Yes, genes matter. It gets easier and easier, as you get older, to blame your genes for all of your problems. If your grandfather was an alcoholic or heart disease runs in the family you may figure “why bother”. You would be surprised at how many people buy into the theory that they were born with a certain number of good years and then bam, that’s it! Are you going to buy your burial plot (not that this isn’t a good thing) and thumb your nose at Mother Nature, or are you going to take another look at what science has to offer you? This is one of those big decisions that you are going to have to make. Are you going to accept your genetic heritage or are you going to work with it?
Author, Dr. Michael Roizen, M.D. (You Staying Young) tells us that aging doesn’t work that way. Your genes are important but your genetic destiny is not carved in stone. Your genetic traits might make you more or less predisposed to health related insults but knowing this gives you a heads-up, and this knowledge might be what it takes to help you beat the odds.
Studies show that your longevity is based one-quarter on genetics and three-quarters on behavior and lifestyle choices. Those are pretty good odds. For the most part, you can learn to adapt and adjust in order to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws your way. That is just how the body works. Dr. Roizen reminds us that exercise isn’t just good for us because it burns fat, but because it can alter your genetic codes and serve to decrease the risks of getting certain chronic diseases. This means that you do still have some control over how your life is going to play out.
So who wins: the person who bows to his genetic disposition and gives up, or the one who takes action? Controlling your genetics can help you avoid many of the age related diseases, and this ultimately gives you more time to enjoy the years that you have left. You are stuck with the genes you were given, but you can change the way that they function. The moral of the story is to take care of yourself and do everything that you can to preserve a healthy and independent lifestyle.
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