Could Your DNA be as Important as Your Trust Fund?

If along with a lineage of successful careers, trust funds, and summer homes we could leave behind vastly useful health information that simultaneously saves and improves lives, wouldn’t you be hip to that idea? If the legacy we endow is highlighted by a powerful personal choice that contributes to enhancing the wellbeing of our loved ones, nearby communities and eventually society collectively, you’d be up for that, right? SO, have you had your DNA tested?To what degree can self-discovery be collectively advantageous?I know, so many questions… Let’s decode.Genetic inheritance, static or subject to rewrite?I’ve always wondered, are we really that hardwired by those who came before us?

1. Grandpa was an alcoholic, so was dad—I’m going to be for sure.
2. Mom had a bum ticker and a heart attack at 50—I’ll experience heart problems, too.
3. There are certain health concerns that may be present in my genetic history, yet identifying them can potentially liberate me or my {future} children from ever experiencing them.

C is the answer. It’s often written in popular literature that our genes do not 100 percent dictate our destinies. This is true. They do, however, explain to a significant degree details that paint the stories of our wellness over time. Genes often reveal why patterns came to exist in a family’s health history in the first place, or perhaps even more fascinating, an entire region’s health concerns throughout the ages. They often explain why we respond to the environment the way we do. I like to call those environmental implications, epigenetic variables.Genes help us, as individuals, free ourselves of old, outworn patterns, habits and behaviors we would otherwise likely chalk up to having inherited from our parents and grandparents. Instead of blaming our ancestors for our present shortcomings or the ones we perceive ourselves to be experiencing we can honor those who came before us by studying our DNA. We can act in a collectively conscientious way by putting that information into use and by caring for ourselves in ways that improve our genetic legacy. Instead of passing on the likelihood of developing certain health concerns, we can care for ourselves in the everyday so that we may confer a healthier version of ourselves to our posterity. In this responsible way, we convert personal awareness to collective wellness. Essentially we’re preparing for the future by choosing to live well in the now. Ready to decode your DNA?If diving into your ancestry and discovering clues to optimizing your epigenetic landscape intrigues you, it’s a lot easier than most people realize. 23andMe, advertised as an ancestry service, offers vast insight into not only where your ancestors originated, but also in-depth personalized health information when translated by a qualified healthcare provider. While 23andMe itself will not advertise this to you to protect their own interests, many external applications exist for healthcare providers to plug-in your information and translate it into tangible information. Editor’s note: There is no one-size-fits-all genetic testing. It’s important to align with a healthcare provider like Christine to help reflect your personal needs for optimizing wellness. Want to learn more? Check out this interview

with 23andMe’s CEO, Anne Wojcicki. She discusses why she thinks genetic testing is a personal responsibility for the modern human.

Christine has dedicated her career to helping others understand the science of happiness and its powerful effects on everyday human health by harnessing the power of the epigenetic landscape. She is available for both private and professional consultations. Please contact her here.