Should I Take Aspirin to Prevent Heart Disease? - Everyone knows that aspirin protects against heart disease, right? Well, it turns out that aspirin may only protect some people from heart disease, and for others, it can actually slightly increase the risk of heart disease. It all seems to depend on a variant of the COMT gene. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is the gene that codes for an … Continue reading "Should I Take Aspirin to Prevent Heart Disease?"
Decrease Your Risk of Diabetes – Using Genetics - What comes to mind as far as the risk of type 2 diabetes? Usually first up is the mental picture of someone eating donuts and slurping down soft drinks. While diet definitely contributes to diabetes risk, not everyone who eats donuts and slurps soft drinks will get diabetes. Alternatively, not everyone with type 2 diabetes … Continue reading "Decrease Your Risk of Diabetes – Using Genetics"
Changing Your Circadian Gene Expression with Polyphenols - This is a bit of a departure from my usual article. It is a paper that I recently wrote for a class that I’m taking for my Master’s in biology. Thought I would share it in case anyone is interested… Overview: Resveratrol, EGCG, grape seed extract, passion flower, and other polyphenol supplements can increase the … Continue reading "Changing Your Circadian Gene Expression with Polyphenols"
Autophagy Genes - Autophagy is a general term for cellular pathways that move something from the cytoplasm of the cell into the lysosome for degradation. The term comes from the Greek ‘auto’ (self) and ‘-phagy’ (to eat). So when you see articles touting ‘autophagy diets’ as the latest and greatest for longevity or beautiful skin, realize that the … 
CYP3A4 and CYP3A5: Genes that Impact Drug Metabolism - Our bodies break down (metabolize) drugs and other toxins through a group of enzymes known as the CYP450 family. Different CYP enzymes break down different substances, and we all carry genetic variants that can impact whether we metabolize a drug quickly or slowly. The CYP3A genes (which code for enzymes of the same name) is … Continue reading "CYP3A4 and CYP3A5: Genes that Impact Drug Metabolism"
CYP2C19 – Metabolizing medications - The CYP2C19 enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of several popular drugs including proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid), certain anti-epileptics, and an antiplatelet drug (Plavix). CYP2C19 is also involved in activating and breaking down some hormones such as progesterone. There are variants of the CYP2C19 gene that cause some people to be poor metabolizers … 
Lipoprotein(a): A big genetic risk for heart disease - It is often tempting to think that people who exercise, are thin, and look healthy are at a low risk for heart disease. But beneath all the healthiness can lurk a genetically driven risk factor for a heart attack: elevated lipoprotein a. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US and … Continue reading "Lipoprotein(a): A big genetic risk for heart disease"
HLA-B27: Genetic Variants That Increase Susceptibility to Autoimmune Diseases - Our immune system does an awesome job, most of the time, at fighting off pathogenic bacteria and viruses. But to fight off these pathogens, the body needs to know that they are the bad guys. One part of our immune system is the major histocompatibility complex, also known as HLA, or human leukocyte antigens. The … Continue reading "HLA-B27: Genetic Variants That Increase Susceptibility to Autoimmune Diseases"
Liver Detox Genes: CYP2C9 Genotypes and Drug Metabolism - Have you ever wondered why certain medications don’t work well for you? Genetic variants can change how fast or how slow the medication is broken down in your body. CYP2C9 is a gene that codes for an enzyme that metabolizes quite a few medications in the liver as well as linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and … Continue reading "Liver Detox Genes: CYP2C9 Genotypes and Drug Metabolism"
Vitamin K: CYP4F2 and VKOR Genetic Variants - Vitamin K1 is a fat-soluble vitamin that is needed by our bodies to synthesize the proteins responsible for blood coagulation. Without vitamin K1, also known as phylloquinone, bleeding is hard to control. We get vitamin K1 from eating green plants, as phylloquinone is a part of the photosynthesis process. Vitamin K2 comes in several different forms … Continue reading "Vitamin K: CYP4F2 and VKOR Genetic Variants"
Your Drinking Genes: How well does your body break down alcohol? - Alcohol. People have been imbibing beer and wine for millennia, enjoying alcohol ever since someone discovered the altered sensations from fermented fruits and grains. Archeologists recently announcing the discovery of an Egyptian brewery from the time of the great pyramid. What does alcohol do in our bodies? And why do people react differently to alcohol? (hint- … Continue reading "Your Drinking Genes: How well does your body break down alcohol?"
How light at night could double your risk of cancer. - The World Health Organization listed ‘light at night’ as a possible carcinogen in 2007. That is an eye-opening statement for something that affects almost all of us. From streetlights to the lamp in the living room, from accent garden lighting to the glow of TV’s and cell phone… artificial light at night is truly ubiquitous. … Continue reading "How light at night could double your risk of cancer."
Optimizing Your Life and Diet Based on Your Genes
