Many of us believe that our genes are similar to a cosmic lottery. Some get lucky and are born with healthy and strong genes—others not so much. If we are fortunate enough to have parents who’ve lived a vibrant and healthy life into their nineties we feel blessed. The rest of us usually cringe when our doctor asks us at our annual checkup, “Who in your family experienced this, this and that?” —often dreadful diseases that we never want to experience. But is it luck or something else? A new book with cutting-edge research challenges that old assumption. Super Genes—Unlock the Astonishing Power of Your DNA for Optimum Health and Well-Being written by Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Rudolph Tanzi, Ph.D. claims that the new study of genetics shows us, “…in the vast majority of cases regarding health and personality, your genetic destiny is not set in stone.”
First some background. As some of us know, during in the last two decades the Human Genome Project completed a map of the 3 billion chemical base pairs of genes that make up the double helix of DNA in every cell of our bodies. According to Chopra and Tanzi, this genome, or super genome, that we all possess is made up of three big components:
1) The approximately 23,000 genes you inherited from your parents, along with 97% of the DNA located between those genes.
2) The epigenetic switching mechanisms that reside in every strand of DNA, which is controlled by your epigenome.
3) Genes contained in the approximately 100 Trillion microbes (comprising between 500 and 2,000 species of bacteria) in our bodies that continually serve us.
What most of us probably don’t know is that all those building blocks within us are “…fluid, dynamic and responsive to everything you think and do.” In fact, the major premise of this book is that “…gene activity is largely under our control.” By learning how our genes operate, and what influences are possible, we can “make our genes help us” and activate an enormous amount of untapped potential for a healthier life—hence, “super genes.”
So how does all this work? Keep in mind that DNA is the brain of each of our cells. According to Chopra and Tanzi, 99.9% of the time they work wonderfully. Only in the tiniest .1% is there trouble. Within our DNA, only 3% of it is made up of genes, but those genes direct and trigger certain actions for each cell. It’s important to realize, “…there is no such thing as a ‘disease gene.’ All genes are ‘good’ and provide a normal function needed by the body. It’s the variants that they harbor that can bring problems.”
Some variants determine our height or hair color. Others determine whether we have a predisposition to a disease. But remember, Chopra and Tanzi assert that, “The bottom line is that what we do, what we experience, and how we view the world, along with what we are exposed to in our environment, strongly influence the actual outcome of the genes we inherit.”
A key to understanding how we can learn to influence our genes is found within the study of epigenetics. Epigenetics are the managers or control switches that either trigger on or off the variants and/or mutations in our genes. This collection of epigenetics, called an epigenome, constantly monitors our daily lives. For example, “…a growing body of evidence indicates that diet, behavior, stress levels and chemical pollutants can all affect gene activity and thus one’s survival and well-being.”
What are some of the most provocative claims reported in the book? Here are important ones that caught my eye:
- “What makes the difference between well-being and radical well-being is learning to guide and influence your genes in a positive manner.”
- “After studying hundreds of pairs of identical twins, researchers determined that the probability for Alzheimer’s disease occurring in both twins is 79% if one of them is afflicted. This means that lifestyle accounts for 21% of the probability of developing Alzheimer’s even with identical genes.”
- “For various cancers—colon, prostate, breast, and lung—the heritability in identical twins ranges from 25% to 40%, which is why the current view holds that the majority of cancers, perhaps a large majority, are preventable.”
- Studies have shown that up to one-third of dementia cases are linked to mineral deficiencies or poor diet.
- The food we eat, our level of stress, our lack of exercise and so much more causes negative epigenetic modifications and alters gene activities.
- Only about 5% of disease mutations guarantee that a particular kind of disease will begin within any of us. The other 95% only increase our susceptibility, along with the environment and other choices in a person’s lifestyle.
- “When it comes to human disease, whether it’s cancer, diabetes, heart disease or Alzheimer’s, to name a few, inflammation is almost always the killer that takes the patient out. If you want to name the epigenetic change that plays the biggest role in modulating a biological process, it would probably be inflammation.”
- “Drastic inactivity (sitting all day with no exercise at all) eventually leads to a 30% higher mortality rate for men and double the mortality rate for women.”
- “Lack of sleep has been associated with triggering Alzheimer’s…”
But make no mistake, this book isn’t just about cutting-edge gene study facts. Entire chapters are devoted to which foods are most beneficial, proven ways to reduce stress, valuable ways to exercise and even how important our thoughts and attitudes are to creating super genes. Also pointed out is, like so much in the study of happiness and positive psychology, super genes respond to the outlook and beliefs we hold in our mind. Having an optimistic growth mindset once again shows that regardless of the genes we have been dealt in life, there are ways we can positively influence them to our benefit.
Chopra and Tanzi repeatedly remind us that our genes are not the enemy, but instead are often only responding to the “cloud of causes” that our every day choices and thoughts bring into existence. They make it clear that our biology is never our unalterable destiny. Ultimately this book reminds us that it is SMART to insure that our actions, choices, habits, and thoughts work in harmony with our bodies and our world in order to experience an ongoing healthy and happy life.
Super Genes will be available in all major outlets on November 10th. It is available on Amazon here. I received a free copy of this book in return for this review. However, all thoughts and impressions are solely my own.
Thanks for sharing this book and your thoughts on it, Kathy! I think you summed it up very well by writing “everyday thoughts and choices”. It’s true that some of us sometimes feel like our genes are like death sentences. It’s great to know that science (hard science even!) now has data to show that we can still make choices, we can change our futures and predisposition and that lifestyle remains a huge factor and not just ‘nature’.
Hi Joy! I know that this post is a little more complicated than some but I found it so very fascinating that I had to share it. I find it so very hopeful and helpful to know that we are not just “stuck” with the body we were born with. Every one of us can positively influence our bodies for better health. Thanks for your thoughts on this. ~Kathy
Great blog. I enjoyed it so much while drinking my morning coffee. Makes one feel grateful. Thanks.
Oh, this is good news, and now I can also tell my adopted sister to bugger off when she teases me about inheriting our parents’ genes.
Hi Laura! Hahaha! I always tell my sisters that I had to be adopted because I am so different. Isn’t it interesting to see that even when identical twins share EXACTLY the same genes they can be different too. What we need to watch out for are all the OTHER habits our parents taught us about eating, exercise, sleep, etc. ~Kathy
Hi Amin! Yes, isn’t it good to know there are thousands of opportunities to take care of our health. Chances are good you are extremely healthy with your lifestyle, but many of us here in Western Cultures have gotten complacent. We really need books like this to help us and yes, hopefully, it will help save lives. Thanks for your comment as always! ~Kathy
What an interesting read Kathy! I really hadn’t given our genes much thought when thinking about our happiness, but it makes so much sense.
Hi Rena! I actually thought of you when reading this because there are some fascinating facts about Alzheimers and their caregivers in this book. And even though my mom also was diagnosed with Alzheimers, this book made it clear that the chances of me getting it are not that large due to many reasons. Good news as far as I was concerned. While this book doesn’t claim to eliminate many of the health challenges we all might face, it does offer tools to avoid the worst and to provide the best opportunities available. I found that GOOD NEWS for sure. ~Kathy
The Paleo Movement also talks about the ability to turn the best of our DNA on too. In all honesty, there is a piece of me that doesn’t want to know it. Inflammation is easily remedied through diet and exercise, but the same piece doesn’t want to know that too. It takes the right victimization away and makes me more responsible for my life. Most of the time I like being in control, but the ice-cream, dorito loving part of me (which I am ashamed of) would rather not know . However, I’m having a great time being alive- and would like to continue for a long long time.
Hi Beth! Thank you for sharing what most of face on a regular basis. 🙂 It’s true. It is much more fun to stop thinking about what we eat and whether we need to exercise and all that. I’m EXACTLY the same. But after facing a couple of health challenges myself, I decided that the “fun” of pretending that I could do what I wanted without consequences didn’t ring true anymore. Of course some people never come to that realization. My mom smoked her entire life and that eventually killed her at a young age of 73. We all have big decisions to make and only WE can make them for ourselves. But ultimately I think we will either be rewarded or pay the penalty for many of the choices we make each and every day. Thank you for bringing up this VERY IMPORTANT aspect! ~Kathy
It is a fascinating topic Kathy for sure. My thoughts are you can not blame your genetics or use them as an excuse but head them as awareness. Living your life as you choose, smart ala Kathy, and being happy is the way to go.
Hi Haralee! YES! I so agree that we can’t “blame” our genetics or use them as excuses for not living a happy or fulfilled life. And while I know tough things do happen to most of us at times in our lives, learning to move through them and keep going with a good attitude is something I definitely advocate. Your example of how you’ve created both a business and a blog from your desire to help others, is inspiring to me. Thanks for your comment. ~Kathy
Considering that early high blood pressure runs in my family (my son, and I, both have it), and that my husband may have an inherited kidney disease, this is good news – our genes are not our destiny. We can make things better.
Hi Alana! YES! Isn’t it so good to know that we are not just “stuck” with what we’ve got? While both my older sister and I have a thyroid condition, I am convinced that we got it from “environmental toxins” when we were very young thanks to reading books like Deepak’s. And while it “won’t just go away” or I can erase it, I can learn how to manage it in a way that works for me and keeps me healthy. I think that’s one of the big points the book makes. While we probably can’t eliminate the health tendencies in us and our families, we can learn how to best manage them so that they don’t cause big problems. Thanks for joining the conversation! ~Kathy
I appreciate hearing about this new book! My life has been turned around by Chopra’s books and his encouragement to look at health and living in a new way, helped me to overcome some serious health issues, nearly twenty years ago. My daughter works in traditional medicine, and what’s interesting is healthcare providers who once thought their brand of medicine was black and white, are now becoming much more open to alternative methods of healing. We are incredibly fortunate to be living in this era of change. Learning about the power of our minds and eating/growing healthy foods has turned my life around. Thank you for such an inspiring peek at this new book!
Hi Pam! Good for you for learning to turn around some of your health challenges. And yes, haven’t we seen some AMAZING changes to the health care industry in the last 20-30 years? And while I think there is lots more the traditional health care industry can do, it’s leaders like Deepak Chopra that have gradually been chipping away at “old” thinking. We do indeed live in exciting times for how this is changing. Thanks for your comment! ~Kathy
The whole genetic discussion is a really fascinating one full of hope and positivity. I only just found out recently that just because a person has a certain gene, it does not mean it will activate. So this book sounds brilliant to me – loads more to it to find out about. Thanks.
Thank you for this excellent review! I have had the privilege of hearing Deepak Chopra speak live and I LOVED it. Everything he said just made sense to me! We all need to try harder and be responsible for our own health. It takes work, but we can influence what happens to us. Thank you!
Hi Suzanne! Yes, Deepak is an amazing man and continues to come out with new and surprising material. Thom and I too have had the pleasure to hear him speak many times. While this info might be a bit “thick” for some, I do think it is fascinating and so very important to know about. Not only can we influence our minds for a happier life, but with this groundbreaking work we can now influence the biology of our bodies. Powerful stuff! Thanks for checking in! ~Kathy