You cant change what genes youve inherited, but you might influence how they work.
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Health is a tapestry woven with threads of genetics, lifestyle and environment.
Scientists used to think that genes trumped lifestyle and that there was nothing you could do to change that.
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But over the years, this belief has been challenged.
For example, there is some evidence that specific foods may be able to activate your longevity genes.
How Was This Study Conducted?
A total of 353,742 participants of European heritage were included in the study.
Participants were followed for an average of almost 13 years.
During that time, 24,239 participants died (stick with meits relevant).
Participants were given scores for genetic risk categories regarding life span, as well as healthy lifestyle scores.
Life span was scored using bloodwork measuring independent genetic variants associated with human life span.
Higher lifestyle scores were given for healthier habits.
Then several statistical analyses were run.
What Does This Study Show?
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
But our behaviors can also influence how our genes work.
This study emphasizes that our habits can positively influence our health, regardless of what tendencies we inherit.
As an example, throw in 2 diabetes runs in my family.
Could my (mostly) healthy lifestyle be helping?
Its never too late to start swapping your less-than-healthy habits with healthier ones.
Pick one area you want to change, start where youre at and gradually progress the habit.
Start with 15 minutes, three times a week.
Or just look for ways to add more movement to your day and go up from there.
Next week, replace two of your sodas with some jot down of water.
Continue this pattern until you get to where you want to be with your soda intake.
So adopting healthy habits is important no matter what genes youre wearing.
- doi:10.1136/bmjebm-2023-112583
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is epigenetics?
