Protecting Your Health With Epigenetics

Nature vs nurture has been a classic debate in psychology throughout the history of the discipline. It’s only natural for human beings to ponder why we are the way that we are. Perhaps things that happened to us when we were young or our parents shaped our behaviours and perspectives, or maybe these things are coded in our DNA and were inevitably going to take shape. With the discovery of epigenetics, scientists have been able to conclusively prove that how we turn out is a combination of both factors.

Epigenetics is defined as “the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work.” You may carry genes in your genetic code that will never be expressed or “switched on”, to put it more simply.

These genes can be activated by environmental factors such as upbringing and experiences, leading to a change in how your body reads particular DNA sequences. Epigenetic changes don’t change your genes themselves, only the ways in which they express themselves. These processes can lead to individual differences in appearance, physiology, cognition, and behavior (aka your phenotype).

Since genes are heritable, it’s incredibly important to take a look at your family history. If you wish to live the healthiest life you can, taking cues from your parents and further removed ancestors can be a great guide with regards to what to do and what not to do. For example – if lung cancer runs in your family, it’s especially advisable not to smoke. If diabetes runs in your family, be sure to keep an eye on your sugar intake and remain physically active. If a mental health issue such as anxiety runs in your family, consider some type of therapy even if you aren’t diagnosed as a preventative measure and to generally increase your mental wellbeing.

We cannot entirely control how our environment and experiences affect us. You absolutely should not use epigenetics as a way to berate and blame yourself for the things that happen to you and their effects. That being said, there are things to be learned from our genetic chemistry and that of those that came before us. You’ll notice that medical professionals will often ask about your family history, and there’s good reason for that. In being aware of what we are predisposed to, we can do as much as we can for ourselves to ensure our sustained physical and mental wellbeing.