Do you know your genetic destiny?

Do you know your genetic destiny? It's a question we often don't think about until we're faced with an unexpected diagnosis. In my case, it was my mom's diagnosis of Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma that prompted me to delve deeper into the role of genetics in our lives. I was determined to find answers and learn as much as I could about how to help my mom and our family.

What I discovered was intriguing: epigenetic reprogramming and imprinting from psychological consequences of our environment can pass down to subsequent generations. Families with intergenerational trauma may experience a higher rate of disease and poor health outcomes because of inherited epigenetic factors. This emphasizes how important a healthy environment is while raising a child because social stressors can lead to adaptive traits in the next generation.

But understanding epigenetics can give us agency in a realm where we previously assumed we had none. While we can't significantly change our genes in real-time, we can understand what factors will change certain genes and how they will respond to those stimuli. This isn't just about resembling your great, great, great grandmother. It's about understanding how your genes will respond, and thus change, due to experiences and factors in your life. And understanding how it happened in your ancestors' lives that helped shape yours today.

Registered Dietitian, Brontë Grooms, also known as "The Gene Hacker," explains that genes tell us how well our body operates, whereas epigenetics tells us what our body loves and hates. With the study of epigenetics, we can identify how our genes predictably respond to our environment and daily choices. It's like chemical switches that can turn genes on or off.

Knowing which genes we have through genomic testing gives us the opportunity to modify their behavior with targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes. This is where biohacking comes in. For my mom's case, we used genetic testing as well as gene testing (DNA, RNA, etc.). Next-generation sequencing can be performed to help identify specific alterations that may drive the behavior of cancer and tumors.

But it's not just about genetics. Our thoughts, feelings, and emotions also play a significant role in our health. In recent years, ongoing research has shown how social influences such as family dynamics, chronic stress, and trauma influence health trajectories like aging, chronic disease, behavior, and emotions. Our spiritual life - thoughts, feelings, and emotions - control our gene expression, whether good or bad. We all have personal limits tied to our growth, health, habits, or self-belief. By overcoming these barriers, we unlock a more limitless life.

As human beings, we have the power to change our thoughts and, in turn, rewire our brains, heal our bodies, and change our lives. Although knowing our genetic blueprint helps us create a personalized plan, there is a plethora of studies that indicate which targeted food ingredients, lifestyle modifications, and positive thinking can benefit everyone's genes. We can break out of patterns and take the power of change into our own hands.

~Regina <3