegetables. But there’s more and more evidence that most genes relating to your health are flexible and can be turned on or off simply by committing to a lifestyle change.
A recent study focused on a specific gene called FTO that’s directly related to an increase in obesity for those who carry it. In fact, people with FTO tend to weigh 6.5 pounds more on average than non-carriers. After following 200,000 subjects with the FTO gene, the study found that those were increased their physical activity decreased their weight gain by 30%. Of course, many other genes and factors likely play a role in how hard it is to change the effect your genes have on your health, but it’s no surprise that we have the power to essentially shape our genetic code to optimize our health.
Our bodies were made to be flexible and change based on environment and how we treat them. It’s how we were able to evolve in the past and ensure our survival. Finding out that you have a genetic predisposition for a certain condition isn’t an invitation to accept your fate. If anything, it’s a signal to change it. Using epigenetics as the core concept in your health & fitness plan won’t lead to instant results. When we hand you your genetic results, we provide you with health & fitness tips, a plan to switch off those “bad” genes and ensure that only the good genes are working for you. These types of results take time and effort on your part, but it means that you have the power to sculpt your very own genetic makeup. That’s why your genes aren’t your destiny, you are.
