AimonKopera MD
Researchesconsistently show just cutting down on calories does not produce the same level of weight loss across individuals studied. In fact, for a majority of people, losing weight and keeping it off is much more difficult – and the reasons may point to a genetic component.
Epigenetic variations affecting gene expression do not take place in the primary DNA sequence, and are therefore potentially reversible, which makes them attractive targets for obesity research and possible therapy. The most common modifications comprise DNA methylations, histone modifications, and RNA interference. DNA methylations have been linked to reduction or cessation of mRNA transcription, but can also generate up-regulation, or repair.
We are learning that certain foods have the chemical capacity to switch genes on or off, and trigger powerful responses in our body. By removing the harmful, toxic components that make up a large portion of the modern diet, and then adding foods enriched in methyl-donors, we may be able to reprogram our bodies to become fat-burning furnaces that turn fat into raw energy, thereby boosting our health and turning back the biological body clock.
Bioactive food compounds such as folate, polyphenols, selenium, and retinoids can influence DNA methylation and histone modification processes and thereby provide a pathway to obesity reduction and prevention. Moreover, epigenetic alterations contributing to aberrant RNA expression and enhanced chronic disease risk might be reversed by nutritional modifications.
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