Epigenetics is a term that just means “above the gene” We have our hardware…which is our actual DNA we are born with. Then we have the software that runs the hardware…which is the called the Epigenetics of our DNA…or the ability to direct that DNA in certain ways. To alter it…either positively or negatively depending on our environmental influences encountered throughout our lifetime and our diet.

What a mother is exposed to…can and does actually get incorporated into her fetuses DNA during pregnancy. For example…a lead toxic Mom passes the lead in her body onto her child in utero. Lead toxicity is seen over and over in breast cancer patients. Have you ever heard someone say “my Mom had breast cancer…so I’m sure I have a good chance of developing it too?” Lead is passed down from generation to generation. There is a great book called “Having Faith: An Ecologist’s Journey to Motherhood” by Sandra Steingraber.

Chemical toxins in our environment have the ability to alter our DNA…chemical toxins, such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and many others. The DNA we are born with is not the DNA we have as we grow older. As our cells divide…they make mistakes during DNA replication. Our bodies have the ability to correct those mistakes if we have properly methylated DNA and an absence of chemical toxins and heavy metals and such in our body.

DNA Replication and Causes of Mutation

Having properly methylated DNA is one of our bodies defense mechanisms. It does this by interrupting and altering our DNA’s ability to turn genes on that need to be turned on and keep genes turned off that need to be turned off. This is controlled by methyl groups (1 carbon atom + 3 hydrogen atoms) that are actually attached to our DNA itself. We have become methyl depleted because of chemical toxins and heavy metals and bad diets. This basically means…with limited methyl groups (CH3)…the genes that are supposed to be kept “off” are triggered and switched “on”. This can be a gene…such as a gene directing us to become obese or a cancer gene. Epigenetics and Nutrigenomics are the future of medicine. Understanding how food and supplement elements and toxins affect our DNA is critical to the future of our health.

I’m sending the attachment with a video so you can see what I’m talking about.
The video “A Tale of Two Mice Epigenetics” shows how important it is to have methylated DNA.
I have more information on how to make sure you have properly methylated DNA.