How Your Lifestyle Affects Future Generations: What You Need to Know

Quite often I hear people explain away a health problem by simply blaming poor genetics.

The reality is, most health problems have little to do with bad genes, and more to do with bad lifestyles and environments.

Stress, in all it’s forms (stressful mental environment, stressful nutritional/chemical environment, and stressful physical/structural environment), is the main reason our bodies develop disease, and these stressors can be passed down to our offspring.

Imagine the stress you experience today affecting not just your health but also the health of your children and even your grandchildren.

That’s what the research paper “Inheriting Environmental Stressors” explores. It looks at how the environment and stressors we face can impact our genes and be passed down to future generations.

Key Points:

1. What Are Environmental Stressors?
   • Environmental stressors are things in our surroundings that can cause stress or harm, like a poor diet, extreme temperatures, toxins, or even stressful experiences.
   • These stressors don’t just affect us; they can also change how our genes work in a way that can be passed on to our children.

2. How Does This Work?
   • The study explains that stress can cause changes in our DNA, not by changing the DNA itself but by altering how it’s used by our cells. These changes are known as “epigenetic changes.”
   • For example, if someone is exposed to a poor diet or high levels of stress, it can trigger changes in their DNA that might make their children more likely to develop health issues like obesity or diabetes.

3. What Gets Passed Down?
   • These changes in the DNA can be passed on to the next generation through our sperm or eggs. This means that what happens to us can affect our children and even their children.
   • Sometimes, these changes can be helpful, like making future generations more resistant to stress. But they can also increase the risk of health problems.

4. Why Should You Care?
   • Understanding that your lifestyle and environment can affect your future family’s health is important. It means that taking care of your health now isn’t just good for you—it’s good for your kids and grandkids too.
   • Simple actions like eating a healthy diet, avoiding environmental toxins in our food, water, and air, and managing stress can help protect your family’s health, both now and in the future.

What Can You Do?

1. Make Healthy Choices:
   • I have written numerous articles on optimal diets, getting regular movement, and avoiding harmful substances. These choices can help ensure optimal health now, and that you pass on the best possible health to your children.
2. Manage Stress:
   • Find healthy ways to cope with stress, like mindfulness, exercise, or talking to someone. Managing your stress can help prevent negative health effects from being passed on. ALWAYS­ (daily) take time to have fun and enjoy life! Whatever that means for you.
3. Be Aware of Your Environment:
   • Pay attention to the environment you live in. Reduce exposure to harmful chemicals, toxins, and extreme stressors to protect your health and the health of future generations.

This research shows that the choices we make today can have long-lasting effects on our families.

By being mindful of our health and environment, we can help ensure a healthier future for our children and grandchildren. Taking care of yourself now is one of the best ways to take care of the generations to come.

If you have any more questions about how stress affects your health or what you can do about it, feel free to ask!

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1673852721003714