How Genetics and Epigenetics Work Together
Genetics Is Just Part of the Story
When people hear “it’s genetic,” it can feel very permanent, almost like the fate of their health is already decided. While it is true that some genetic conditions cannot be altered by lifestyle, most of the common health concerns people think about in everyday life, like metabolism, inflammation, hormone balance, mood, digestion, and cardiometabolic risk, are influenced by many genes and our lifestyle working together. These are called multifactorial conditions because they are shaped by multiple factors: your genetics, your environment, and your epigenetics.
What Epigenetics Actually Means
Epigenetics describes how your environment, behaviors, and lifestyle can influence the way your genes function. Your DNA sequence stays the same throughout your life, but the environment around your genes is always changing. Our bodies naturally turn genes on and off to help cells do their jobs, and these shifts are guided by epigenetic signals. These signals respond to things like nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, and environmental exposures. This is part of why identical twins, who share the same DNA, can still have different health outcomes. It also explains how long-term habits or early life experiences can shape how certain “genetic tendencies” show up over time. When you support these areas, you create an environment that helps your genes work in a way that feels better for your overall health.
How This Shows Up in Daily Life
Small, consistent habits can gently shape your epigenetic patterns over time. Eating in a way that works with your metabolism, getting better sleep, managing day-to-day stress, and reducing environmental triggers can all influence how your body uses the information in your DNA. These changes are not quick fixes (I wish they were!), but they are steady, long-term habits that help your genetic tendencies move in a more balanced and supportive direction.
How Golden Genetics Can Help
Our practice can help connect what is written in your genetic code with the parts of your health you can actually influence through epigenetics. Through nutrigenetic testing, we help you understand which pathways may need a little extra support based on the genetic variants you inherited. From there, we identify the lifestyle and nutrition strategies that best support those pathways. It is not about changing who you are. It is about giving your body the conditions it needs to function at its best.
If you are curious about how your genetics and your daily habits interact, especially for the multifactorial issues that affect energy, digestion, mood, and long-term wellness, we would be grateful to support you.