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🧬Epigenetics & Health Equity: Part Two/4 - Genes & Environment 🧬

Updated: Nov 13, 2024


 
 

II

Genes & Environment

 

Epigenetics explores how environmental factors like diet, stress, and social experiences can modify gene activity without changing the underlying DNA sequence. 🤯


Key Mechanisms:


  • DNA methylation: The "off switch" for genes 🔇


    • Like a light switch, DNA methylation can turn a gene "off" by adding a chemical group to the DNA, preventing it from being read.


  • Histone modification: Regulates DNA accessibility 🔓


    • Imagine DNA as thread wrapped around spools (histones). Histone modification loosens or tightens the thread, making it easier or harder to access the DNA.


  • Non-coding RNA: Fine-tunes gene expression 🎛️


    • Think of non-coding RNA as a dimmer switch, able to fine-tune the gene expression level rather than just turning it entirely on or off.


 

The Ripple Effect


Emerging evidence suggests epigenetic changes can be passed down to future generations, highlighting the enduring impact of environmental exposures. 🌊

These epigenetic modifications are highly sensitive to environmental factors. Diet, stress, toxins, and social experiences can all leave lasting marks on the epigenome, influencing an individual's health and susceptibility to disease. For example, maternal stress during pregnancy can alter the offspring's epigenome, potentially increasing their risk for mental health issues later in life.



 

Hope & Empowerment


💡 The dynamic nature of the epigenome offers hope. Epigenetic modifications can be reversed or modified through lifestyle changes and therapeutic interventions, offering opportunities for health improvement and disease prevention. This reframing of health challenges the notion of a fixed genetic destiny.


Well-established scientific research supports the epigenetic benefits of lifestyle modifications, such as adopting a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and practicing stress reduction techniques. Additionally, therapeutic approaches such as mind-body therapies and trauma-informed care show promise in promoting epigenetic recovery. 💪


 

Holistic Health: The Bigger Picture


Holistic health recognizes that optimal well-being encompasses physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions. 🧘‍♀️ It's about addressing the root causes of illness, not just treating symptoms. 🎯


These modifications align with the holistic health framework, emphasizing that optimal health requires addressing all aspects of an individual's life, seeking to identify and address the underlying causes of illness rather than just treating symptoms.


 

👋


Prepare for the next entry, where we highlight the lingering legacy of eugenics and its impact on health disparities. We'll explore how this historical context shapes our understanding of health equity and the need for a more just and equitable future. Identify and address latent eugenics at https://www.vitalgnosis.com/blog.

 

 

  • Share this information with your friends and family.


  • Get involved in advocating for health equity and holistic health practices.


  • Take charge of your health and well-being today! 💪


 

Thank you for reading!


If you found this article helpful and inspiring, or if you would like to learn more about how a holistic approach to your health could greatly benefit your life,

sign up here: https://www.vitalgnosis.com/specials or click the button below to visit our supporting sciences page at

 

The information in this blog post is for educational purposes only, not medical advice regarding your specific health questions or concerns.



References



Bailey, Z. D., Krieger, N., Agénor, M., Graves, J., Linos, N., & Bassett, M. T. (2017). Structural racism and health inequities in the USA: Evidence and interventions. The Lancet, 389(10077), 1453-1463.


Braveman, P., & Gottlieb, L. (2014). The social determinants of health: It's time to consider the causes of the causes. Public Health Reports, 129(Suppl 2), 19-31.


Feinberg, A. P. (2007). Phenotypic plasticity and the epigenetics of human disease. Nature, 447(7143), 433-440.


Heard, E., & Martienssen, R. A. (2014). Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: Myths and mechanisms. Cell, 157(1), 95-109.


Kuzawa, C. W., & Sweet, E. (2009). Epigenetics and the embodiment of race: Developmental origins of US racial disparities in cardiovascular health. American Journal of Human Biology, 21(1), 2-15.


Landecker, H., & Panofsky, A. (2013). From social structure to gene regulation, and back: A critical introduction to environmental epigenetics for sociology. Annual Review of Sociology, 39, 333-357.


National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). Communities in action: Pathways to health equity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.


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