It’s all in the genes
“I got it from my parents” is a statement we often hear from people trapped in physical or other limitations. People will gracefully sink into a state of gross obesity, diabetes or alcoholism, blaming it on their genes.
Everything from bad temper to migraine and heart disease is blamed on their ancestors who gave them bad genes. Now science tells us that genes are not an immutable heritage. Like karma everything responds to persistent effort.
The new science of epigenetics indicates that biological mechanisms can actually switch on or switch off these genes. The ‘light switches’ can be turned off and on by our own efforts or efforts of those who nurture us. Regular exercise can turn off the FTO gene which causes obesity. The length of your life line is inversely proportional to the length of your waistline. So do learn some form of movement that changes your apple shape and whittles your waistline. Anything will do — yoga, Bollywood dancing or belly dancing.
Cardiologists across the world now subscribe to Dean Ornish’s view that you can unblock your arteries by changing your lifestyle with the trinity of diet, exercise, and meditation. So put on your walking shoes. Cover territory instead of covering your seat. Walk through your neighbourhood.
Stay at home and cook your own meals. This can increase your chances of survival in the next 10 years by 47 per cent.
l Get eight hours of sleep.
l Eat a good breakfast and a light dinner before 8 pm.
l Drink eight glasses of liquids.
l Include five helpings of colourful fruits and vegetables.
l Keep in touch with five or more close friends.
l Build your extended family network jeans or genes, you too can alter them with your own efforts.
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