Dirty Genes Read online

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to the late Rachel Kranz. She brought Dirty Genes to life, although she did not live to see it published. She worked tirelessly to better the health of millions through books. Without her tremendous ability to organize, create, write, strategize, and collaborate, there would be far fewer amazing health books available today. She gave it her all. I know of no one who has impacted so many lives so deeply, so selflessly, without any need for public acknowledgment. Without Rachel, this book could not have been written. She inspired me, coached me, pushed me, challenged me, and encouraged me each step of the way.

  CONTENTS

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Introduction: Your Genes Are Not Your Destiny!

  Part I: Can You Control Your Genes? 1: Cleaning Up Your Dirty Genes

  2: Gene Secrets: What They Didn’t Teach You in Science Class

  3: What’s Your Genetic Profile?

  Part II: Meet Your Dirty Genes 4: Laundry List 1: Which of Your Genes Need Cleaning?

  5: MTHFR: Methylation Master

  6: COMT: Focus and Buoyancy, or Mellowness and Calm

  7: DAO: Oversensitivity to Foods

  8: MAOA: Mood Swings and Carb Cravings

  9: GST/GPX: Detox Dilemmas

  10: NOS3: Heart Issues

  11: PEMT: Cell Membrane and Liver Problems

  Part III: Your Clean Genes Protocol 12: Soak and Scrub: Your First Two Weeks

  13: Your Clean Genes Recipes

  14: Laundry List 2: Which Genes Need More Cleaning?

  15: Spot Cleaning: Your Second Two Weeks

  Conclusion: The Future of Gene Health

  Acknowledgments

  Appendix A: Lab Testing

  Appendix B: Genetic Testing and Evaluation

  Appendix C: Mold and Indoor Air Quality Testing

  Resources

  Notes

  Index

  About the Author

  Credits

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  INTRODUCTION

  Your Genes Are Not Your Destiny!

  It was just an ordinary day in 2007. I had half an hour to spare and decided to check out a program playing on the PBS show Nova, “A Tale of Two Mice.”

  The program introduced us to two mice that were genetically identical—but looked completely different. Both were from a strain that had a strong genetic potential for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Yet one of the mice was lean and healthy, while the other was massively overweight and vulnerable to disease. Although each had the genetic potential for major illness and excess weight, only one of them was actually unhealthy.

  As I watched in astonishment, the researcher explained the “x factor”—the mysterious, powerful reason behind our ability to manipulate our genetic inheritance and create health rather than illness. The secret was methylation, a biochemical process that takes place within your body. By methylating certain genes, you can turn off your genetic tendency to obesity and disease.

  And how had that amazing feat been accomplished in the mice presented on PBS? In that experiment, through diet alone. While the experimental mice were still in the womb, researchers had given some of the mothers methyl donors—nutrients that support the methylation process—while the control group received none. The right diet had turned off the mice’s “dirty genes” and reshaped their genetic destiny.

  This process of turning genes on and off is known as epigenetics. What I have learned since that momentous day in 2007 is that we can transform our genetic destiny through a combination of diet, supplements, sleep, stress relief, and reduced exposure to environmental toxins (the toxins in our food, water, air, and products). With the right tools, we can transcend our inherited tendencies to disease—including anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), birth defects, cancer, dementia, depression, heart disease, insomnia, and obesity—to create new and healthy lives.

  I still remember how amazed I was as the program drew to a close. I slammed my hand down on my desk. “That’s it!” I cried out. “That’s what I want to do!”

  From that point on, I was obsessed. Contrary to what so many scientists and doctors believe, our genetic destiny isn’t fixed. It can be edited, rewritten, changed. We just need to know how.

  And so it became my mission to identify our dirty genes and develop the protocol we need to scrub them clean, replacing disease with health and enabling us all to reach our genetic potential. I’m happy to tell you that after a decade of research, study, and successful treatment of clients around the world, I have developed and refined the Clean Genes Protocol, a program to optimize your health—and your life.

  The Power of Epigenetics

  I’ve always been fascinated by the ways our bodies want to be healthy, and I’ve spent most of my life learning how to help them get there. As an undergraduate, I studied cell and molecular biology. I then became a naturopathic physician—a science-based practitioner who relies on natural methods to restore balance and optimize health. As I worked with patients, I realized that I also needed to become a specialist in environmental medicine, discovering both how the chemicals in our environment undermine our health and what we can do to detoxify our bodies.

  What made all my diverse studies come together was the field of epigenetics: the many, many factors that can influence how our genes are expressed. I had always understood how powerful genes can be. But wow, was I thrilled to discover that we don’t have to bow down and submit to our DNA. Instead, we can work with our genes to create optimal health—if only we know how.

  One of the most important pieces of the genetic puzzle is a type of variation known as a SNP (pronounced “snip”), which is short for single-nucleotide polymorphism. So far, roughly ten million SNPs have been identified in the human genome, with each of us having over a million.

  Most of those SNPs don’t seem to affect us very much. Yes, they represent a slight variation or abnormality in various genes, but so far as we know, those variations don’t seem to make much difference in the way our bodies function.

  Some SNPs, however, can make a huge difference in our health—and in our personality, as well. For example, SNPs in the MTHFR gene can create a whole host of health problems—everything from irritability and obsessiveness to birth defects and cancer. (Note that I said can. They don’t have to—that’s what this book is all about!) SNPs in the COMT gene can lead to workaholism, sleep issues, PMS, problems with menopause, and again, cancer, along with boundless energy, enthusiasm, and good spirits. (Yes, many SNPs have an upside as well as a downside!)

  Health issues that had puzzled my clients for years suddenly made sense when they discovered through our work together that their SNPs had at least partly created those issues. Problems that had seemed overwhelming—even dooming—became manageable as clients learned that they could use diet and lifestyle to reshape their genes’ behavior.

  I experienced that kind of aha moment myself when I discovered that I have at least three significant SNPs. I finally understood something about why I’m so focused and determined—some might say obsessive! I also saw why I can suddenly become irritable at a moment’s notice, and why I react so intensely to certain chemicals and fumes. It was a relief to have this new understanding: things made sense to me in a way they never had before, plus I had some new solutions I could rely on. As you read this book, you’ll have the chance to make the same kind of exciting discoveries about yourself.

  Most important, learning about my SNPs empowered me to take charge of my health. Finally, I could support my body and brain with the diet and lifestyle that they needed. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was working at the top of my potential.

  I wan
ted my patients to have the same experience—heck, I wanted everybody to hit that high. So I began to develop a program for cleaning up our “dirty genes”: what we should eat, which supplements could help, and how to create a “clean genes” lifestyle. I wanted us to be like that epigenetically supported mouse, glowing and healthy, no matter which genes life has dealt us. I knew that if I could just delve deeply enough, I’d find the answers.

  And now, ten years later, I’m proud to say that I have. Oh, there’s still a ton more I have to learn—the whole field of epigenetics is just getting started, and we’re making new discoveries every day. I spend a big portion of every week doing my own research, and another big chunk of time reading the studies that my colleagues turn out. It’s more than one person could ever keep up with—and that’s the good news. In another ten years, I’m fully confident, we’re going to have the power to take charge of our health in ways we can’t even imagine.

  Still, you want to be healthy today, not in a year or two or ten. So besides my research and study, I’ve worked with thousands of clients and hundreds of doctors, learning how all that arcane science can be translated into a practical, accessible program that anybody—no matter how busy—can do. I speak at conferences, publish videos, and maintain a blog, reaching physicians, health professionals, scientists, and laypeople.

  I’m proud to say I’ve become the go-to guy on epigenetics even for such nationally recognized doctors and bestselling authors as Chris Kresser, Izabella Wentz, Alan Christianson, Peter Osborne, and Kelly Brogan.

  To be honest, I wish I wasn’t the primary source of information—I wish what I knew was commonplace and widespread, the basic approach available in every doctor’s office. That’s become my new goal, and it’s why I’ve written this book: to teach every single interested person how to clean up their genes and achieve a whole new level of health.

  * * *

  Are Your Dirty Genes Creating These Problems for You?

  Brain and Mood Issues

  ■ADD/ADHD

  ■Anxiety

  ■Brain fog

  ■Depression

  ■Fatigue

  ■Insomnia and sleep problems

  ■Irritability

  ■Memory problems

  Cancer

  ■Breast cancer

  ■Ovarian cancer

  ■Stomach cancer

  Cardiovascular Issues

  ■Atherosclerosis

  ■Heart disease

  ■Hypertension

  ■Stroke

  ■Triglyceride elevation

  Female Hormone Issues

  ■Menopause difficulties

  ■Menstrual challenges—cramps, excessive bleeding, mood and cognition difficulties

  ■Menstrual migraines

  ■PMS

  Fertility and Pregnancy Issues

  ■Difficulty getting pregnant

  ■Difficulty carrying to term

  ■Increased risk of birth defects

  Gland and Organ Issues

  ■Fatty liver and other liver dysfunction

  ■Gallstones

  ■Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

  ■Thyroid dysfunction

  Metabolism Issues

  ■Food cravings, especially for sweets and carbs

  ■Obesity and weight gain

  * * *

  Are Your Dirty Genes Making You Sick?

  You’ve probably heard that your genes affect how healthy you can be. Almost certainly, your doctor has told you that because of the conditions that run in your family, you may be vulnerable to heart disease, depression, anxiety, and/or other disorders.

  Most of the time, this news makes people feel discouraged. “I’m scared,” they tell me. “My genes are a mess. I’ve just gotta make the best of it.”

  No way!

  After years of research in the new science of gene abnormalities, and having successfully treated thousands of clients, including my family and myself, I’m offering you an exciting new approach: a proven method to clean up your genetic limitations and create a healthier, more vibrant you.

  So let me say it loud and clear: Your genes are not your destiny!

  But perhaps you’ve been taught that they are. Perhaps, like most people, you’ve been told that you inherited a “master plan”—characteristics that are written in stone from the moment of your conception until the day you die. In this view, your genes are a stern committee of judges handing down a life sentence.

  “Hmm,” your genes seem to say. “Let’s give this woman depression, which she gets from her mother. And let’s throw in some heart disease, which runs on her father’s side. How about adding in a shy, anxious personality, which she gets from her grandmother? We’re almost done, but let’s throw in one more ingredient—a mild case of ADHD, nothing clinical. But, like two of her uncles, she’s always going to have a hard time focusing. There—all done! Good luck, lady! Enjoy the destiny that we’ve written for you, because there is absolutely nothing you can do to change it!”

  Pretty bleak, right? Luckily, it’s wrong. Far from being written in stone, your genetic destiny is more like a document written in the Cloud—you get to edit and revise it, every moment of your life. Every time you drink a soda, barrel through on four hours of sleep, use a shampoo loaded with industrial chemicals, or hit a stress bomb at your job, you’re putting the negative part of the document in giant type. And every time you eat some organic leafy greens, get a good night’s sleep, use a chemical-free shampoo, laugh with friends, or do some yoga, you’re enlarging the positive part of the document while reducing the negative part to a font so small, it might as well not be there at all.

  Your genes don’t lay down the law; they negotiate with you. They don’t even speak with a single voice. They’re a committee, and sometimes they disagree with each other.

  Some of the folks on that committee are harsh. They’re constantly shouting, “Heart disease!” or “Depression!” or “Crippling lack of confidence!” And if you don’t know the right way to work with them, those loud, harsh voices might rule the day.

  But—and here’s how this book is going to change your life—if you do know how to work with your “gene committee,” you can produce a much better outcome. You can get those loud negative voices to tone it down or even shut up completely. At the same time, you can turn up the volume on the voices that are saying, “Balanced mood!” “Healthy heart!” and “Self-confidence!”

  So get ready to clean your dirty genes, folks, because that’s exactly what you’re going to do. In this book, you’ll find out how to make the most of your genetic inheritance, now and for the rest of your life.

  * * *

  Are Your Genes Dirty? Some Common Symptoms

  ■Aching joints and/or muscles

  ■Acid reflux/heartburn

  ■Acne

  ■Allergic reactions

  ■Anger and aggression

  ■Anxiety

  ■Attention issues

  ■Blood sugar spikes and crashes

  ■Brain fog

  ■Cold hands and feet

  ■Constipation

  ■Cravings, especially for carbs and sugar

  ■Depression

  ■Diarrhea

  ■Edginess

  ■Fatigue

  ■Fibromyalgia

  ■Food intolerance

  ■Gallstones

  ■Gas and bloating

  ■Headache/migraine

  ■Heart racing

  ■Indigestion

  ■Insomnia

  ■Irritability

  ■Itchy skin

  ■Menopause/perimenopause symptoms

  ■Mood swings

  ■Nosebleeds

  ■Obesity/weight gain

  ■Obsessiveness

  ■Overreactive startle reflex

  ■PMS / difficult periods

  ■Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

  ■Rosacea

  ■Runny nose / congestion

/>   ■Sweating

  ■Unexplained symptoms—just “not feeling right”

  ■Workaholism

  * * *

  What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You—But I Will

  If you’ve had trouble with any of the symptoms I’ve just listed, your doctor might have told you that you’re not really sick. Or maybe you’ve been offered drugs to medicate the symptoms—antibiotics, painkillers, antacids, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications—without much attention to the underlying issues that produce those symptoms.

  Or perhaps you’ve been one of the lucky ones. Perhaps you’ve found a naturopathic physician, functional/integrative MD, osteopath, nurse practitioner, nutritionist, chiropractor, or other health professional who has helped you restore health and wellness through diet, lifestyle, and other natural means. Even so, your treatment is incomplete if you haven’t learned about dirty genes, the root cause of many of the conditions you’re struggling with.

  That’s because epigenetics—modifying genetic expression to improve your life and health—is a cutting-edge aspect of medicine that most practitioners don’t understand. I’m one of the few people who have figured out how to translate genetic research into concrete actions that will improve your health, which is why so many leading health-care specialists come to me for training and advice. That’s why I spend so much of my time lecturing and consulting with physicians and providers—conventional, natural, and otherwise—as well as reading other people’s studies, doing my own research, and helping others regain their health.

  As a result, the suggestions in this book are based on the very latest scientific material. Most health-care providers simply aren’t aware of this information, though I’d be willing to bet that in a few years, programs like the one in this book will be widespread, even standard.

  Meanwhile, congratulations! Reading this book puts you well ahead of the curve. Once you understand what makes your genes dirty and how to clean them up, you’ll feel better than you ever thought you could.