It can certainly change the fit of you favorite blue jeans…however, we’re talking about the DNA type here sport fans =}
I come from a history of breast cancer in my family, therefore, I am quite concerned about this issue as well. Due to my extensive research, I feel there are several other options to explore before making this kind of extreme, invasive, expensive and potentially dangerous decision.
Despite what most people and much of the medical profession believe, here’s some very good news; your genes are not your destiny. New research shows that improved diet, meditation and other non-medical interventions can actually “turn off” the disease-promoting process, in effect, change your genes! To be clear, I’m not talking about the blue eyes, balding, 6 foot tall type genes, I am referring to the disease-causing genes (from diabetes to heart disease to cancer, etc.). In most cases, our genes are only a predisposition or sensitivity; they are not written in stone. And if we have a strong family history for diseases such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, or heart disease– “bad genes”– then we may need to make bigger changes in lifestyle in order to help prevent or even reverse chronic diseases.
How do you change these important genes? Short answer, work on developing a healthy immune system. Our body does have the ability to defend, heal and repair itself (as it was beautifully designed), however, it needs the right tools to make this happen. You must start at the cellular level. Healthy cells = healthy tissue = healthy organs = healthy you. Whether you realize it or not, there is a constant war being waged at your cellular level.
Immune System Basics: Your body is a multi-cellular organism made up of 100 trillion cells. The cells in your body are fairly complicated machines. Each one has a nucleus, energy production equipment, etc.
The immune system is the body’s defense against infectious organisms and other invaders. Through a series of steps called the immune response, the immune system attacks organisms and substances that invade body systems and cause disease. It is made up of a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body. The cells involved are white blood cells, or leukocytes, which come in two basic types that combine to seek out and destroy disease-causing organisms or substances.
Leukocytes are produced or stored in many locations in the body, including the thymus, spleen, and bone marrow. For this reason, they’re called the lymphoid organs. There are also clumps of lymphoid tissue throughout the body, mostly as lymph nodes, that house the leukocytes.
The leukocytes circulate through the body between the organs and nodes via lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. In this way, the immune system works in a coordinated manner to monitor the body for germs or substances that might cause problems.
Here are changes you can do right now to boost your immune system: adopt a plant-based diet (mainly fruits, vegetables, legumes, soy products, and whole grains low in refined carbohydrates) or low glycemic, moderate movement (walking 30 minutes per day), stress management techniques (yoga-based stretching, breathing techniques, meditation, massage and guided imagery), addressing mind, body and spirit practices. In addition, supplementing the diet with nutrients can also be recommended. Chapter 4 of my ebook goes more into why and how to supplement and a specific wellness science I recommend.
True Story: Several years ago working with a female client who had a very strong familial history of breast cancer (her mother, a sister and several aunts had died as a result) and she wanted to know what to do to be more proactive. Upon asking her family doctor what options he would recommend, he prescribed a medication called Tamoxifen for her breast cancer prevention. Shortly thereafter, it was uncovered that Tamoxifen lead to increased incidence of uterine cancers (which had gone unreported by the drug company for many years). It makes you wonder, what are the traditional medical establishment and drug companies really about?
My mission is to teach and guide you toward becoming personally empowered wellness warriors to enjoy a higher quality of life.