Inflammation is the overt expression of the body's protective mechanism in response to a challenge, and has been correlated as a common denominator in all of the chronic diseases, as shown by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and other blood markers for inflammation. Scientific research is coming to the conclusion the source of this increased inflammatory response points to the dramatic changes in our lifestyle over the past several decades.
Another indicator for increased susceptibility to this inflammatory response is how some of our genes vary between individuals, in particular IL-1 genes.
The genetic tests I'm working with look at certain IL-1 genes. Studies have found that individuals with certain variations of these particular genes expressions appear to develop several chronic diseases earlier than people without those variations. In addition, its been found that lifestyle factors can minimize the natural effect of these gene variations, which means if we as consumers are aware of our genetic predisposition to certain diseases, we can take the proper lifestyle steps to manipulate the effect of that genetic predisposition in our lives.
My book Nutrigenomic Diet for Weight and Fat Loss: One Consumer's Journey isn't about changing our genes. It's about changing our lifestyle habits that can either increase or decrease our natural tendency to develop diseases for which we may have a particular vulnerability. For instance, knowing we may have a genetic predisposition to heart disease long before any symptoms appear can give us a head start to changing our lifestyle habits related to known risk factors for heart disease. An individuals risk for heart disease comes from many factors including levels of bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and inflammation. Because cardiovascular disease studies indicate that high levels of inflammation contribute as much risk for heart attacks as high levels of bad cholesterol, knowing our genetic predisposition to inflammation from these IL-1 genes can be useful information.
Different genetic tests of different genes reveal different risk factors. It's possible to get a general genetic scan to see what our genes are ... but then what do you do with all of that information? The genetic tests I work with measure those genetic variations where scientists have proven a particular lifestyle can have a predictable effect on the future expression of risk factors for a particular disease or condition. Or at least that's what I understand from the experts I've been talking with about this issue.
Best wishes,
Marilyn McLeod
Marilyn@PersonalizedHealthCoach.com
Visit Marilyn McLeod's Amazon Author Page
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