Gene mutations, Epigenetics, and HAPPY THOUGHTS!

 

Epigenetics, Gene mutations, and HAPPY THOUGHTS!

 

Nowadays, epigenetics has gained significant popularity as a subject of interest. My personal fascination with it began some time ago and further deepened through my studies at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. This topic holds particular significance for me due to my diagnosis of a gene mutation back in 2015. However, now that I have a better understanding of this subject, I choose to refer to it as a gene “variation”, a term that feels much more comforting to me.

Gene Mutation

 

The gene variation I possess indicates a possible increased risk of developing breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancer. Just when I believed I was finally overcoming my battle against metastatic breast cancer, receiving this news felt utterly disheartening. The moment I was presented with the test results, I thought there was only one choice I could make, one way out to preserve my sanity.

Within a week of uncovering my gene variation, I quickly secured the expertise of an oncological surgeon and one of the top plastic surgeon in New York City. The team was fully prepared to perform a transformative prophylactic procedure with love and compassion. Opting for a double mastectomy was a drastic decision, one that would undoubtedly have an impact on me both physically and emotionally for the rest of my life.

I never looked back on my decision and never regretted it. However, had I known back then what I know now about Epigenetics, my choice could have been different. As they say, hindside is 20/20….

Since my life-changing surgery, I have been focused on improving my health and my well-being by changing my lifestyle in a holistic way. The journey started by improving the way I ate, which lead me to learn how nutrition impacts gene expression and this opened the doors to Epigenetics.

In this blog, I will simplify the concept of gene expression, which is a complex topic. A gene, through DNA structure, creates a codone, which is a code to make an amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Everything that makes our body work is made of proteins. While this is a simplistic way to explain things it is important to grasp the idea that a gene acts as a blueprint for protein production. Occasionally, blueprints can contain variations, alterations, or "errors", which are referred to as gene mutations. However, only a small number of these gene mutations, such as the BRCA gene or the Down Syndrome gene, play a definitive role in disease development. In fact, only around 1% of genes are directly responsible for causing disease, while the remaining genes can be influenced by epigenetics, allowing us to exert some control over their expression and impact on our health. 

 

Epigenetics

 

Epigenetics looks at how our environment influences gene regulation. Lifestyle and experiences can shape the expression of our genes. Things such as diet, exercise, exposure to toxins, social interactions, thoughts, and feelings impact gene expression. This highlights the direct connection between our genes and the environment in determining our health and well-being.

Above all, I am fascinated by how our thoughts, and feelings contribute to the regulation of our genes. Positive thinking, for instance, has been found to have a beneficial effect on gene expression. Research has shown that positive emotions and thoughts can upregulate (turn on) the expression of genes associated with well-being and overall health. For example, if we have loving thoughts, the brain releases hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. Someone that is in love is said to look and feel great; a person in love glows and is healthy. On the other hand, negative emotions and stress can downregulate (turn off) genes related to immune function and other essential processes. If we feel fear, anger, or jealousy the brain releases hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine that compromise our immune system and the ability of the body to repair and heal itself.

So, genes are controlled by our environment and respond to the environment. In essence, thoughts and emotions regulate what genes are turned on and what genes are turned off.

The placebo and nocebo effect

To further understand this, we can look at studies done on Placebo and Nocebo effects. The placebo effect is a well-known phenomenon where a person experiences positive health effects after receiving an inactive treatment, simply because they believe it to be effective. Positive thinking plays a key role in how a person heals. Studies show that our positive expectations and beliefs can activate neural pathways, trigger the release of certain neurotransmitters, and influence gene expression in ways that promote well-being and healing

On the other hand, negative thoughts and beliefs can have a detrimental impact on our health. The nocebo effect occurs when negative expectations and beliefs result in adverse health outcomes, even if the treatment itself is harmless. These negative thoughts can activate stress responses and negatively impact gene expression related to immune function and overall health.

Understanding the connection between our thoughts, emotions, and gene regulation can provide insights into promoting well-being and improving overall health. Practicing positive thinking and cultivating a positive mindset influences gene expression in a way that supports physical and mental well-being.

Going back to my gene variation. had I been aware of Epigenetics when my gene variation was initially diagnosed, would I have opted for surgery?? I do not know the answer to that. However, a more relevant question is whether, without the knowledge of my gene variant, I would have learned about epigenetics, made positive changes to my lifestyle, and become an integrative health coach? Probably not.

With all of this said, it is essential to note that while positive thinking has amazing beneficial effects, it is not a substitute for proper medical care and interventions. A holistic approach to health, considering lifestyle factors, genetics, and the guidance of medical professionals is paramount.

Most importantly let’s remind ourselves that every single decision we make from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep (including how we sleep) impacts what gene we turn on and what gene we turn off………….SO THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS!