'Nutrition gap' behind issue of disease inheritance

In July 2016, Science published research from Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London and University of Cambridge, where scientists ‘speculated’, following their studies on mice, that the nutritional quality of a mother’s diet during pregnancy has a huge say in determining offspring attributes such as weight and even susceptibility to chronic conditions. Jeez, you don’t say? I know researchers need to keep researching, but these sorts of studies, apart from the results being self-evident to any thoughtful, sensible individual, frustrate me beyond belief. 

It’s a fact! Excellent preconception diets (both his and hers) backed up by an excellent maternal diet during pregnancy, profoundly and positively impact he developing foetus and increase the likelihood that individual will live a life free of chronic degenerative disease. The effects carry across generations too. Conversely, poor preconception and pregnancy nutrient intake (and I include the standard Western diet in my ’poor’ frame of reference) contribute to poorer reproductive outcomes and increase the chance of a child who will suffer a life-time of less than robust physical and mental health. Ditto for epigenetic effects.This is fact - not supposition!

We’ve known for generations, there are multiple historical precedents, we have Dr. Weston Price’s work from the 1930s, Professor David Barker’s work in Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, admittedly the “Barker Hypothesis” for thirty years but now widely accepted as fact, then Foresight Association’s work spanning forty years and involving research institutions around the world, all supported by thousands of individual studies linking enhanced nutrient intake with better reproductive outcomes. Farmers and stock-breeders know all about it - they never breed their animals unless they are in optimally nourished, non-stressed condition.

So here’s an idea for researchers … how do we get the general population to listen up and take responsibility for the health of the next generation and generations beyond? Maybe we could start with a wellness-focused model of healthcare? Maybe we could reward practitioners for keeping their clients well, for keeping them out of the clinic and out of hospital? Maybe medical insurers could reward their members for never making a claim?  Wow, now there are some novel ideas! What would it take for scientists to get behind them instead of constantly re-inventing the wheel?

Well one thing it takes is for me to keep on keeping on with my personal Better Babies campaign,  coming to you now as a 10-module webinar series. 

Across generations - thank your great grandmother

Deficiencies in folic acid that go back as many as five generations could have an impact on developmental risk factors and later risk of disease, according to new research in mice. Just as healthy gut bacteria have a vital in our overall well-being, so healthy parents, make healthy baby, healthy grand-baby and healthy great-grand-baby (and great-great ...)! Epigenetic effects across five generations have now been demonstrated in animal studies, but should come as no surprise to those of you who follow my blog. 

The researchers from The University of Cambridge state in their conclusion “It surprised us to find that the great, great grandchildren of a parent who has had a folic acid deficiency could have health problems as a result. More importantly our research shows that disease in general can be inherited through epigenetic means rather than genetic means, which has huge implications for human health. Environmental factors that influence epigenetic patterns e.g. diet, epigenetic disruptors in the environment such as chemicals etc. may also have long term, multigenerational effects”.

Once again, the fact that adverse trans-generational effects of nutritional insufficiencies were observed at first hand by Dr. Weston Price in the 1930s makes these recent studies and their “surprising” conclusion very frustrating. It also makes the widespread embrace of the Healthy Parents, Healthy Baby program a vital and immediately-necessary step if we are ever to reverse the epidemic of metabolic, immune, neurological and digestive disorders in children and reduce the widespread incidence of chronic degenerative disease in adults.

Whole family's fat? Can your kids blame you?

Latest edition of Australia’s The Biggest Loser is about “family fat” - in other words “like father, like son”, or “like mother, like daughter.” Yikes - what a legacy!  One of TBL 's personal trainers has gone on record as being inspired by one of the Dads on the show, while being appalled at the behaviour of some of the young towards their parents ... whom they often blame.

As well they might ... the studies are relentless in their confirmation. The negative effects of a preconception/pregnancy junk food diet, high-sugar intake, obesity, Caesarean-sections and formula feeding are trans-generational, or at the very least, have the potential to consign a child to a lifetime of poorer health and weight management issues from birth. 

Don’t let your kid point the finger of blame at you ... there are enough pitfalls in being a parent, enough genetic effects over which you can exert little or no control, to be stuck with those about which you can do something. And it’s never too soon to get started. 

It’s a simple program, involves both prospective parents equally and should be in place for at least four months before you plan to conceive. Prebiotics and probiotics are an essential foundation but also ongoing step in your preconception preparation, lots more sound advice in my latest mini ebooks. And believe me, whatever effort you both make before you conceive, will pale into insignificance alongside the gut-busting exercise and gut-wrenching food restrictions (or worse) that might otherwise become your offspring's lot.