Understanding What Epigenetics Is

Understanding What Epigenetics Is By Dr. Marie Starling and Lisa Biederman, CNTP What is epigenetics? Epigenetics is the study of changes to gene expression without changes to the DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes turn genes on or off and determine which protein is transcribed. Genetics are influenced greatly by environmental and lifestyle factors such as nutrition, sleep habits, stress levels and emotions. Epigenetics can create over 2,000 variations of proteins for one gene blueprint and these modifications can be passed down to later generations as well. This means that how we see, process and deal with your world dictates how our genes express themselves. When scientists embarked upon the human genome project, they expected us to have around 125,000 genes to make all the proteins generated by the body. What they found when they sequenced all the genome was that we only have about 25,000 genes. This tells us that we have a unique way of expressing and combining genes.  This means that our genes do not run the show, but rather what we express from our genes runs the show. Our perceptions and emotions drive what we express epigenetically.  If you have misperceptions, you will create inappropriate responses. If you have anxiety and feel stressed all the time, the hypothalamus and endocrine system will communicate to your cells that world is an unsafe place and your body will turn on select genes and produce certain proteins. If you feel like the world is safe and wonderful, you’ll have a different epigenetic expression. The cell is a receptor. It has places for information to be accessed by binding to hormones and...

All About Serotonin

All About Serotonin By: Jessica Yoches, MNT Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter commonly connected to happiness and mood, but it also has numerous functions and roles in multiple body systems, such as in the gastrointestinal, immune, urinary, reproductive, cardiovascular, and hormonal systems. Functional medicine recognizes the other roles of serotonin and the importance of a healthy gut. Since 90-95% of serotonin is made in the intestinal mucosa, a healthy gut is necessary for optimal serotonin production. Having leaky gut associated with autoimmune conditions such as Celiac, Lupus, MS, and Hashimoto’s etc. leads to low serotonin production and other health issues. Dysfunction of serotonin production in the gut is linked with IBS, IBD, and other gut issues such as constipation and infections.Supporting serotonin production is also important for those with methylation issues and SNPs, or single nucleotide polymorphisms, such as MTHFR. Looking at your individual genetics is another piece we can investigate at The Healing Center Denver to integrate into your protocol as your Functional Medicine specialist. Functions of Serotonin Gut – regulates digestive enzyme secretion, stimulates peristalsis to push intestinal contents forward, and transmits signals between the nerve cells of the gut and the central nervous system. Hormonal and Metabolic – Regulates energy balance, blood sugar control, and metabolic rate. Serotonin also influences the HPA axis, or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, which affects stress response and even thyroid hormone levels. Urinary – part of bladder control regulation Cardiovascular – helps control blood clotting; monitors contraction and relaxation of blood vessels for vascular tone; helps detect abnormalities of blood flow in the brain; and regulates heart rate, force of contractions, and how much blood the heart is pumping. Brain and Nervous...