135- Understanding Genetic Testing, Epigenetics and Genetic ......Beekeepers Naturals is dedicated to bringing the age-old benefits of bee products in to modern times. And they offer

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Episode135:UnderstandingGeneticTesting,

EpigeneticsandGeneticPolymorphismswithDr.BenLynch


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Child:WelcometomyMommy’spodcast.

ThispodcastisbroughttoyoubyVivos.Thisissomethingwerecentlyinvestedinforourentirefamilyandweareabsolutelylovingitandhereiswhy.So,datashowsthatthenutritionwereceiveinuterodeterminesourpalatedevelopmentandhownarroworopenourairwayandjawstructureare.Soanarrowmouth,jawandairwayincreasethechancesofneedingbraces,ofgettingsleepapnea,breathingdifficultiesandmuchmore.Butitwasprettymuchassumedthatyourjawstructurewassetinstoneonceyouwerebornorforsureafterthefirstcoupleofyearsoflife.ButVivoshasfoundthatnotonlyisthisnottrue,buttheycreatedanon-invasive,non-surgical,easywayofwideningthemaxilla,thejawandtheairway.Soforourkids,thismeansthattheygettoavoidthebracesthatmyhusbandandIbothhadandformyhusband,thismeanshissleepapneahasdisappearedandhestoppedsnoring,whichisabonusforme.I’llbewritingmoreaboutthissoonbutyoucancheckthemout,inthemeantime,atwellnessmama.com/go/vivos

ThispodcastisbroughttoyoubyBeekeepersNaturals.Humanshavebeenbenefittingfrombeesandtheirnourishingsuperfoodssinceprehistorictimes.FromCleopatrausinghoneytokeepheryouthfulglowtoHippocratesprescribingpropolistocureeverythingfromsorestobacterialinfection.Ourhealingrelationshipwithbeesgoeswayback.BeekeepersNaturalsisdedicatedtobringingtheage-oldbenefitsofbeeproductsintomoderntimes.Andtheyofferreallyhighqualitypropolis,royaljelly,beepollenandrawhoneyandmanyotherproducts.Andallofthesearesustainablysourcedfromacompanythatisdedicatedtoprotectingandimprovingthebeepopulation.Mypersonalfavoritesaretheirpropolisspray,whichhelpedmetoheadoffascratchythroat,andtheirB.LXRmixwhichisamixtureofallofthoseingredientsandit’sanaturalnootropicthatIuseonbusydays.Youcancheckthemoutatwellnessmama.com/go/beekeepers

Katie:Hello.Andwelcometo"TheHealthyMom'sPodcast".IamKatiefromwellnessmama.com,andthisisgonnabesuchanawesomeinterviewbecauseIhavetodayDr.BenjaminLynch,whoismostimportantlyadadofthreeamazingboys,buthe'salsoadoctor.Andhe'sconsideredoneofthetopexpertsintheworldonepigeneticsandgeneticpolymorphisms.Heissuperwellqualified.HehasdegreesinbiologyandhehasanaturopathicdegreefromBaiserUniversity,butreallyhehasdonetheresearchandreallydelvedintonutrigenomicsandmethylationandgeneticresearch.Andhe'sdefinitelyhandsabovealotoftheotherresearchers.Sohewritesaboutallthesetopicsandhehasanewbookcalled"DirtyGenes",whichisawesome.Igotachancetoreaditandyoureallyshouldcheckitout,ifyou'reinterestedinthistopicbecauseitisincredible.Hisworkisfoundathisownwebsite,drbenlynch.com.AndhealsoisthepresidentandfounderofSeekingHealth,whichyou'veprobablyseenmerecommendalotoftheirsupplementsonWellnessMama.SoI'mexcitedtohavehimtoday.Dr.Ben,welcome.Thanksforbeinghere.Ben:Pleasureasalways,Katie.Thankyou.Katie:Oh,I'mexcited.IwanttojumprightinbecauseIthinkthisisatopicthatpeoplereallydohavealotofquestionsabout,especiallynowthatwe'restartingtoreallyunderstanditonadeeperlevel.SoIwanttostartkindofbroadandthengetnarrowwithsomespecificquestionsfromlisteners.Sotostartoff,canyoukindofexplainwhatwe'reabletotestandknowaboutgeneswithmoderntechnologywehaveandalsowhatthe


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limitationsarewhenitcomestotesting?Ben:Wow.That'sagreatquestion.Wecantestalot.Wecantestyourentiregenome,Imean,yourentireDNA,nucleargenome,yourentiremitochondrialgenome.Wecantestyourmicrobiomegenomeprettymuchentirely,youknow?Butthequestionisallright,youdoallthat,yougetallthedatasetsback.Whichareactuallyhugefiles.They'regigabytesindata.Andhowdoyouweavethroughthat?Howdoyoumakeitapplicabletoreallifeasabusymom,abusydad,or,youknow,asakidwho'sinterestedinlearningaboutityourself?Sothedataisthere.Thetoolsarethere.Theamountoferrorsthatyougetingenetictestingareprettysmallwhenyouuseacompanylike23andMe,butifyou'reusingkindofmomandpopshopsthatarekindapoppingupalloverandsaying,"Hey,ordermyDNAchipandyoucanfindoutaboutifyou'reafastmetabolizerofcaffeineandif,youknow,you'regonnagetobeseat40oryou'repronetodiabetes,"kindathesemomandpopgenetictoolsthatyoucangetandthatyouordertheirgeneticDNAtestkititself,aswell,Iwouldquestiontheireffectiveness.Iquestiontheiraccuracy.Youknow,thebigplayerslikeViome,23andMe,Gnose,Ithinktheseguysare...well,Iknowtheseguysareprettycredible,prettylegit.But,youknow,Iwouldkeepitatthat.And,youknow,we'recomingoutwithourownDNAchip.Andit'sthesamemanufactureraswhatproduces23andMe'schip.Sothey'reaverycrediblecompany.It'stakingussometimetocreateitbecausewe'remakingsureit'saccurate.AndwhenIcalledthecompany,Isaid,"Hey,youknow,wereallywanttomakeourownchipbecause23andMedoesnothavesomeofthegenesthatwereallywant."Andtheysaid,"Well,that'scool.Youcanadd1,000genesthatyouwanttoputonthereonyourown."Isaid,"Okay.Well,that'scool.We'vegotabout,youknow,500,600,thatwe'reinterestedin."Andtheysaid,"Okay.Great."Isaid,"Well,what'stheaccuracyofit?Youknow,ifsomeoneteststheirMTHFRandtheywanttoknowiftheyhave1298or677,"we'llgetintothatabitlater,ifweneedto,"Iftheytestforacertaingene,what'sthespecificaccuracyofyourtest?"Andtheysaid,"Oh,it'sabout80%."Isaid,"Well,80%isn'tgoodenough."Sooutof1,000genesthattheysaidIcouldputonthere,reallywecanonlyhaveabout330becausewehavetorepeatthetestthreetimestomakesureit'saccurate.So,youknow,wereducedthat1,000downto333becausewewantpeopletogettherightinformation.Katie:That'sexciting.Ididn'tknowyouwerecomingoutwithatest,aswell.AndIthinkanimportantthingthatyoutalkaboutandIknowyou'vewrittenaboutthis,butIwanttomakesureweexplainitheretooisI'veseenthiskindofplayoutwherepeoplewilltesttheirgenes,andthenkindagetlikereallyconcernedthatthisisabsolutelylike,"Oh,Ihavethegeneforthis.I'mgonnagetcancer,I'mgonnagetthis."AndsoIthinkthisiswhereyourresearchissoimportant.Andsofromunderstandingthebasicsofgenesandthetesting,canyounowalsoexplainepigeneticsandwhatthatisandhowthatrelatestoourgenes?Ben:Yeah,forsure.Andyou'reabsolutelyright.Youknow,whenIfirstgotmygenetictestbackyearsagoandIfoundoutIhadMTHFR,asignificantone,andthenIfoundoutmykidshadit,Iwasterrified.Iwasreallyscared.AndthenIrealized...Ididmoreresearchonit.AndIrealizedthat,youknow,theItalianshaveavery,veryhighrateofMTHFRthatslowsitdowninitsperformancealot,aswell.AndIsaid,"Okay.Well,howfrequentlydotheItalianshaveneuraltubedefectsormiscarriagesoranythingthathastodowithMTHFR?"Well,Ishouldn'tsaythat,haveneuraltubedefects.


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AndwhiletheAmericansandtheChinesehaveaprettyhighrateofneuraltubedefectsiftheMTHFRpolymorphismispresent,theItaliansdon't.AndtheItalianshavethesamesevere,youknow,MTHFRgeneastheAmericansandChinese.Sowhyaren'ttheyhavingbabieswithneuraltubedefects?Well,ifwethinkinourheadwherewouldwewanttogoonvacation,youknow,we'regonnapickItalyprobablybecausetheyarelight-heartedpeople.Theyareingoodsun,sunnyweather.TheyhaveaverygoodMediterraneandiet.Youknow,I'mstereotypinghere.Youknow,theyhaveasignificantamountofvacation.Andfamily'sreally,really,reallyimportanttothem.Sotheirlifestyle,theirdiet,theirmindset,theirenvironment,areplayingkeyrolesinhowourgenesarefunctioning.AndjustbecauseyouhaveanMTHFRgeneticvariant,whichmanyofushave,doesn'tmeanit'saproblem.AndI'mlivingproofofthatnow.BeforemyMTHFRwasactingup,butitwasbecauseIwasnoteatingmysalad.ItwasbecauseIwasexercisingwaytoohardatacollegiatelevelinrowingandIwasburdeningmybody.Icouldn'thandleit.Iwasn'tsleepingverywell.Iwaseatingcollegefoodevenaftercollege.Ididn'teatsalads.Iwastakingfolicacid.SoallofthesecontributedtomyMTHFRgettingwhatIcalldirtynow.AndsoI'vecleaneditupbylivingamorehealthylifestyle,reducedmystressloadbydoingwhatIlove,eatinghealthy,andgettingridofthepeoplethatcausedstressinmylifebyjustnotassociatingwiththemanymoreandfindingpeoplethatIresonatewithandspendingmoretimewithmyfamilyandtakingvacations.AndmydirtyMTHFRisnowclean.Katie:Yeah.Andyouexplainthatsowellinthebook,but...sobasicallytomakesureeveryonelisteningunderstands,andeventhatIunderstand,basicallyourgenesarekindofourcodethatwe'rebornwith,butthosecanbeessentiallylike,tooversimplify,turnedkindofonorofformademoreorlessseverebyourenvironment.Andthatwouldbethingslikethesunlightandthestressandthesleep.Isthatright?Ben:Yeah,exactly.Thinkofitlikeweallhavelightsinourhouse.Youknow,wehavecannedlightingorlampsinourhome.Andthey’retherebutthey'renotfunctioningunlesswefliptheswitchon,right?Sowehavetofliptheswitchon.Wehavetoturnourgeneson.Andwecanalsoturnthemoffaswell.Andwedon'twantourgenesonallthetime.Theykindofpulse.Andsoit'sthelights.Sometimesyouwantthemoninyourhome,sometimesyouwantthemoff.Andwecontrolourgeneticexpressionbyourperceptionintheenvironment,byourfoodthatweeat,thefoodthatwedon'teat,thevitaminsandmineralsthatwetake,andhowweperceiveifit'sdangerousaroundusornot.BruceLiptondoesawonderfuljobofexplainingthis,aswell.Sowehavetounderstandthatourgenesarevery,veryburiedinsideofourbodies,insideofthenucleus,allwrappedupandcoiled.Andthenucleusisinsidethecell.AndsoourDNAsitsthereallwoundup,andthenucleusisinthemiddle.Andthensurroundingthatcellisthecellmembrane.Andonthatcellmembraneisabunchoflittleantenna.Andthoseantennawillreceivehormones,neuro-transmitters,youknow,chemicals,vitaminsandminerals,sunlight.Andtheywillperceiveitandthenthey'llbindtothereceptoronthecellmembrane.Thecellmembranewillsendasignaldowntothenucleusandsay,"Hey,DNA,wakeup.Makethisgene.Turniton.We'vegotsomeworktodo."Andthenthesignalwillgoawayandthegenewillgobacktosleepagain.Sokindofthinkofitlikethat.Katie:Yeah,that'sagreatanalogy.Andsokindof,Ithinktogodeeperwiththis,anothertermthatyouusealot,especiallyin"DirtyGenes",whichexplainthisallindepth,butyouusethetermgeneticpolymorphisms.Socanyouexplainlikespecificallywhatthatmeansandmaybewhatafewexamplesofthatwouldbe?


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Ben:Yeah.Sogeneticpolymorphismisavery,verycommon,whatalotofpeoplethinkisamutation.It'sadifferentiationofwhatourtypicalancestorshave.Sowe'llsaythemajorityofthepopulationspellsthenameMatthewwithtwoTs,M-A-T-T-H-E-W.Andthat'sMatthew.Ispellmyson'snameMathewwithoneTbecauseit'smoreRussian,M-A-T-H-E-W.SothecommonvariantsorthecommonmajorityofpeoplespellitMatthew.IhaveaMathewasapolymorphisminhisnamebecauseheismissingaT,right?Sothefunctionisstillthesame.Hisnameisstill,youknow,recognized.Itstillsoundsthesame,it'sstillactingthesame.Butthereisaslightvariationinit.Sothesamewithgeneticpolymorphism.It'slikeMTHFR.There'saslightmisspellinginthegene.Andsincethere'saslightmisspellinginthegene,itchangesthatgene'sshapealittlebit.Andwhenyougetanalteredshape,yougetalteredperformance.SohavingavariantorapolymorphisminMTHFRcanslowitdownbyanywherefrom20%allthewayuptoavery,verysevereformlike90%.Andit'sverycommon.Andsincegeneticpolymorphismsarereallycommon,wehavetoask,"Well,ifthey'rereallycommon,thentheremustbesomebenefittoit."Andthereare.SolikeMTHFRhasbeenaround,it'sbeennaturallyselectedfor,overmultiplegenerationsbecausepeoplewhogotexposedtomalaria,ourancestors,ifyouhadMTHFR,yousurvivedit.Youknow,thatincreasedyoursurvivability,ifyouhadMTHFR.Andthere'svariousreasonsforthat.Butnowadays,wedon'treallyliveinenvironmentswithmalaria,mostofus,andwehaveMTHFR.Sonowwethinkofitasaburdenandaproblembutwe'vedisplacedourancestralenvironmenttowhereverwearenow.SoI'minSeattle.Myancestorsmostlikelyweren'tinSeattle.TheywereinLondonortheyweresomewhereinIreland.SoIhavetransplantedmyself.Sosnipsarejustaslightlyalteredfunctionofthegene,butthereistypicallyabenefittoit.Andwecommonlyforgetthat.Katie:It'ssuchanimportantpoint.AndIthinkthat,IlovethatyoumakethatdistinctionofgeneticpolymorphismsversusmutationsbecauseIthinkmutationhasaverynegativeconnotation.Anditlike,itdoesmaketheassumptionthatsomethingisautomaticallywrong,butIthinkthatthat'sareallyimportantpoint.SoyoutouchedonMTHFRbriefly,butfromwhatI'veread,thereseemstobeawholelotofconfusionaboutwhatthisactuallyisonageneticlevelandwhatitactuallymeansforthebody.SocanyoujustwalkusthroughlikeifsomeonehasjustmaybeamoderateMTHFRpolymorphism,likewhatthatwouldlooklikeasfarastheirbody'sabilitytomethylateinthatinstance?Ben:Yeah.Soifsomeonehasamoderate,youknow,speedofMTHFR,meaningwehavetofirstunderstandthatgenesdowork,okay?Sogenesareeverywhereinus.Andwhenthey'recalledupon,theyhavetogotowork.Andsoifyouhireanemployeeoryourself...let'skeepitreal,let'skeepittoyourself.Ifyoustayupallnightandyoudrinkandyoupartyandthenextmorning,you'vegottogetupat6:00andgotowork,areyougoingtobeperformingverywell?Nobecauseyou'veputallthisburdenonyourselfandyoucan'tnowperformtoyourfullestpotential.Nowlet'ssayit'sdarkoutsideandit'sevenharderforyoutowakeup.Youneedlighttowakeup.SoMTHFRkindadoesthesamethingwhereifyouarebornwithanMTHFRpolymorphism,yourabilitytohandlestressorsoralcoholisreduced.Ifyoulookatyourselfandyoucompareyourselftoyourneighborandsay,"Youknowwhat?Myneighborcandrink10beers.Andthey'refine.Icanonlydrinkone.Mywholelife,I'veonlybeenabletodrinkone,"it'sbecauseyourgeneshavetheirownsetofabilitytoperform.AndwithMTHFR,it'sslightlyslower.Itdoesn'tmeanthatit'sbad.Itstillmeansthatyouhavecapacitytodowork.MTHFRisonlyslightlyslowed,we'llsayby50%capacity.


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Thatmeansthatyoushouldn'tdrinkasmuch,itmeansyoushouldsleepbetter.Itshouldmeanthatyoushouldeatmoresalador,youknow,exercisemoremoderately.Soyourmethylationcycle,alotofpeoplearenotgonnaknowwhatthatis,butitcontrolsalotofimportantthingslikemakingyourcellmembranesviamakingyourneurotransmitters.AndMTHFRregulatesthat.Soifit'snotworkingaswell,thenyourmethylationcycleofmakingyourneurotransmittersandyourcellmembranesisalsonotgonnaworkaswell,butalotofpeoplefreakoutaboutthat.Butagain,havinga50%capacityofyourMTHFRtosupportyourmethylationisusuallyenough.It'susuallyfine,Imean,becauseit'sbeenselectedforovermultiplegenerations.Theproblemisourancestorsdidn'thaveinternet.Ourancestorsdidn'tworkpasteveningbecauseitwasdarkoutside.Youknow,theydidn'twalkaroundwithfireallnightandtypeontheiriPadsanddoemails.Sowehaveevolvedtoputmoreworkanddemandsonourgenesthanourancestorshad.AndthatslowerMTHFRwasgoodforthem,butforus,it'snotbecausewekeepputtingtheworkon.Ihopethatmakessense.Katie:Itdoes.Sobasically,tomakesureI'munderstanding,someonewhohasanykindofpolymorphismwithMTHFR,theywouldhavetroubleconvertingIbelieveit'sfolateorfolicacidintothemoreusableformforthebodythatwouldbeimportantinallofthosereactions.Andthingslikelackofsleepordrinkingtoomuch,thosewouldallfurtherimpairthebody'sability.Isthatright?Ben:Yeah,yeah.Sofolicacidis,youknow,isway...there'smany,manystepstoconvertfolicacidintothebody'susableformoffolate.Andthebody'susableformoffolate,theprimaryone,ismethylfolate.Over80%ofyourfolateinyourbloodismethylfolate.Andthat'smadebytheMTHFRgene.Soit'svery,veryimportant,butyoucanalsogetfolatefromyourfood,yourleafygreenvegetablesandorganmeats,especiallyliver.Katie:Yeah,that'sagreatpoint.Another...sowedid,youwereoneofmyveryearlypodcastinterviews.AndIgotalotofgreatquestionsonthatone.AlotofpeoplealsoaskedaboutVDRpolymorphismsandwhatthatmeansforthebodyandlikehowtheenvironmentimpactsthat.Socanyougiveusalittleprimeronthat,aswell?Ben:VDRisagenethat'sgotatonofresearchandthere'salotofpolymorphismsthere.TheproblemisVDRstandsforVitaminDReceptor.Andasweknow,VitaminDisextremelyimportant.Imean,it'salloverthenewsandyou'reprobablytakingityourself.Andalotofyourlisteners,aswell,theyshouldbe.ButVDR'sjobisto...there'salotofthem.Sotheresearchisconflicting.SoIcan'tgiveyouastraightansweronwhatcommonpolymorphismsVDRhas,likeVDRFookorVDRTac.They'recommonsnipsforVDR.Oneresearchpaperwillsayitcanincreaseyourriskforcancerandanotheronewillsayitwilldecreaseit.Anotheronewillsayitwillincreaseyourriskofdiabetes,anotheronewillsayitwilldecreaseit.Soyoucan'tmakeajudgmentcallonwhattheimpactreallyisrightnowonVDRbecausetheresearchisstilltoonewandconflicting.Andpartofthereasonis,isbecauseresearchislookingattryingtopinpointasingularvariable.AndanytimeyoutrytopinpointasingularvariableonsuchanimportantgenelikeVDR,it'shard.MTHFR,itsupportstheproductionofmethylfolate,whichsupportsmethylation.Andyoucancheckhomocysteinetokindaseehowthat'sworking.That'sprettyeasy.Now,whenitcomestoVDR,VitaminDhelpstriggerinsulin.Itsupportsyourimmunesystem.Itsupportsyourbonehealth.Itsupportsyourbileflowandyourliverhealth.Imean,itsupportsneurotransmittersandserotonin.Itdoesatremendousamountofthings.Soit'sverydifficulttopinpointwhatthesesnipsdofor


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VDR.SoIcannotanswerthat,unfortunately,andneithercanresearch.Katie:Thatmakessense.Wouldyousaythatingeneral,forthemostpart,likewithwhatwedoknowofresearch,thatthingslikegettingamoderateamountofhealthysunexposurewouldbeonethingthatwouldwethinksupportsomeonewithaVDRpolymorphism?Ben:Yeah.Andso,youknow,inmygenetictoolreportthatIhavestrategying,wedoshowVDRbecausepeopleareinterestedinit.AndI'minterestedinittoo.I'mtryingtopinpointwherepeoplearehavingproblems.Youknow,alotofpeoplewithautoimmunediseaseshaveVDR.Isthat...aretheymoreprone,youknow,toautoimmuneiftheyhaveVDR?I'mnotsureyet.Sowe'rejustkindofcollectingdataandaskingpeople.SoIwouldsayyou'reright.Let'sgetoutinthesunmore.Let'seat,youknow,fatty,fishyfoodsthatprovideVitaminD.Andlet'ssupplementwithVitaminDandmakesurewe'regettingVitaminK,aswell,sowedon'tjustgethighamountsofcalciuminoursystem.Butwe...andtestforVitaminD,youknow,toseehowyou'redoing.Youknow,25hydroxyVitaminD,25OHVitaminD,youcangetfromyourdoctorisprettyinexpensive.TheproblemisifyouarelowinVitaminD,let'ssayit's20,andyousupplementwithittogetitupto40andyouactuallydon'tfeelgood,youactuallyfeelworse.You'rethinking,"Well,what'sgoingonhere?"AndpeopleneedtoorderaratioofVitaminD.Andalotofdoctorswilllookatyoucross-eyed,justliketheylookatyoucross-eyedwhenyoutrytoorderFreeT3,FreeT4,andalltheseotherthyroidhormones.ButtherightwaytoevaluateVitaminDistoorderthe25hydroxyVitaminDandwhattheycallthemostactiveform,whichis125VitaminD.Andveryfewaredoingthis.Andtokeepitveryshortandverysimple,yourbodyusesatonofVitaminDformany,manythings.Andabigoneisinfectionsandmoldexposures,lyme,youknow,virusesandsoon.SoyoucanhavelowVitaminD,buttheproblemisyouractiveformofVitaminDcanalsobeveryhigh.Andifyouractiveform125isveryhigh,that'sasignthatyou'refightinganinfectionofsomesort.AndthevirushasbasicallytoldtheVitaminDreceptor,instructedittonotworkbecausethebacteriaandtheviruseswillbindtotheVitaminDreceptorandmakeitineffective.Soif125levelsarehighbecauseyour25hydroxyisgoinginthere...andthisisallin-depth.It'sprobablygettingtoomuchforyouguys,butbasically,infectionsaresmartbecausetheywanttocontrolyourimmunesystemsotheydon'tdie.Theydon'twanttodie.Theywanttositthereandreproducejustlikewedo.SotheywillsuckalltheVitaminD,butmakeitinactiveandnotbeabletomakeitwork.Soinshort,ifyouwanttoreallyunderstand,Ihaveanarticleonthisondrbenlynch.comaboutVitaminDandinfections.IthasbeenreadwidelyandItalkabouttheratioof125and25abitmorein-depththere.Katie:Perfect.I'llmakesurethat'slinkedtotheshownotesatwellnessmamma.fmforanyonewho'slookingforit,ifyou'redriving.

ThispodcastisbroughttoyoubyVivos.Thisissomethingwerecentlyinvestedinforourentirefamilyandweareabsolutelylovingitandhereiswhy.So,datashowsthatthenutritionwereceiveinuterodeterminesourpalatedevelopmentandhownarroworopenourairwayandjawstructureare.Soanarrowmouth,jawandairwayincreasethechancesofneedingbraces,ofgettingsleepapnea,breathingdifficultiesandmuchmore.Butitwasprettymuchassumedthatyourjawstructurewassetinstoneonceyouwerebornorforsureafterthefirstcoupleofyearsoflife.ButVivoshasfoundthatnotonlyisthisnottrue,buttheycreatedanon-invasive,non-surgical,easywayofwideningthemaxilla,thejawandtheairway.Soforourkids,thismeans


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thattheygettoavoidthebracesthatmyhusbandandIbothhadandformyhusband,thismeanshissleepapneahasdisappearedandhestoppedsnoring,whichisabonusforme.I’llbewritingmoreaboutthissoonbutyoucancheckthemout,inthemeantime,atwellnessmama.com/go/vivos

ThispodcastisbroughttoyoubyBeekeepersNaturals.Humanshavebeenbenefittingfrombeesandtheirnourishingsuperfoodssinceprehistorictimes.FromCleopatrausinghoneytokeepheryouthfulglowtoHippocratesprescribingpropolistocureeverythingfromsorestobacterialinfection.Ourhealingrelationshipwithbeesgoeswayback.BeekeepersNaturalsisdedicatedtobringingtheage-oldbenefitsofbeeproductsintomoderntimes.Andtheyofferreallyhighqualitypropolis,royaljelly,beepollenandrawhoneyandmanyotherproducts.Andallofthesearesustainablysourcedfromacompanythatisdedicatedtoprotectingandimprovingthebeepopulation.Mypersonalfavoritesaretheirpropolisspray,whichhelpedmetoheadoffascratchythroat,andtheirB.LXRmixwhichisamixtureofallofthoseingredientsandit’sanaturalnootropicthatIuseonbusydays.Youcancheckthemoutatwellnessmama.com/go/beekeepers

Katie:AnotheronethatwegotalotofquestionsaboutwasthisCBSpolymorphism.Socanyouexplainwhatthatisandhowthatmayaffectourbodies?Ben:There'salotofemphasisonsnips.There'salotofemphasisongettingageneticreportbackandsaying,"IhaveVDR.IhaveMTHFR.IhaveCBS."Andthenwhattheydoistheytrytosupplementortheytrytofixthesnip.AndifyouweretryingtofixthesnipofMTHFRbytakingmethylfolate,you'regonnamaybegetluckyandhaveagoodoutcome.YoumightseeyouhaveaVDRsnipandsay,"Okay.I'mgonnatake5,000IUsofVitaminDeveryday.Andthat'swhatIshoulddo."YouseeaCBSsnipandyou'relike,"Oh,it'sfaster,andI'mgonnaavoidVitaminB6.I'mgonnareducemysulfurintake.Andthat'swhatyoushoulddo."Sothesegenesnippolymorphism-basedtreatmentsfailoverandoverandoverandoverandoveragain.Theydonotwork.Alltheydoistheycreatefrustration.Andpeoplearetryingtotreatthegeneratherthanthemselves.SoIactuallytrytoencouragepeopletonowstopusinggenetictestingbecauseit'snotbeingusedright.SoeventhoughI'mdevelopingageneticchip,there'sareasonI'mdoingitbecauseIwanttooptimizeunbornchildrenandIwanttooptimizepeople'slives.That'showyouusegenetictesting.Youdon'tusegenetictestingtotreatasnip,tooptimizeyourMTHFR,ortooptimizeyourCBS.Youoptimizeyourself.Andthat'sthebigissuebecausetheCBSisallovertheinternet.I'vegotvideosonYouTubeaboutCBSaswell,thatarefreetowatch.AndCBSis...themostcommonvariantpolymorphismofCBSactuallyslowsitwaydownandcanincreaseyourhomocysteine.SotheCBSgene,it'sthenumberonecauseforhighhomocysteine.Thatisgenetic.Soifyourmomandyourdadandyourbrotherandyoursisterorafewmembersofyourfamilyhavehighhomocysteinejustacrosstheboard,thelikelihoodofyouhavingaCBSgenewhichisn'tworkingveryquicklyoreffective,it'sdirty,thenyourhomocysteineisclimbing.Ontheinternet,alotofpeoplearereadingthat,"Oh,IhaveafasterCBSgene.Andtherefore,Idon'ttoleratesulfur,andIcan'teatmuchprotein.Andgluthyminemakesmesick.AndVitaminB6isbad."AndsotheycuttheVitaminB6andtheycutthesulfur.Andtheyfeelbetterforalittlewhile,maybeaweekortwo,andthentheystartfeelingreallyill.Andthishappensallthetime.Sothisisbecausethey'retreatingthesnip.AndIteachprofessionalsandthegeneralpublicallthetimethatyouneedtounderstandhowyourbodyisworkingandwhyit'srespondingandwhatitmeans.AndItalkaboutwhysulfurcanbeproblematic.Andit


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typicallyhastodowithsulfitesandmolybdenumandinflammation.IthasnothingtodowiththeCBSpolymorphism.SoIthinktheCBSpolymorphismisbogus.Katie:That'ssuchanimportantdistinction.AndIthinkthat'sagreatruletoapplytoanyaspectoflifeormedicineistonottreatlikeasinglething,buttotreatthebodyasawhole,treatthepersonasawhole,andIlovethat.Andyouexplainitreallywellin"DirtyGenes",butIlovewhatyoujustsaidaboutyouwanttobeabletousegenetictestingtooptimizeunbornchildrenandtooptimizeourlivesingeneral.Socanyoutalkaboutthat?Likeonapracticallevel,likehowareyouabletousegenetictestingtherightwaytothenhelppeopletonothavedirtygenes,tocleanthingsupinthere?Ben:Perfect.Greatquestion.AndI'llprefaceitwiththis,whichisthewholeconceptofthebook.Thewholeconceptofthebookiswhatwe'redoingonourdailyliveseverysingledayandeverysingleevening,whatwe'redoingornotdoingisaffectinghowourgenesareworking.Soyou'reeitherdoingsomethingrightnowthatishelpingyourgenesoryou'redoingsomethingrightnowthatisdirtyingyourgenesoryou'redoingacombinationofboth.Ifyou'resittingdown,maybenotsohelpful.Ifyou'restandingupandwalkingaroundoryou'reexercisingwhilelisteningtothis,thatcouldbehelpful.Youknow,ifyou'reexposedtoWi-Fi,thatcanbedirtyingyourgenes.Sowhat'shappeningnowadayswithhowinexpensiveitistogetgenetictesting,alotofpeoplearedoingitbecausethey'recurious.Andthat'sgreat.Thecuriosityisfantastic.Getthegenetictesting,butyoucannotrunthegenetictestsandseethereportandsay,"IhaveCBS.IhaveMTHFR.IhaveVDR.HowdoIfixthat?"Andyougotoyourdoctorandsay,"Doctor,fixthat,"becauseitdoesn'twork.Youneedtoevaluateyourdiet,yourlifestyle,yourmindset,howmuchexerciseyouaredoing,allthefundamentalthings.Onceyoudoallofthat,allofit,allthestuffthatyourgrandmothertoldyoutodo,you'rebreathingright,you'reexercising,you'reavoidingthechemicals,allthestuffthatthey'relearningonyourwebsiteaboutenhancingtheirhealth,thenandonlythendoyoutakethatgeneticreportandyoulookatitandyousay,"Okay.IhaveanMTHFRthat'snotworkingverywell."Andthenyouaskyourself,"Okay.AmItakingfolicacid?No,I'mnot.Iknowthat'sbad.AmIeatingleafygreensalads?Yes.Yeah,Iam.Ismyhomocysteinelevelhigh?No,it'saboutsevenoreight.Itlooksprettygood.Great.DoIhaveanyhighbloodpressurerightnow?No.That'sgood.HaveIhadanyrecurrentmiscarriages,youknow,justrecently?No.Good.MyMTHFR'sclean.Okay.It'sfine."Now,ifapersoncomesin...youknow,ifIwasseeingpatients,whichI'mnotnow...IwishIwas,butIjustdon'thavethetime.Ifapatientcomesinwithageneticreportandthey'vedoneallthefundamentalstuff,they'vedoneallofthekeycorethings--they'resleeping,they'reeatingright,they'rebreathingright,theircommunityisgood,theirhobbiesaregood,andthey'reavoidingchemicals,they'redoingallthatgoodstuff--andtheysay,"Hey,wewanttogetpregnant,"genetictestingcanbeveryuseful.I'mnottalkingaboutgenetictestingtoseeifthechildisgonnabehighriskforceliacorahighriskfor,youknow,theseothergeneticdiseasesandmutationsthatarereallydeadlyandscarybecausewhatareyougonnadoaboutit?Youhavenotoolsagainstthat.Youcan'tdoanything.I'mtalkingaboutorderinggeneticteststhatshowifyouhaveMTHFR,thatshowthatyoumighthaveaslowernitricoxidesynthase,anOS3,whichItalkaboutin"DirtyGenes",ifyouhaveaslowerPEMTgene,whichmakesyourphosphatidylcholine,yourcellmembranes,whichyouneedforthatgrowingbaby,formakingyourplacenta,formovingyourbilesoyoudon'tgetSIBOorfattyliver,very,veryimportantgenes.MTHFR,NOS3,andPEMT,allthreediscussedin"DirtyGenes"in-depth.Andthere'squizquestionsinthere,aswell.


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Andthat'swhatIusedtodointheclinic.Youknow,whenIwasworkingwithindividuals,Iwouldsay,"Hey,youknow,let'slookatyourlabs.Let'saskyousomequestions.Andwecandetermineifthesegenesaredirtyornot."JustbecauseyouhaveanMTHFRthat'slow,becauseyouhaveanNOSthat'sslow,oryouhaveaPEMTandthat'sslow,itdoesn'tmeantheyare.Itjustmeansyou'remoresusceptibletothem.Andsoknowingthisaheadofpregnancyisverypowerfulbecauseiftheyaredirty,ifyoudohaveissueswithfattyliveroryoudohaveissueswithyourbileandyouhavegallbladderproblems,oryou'renoteatingleafygreensandyourdoctortoldyoutotakefolicacid,allthesearegonnadirtyyourgenes,whichisgonnadirtythebabyindeveloping.Andit'sgonnabebornwithalesschancetothriveandsurvive.Andsowhenyouutilizegenetictestingfromanoptimizingperspectivetoidentifyrisksandsupportthem,thenyouaredoingaphenomenaljob.Andthat'swhere"DirtyGenes"comesintoplay.Andthat'stherealmagicbecausethere'squizzesbuiltintoitthattellyouifageneisdirtyandthenhowtocleanitup.Andbeyondthat,ittellsyouwhatthegenesdoandhowtheywork,soyouunderstandwhenyougetasymptom,it'slike,"Oh,youknow,nowIhavefattyliver.AndPEMTisassociatedwith,youknow,movingthisthroughanddoingthisanddoingthat."Andonceyouunderstandthebasicsofthat,thenyousay,okay.Whenit'sdirty,youunderstandwhyit'sdirtybecauseit'snotfunctioningright.AndIgiveyoutoolsonhowtorestorethefunction.Veryeasyandnonsciencespeak.Soforoptimizingperformanceinsport,inschool,ifyouhaveADHDlikemyoldestsondoes,Iusethattosupporthim.Hecamehomeonedayfromschoolandsaid,"Dad,I'mreallystrugglinginschool."Isad,"Well,what'sgoingon?"Hegoes,"Man,Ican'tfocus.Itreallybugsme,youknow?Theteachertalksand,youknow,Ilistenforasecond,andthenI'mfidgeting."Andfora13-year-oldkid,aboy,totellyouthat,heknowsit'ssomethingserious,right?SoItoldhim,"Okay.That'sadopamineproblem.Youhavelowerdopamine.SoyouhaveafasterCOMTgene,whichwetalkaboutinthebook,"DirtyGenes."Andwhatweneedtodoisgetmoreproteininyousoyoucangetadequatetyrosine,whichyourCOMTgenewillusetomakeyourdopamine.Andthenyouwillthinkbetter."Andhegoes,"Oh,okay.SoIneedtoeatmoreprotein?"Yeah.AndIsaid,"Eatmoreprotein,whichI'vebeentellingyouallthetimebecauseyou'reacarbjunkie.Andwhenyou'renoteatingenoughprotein,takesometyrosine.Take500milligramsoftyrosinetoalsosupporttheproductionofyourdopamine.""Gotit."Hedidthat.Great.ThekidisbasicallyastraightAstudent.HemightgetaBeverynowandthen,buthe'sexcellinginschool.That'showIutilizedgenetictesting.Idon'tsay,"Hey,youhaveafasterCOMTgenegenetically.Youneedtotaketyrosine,"becausethatwouldn'tworkbecausehecouldbefocusedinschool.Hecouldbeperforming.Hecouldbedoingreally,reallywell.IfIgavehimmoretyrosine,thenIcouldmakehimveryirritable,anxious,andcausinginsomnia,whichiswhathappenswhenyoutreatthesnipandnottheperson.Katie:Yeah.Ilovethatyoumakethatdistinction.AndIthink,Ijustread,actually,Iread"DirtyGenes"lastnight.AndIthinkitreallydoesbreakitdownwellbecauselikeIsaidearlier,Ithinkthere'salotofmisinformationoutthere.ButIwanttotouchalittlebitmoreonthemiscarriageconnectionbecauseIknowthat'soneI'vepersonallygottenalotofquestionsaboutbecausemyaudienceislargelyinthatphaseoflife.Iknowthatrightnowthatthere'salittlebitofknowledgeaboutitinconventionalmedicine.AndI'vehadfriendswhohadtohavethreemiscarriagesbeforetheirdoctorsaid,"Oh,okay.Nowtheprotocolsayswecantestyouforthis,"butcanyouexplainlikewhytherecanbealinkthere?Andisitabetterideaifsomeonehashadamiscarriagetotestthatbeforetheyhavethree?Orwhatcansomeonedo,eveniftheirdoctormaynotbeuponthat?


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Ben:Well,agreatquestion.SotestforMTHFR,youmean,ortestforwhat?Katie:Yes.I'msorry,testforMTHFRbecauseIknowthat'ssomethingyou'vetalkedaboutandthattherecouldbeapotentiallinkthere,butI'dloveitifyoucouldgoalittledeeperonthat.Ben:Yeah,Icangowaydeeperbecausethisisactuallymynextbook.Mynextbookisonpreconceptionandpregnancyandwhattodorightafter.SoI'mreallyexcitedaboutit.Icouldn'twriteitfirstbecausefirst,Ihadtocleanupthemom'sanddad'sgenes,right,thefuturemom'sanddad'sgenesbeforetheygetpregnant.Sowedothat.Andthensothefirstpeoplebeforethey,youknow,getpregnant,theyread"DirtyGenes."Andthentheywillbereadingthenextbook,whichwillbecomingout,hopefully,probably2019.Buttoansweryourquestionnow,thereareanumberofgeneswhichincreaseriskofmiscarriage.Thereisnitricoxidesynthase,whichwetalkabout,NOS3,in"DirtyGenes".ThereisMTHFR,whichwetalkabout.AndthereisPEMT,whichwetalkabout.Sothethreereally,reallyimportantgenes.Andthere'sanotherone,whichIdonottalkabout,andthat'sfactorfive,F5.Soafactorfiveladenisprettycommon.Thatincreasesclotting.SoifyouhaveacombinationofMTHFRandfactorfive,yourriskformiscarriagegoeswayup.IfyouhaveacombinationofMTHFRandPEMTandNOS3andfactorfive,itgoeswayup.Soyoucangoandgetgenetictestingforthese.That'strue,youcan.Now,isitnecessary?No,it'snot.What'snecessaryistounderstandfirstofallwhyisamiscarriagehappening.Isithormonal?Isitnutritionaldeficiency?Isitnutritionalexcess?Isitenvironmentalexposures?Youknow,isitthenutritionalsupplementsthatyouaretakingarevery,veryinferior,likefolicacid?Folicacidwillcauseabigproblem.There'sanothergene,whichisnottalkedaboutreallyever,andthat'stheDHFRgene,whichisdihydrofolatereductase.Andthat'sthefirstgenethatwillhandlefolicacid.SofolicacidwillcomeintoDHFRandbeprocessed.Theproblemisthere'sahugerangeofperformanceinDHFRjustlikethereisinMTHFRthatdoesn'twork.SoifyouhaveacombinationofDHFRandMTHFRandyou'retakingfolicacid,yourfolicmetabolismiswrecked.Andthinkaboutwhatisgoingoninpregnancyoryeah,what'sgoingoninpregnancy?Youaresupportingyourselfasawoman,youhavetohaveyourowncellshealthyandyourownmindhealthyandyourowndetoxandallthat.Yourusualday-to-daybodysystemshavetobeworkingforyou.Thenyouhavetobestrongenoughtosupportthedevelopmentofanentirelyneworgan,theplacenta.Thenyouhavetobehandlingthehugeamountofnewhormoneloadsthatyouareproducing,whichisnotyournormalself.Thenyouhavetobedealingwithadevelopingbaby,whichisusingupatonofnutrients.Sothere'sfourmajorthingsgoingon,yourownhealth,you'vegotahugeincreaseinhormones,theneworgandevelopment,andadevelopingbaby.Fourhighly,highlydemandingsystemsgoingon.Soarecurrentmiscarriage,there'ssomethingbrokeninthatseriesoffour.Isitbloodflow?Isit,youknow,lackofbloodflow?Isitclots?Isitnutritionaldeficiencies?Isthecellmembranesisnotforming?Isittoxicity?Isittoomanychemicals?Youknow,sowehavetofigurethatout.SoI'mnotreallyafanofgenetictestingunlesspeoplehavedonetheirfoundationwork.Andinthebook"DirtyGenes",youdon'tevenhavetohavegenetictesting.AndIdon'twantpeoplesupplementingeither.Ikeepsayingthroughoutthebookuntilaboutpage280,Isaid,"Idon'twantyoutakingsupplementsuntilyoudoallthisstuffbecauseit'sgonnacloudhowyourgenesareactuallyworking."Instead,whatIwantwomenandmenbecausemenarealsovery,veryimportantforpregnancy,isIwant


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themtofocusontheircleanerlifestyle.IwantthemfocusingonreducingstressandIwantthemfocusingonrealnutrients.Folicacidisnotarealnutrient.Itwasgreatwhenthatwasallwehad,butwehavemorenow.Weneedfoliticacidandmethylfolate.FoliticacidisusedforDNAbasesynthesisinyourblood,yourimmunecellsandyourredbloodcellsandyourplatelets.Youneedfoliticacidforthat.Youneedmethylfolatetosupportyourmethylation.Andmuchofyourmethylationisuseduptosupportcellmembraneformation.Andwhatcanhappenifthebodycannotmakeenoughcellmembranes?Imean,justthinkofwhattheplacentais.It'samassiveamountofcellmembranes.Whatisthebaby?Ahugeamountofcellmembranes.Wherethere'sonecell,itdividestotwo.Itdividestofour.Youknow,itjustkeepsdividinglikecrazy,whichisusingupatonofphosphatidylcholine,whichiswhatthatPEMTgenemakes,whichMTHFRhelpssupport.Soinsteadofworryingaboutthegenes,Isay,"Look.Supportwithrealfolates,eatyoursalads,andsupplementwithmethylfolateandfolateacid.Supportyourcholinemetabolism.Youcantakephosphatidylcholinedirectlyasasupplement.Youcanalsoeateggs,ifyoutoleratethemandyou'renotavegan.Andyoucanalsosupportthingslikecarotenemetabolismisalsoveryimportant."Andcarnosine,whichisagreatantioxidant,youcansupportwithglutathionepriortopregnancyandpossiblyduring,butit'snotresearched.Nobodyreallyknowsthesafetyofglutathione.SoI'dmuchratherpeoplejustfocusontheircorenutritionandtheircorehealthpriortogettingpregnant,ratherthanworryaboutgenetictestingbecauseonceagain,what'sgonnahappen?Thegenetictest,Iguaranteeyou,iftheydon'thaveMTHFR,youknow,apolymorphismorasnip,they'llsay,"Oh,Icantakefolicacid,"ortheywillnotcaremore.Theywon'tworkashardabouteatingleafygreensorsupplementingwithACTifolates.Iftheydon'thaveaNOS3,anitricoxidesynthasegeneticproblem,they'llsay,"Oh,mygeneticsareclean."Butyouknowwhat?That'sapieceofpaper.That'syourgene.That'sthelightsinyourhouse,youknow.Youhavetocontrolhowthesegeneswork.Andthat'syourlifestyle,diet,mindset,andenvironmentandyourperceptionthereof.SoI'dratherpeoplenotdogenetictestingpriortopregnancy,unlessthey'vedonethefundamentalsagain.Becausewhathappenssoveryoftenistheysay,"God,Dr.Lynch.Idon'thaveMTHFR.Idon'thaveNOS3.Idon'thavePEMT.AndIdon'thaveDHFR.Allthosegenesareclean."Well,Idon'tcare.It'syourenvironmentandit'syourlifestylethat'sdirtyingthemup.Socleanthatup,supportit,andthingswillchange.AndIcannottellyouhowmanywomenacrossthisamazingplanetofoursareusingourprenatalandseeingtheirrecurrentmiscarriagesstop.Andthentheygetpregnant,theycontinuetheprenatal,theyhaveabeautifulbaby,andthebabyisdoinghealthyandthriving.It'sbecauseourprenatalcontainstheactiveformsofnutrientsthattheyneed.Andit'sthecore.Isitbasedupongenetics,researchinepigenetics?Yes.Anddoesitsupporttheindividual,regardlessofwhatgenestheyhave?Yes.Sothat'showIliketogoaboutit.Katie:Yeah.AndIcancertainlyvouchforthat.I'veusedyourprenatalwithmylasttwopregnanciesandIfeltgreatonit,butyoualsohighlightsomethingthatI'vewrittenaboutseveraltimes,whichisthatyoucan'toutsupplementapoordietorapoorlifestyle.SoIlovethatyoureallydrillthatdowninthebookthatthisisagreattool.Andobviously,youknow,prenatalvitaminsareagreatthingwhenyou'repregnant,especiallyiftheyhavetherightformsofthenutrients.Buttheydon'tevertaketheplaceofareallyhigh-qualitydiet,lotsofnutrients,andespeciallysleepandalloftheotherfactorsthatyoutalkabout.SoIlovethatyoureallyhammerthathome,butsobasically,ifI'munderstanding,ifsomeonehasdoneallofthesethingsandtheyarereallytryingto,youknow,makesuretheyhaveacleanlifestyleorthey'reeating


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reallynutrient-densefoodsandthey'restillhavingrecurrentmiscarriages,thatmightbeatimethattheycouldreallylookintogenetictestinganduseitappropriately.Ben:Yes.Absolutely.Yeah,absolutely,becauseifyouhaveacombinationofMTHFRandfactorfiveladen,youknow,youmightneedtobelookingatanti-bloodclottingmedicationsorbabyaspirins.Youmightneedtotake,youknow,stepuptheinterventionalittlebit,youknow.There'salsoothergeneswhichIhavenotresearchedyet,butIwillbe.Iwanttobelookingathormones,Iwanttobelookingatprogesterone.Iknowestrogenprettywell,butIwanttolookatmoreprogesteroneandoxytocinandalltheseotherones,butIhaven'tgottenthereyet.Iwill,butyeah,Ihighlyrecommendthattheydogenetictesting.Theproblemis,isfindingahealthprofessionalwhounderstandstheinterventiontotakethat'sappropriate.Youknow,theguidelines,theofficialguidelines,Ithinkit'stheAmericanCollegeofMedicalGenetics,theysayMTHFRisnotimportant.Thestandardrecommendationthattheyuseistosay,"Takefolicacidanddon'tworryaboutit."That'stotallywrong.It'stotalnonsense.AndIhavevideosonYouTubeforfree.Youknow,"FolicAcidandPregnancy"isagreatvideotowatch,whichgoesthroughwhyfolicacidisnotrecommended,andIusepublishedresearchtoexplainwhy.AndIalsohaveacaseofawomanwhowasstrugglingwithrecurrentmiscarriagewhowastakinghighamountsoffolicacidandwasstillmiscarrying.Soitobviouslydoesn'tworkforeveryone.Katie:Yeah.That'sagreatpoint.AndI'vegottenaquestionaswell,likealotofpeopleasking,"IfIdon'thaveanMTHFRmutation,"andlikeyoumentioned,youtouchedonthisearlier,butI'vegottenthisquestion,soIwanttospecificallyhaveyouansweritwhichis,"Isthereeveratimeandaplaceforfolicacid?"Orevenifsomeonedoesn'tknowiftheyhaveapolymorphismoriftheyknowtheydon'thaveone,cantheystilljustoptforthemethylfolateform?Ben:Greatquestion.SoIhearacouplequestionsinthere.First,I'llsimplifythequestionalittlebitandsaydoIeverneedtotakethesupplementfolicacid?No.No,youdon't.Ourancestors,humans,havebeenonthisplanetforalongtime.Idon'tevenknowhowlong.Youknow,hundredsofthousands,millionsofyears,Idon'tknow.Thatamountoftimeisalongtime.Andthehumanshavebeenherereproducingverywell.Wewouldn'tbehereifnot.Folicacidwasintroducedinthelate1980'sasasolutiontodestroyingthenutritionalcontentingrainsinordertopreserveandextendshelflifeofprocessedfood.Becausewhathappenedwas,youknow,theindustrialrevolutionsaid,"Hey,wewanttomakemoney.Wecan'tmakefreshbreadeveryday.It'snotscalable.Weneedtobeabletotransportitandhaveawholebunchsittingontheshelves."Andtheylearnedthatiftheystrippedthenutritionalcontentoutofthegrains,thenitwillsittherelonger.Womenwerehavingrecurrentmiscarriagesleftandright.Theywouldhaveneuraltubedefectsleftandright.They'dhavecongenitalbirthdefectsleftandright.Andthey'relike,"Oh,myGod.Thisisn'tgood.Whatdowedo?"Insteadofgoingbacktowhatnatureprovidedandsay,"Youknowwhat?Thatwasstupidofus.Weneedtonotstripallthenutritionalcontentoutoffood,andlet'sjustputitbackandwe'llgobacktomakingfreshbreadandfreshgrainsandsoon,"whattheydidistheysynthesizedfolicacidandtheythrewitintothebread.Andyes,thathelpedsomewomen,forsure.Neuraltubedefectsdidgodown,recurrentmiscarriagesdidgodown.Butnotforeveryone,asmallpercentage.Andsomepercentageshigher,dependingonancestry.Somypointisifnaturewasprovidingusrealfolatesandhumansdecidedtosynthesizeanutrientthatisnotutilizedphysiologicallyatallbythebody,unlessit'stransformedbyvariousgenes,there'snopointtotakeit.


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Especiallynowthatwehaveactiveformsoffolinicacid,whichisalsocalledcalciumfolinate,whichIdescribemyvideo,"FolicAcidandPregnancy".Andthereismethylfolate,whichisreadilyavailable,aswell.Andwehaveleafygreenvegetables.Folatestandsforfolar,whichstandsforfoliage.Soeatyourfoliage.Getyourfoliates.Andyouknowyounever,neverneedtotakefolicacid.Nowthenextquestionis,"Well,Ican'ttoleratemethylfolate.Idon'tdowellwithmethylfolate."Okay,well,there'sanarticleonmthfr.netcalled"PreventingMethylfolateSideEffects"thatyoucanreference.Usually,it'sanelectrolytedeficiency.Usuallyyou'retakingyourmethylfolatewithoutproteinorfood.Usuallyyou'regettingadequatefolateanywayinyourdietandyoudon'tneedit.Usuallythere's,youknow,alackofsleeporthelifestylethingsareinplayorthere'schronicinfectionsgoingon,aswell.SoallthesethingsaremajorreasonswhyIdon'ttoleratemethylfolate.Sothesolutionistoeithernottakemethylfolateorfolateingeneral.Youjustgetitfromyourfoodoryoucantryfolinicacid,whichisanunmethylatedformoffolateandseehowyoudowiththat.Ifyoudowellwiththat,great.Andsomedaysyouwillneedmorefolinicacidthanothers.Andotherdaysyou'llneedsomemethylfolate.Look,Idon'ttake...IhaveaprettydirtyMTHFRgenetically.IwasbornwithaslowerdirtyMTHFR.Youknow,itscapacityfunctionsatabout30%.Thatmeans70%functionislost,comparedtothetypicalpersonwhodoesnothaveMTHFR.ButIeatmysalad.Idon'tdrinkalcohol,very,veryrarely,Imean,likeonceeverycouplemonths.AndIgetmysleep.Igetmywaterandexercise.Youknow,Itakecareofmyself.AndthenI'llsupplementwithmethylfolate,maybe400microgramseveryday,maybeeveryotherday.Andsoweneedtounderstandthat,again,genesdowork.AndifItravelorI'mdoingapresentationorhaveahugeworkload,thenyeah,I'lltakemorefolate.IfI'monvacation,Iprobablywon'tsupplementatall.Katie:That'sagooddistinction.AndIknowyouhaveawholebonuschapteronthis.AndIwanttotalkaboutit,kindofjustcirclebackandleavepeoplewiththepracticalandthepositivebecauseIthinkthat'swhat"DirtyGenes"doesagreatjobof.Solet'stalkalittlebitaboutthepracticalwaysthatweknowthatenvironmentcanaffectourgenesandwhataresomewayswecanprotectourgenes.And,ofcourse,I'lllinktoyourwebsitewhereyouhavethat"26StepstoCleanGenes"foranyonewhowantstodownloadthat,butcanyoukindofwalkusthroughafewofthem?Ben:Yeah.Sothe26stepsaretheABC's.AndIwastryingtokeepthisvery,verypracticalandactionableandunderstandablebecauseanytimeyouentertherealmofgeneticsandepigenetics,it'slike,"Oh,myGod,"andyouliterallyturnoffandwalkaway.Soit'snothard.It'snothard.Sothe26stepsaretheABC's,andI'llmentionafewofthem.Avoid.Avoidwhat?Avoidthethingsthatdon'tmakeyoufeelgood,andspecificallychemicals.Ifyouareinhalingchemicals,airfresheners,cleaners,toxicsoapsandshampoos,carexhausts,youknow,non-organic,dirtydozenfoods,thesethingsarebringinginatonamountofchemicalsintoyoursystem,whichthenyourgeneshavetocleanup.Again,genesdowork.Soifyoubringinallthatwork,thenyourgenesgetloaded.Andyourgeneshavetouseyourvitaminsandmineralsandotherresourcestoperform.Andifyou'renotabletohavethoseresourcesavailableforvariousreasons,thenyou'regonnagetsymptoms.Sothebestwaytosupportyourgenes,numberone,andI'mgladit'sletterA,isavoid.Andalsoavoidstressors.Avoidthenews.Ihaven'twatchedthenewsinprobablyadecade.Now,youknow,Istillvoteforpresidents,eventhoughwedidn'thaveareallygoodchoicelastyear.Youknow,Ididn'tlikeeitherpersonally,butthere'sthingsthatyouhavetodoinlife.Andavoidanceisperfect.Isthereanindividualthatiscausingyouproblems?Thenavoidthem.Justsay,"Youknowwhat?We'vemovedon."


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Andthishappenedtomywifetheotherday.Andshewasreallyintearsoverit.AndIsaid,"Nadja,look.Everytimeyouusedtoseeher,youwouldcomehomecryinganyway,everytimeforlikethepastfiveyears.Sohowisthat...andyou'realwayswalkingontiptoeswhenyouwouldhavethisfriendoveroryouwenttoherhouseoryou'dtrytogotosaunaoryou'dgoonabikeride,youalwayswerefilteringwhatwordscameoutofyourmouth.Andthatwascausingtremendousamountsofstress.Andnomatterhowcarefulyouwerearoundher,shestilltoreintoyouforsomereason.Andshehadnorightto.Sothisrelationshipisfinished.AndIamthankfulforit.Soyouneedtofindthesetoxicrelationships.Justbecauseyouhadafriendinthirdgradeandyou'renowinyour40's,youknow,you'vemovedon.Andsohavethey.It'sokaytobedifferent."Socutoutthosetoxicrelationships.Avoidthem.Andavoidthestressors.Thisisreally,reallyimportant.That'snumberone.Numbertwoisbreathe,whichisalsoincrediblyimportant.Ifyouare,youknow,exercisingrightnoworyou'rejustlistening,focusonyourbreathrightnow.Isyourstomachmovingforwardandoutorisyourstomachflat?Goaheadandputyourhandonyourstomach.Andisitevenmovinginandout?Mineis,eventhoughI'msitting.It'shardertobreathewhenyou'resittingthanwhenyou'restanding.Soifyou'rebreathingfromyourchestoryourneckup,that'sashallowbreath.Areyouholdingyourbreath?Areyousittingtherewithyourmouthopen?Isyourmouthopenrightnow?MineisbecauseI'mtalking.Butifyou'relistening,yourmouthshouldbeclosedandyoushouldbebreathingthroughyournose.Andyounoseshouldbeclear.Ifit'snotclear,aretherefoodintolerances?Arethereenvironmentalissues?Yoursinusesshouldbeclear.Mineisclear.Icanbreathethroughmynose.Everyday,IcleanmynoseeitherwithaNetipotorIjustputmyhandundersomewaterwhenI'mintheshowerbecauseIhaveashowerfilterbecauseIavoidchlorineintheshower.Avoidance.SoItakeacupfullofwaterwhileI'mintheshowerandIgentlysnortupalittlebitofwaterandIblowitouttheotherside.Graphic,excuseme,butIkeepmysinusesclear,morningandnight,evenafewtimesduringtheday.Sobreathingisvery,veryimportant.Thereissomethingcalledemailapnea.Andemailapneaisabigproblem.Peoplewillsitinfrontoftheircomputerandholdtheirbreath.Ifyoufindyourselfyawningrecurrently,that'sasign.Ifyoufindyourselfsighingoften,that'sanissue.Sosleepingwithyourmouthopen,that'sanissue.Theseareallverypracticalbecauseifyou'rewithoutoxygenforthreeminutes,you'redeadoryouhaveseverebraindamage.Sowehavetofocusonthebasics.Chemicalstoomuch,you'redead.SoI'llstopatC.ChewingistheletterCintheABC's.Ifyou'renotchewingyourfood,that'saproblem.Myoldestsonhasasnake.Watchinghimeat,Iwanttotakeabaseballbattohisplateandjusttellhim,"Hey,slowdown.Itdoesn'tworkthatway."Yourstomachdoesn'thaveteeth,yourpancreas,neitherdoesyourgallbladderoryourliveroryoursmallintestine.There'snoteeththere.Youhaveteethinyourmouth,you'vegotthem.Usethemsoyourstomachacidcangetaroundthereanddigestitandabsorbitsothepancreascansquirtthebicarbonateandthepancreaticenzymessoitcanprocessit,soitcanabsorbit,soyourbilecanthensquirtonthefat-solublefoodsandabsorbthefat-solublenutrients.Ifyou'renotchewingyourfood,you'renotabsorbingyourfood.Foodfirstisfuelandnutrients.That'swhyweeat.Wedon'teatbecauseittastesgoodandbecausewewantitorcraveit.Weeatbecauseourbodyneedsfuelandtoolssoourgenescandowork.Sothosearethetopthreeor,youknow,thefirstthreeandthenthere's23othersthatarejustlikethat.Katie:Iloveit.Andanyonelisteningshouldbeabletobuy"DirtyGenes"anywherebooksaresold,butplease


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leteverybodyknowwheretheycanfindyouonline.Ifthey'relisteningnowandwanttofindoutmore,wherecantheyfindyouintheonlineworld?Ben:Theonlineworld,drbenlynch.com.AndmyFacebookisveryactive.WehaveaFacebookLiveonceaweek.Infact,I'mgoingthererightafterthis,afterIwalkaroundalittlebitbecauseI'vebeensittingtoolong.ButwehaveaFacebookLiveonceaweek.AndtheFacebookLivesareveryengaging.Iincludeyouandthey'reveryfun.Andwerecordthemandputthemonapageforlaterviewing.AndourYouTubechannelisnotaspopulatedrightnowbecausewe'reremodelingourhouse.Butoncewegetbackin,I'mgonnahavemyvideostudioup.Butthere'salotofresourcesonthere,butyoucanlinkthroughthoserightthroughdrbenlynch.com.Andthenonmyonlinesupplementcompanyatseekinghealth.comwherewe'vegotformulationsthatarebaseduponmyresearchandthey'rehelpingalotofpeople.Katie:Thankyousomuch.Andofcourse,allthoselinks,youmentionedquiteafewarticles.Allthosewillbeintheshownotesatwellnessmamma.fmforanyonewhoislookingforthose.Dr.Lynch,thankyousomuchforyourtimeandforbeinghereandforalltheresearchyoudo.Ben:Thankyou,Katie.Andthanksforinterviewingotherexpertsandpracticingwhatyoupreach.And,youknow,whatyou'redoingishelpingalotofpeople,aswell.SoIthankyouforit.Keepgoing.Andstayhealthy.IfIcanhelpyouinanyway,letmeknow.Katie:Thankyousomuch.Andthankstoallofyouforlistening.AndIwillseeyounexttimeon"TheHealthyMom'sPodcast".

Ifyou'reenjoyingtheseinterviews,wouldyoupleasetaketwominutestoleavearatingorreviewoniTunesforme?Doingthishelpsmorepeopletofindthepodcast,whichmeansevenmoremomsandfamiliescouldbenefitfromtheinformation.Ireallyappreciateyourtime,andthanksasalwaysforlistening.

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135- Understanding Genetic Testing, Epigenetics and Genetic ......Beekeepers Naturals is dedicated to bringing the age-old benefits of bee products in to modern times. And they offer