Scientific evidence now tells us that some of our genes are not static i.e. we do not have to be destined to develop a disease just because our other family members did or we have an established weakness in that area. 

The good news is that although you can’t change your genes, understanding more about the clinically relevant genes can change your health outcomes!  

It’s also the only functional medicine test you’ll do once in your life, if your saliva sample is analysed through a reputable scientific lab. 

We now know that genes are responsive to the diet and lifestyle choices we make, which impacts on how effectively they ‘express’ themselves. Gene expression is a way of explaining our level of wellbeing and how effectively our bodies function.

Your genes won’t change but with the right interventions through foods, correct supplementation dosage, exercise and many lifestyle choices, you can optimise the function or expression of your genes. 

It’s a powerful tool for both physical and mental health.

As a certified Fitgenes practitioner I can request and interpret the data from your genetic report and including provide a treatment plan with the interventions that personally match a patient’s genes. 

There are 58 genes in the Fitgenes Health & Wellbeing report.

The genes that are most relevant for numerous pathways in the body PLUS have known evidence for genomic interventions are grouped into these 6 categories (drivers for most chronic diseases):

1. Inflammation

2. Cellular defence

3. Vitamin D receptors

4. Methylation

5. Cardiovascular Health

6. Fat Metabolism and Cholesterol Regulation

This is absolutely not a one-size-fits-all plan and is modified to suit different genetic and current biochemical needs (eg. hormone & nutrient needs).

Speak to Sheridan, a certified Fitgenes accredited practitioner today to enhance your genetic function and live a better life!

The post Genetic Testing to Overcome Stress, Inflammation & Obesity appeared first on Better Brain Health.

New Year’s Resolutions

For the past four years, Betty’s made a New Year’s Resolution to exercise more. She’s also vowed to lose weight (an annual resolution for the last 8 years), and to finally start that novel (this one goes all the way back to 1998.)

Like two out of every five Australians, Betty begins every new year with stout resolve and good intentions. But like most who make New Year’s Resolutions, by the time the autumn fashions hit the shop windows, all that resolve has gone the way of last year’s colors. No exercise program. No weight loss and, sadly, no novel. Not even a beginning chapter.

What goes wrong?

Betty’s problem and the difficulty most people face in keeping their resolutions is that changing behavior involves more than simply vowing to do so. A lot more.

So, whether you want to do more or less of something, quit something altogether or start something new, here are a few tips that can help.

1. Be sure the change you vow to make is something you really want, not just something you think you should do. Altering habits is hard work; if you’re not going after something you really want, you set yourself up for failure.

2. Be specific. Instead of vowing to “lose weight,” state that you want to lose five pounds by March 15. State your goal in incremental, measurable, specific terms. Be certain it’s attainable, too. To go from a sitting position to running a marathon in six weeks may be too long a distance to travel in that short a time.

3. Accentuate the positive. When you just say no, you’re reminding yourself of what you can’t have or can’t do. Instead of saying “no fatty foods,” say “more homemade healthy snacks and fruit for dessert.”

4. Believe in yourself. Positive self-talk, affirmations and encouragement really do help. Even if you fail the first time, that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to failure. Be easy on yourself if you lapse. Change is often a two-steps-forward, one-step-back process.

5. Easy does it. Set your goals in short, manageable steps rather than one giant leap. Start slowly: go to the gym twice a week instead of four times; walk a block instead of 3kms.

As for Betty and her novel, at last report, she planned to commit to a page a day, three days a week. At that rate, by the end of the year, she’ll be well on her way to a first draft.

If Betty can do it, you can too.
What change do you truly long to make in your life this year?

The post How To Make New Year Resolutions That You’ll Keep appeared first on Better Brain Health.

Healing of thanks

By Sheridan Genrich ND.

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been promoted for years.

Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness for improving overall health. They suggest that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain.

So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives.

For gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a word used around events like Christmas or birthdays. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time. That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense.

When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing. Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: sunshine, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets, tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What’s on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

• Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

• Say thanks to everyone you come across in your day and notice how many faces light up. Even if they don’t you’ll feel the peace inside by knowing you’re sharing goodness.

• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.

• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your night time routine.

• Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.

• When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.

• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude. As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.

The post Tapping Into The Power of Gratitude appeared first on Better Brain Health.