How Does Epigenetics Work?

What if I told you that you didn’t have to be sick the rest of your life? That drugs and natural remedies weren’t the only options if you wanted to be healthy?

Functional medicine focuses on exactly that: the root cause rather than just the symptoms. Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression rather than the alteration of the genetic code itself.

“Think of a paper towel roll. Written on the paper towel roll is a word on every sheet. When we put enough stressors on our system, it will come unrolled” says Doctor Goodbinder. “This is similar to the way our body reads our genetic code. You may have rheumatoid arthritis, but as long as that’s wrapped up, your body can’t read it and you’re fine. Until you have enough stressors on your system, forcing the towel to come unrolled, this is what causes you to be sick.”

Looking at a person’s body through an epigenetics lens allows us to realize that people weren’t genetically predisposed to have diabetes, thyroid disease, or whatever it may be. Yes, many of these diseases can be genetic. However, epigenetics looks at disease differently. We don’t have to express our unhealthy genes.

Understanding epigenetics is understanding that we have the power to make changes in our life and gives us hope that we can feel good the rest of our lives.