Every kid reaching for the junk food has heard mom and dad’s warning, “You are what you eat!” But parents should be advised that children can now offer a humbling retort, “No, I’m what YOU ate!” A new study by scientists from the Institute of Experimental Genetics at Helmholtz Zentrum München (Neuherberg, Germany) suggests that … Continue reading Epigenetics: Feeding the Obesity and Diabetes Epidemic?
Children of Diabetic Moms May Benefit from the Epigenetic Power of Green Tea
If a mother with diabetes drinks green tea during pregnancy, could it improve her child’s development? For years, pregnant women have been advised to take probiotics and antioxidants, such as folic acid, to help improve pregnancy outcomes. However, the precise way these supplements work continues to be up for debate. Now, epigenetic evidence is mounting … Continue reading Children of Diabetic Moms May Benefit from the Epigenetic Power of Green Tea
Fetal Development Epigenetically Influenced by Exposure to a Widespread Chemical in Plastic
Evidence on the negative impact of the environmentally ubiquitous chemical, bisphenol-A (BPA), continues to mount. Previous research has shown that this endocrine disruptor causes adverse health effects during development and impacts the reproductive system, mimicking estrogen and binding to nuclear estrogen receptors as well as androgen receptors. BPA has been implicated in diseases such as obesity, … Continue reading Fetal Development Epigenetically Influenced by Exposure to a Widespread Chemical in Plastic
Study exposes dangers of too much fluoride, says children are at INCREASED risk of tooth decay from using too much toothpaste
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls the process of adding fluoride to drinking water to improve dental health “one of the ten most important public health advances of the 20th century,” claiming that it significantly decreases rates of dental decay. Water fluoridation has been the official government policy of the United States for many decades now, … Continue reading Study exposes dangers of too much fluoride, says children are at INCREASED risk of tooth decay from using too much toothpaste
Selective Survival In The Womb Based On Random Epigenetic Variation May Explain Adult Health Problems
It’s been said before that health begins in the womb. That’s because the conditions we encounter in utero impact not only our well-being in infancy but throughout our entire lives. But what happens when the nutritional environment in the womb is less than favorable? Most epigenetic studies have suggested that embryos respond to adverse environmental conditions by adjusting their gene … Continue reading Selective Survival In The Womb Based On Random Epigenetic Variation May Explain Adult Health Problems
Paternal Environmental and Lifestyle Factors Influence Epigenetic Inheritance
There is strong evidence that suggests certain environmental or lifestyle factors may lead to increased risk of developing chronic diseases. These factors such as diet, behavior, stress, exposure to pollutants, and physical activity have been known to cause epigenetic changes which may be passed down from one generation to the next. It is believed that a father’s exposure to … Continue reading Paternal Environmental and Lifestyle Factors Influence Epigenetic Inheritance
Prenatal Maternal Stress Triggers Distinct DNA Methylation Signatures in Ice Storm Babies
The Quebec Ice Storm of 1998 was a devastating time that plunged more than 3 million Quebecers into frigid darkness without electricity for as long as 45 days. Now, more than 15 years later, researchers from McGill University and the Douglas Mental Health University are finding out that the length of time a pregnant woman … Continue reading Prenatal Maternal Stress Triggers Distinct DNA Methylation Signatures in Ice Storm Babies
Parents Who Exercise Could Epigenetically Pass on Heightened Learning Ability to Their Children
Exercising your body and your brain are two ways to improve your own health. It’s well known that physical and mental activity can boost learning ability and reduce risk for diseases such as Alzheimer’s. But, could doing so also directly benefit your future children? New research in Cell Reports indicates that a child’s capacity for learning could … Continue reading Parents Who Exercise Could Epigenetically Pass on Heightened Learning Ability to Their Children
A Father’s Stress Felt for Generations
New scientific research suggests that the negative effects of trauma can be inherited. Fathers may actually transfer the consequences of their early experiences to their children via an epigenetic process. Researchers report that mice that experienced stress early on passed down the negative consequences – depression, underestimation of risk, and upset of metabolism – to … Continue reading A Father’s Stress Felt for Generations
Dad’s Life Experiences May Epigenetically Influence His Children’s Health
Mothers have often – unfortunately and unfairly – had to carry the burden of being “to blame” for any of their child’s health-related shortcomings. When pregnant women are advised: eat more of this but not too much of that, drink this but definitely none of that… why does dad get off scot-free amid these typically well-intentioned suggestions? Previous studies … Continue reading Dad’s Life Experiences May Epigenetically Influence His Children’s Health
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 