Dr Kopera writes about Genetic Expression and how lifestyle changes, attitudes, and our conscious thoughts can dramatically impact our health, wellness and thus influence our aging process. On Expert Insight Radio in 2016 Dr Kopera talked about the 80/20 rule. This refers to the new science that shows that only 20% of us is inherited. That is our genetic predisposition. That means that 80% is environmental which is significantly influenced by our culture and includes our lifestyle choices. This is about how we choose to live, who we hang out with, the foods we choose and the choices we make, good or bad.
I’ve always been fascinated with this Nature/Nurture Controversy. In my family there are identical twins on my mother’s side. They even had a joint wedding. Then one twin moved down the Snowy Mountains of Australia and raised her five children in this clean Alpine air. She is the only remaining adult left on my mother’s side of the family at 87 years of age. The other twin lived in the hustle and bustle of the city of Sydney where she raised four children. She died over 30 years ago of breast cancer. Identical twins put in different environments certainly grow up to be different because of the 80% of lifestyle choices they make despite the 20% of identical inherited generics.
So let’s look at what The Science of Epigenetic is. According to Dr Kopera “Epi Genetics means the expression of the genes. The DNA of an organism, including its genes, is called a Genome. All genes carry information on the makeup of proteins required by that organism. These proteins determine, among other things, how the organism looks, how well its body metabolizes food or fights infection, and sometimes even how it behaves.”
“By definition, Epigenetics is the external modification to DNA that turns genes either ‘on’ or ‘off’. These modifications do not change the DNA sequence itself, but affect whether they are ‘active’ or ‘inactive’. This is known as ‘gene expression’ and, therefore, through our own self-care and nurturing, we have significant influence over how a particular gene impacts our well-being.
Another fascinating study that Dr Kopera has made her life’s work is Nutrigenomics. This is the study of how foods affect our genes and how these individual genetic affectations can alter the way we respond to the nutrients contained in the food we eat. These changes impact our genomic stability which, in turn, underlies several common age-related diseases such as:
- Auto immune diseases
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular and stroke
- Alzheimer’s
- Neurodegenerative conditions.
Let me give you an example. When I was sick with an auto-immune disease I began studying the body to find out how I got sick so I could help myself become well again. I had some tests done on the foods that I didn’t tolerate. Foods that are considered ‘healthy’ for most people did not sit well in my body. My genes rejected them. Some of those foods included rice, chicken, the blue of the blueberry, yeast in breads and fruits like melons, yellow part of the egg, just to name a few. Most of these foods could be eaten daily by most people but for some reason not by me.
By finding this information out I was able to return to optimal health over time. These emerging fields of Epigenetics and Nutrigenomics may well provide the missing pieces to your health puzzle and aging choices. I got to choose the correct foods for me, together with other great health choices that have created a better health, and increased happiness that I intend to enjoy for many years to come. I also found out what vitamins and minerals I needed to supplement because I genetically do not absorb some like vitamin B12.
You can find out so much more in my latest book ‘Age is an Attitude’ launched on September 7.