Your genes and your immune system
Your DNA is like an instruction book. It contains the instructions for you to develop, function and grow. The instructions are made up of a varying sequence of four letters. The four letters represent four amino acids – amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. The instruction sequence with the four letters reminds me of binary code. I have very little or no true understanding of binary code. I find it fascinating that a sequence of ones and zeros can give instructions that can do so much.
The sequence of the genetic code is determined at conception and does not change throughout your live. However, the expression of the instructions based on the code, is influenced by your environment, food choices and lifestyle.
The instructions of the genetic code influence the function and balance of the immune system immensely. Our immune systems are interlinked with our brain chemistry, antioxidant status, detoxification capacity, inflammatory balance, blood sugar management, histamine metabolism and food sensitivities. All of these are looked at with the genetic test I work with. Read on to find out more.
Let’s get back to the letters. Sometimes, and this happens to everyone, there is a little change in the genetic code. There is a switch in letters. A switch in only one letter changes the message. That could, for instance, mean that a gene involved in getting mercury out of your system is not working any more. As a result, you accumulate mercury, which is highly toxic to your nervous system. Thankfully, no gene works on its own. They all work in teams. What you then need to then do, is:
- Pay extra attention to avoiding mercury exposure
- Give more support to the team members who are still there and ready for action.
And that is how it works. You find out where you need more support, and you go give that support. Lifelong if you can.
We know that the genetic code determines your eye colour, hair colour, how much you look like your mom or your dad. It determines how much potential you have to either win the 100m dash or the 10 000m race or none of those; how likely you are to crave sugar when you are sad, how easily you gain weight or hold on to that weight. It influences your likelihood of developing insulin resistance if you live an insulin resistance supporting lifestyle, your chances of getting high blood pressure if you don’t live a lifestyle supporting healthy blood pressure. It even impacts your odds of mercury toxicity if you have amalgam tooth fillings or eat seafood regularly, your risk of getting a blood clot on a contraceptive or hormone replacement therapy, and your tendency to be a morning person or a night owl just to name a few.
In my work with genetics, I focus on health-related genes you can switch on or off with specific lifestyle choices. This is called nutrigenomics. It refers to the impact of food on gene expression and the interaction between nutrition and genes.
Your life story, when it comes to your health and your immune system, is not set in stone, and predetermined by the genetic code. I remember, many years ago, reading a study on prostate cancer that showed how fast cancer supporting genes can be switched on or off merely by food choices. It was long before I learnt about nutrigenomics and reading that study triggered in me a desire to know more.
You can switch on or off the expression of the genetic code with your lifestyle. That means, if there is a gene that says: You are a sugar craver when you are sad! You can switch that off by keeping your day-night-rhythm, doing regular exercise that you enjoy, maintaining connection with other humans, having regular nutritious meals. Or if you are sad, you could opt for a jump in the cold ocean, a surf session, a hike, a run, attending a music concert or being creative – art/food/music/gardening. Then you might find that, that gene that tells you to have sugar when you are sad, is not even significant anymore. You can live a life free of those cravings. In the same way, you could also still win the 100m dash if you train hard and beat the guy with “the right code” who does not train.
That is what knowing your genetic code is all about. Proactively thinking and knowing, being aware of your strengths and of where you need extra support. You can learn more about lifestyle factors that can help switch high risk Alzheimer’s disease/Dementia genes off. Of what you can do to lower your risk of hormone dependent cancers that are becoming increasingly prevalent. You can get to know your individual strengths or vulnerabilities when it comes to hormone detoxification and balance. Find out what you can do to improve your recovery after exercise. There are even genes related to what you can do to help calm down your nervous system and brain if you feel anxious or unfocussed. If you have joint- and muscle pain, you can learn what might be involved and what you can do for your unique needs.
Genetic testing has evolved immensely, and you can now do affordable tests at home with a range much wider than what I describe above. When it comes to the immune system, you can find out more on what you need to avoid not to weaken it, what you need to focus on to strengthen it and what your key lifestyle, food and supplement choices should be to find balance.
Unfortunately, many websites offer this type of testing without providing individual interpretation via a practitioner. This leads to confusion and devaluates the test immensely. You do need interpretation and guidance with the results to make the most of genomic science
Feel free to contact me if you want to know more about where you can do such a test with the right support.
