Imagine your body as a super-advanced instruction manual for building and operating you, the incredible human being. Now, within that manual, there’s a special section called DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. Think of DNA as the master architect’s blueprint for creating and maintaining you. It’s a long, twisted ladder-like structure, often described as a double helix. Now, this isn’t just any blueprint; it’s the most sophisticated one you can imagine. Here’s the fascinating part: DNA contains the instructions for building every part of you – your eyes, your skin, your heart, and even your quirky sense of humor. It’s like a gigantic library filled with books, and each book (gene) has information about a specific trait or feature. Now, as your body goes about its daily business, DNA is like the conductor of an orchestra, directing every cell to play its unique part. It guides the production of proteins, which are like the workers responsible for constructing and maintaining your body. It’s not only about construction; DNA also plays a crucial role in inheritance. When you were born, you inherited half of your DNA from your mom and half from your dad, creating a unique combination that makes you, well, you! So, in simple terms, DNA is the ultimate guidebook for building and running the human body. It’s the amazing code that shapes your physical appearance, influences your traits, and ensures that your body functions smoothly, allowing you to be the fantastic person you are!

Understanding how Genes Interact

As a certified functional genomics practitioner I study how genes interact with each other to functionally change responses in your cells. Your internal universe consists of 37,2 trillion cells, but this does not include the unimaginable number of microbes that co-exist in and on our bodies, like in our gut microbiome. It is important to understand that you are not the product of a dizzying number of single genes beating to their own drum. You are the product of a dizzying number of genes expressed in perfectly synchronised pathways, which culminate in an orchestral masterpiece and that masterpiece is YOU! There is no single gene that causes a disease, like breast cancer or cardiovascular disease, therefore there is not a single procedure or product, lotion or potion that will ‘cure’ a condition.

Be suspicious of products that claim to cure everything from high blood pressure to skin rashes and constipation, as it may bring temporary relief for one symptom, but you are unaware of the number of side effects it causes down the road. For example a skin rash goes away when you apply an ointment, but it re-appears as soon as you stop using the product. This means you are only dealing with symptom relief and suppression. You need to find the root cause for the skin rash and make the necessary lifestyle changes to allow your body to heal and get rid of the skin rash forever. A symptom is never the problem, it is always just messenger that your need to pay attention to by examining your lifestyle choices.

Less than 1 % of the population have a mutation in their genes which means you are born with a disease/condition like Cystic Fibrosis or Down’s Syndrome. The rest of us develop diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, etc. based on our lifestyle choices. Your genes interacts with your environment and lifestyle to ultimately define who you are and the state of your health at any given time in your life. Chronic diseases are not the result of your genes, they are created by your lifestyle choices. The choices you make with regards to the quality of your sleep, your exposure to toxins (what you put in and on your body like food and body products) how you move/exercise, how you handle emotions and stress. These are the key lifestyle components that determine the state of your health.

Simply put: your genes load the gun, your environment/lifestyle pulls the trigger.

You cannot change your genes, but you can change the gene expression through lifestyle changes. You need to NURTURE your NATURE! Your daily habits either create health or they lead to disease and dysfunction. When your daily habits promote healing your whole life becomes more vibrant. As a transformational therapist I trace the most likely root causes of your medical condition(s), and help you formulate customised strategies for your body, based on your genetic playbook, to promote healing and optimise your lifestyle to experience a level of health you’ve never enjoyed before.