The genetic risk for obesity in people that have a genetic predisposition toward obesity can be modified by a change in diet according to new research conducted
Over the past decade we have seen a huge increase in the prevalence of obesity in our society. We typically attribute this cause to our unfavorable diets full of fat, sugar and processed food of all kind. A smaller percentage of people carry a genetic code that makes them more likely than those without it to develop this chronic condition. A Harvard study currently has found that diet alone can also help minimize the risk of even genetic influences on obesity.
I find it liberating that diet can even effect the way our genes decide to function. Yes of course the presence of certain genes allows or denies us the ability to express certain conditions but being able to change that with diet alone? That is amazing!
Granted, this finding has been based mostly on survey and must be further researched before we have concrete answers to this topic. The correlations are staking up.
If you think about it, we spend a great majority of our life planning and consuming what and when we will eat. Of course this affects us. Of course this can affect our gene expression. How could we be so blind to not think it would? Although food itself cannot cure us of unhealthy habits it can definitely be the deciding factor of which can either push us into an unhealthy lifestyle or prevent us from developing into a chronic illness.
One of my favorite quotes on this subject is as follows:
“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
