As I write, “I sent a message to my genes,” I can hear, “I bought a ticket to the world,” from ‘True’ by Spandau Ballet… probably because I remembered the line as, “I sent a message to the world!” The title seems a little more exciting than, “Epigenetics,” but I assure you that epigenetics IS exciting!

Our DNA is like a vast and complex library full of instruction manuals – with every cell sharing access. So how does our liver do what it does while our retina knows how to see colour instead of managing our blood-purity? The answer is a system of chemical switches and dimmer knobs we call epigenetics. These switches don't change the instruction manuals themselves; they simply mark which pages to read intently and which to skip.

And here’s the most empowering part: our daily lives flip those switches.

Our choices—where we live, who we love, what we eat, and how we move—send direct signals to our genes. This means we are in a constant, living conversation with our own biology. You are not a prisoner of your genetic blueprint; you are its interpreter, its publishing editor, and its director.

Here’s how we can start making positive changes that speak directly to our genes…

1. Change Our Location and Relationships: The Social Switch

We could seek out communities that uplift us. A walk in a park can reduce stress markers. A heartfelt conversation with a friend can flip switches for joy. Our environment isn't just a backdrop; it's an active participant in our health.

2. Upgrade Our Nutrition: The Fuel Switch

Food is more than calories; it's information. Compounds in foods like leafy greens, berries, and turmeric can directly influence epigenetic switches that "turn down" genes for inflammation and "turn up" genes for repair and detoxification.

3. Embrace Movement: The Energy Switch

Exercise is one of the most powerful epigenetic modulators. It doesn't just build muscle; it flips switches on genes that help regulate mood, improve metabolism, and enhance brain function. We can move our body to change our biochemistry.

4. Shift Our Thinking: The Mindset Switch

Practices like mindfulness, meditation, and gratitude aren't just "good vibes." They can reduce the production of stress hormones like cortisol, which is a potent epigenetic signal that can negatively flip genetic switches. Calming the mind calms the body's deepest cellular processes. This isn't just positive thinking; it's positive biology. We are quite literally switching our genes toward a state of rest and repair.

The message of epigenetics is one of profound hope and agency. We are not passive passengers on our genetic railroad. We are the drivers, and our daily choices are the hands that adjust the controls.

This Monday, and every day, we have the opportunity to send a new message to our genes. Choose a good meal. Choose a walk. Choose a kind word. With every positive choice, we are gently guiding our biology toward a healthier, brighter future.

Your genes are listening. What message will you send them today?

Lex

A Moodscope member