Although the scientific study of our genes has taught us a lot about health over the past 30 years, it offers a somewhat fatalistic view. Genetics would program us for everything and we would be condemned to suffer from an indelible heredity.

More recent research opposes this view

Epigenetics reveals that our health does not depend solely on our genes, that there would obviously be predispositions, but that we would remain masters of our destiny according to our life choices. We thus leave this schematic representation according to which we evolve according to an unchangeable genetic code.

Epigenetics is the study of the molecular mechanisms through which our environment would influence our genes. This particular expression of our genes would depend on our epigenome, a kind of program that would allow us to activate or deactivate certain genes according to certain metabolic signals (extracellular water painter) or according to certain data coming from the outside world.

Among these epigenetic factors that would allow our body's functioning to take other switches are: thoughts, nutrition, physical, social or leisure activity, exposure to xenobiotics and other toxins, stress management, creative and fulfilling activities or even encounters with certain pathogenic organisms.

It is obvious that certain toxins or defects can still be passed on to offspring and thus promote certain health problems, but they come from hope, because we can mitigate or erase this through personal life choices. Each person is free to work on his or her own terrain and choices in order to transmit a capital genetic healthier to his offspring.

How is this possible?

It just seems that the organization of the chains is changeable. Of course, if you are born with brown hair and blue eyes, you cannot change these factors. Just as if we are born with a genetic disease or the body is programmed for a short life, this part can only be changed in a proportion of 2%.

On the other hand, the evolution towards other "unplanned" health problems depends on our choices and our will. It is obvious that the younger we become aware of this, the better chance we have of influencing the organization of our genes. However, it seems that nothing is final and it is never too late to change one's lifestyle in order to exchange a pathogenic genetic functioning for a more optimal one.

Bathing our genes in a positive environment by providing our bodies with good food, good oxygenation, good hydration, some exercise, and positive thoughts, helps to activate the "good health" genes and reduce the influence of genes that carry potential chronic diseases.

So isn't it great news to know that we have the power over our health? Since thanks to our epigenetic genome we can reprogram part of our DNA to restore healthy physiological functioning.

Sources for this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com