Healthy is as healthy does
So you figure, 无毛视频淲hen my time is up, it无毛视频檚 up.无毛视频� Okay, well we aren无毛视频檛 going to debate whether you think your life is or is not controlled from above, but no matter how you slice it, we have choices every day, and every meal, and every bite of every snack.
That alone is good news. Now for the GREAT news无毛视频t turns out that the new science of epigenetics is confirming that our genes are not our fate.
One of my heroes, Dr. Dean Ornish puts it like this:
无毛视频溛廾悠郸genetics does play an important role in health and well-being, and for some, more so than for others. However, in most cases, diet and lifestyle modifications can override genetics if you无毛视频檙e willing to make big enough changes. Most of the time, nurture trumps nature, but it无毛视频檚 not always easy.无毛视频�
What this means is that, we CAN exercise significant control over our individual health and lifespan, but no one is promising it will be easy. Is anything worthwhile easy? Perhaps for Wayne Gretzky, hockey came easy, but I will bet my house on the fact that he still worked at his talents to develop them无毛视频e just didn无毛视频檛 have to work nearly as hard as I did to develop my limited ice hockey success.
The point is that those of us with fortunate genes for physically fit bodies, normal blood pressure, healthy cholesterol etc, don无毛视频檛 need to be as diligent on our choices as those of us who have a natural tendency to store fat, to react badly to refined carbohydrates, and to prefer a donut to an apple. The only thing that matters is that we DO NOT have to let our genes run amok.
Many of us who experienced some level of overweight, high BP etc as adults, showed some signs when younger of being less than optimal: maybe we were chubby; maybe we were low energy; maybe we were moody or had brain fog when learning. These symptoms and many other 无毛视频渕aladies,无毛视频� while possibly due to genetic inevitability, were more likely triggered by an event, an ingested toxin, an emotional trauma, or even a false belief. Until one can honestly look at their triggers then or now, it is nearly impossible to know how much genes are or are not expressing through our body shape and our general well-being. So the point is TAKE CONTOL OF WHAT YOU CAN, and do not fret over what you cannot. Sound familiar? Serenity prayer?
Now, I don无毛视频檛 expect you to take my word alone for all of this. Read Dr. Ornish无毛视频檚 book 无毛视频淭he Spectrum无毛视频� for starters. Another renowned authority in this area is Dr. Bruce Lipton, who among his long list of accomplishments includes the books 无毛视频淭he Biology of Belief无毛视频� and 无毛视频淭he Honeymoon Effect无毛视频�; I highly recommend both books. Dr. Lipton describes in exquisite detail the science behind how we know for certain that our genes are not our fate. I am not in any way an expert in this area which probably better qualifies me to describe in layman无毛视频檚 terms the gist of the impressive science of epigenetics. In a nutshell, it turns out that our DNA is just a blueprint for cells to refer to when reproducing. If one removes the DNA from a cell, which has been done in the lab, the cell will continue to react, function and adapt, until it needs to reproduce worn out parts. This clearly shows that the DNA is not the source of 无毛视频渋ntelligence无毛视频� that determines the fate of our cells.
Furthermore, the DNA is initially covered with a sheath of a substance that blocks it from being read until environmental conditions, created by behavioral choices and thoughts, cause the body to expose them for reading 无毛视频� THIS is how we are not victims of our genes无毛视频ur diet, thoughts, and exercise habits directly affect the reading and expression of our genes. No doubt we have tendencies, as we are not all alike, but within those tendencies we have a great deal of control. How amazing is THAT??!!
Of course, if you read his book, 无毛视频淭he Biology of Belief,无毛视频� you can get the complete explanation.
One more of my favorite authors on this topic is Raymond Francis, author of 无毛视频淣ever Be Sick Again.无毛视频� I am a fan of his description of disease: There is only ONE, a sick cell. How does a cell get 无毛视频渟ick无毛视频�? Two pathways: deficiency and toxicity. These are the triggers that affect the expression of those neutral genes. According to Mr, Francis, these triggers have 6 pathways: Nutrition, toxins, psychological, genetic (predisposition but negotiable), physical and medical.
It is a fascinating read, and I believe his views are entirely consistent with the previous authors.
So this is why we pay attention to our diet, exercise, stress management, toxic exposure, etc. These are indisputably linked to whether we get sick, or enjoy high-level wellness.
Dr. Joel Fuhrman eloquently stated in the film 无毛视频淧rocessed People无毛视频� that 无毛视频渋f you do the same things as everyone else, you will get the same diseases as they do.无毛视频� The really great news is that the reverse is true: Make different (better) choices, and reap the benefits!
Until next time, do the best you can, and treat others as you无毛视频檇 like to be treated.
Happy New Year.