Epigenetics – The Why Behind True Self-Care Strategy
You know I’m all about self-care — because of my own story as well as the stories of women I work with. We all keep learning through personal experience and by listening to others’ stories.
One story about eight years ago is what led me to learn about something called epigenetics — and eventually nutrigenomics. I use both personally, every day. But more importantly, they changed how I understand self-care.
And that’s why it’s time to talk about them here.
If we pull a formal definition of epigenetics, CDC says “epigenetics is the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work”. Epigenetics influences how your body turns genes on and off — more like a dimmer switch than an on/off button. And all of it is fluid, changeable and reversible. It’s important to add in here that the goal is not to change your genetics and this is very different than being tested for a colon cancer gene or a breast cancer gene.
My definition is this - how we eat, sleep, deal with stress and are exposed to environmental toxins all play a role in our health by impacting how our body’s biochemistry works or doesn’t work.
I know…you’re shrugging your shoulders and saying, “Ummm…yeah!? I know that my food choices and stress can mess with my health.”
But this is the thing – how empowered do you feel to make any changes in those four things (food, sleep, stress, and environmental exposures)? I know it’s really easy for me to acknowledge the potential but then move on to something else because life is busy! Changing what I eat every day or finding ways to cut back on stressors is work! Besides… realistically, how much of an impact will small changes in those four items really make?
Here’s the truth…It’s more of an impact than you may believe. You can make a small change in any of those four variables and significantly impact how your body’s biochemistry works. Remember the idea that the human body will always move towards a state of health, if we can get the roadblocks out of the way? Roadblocks include food sensitivities, glyphosate weed-killer, not enough rest or red-line stressors. Your body knows what to do…it just gets overwhelmed with modern day craziness. Just like we all do!
And maybe I’m not making this practical enough, yet. So, let’s zoom through some of the wellness frustrations that epigenetics can impact:
Mood and feeling anxious or unsettled
Hormone imbalances
Gut reactivity and microbiome balance
Allergies, including food sensitivities
Liver Health, including detox pathways
Headaches and migraines
I’ll be really honest with you. You’ll find that same list on other websites proclaiming what they believe in is THE next best thing for your health. The thing about health and wellness is that there is not just one way to get where we want to go — or one way that will work for everyone. The reason I like epigenetics is I can see (and show you) how the actual biochemical pathways work and how to support the areas that need support. Epigenetics offers a real explanation for why we feel the way we do after doing, eating, working or playing. And it doesn’t involve fad diets or expensive medications or a one-size-fits-all solution.
Epigenetics is individualized self-care. You find what works best for you and your unique make-up — and you embrace it. Along with a little grace, because none of us have a record of perfection in this life.
As you read this, notice what feels like the biggest “roadblock” for you right now. That awareness alone is a powerful first step.
Over the next four weeks, we’ll go through what I call the Four Cornerstones of Epigenetics — food choices, quality sleep, stress management, and environmental exposures. This is the foundation of a true self-care strategy.
