Nutrigenomics and Adaptogens
Adaptogens have often been called the “herbs of longevity”, why??
It goes deep, like DNA deep, so go make yourself a cup of Kapow Cacao and let’s dive in.
I personally often call adaptogens my heroes, they take no shit but do no harm and that’s what I aspire to also. They often grow in inconvenient locations or conditions but they literally cannot be stopped. They will thrive no matter what is thrown at them. They are these resilient little zen masters. Unperturbed by what is happening around them, blooming anyway and living to their fullest potential. What they have achieved is an ability to adapt like no other. Given the choice, adapt or die, they fight… and they win.
Basing my company on these amazing roots, herbs and berries, I named it Balaveda, which means the “wisdom of vitality” because that is what I believe they carry from their genetic make up to ours. Through working with adaptogens we can become more like them. How? I’m so glad you asked…..
The knowledge of these wonder herbs goes back to antiquity and beyond. Modern science is just starting to understand what the ancients have always known. But with the study of DNA and epigenetics, we’re unpacking a world of knowledge that gives us proof. This is where it starts to get really interesting if you nerd out on this stuff like I do.
Let me throw you some definitions; Epigenetics: The study of factors that influence gene expression but do not alter genotype, such as chromatin methylation and acetylation involved in tissue‐specific patterns of gene expression, or the parental imprinting of genes.
What does this mean exactly? It means that DNA is not an unchangeable structure per se. It means that what was passed onto you does not have to be owned by you. That just because you have the gene for something does not mean it has to be expressed. Just because you are prone to a disease does not mean that you will have it. Good news, right?
Genomics: the study of a complete set of DNA, including all its genes in a person or other organism.
Nutrigenomics: the scientific study of the interaction of nutrition and genes, especially with regard to the prevention or treatment of disease.
There are plenty of ways to activate or deactivate a gene expression. For instance, Dr. Joe Dispenza teaches that you can go straight to the source through meditation and breathing techniques to achieve this. Other ways include diet, lifestyle and herbs, which as an ayurvedic and naturopathic practitioner, I tend to lean into pretty strongly. So how do adaptogens play a role? Where do my little heroes fit in?
Well, not all genes are active at all times. DNA methylation is one of several epigenetic mechanisms that cells use to control gene expression. In other words, your DNA can be active or inactive and it has the ability to go “off script”!
DNA methylation involves the attachment of small chemical groups called methyl groups (each consisting of one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms) to DNA building blocks. When methyl groups are present on a gene, that gene is turned off or silenced, and no protein is produced from that gene. If no protein is produced then there is no expression, plain and simple.
This means that the environment plays a key role in what gets expressed and what does not. In Biology of Belief, Dr. Bruce Lipton discusses how he placed 3 identical cells into 3 different petri dishes; one with the building blocks of muscle, one with bone and one with fat. Those three identical cells each became that of the environment they were placed in.
These little “herbs of longevity” work in a couple ways, 1. They change the environment, the blood chemistry, the petri dish. And 2. They affect the methylation process discussed above in a balancing way. The process is biochemical and relates directly back to the hypothalamus. The body is not a machine with replaceable parts, but a living universe. A universe so diverse and so divinely created that we hardly understand it ourselves.
Combining these super herbs with a healthy diet and lifestyle techniques like meditation and breathing exercises helps us to tap into the super humans that we are at our core; Into supreme health and ultimately a quality of life that leaves us feeling unparalleled.
Some of our favorites in this herbal category include: Matcha, turmeric, amalaki, astragalus, Reishi….
Astragalus affects the adaptive immune system, which utilizes T and B lymphocytes, that have the remarkable ability to remember previous encounters with specific pathogens, allowing for a more rapid and effective response upon subsequent exposures. Astragalus does this by boosting and promoting these lymphocytes.
Reishi is immunomodulating, it changes the environment of the blood in an adaptive way. Think of it this way, if your body is the petri dish then your blood is the culture medium, as Bruce Lipton taught us, it's the environment that determines the outcome. This means we want the environment to be healthy and stable to avoid disease and the way we do this is through nutrigenomics. You quite literally are what you eat right down to the molecular level.
Amalaki or Indian gooseberry is a legend in itself. The name means, "the sustainer". It's used as a rasayana in ayurveda, meaning it rejuvenates the body. It nourishes the blood and therefore all the tissues. It lowers inflammation and restores vigor and vitality to the brain and heart. It is famously one of the three fruits in the ayurvedic formula, Triphala and the base of the nutritive jam, Chyavanprash.
Honestly, we can't live without Amalaki around here and take it daily for its ability to keep the body in healthy standing.
Turmeric, not technically an adaptogen (although many claim it to be), it operates as a master anti-inflammatory. This is how it alters blood chemistry. A steady dose of turmeric protects the brain from inflammation and prevents chronic inflammation throughout the body. Left to run rampant, chronic inflammation causes chronic disease.
Matcha (also not an adaptogen) is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols and gives a buoyancy to the blood. It’s elevating in the sense that it is high in catechins which help protect the heart. Matcha also helps regulate hormones, meaning it has a direct impact on the endocrine system.
In the end, the choices you make on the outside affect the choices your DNA will make on the inside. You are not just your genes, you are the sum of your choices and those choices are your greatest superpower, so choose wisely and ADAPT wisely.
In good health,
Amanda