You are what you eat”. Do you agree to this statement? Research suggest that what you eat affects you and sometimes even your children and grandchildren When you live in a clean environment and follow a lifestyle that includes the right kind of diet and exercise that your body needs, you can make Epigenetics do wonders for your body. This is the reason why We have always been told to eat healthy foods and to keep our surroundings clean in order to stay away from diseases. Now when you look at it, this age-old statement is true and the secret behind this is powerful science of Epigenetics.

Can Your Diet Change Your DNA?

Diet choices can actually change the way your genes behave.  What the mother eats during pregnancy can increase the risk of the baby becoming obese as an adult. Research have shown that people can react very differently to the same foods. Fruits, vegetables, proteins and carbohydrates may affect people differently. Studies are showing that people’s bodies can react very differently to the same foods, and standardized nutrition advice doesn’t fit everybody. Even identical twins can have varying responses to identical foods, new research finds, suggesting that the variety can’t be explained by genes alone. Epigenetics, is the study of how different biological and environmental signals affect gene expression plays a crucial role in this. Studies have shown that a father’s diet can influence his child’s mental fitness and a mother’s Vitamin D intake can influence the placenta functioning in the child.

Nutrigenomics

The Nutritional Epigenetics tells about the mechanisms of gene diet interactions. It deals with how the molecules in food interact through metabolic systems, with the molecules that attach to DNA and control levels of gene expression in the body. This evidence will be really helpful to support a better and healthy lifestyle free of diseases. Research have shown that nutrients in different foods and supplements we consume may be able to adjust or reverse epigenetic mechanisms. Studies have proved that the food we eat can change the epigenetic states. A diet that is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, such as the keto diet, could improve the mental ability, especially in cases of conditions like epilepsy. Polyphenols, for example, which are found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, olives, and chocolate, have been shown to be effective in increasing good resilience (the ability to fight back) and reducing depression. Blueberries are incredibly high in antioxidants and it’s thought that this “superfood” can epigenetically reduce DNA damage. This evidence helped humans to fight against cancer and possibly even slow aging.