Communication

Human beings have a strong need for positive social interaction. Intimate relationships with a partner are particularly important for our health. Clearly, such relationships depend on communication and conflict management, and of course have a lot to do with individual biochemistry. Specifically one protein: the neuropeptide known as oxytocin.

Oxytocin is a peptide (i.e. a ketogenic amino acid) which is responsible for ensuring that we communicate in a positive manner. And it has the desirable side-effect of inhibiting stress hormones, namely the secretion of cortisol. So if we produce oxytocin, we are better able to resolve conflict. How much of this oxytocin we produce is, of course, genetically determined.

We now know that some people are better at conflict resolution than others. One of our genetic tests will shed light on this, and we can then pursue a more targeted strategy for dealing with anger, stress and conflict. Here too, it is helpful to know about our genes.

Genius is not a gene

Not everything is down to genetic predisposition. For example, whether we are a genius or not. It is a massive simplification to say that an individual was born a genius because of their genetic predisposition.

That belief has now been completely refuted. Take Darwin, Einstein or Mozart, for example. These were people who had no genetic predisposition for the things they achieved. They just applied themselves assiduously.

Educationists estimate that a learner needs to spend approximately 10,000 hours studying and practicing before he or she becomes really proficient in a skill. And that was also true of the three aforementioned geniuses. The secret of success is ultimately performing an activity very often and very intensively.

New grey cells

If we want to remain mentally fit, it is useful to know about our own genetic disposition. The preconditions for dementia/Alzheimer’s are written in our genes. And there have been some recent findings on this front, including those of Dr Magdalena Götz, a Professor of Physiological Genomics who directs the Institute for Stem Cell Research at the Helmholtz Center in Munich. It was long believed that our neurons are first formed and then grow old and die. We now know, however, that new nerve cells can form, even at a later stage in life.

Recently, cognitive training methods have been developed (brain teasers) which – depending on the genetic disposition of the individual – can stimulate the growth of nerve cells in very important areas of the brain. Even if someone is already suffering from dementia or has had a stroke, damaged nerve cells can be repaired. Consequently, we can recommend to someone on the basis of a genetic test that they should do brain teasers to repair their damaged nerve cells.

Prevention or precaution?

Precautionary medicine is a bit different from prevention. Precaution means that you investigate to see if everything is in order. That’s not the same as prevention. Prevention comes from the Latin word meaning “to come ahead of”, i.e. anticipating a danger. This active approach is becoming more fashionable, and not just because we at Salvagene recommend it. There have recently been some persuasive studies, including one from Norfolk in the UK. This showed that a few simple preventive measures can put ten additional years on the average person’s life. These include: - not smoking; - taking regular exercise; - taking vitamin C supplements; - reducing alcohol consumption to under 120 grams per week. We adapt these and other measures to your individual genetic makeup and are optimistic that we can even exceed these extra ten years by performing a gene analysis.

Comfortable temperature

The human race went through most of its evolution in Africa without any perceived need for clothes. We are genetically programmed to feel more comfortable in warmer climes. It is in our nature to respond to warmth, and now that the days are getting longer, we are looking forward to them also heating up. The average temperature in Africa is 27°C, and a human being can feel comfortable at this temperature without clothes. 27 degrees Celsius is the perfect temperature for the skin. Once it starts to get a little cooler – round about the 22/23°C mark – we begin to feel the need for clothes. The whole thing is genetically predetermined and is influenced by daylight.

Grey hair

Having a good head of hair is generally associated with youth and health. So when do we start to turn grey? The explanation is straightforward and is genetically determined. It is caused by reduced enzyme activity which inhibits the formation of pigments. Because we are now able to identify this gene, we can help by replacing the enzymes that have been lost due to the limited activity of the gene. We are talking about very simple plant structures which are supplemented by amino acids and L-glutamine. So for people who have turned grey prematurely, there is every chance that some of their hair will revert to its previous color.

Age intervention

It is no longer justifiable to wait for diseases caused by aging to set in before we treat them; instead, we should forestall the aging process from the outset or push it as far as possible into the future, i.e. around the maximum age limit. Basic research, as well as experience with the very old, shows that the years of frailty, illness and infirmity can be reduced significantly as a proportion of an individual’s lifespan. It is high time to make full use of the knowledge we already have, without losing sight of the risks or the principle of scientific objectivity. And finally, with every year that we get older, we become more and more aware that we are ultimately the result of all the choices we have made in life. Determining for ourselves the course of our own aging process on the basis of scientifically sound findings could rank as one of the most important decisions of our lives.

Hair

The right way to live is determined by our genes. We “live” our genes, so the only question is whether we are living them correctly. In order to do that, we need to understand what our genes are telling us. And we are learning more and more about this. We have, for example, received new information from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) about the identification of 26 new genes relating to lung cancer. This enables us to tell our clients even more precisely the steps they need to take to avoid lung cancer if they are a carrier of such genes. And here is another example: The University of Bern in Switzerland has discovered a gene relating to hair growth. We are therefore very optimistic that, within a short time, we will know what a person with this bad gene has to do to avoid hair loss and promote continued hair growth.

Sustainability (Project Health)

At the end of each day, it is important that we ask ourselves this question: What did I do for my health today? Good health is not a matter of luck; you have to work hard for it. Putting your head in the sand and thinking “it won’t happen to me” is not a valid strategy, even though it may be comforting. Sooner or later, genetic predisposition kicks in and the unthinkable happens. Health is a project – one that lasts a lifetime and requires us to do something about it every day. So the big question is: What should I be doing each day? There are obviously plenty of ideas and suggestions that we have all heard over the years. Some of them work, while others don’t. We can overcome this random factor by taking a gene test to determine our individual genetic predisposition.

Beauty (skin)

It is not only health that comes from the inside, but beauty which is after all the external manifestation of good health. Essentially, it is a matter of compensating for the lack of endogenous substances or for an excess of exogenous ones. Which means getting the right balance of missing substances in order to influence the age-related changes in the skin. Although natural beauty comes from the inside, the body can receive support from the outside by the conversion of highly active herbal or biochemical antioxidants as well as certain trace elements and amino acids into hormones.

My recommendation: They are better ingested rather than applied to the skin in the form of cream. Skin aging is a hormonal process. It is via the blood (i.e. from the inside) that these substances travel through the entire organism, eventually reaching the deeper skin layers. It is possible to continuously reinforce ourselves, so to speak, by nutritional means. Clearly, a cream will always reach only the top layer of skin. Depending on the individual genotype, there are various substances which will ultimately have an effect. Unsurprisingly, therefore, aging varies from person to person.

Sport #2

Sport is not intrinsically good for everyone to the same extent. The individual’s genetic system decides the type, frequency, duration and intensity of exercise that will have the most beneficial effect.

One of my clients had a genetic profile indicating excellent health. She had a high level of protection against most diseases. Her only vulnerability was a genetic susceptibility to osteoporosis. And she had triggered this by choosing the wrong type of physical activity. Her preferred sports were cycling and swimming, both the sort of “healthy” sporting activities that are recommended by cardiologists and orthopedists.

But for someone but who is susceptible to osteoporosis, these sports are counterproductive. The lack of contraction in these sports leads to a rapid loss of bone density. For someone who needs to protect their joints, swimming and cycling are of course ideal.

I recommended to my client that she take up Nordic Walking and trampolining. Together with coral calcium supplements, this advice helped to resolve the bone problem.

Sport #1

Everyone has different genetic variants on certain sections of their DNA that determine which diet keeps their weight down or alternatively makes them ill. But these gene variants also play a part in determining which sports are good for us. The individual’s genetic system decides the type, frequency, duration and intensity of exercise that will have the most beneficial effect.

For example, there is a widespread genetic variant which, especially in women, reduces the efficacy of endurance sport in reducing body fat. Such women should focus more on their diet. Another common gene variant determines whether endurance sports have a beneficial effect on high cholesterol levels. Where the indications are negative, a high-dosage intake of vitamin B3 can help. Even elite athletes can have poor lipid metabolism. Our genes determine what types of sport are good for us or, in the worst-case scenario, actually make us ill or age faster.

Broccoli

Knowing exactly how our genetic structure is made up will help us establish whether broccoli boosts our health or whether it is just another vegetable. If we have a particular gene that impairs the enzyme-driven detoxification function, then the missing enzyme is most likely contained in broccoli – so-called indole-3-carbinol (I3C). The missing enzyme enters the body as part of the diet, thereby boosting its detoxification capacity. Furthermore, broccoli contains an enzyme which goes by the name of sulforaphane . Sulforaphane is an antioxidant, which means that is anti-inflammatory and is especially potent against cancer. It is also very effective in countering helicobacter pylori . This is a bacterium in the stomach which can cause gastritis and ultimately gastric cancer. Consequently, anyone with such a genetic variant should eat plenty of broccoli on a regular basis.

Lipo-protein A

A new gene has been discovered that is relevant to heart disease. It is the so-called LPA gene. Certain variants of this gene are responsible for raising the level of lipo-protein A , which in turn one is of the major causal factors behind heart attacks. Where an individual has such a gene, it makes a lot of sense to measure their lipo-protein A level and on the basis of the results to consider changes to lifestyle, especially in terms of diet, and to decide what extra vitamins should be taken in order to reduce Lipo A level. It is therefore very helpful to know if you have such a gene and what your Lipo A level is so that the necessary action can be taken.

Enzymes #2

Detoxification capacity is increased by certain enzymes which convert toxins into a form that the body can excrete. The whole process is genetically controlled by the so-called CYP variants which determine the volume in which our bodies produce these enzymes. If a client comes to me with such a CYP variant, we test to see how many of these enzymes are active in the body.

The parameter, which is called GST Theta, measures Phase I and Phase II of detoxification, and it shows us precisely the strength of detoxification capacity. If detoxification capacity is too low, we supplement it with glucosinulates (present for example in cabbage, broccoli, horseradish, watercress), so that this enzyme, which the body is not forming enough of, becomes available in the quantities required for maximum protection against cancer.

Enzymes #1

By increasing detoxification capacity, of course, we also increase protection against cancer. Why is this so important? Because we are constantly taking toxins into our bodies – when we fill up at the service station, eat burnt food or just absorb general pollution. It is important to understand that toxins are excreted via the skin and through the kidneys. But it is also important to know that toxins must first be rendered excretable. That’s why so-called detoxes and heavy metal chelation are not enough in themselves and are not sustainable.

The excretion capacity of the body is determined by enzymes, and these enzymes have to find their way into the body somehow. Because it is enzymes that convert toxins into an excretable form. This enzyme capacity can be measured. If our enzyme production is high enough, we will have a high detoxification capacity and consequently greater cancer resistance. This enzyme activity is genetic and thus varies between individuals.