Epigenetics: The Science That Proves Our Beliefs Program Our Biology

"Hey, Ellen," a friend called to me from twolongevity to express themselves too weakly. We all
check-out counters away in the supermarket, "didknow that you can truncate your own life if you
you see the story in TIME magazine?"smoke or overeat, but it's becoming clear that those
He wasn't the only one asking me if I'd seen thesame bad behaviors can also predispose your kids
issue a few months ago about epigenetics called– before they are even conceived – to
"Why Genes Aren't Destiny." They were all awaredisease and early death."
that in my talks I tell about the latest scientificEnvironment and lifestyle choices also strongly impact
findings in epigenetics that prove beliefs and thoughtshow you age. Hang out with people who see
affect how the body changes with age. And I alwaysthemselves as old and always give you an organ
quote the first scientist to share his research findingsrecital if you ask how they are, and it will influence
on epigenetics, the internationally recognized cellyour thinking – and your body's cells.
biologist, Dr. Bruce Lipton.How you eat, exercise, take care of your skin and
Imagine my surprise – then dismay, then outrageyour attitude towards life (this means more than
– when Dr. Lipton wasn't even mentioned in theseeing the glass as half full – it's about joy!) are all
article! It was 1985 when Dr. Lipton introduced thefactors in whether you'll live a long, healthy, active life
notion of perception influencing genes. He wasor progressively deteriorate and die prematurely. In
considered a radical weirdo in the science communityhis book "Biology of Belief"
at that time and in his "Wisdom of Your Cells" he tellsLipton shows that genes and DNA do not control our
the story of speaking to an audience of scientistsbiology; that instead DNA is controlled by signals from
about his discovery that the mind can turn our genesoutside the cell, including the energetic messages
on and off. Their reaction to his research findings?emanating from our positive and negative thoughts.
Scoffing would be putting it mildly.This is great news! It means you can affect your
Yet today, 25 years later, TIME magazine is publishingbiology with your thoughts and beliefs – and
the evidence of other scientists' findings in this newreverse aging!
field of epigenetics and ignoring Bruce Lipton'sI wanted to be able to listen to Dr. Lipton while I
decades of research and breakthrough findings.drive so I got his CD set, "The Wisdom of Your
I must say that although there's not even a nod toCells," which is excellent.
Dr. Lipton (or Gregg Braden, a brilliant scientist who isI can also highly recommend "The Science of
the author of a number of bestselling books onMiracles" by Gregg Braden – it's fascinating!
science and spirituality,) the article is quite interesting.It's never too late to start growing younger so start
It explains how your environment and your choicesyour journey to a younger you today. And when you
can influence your genetic code – and that ofhave a minute, send an email to Dr. Lipton (). Thank
your kids.him for not only sharing with the world his research
The TIME article by John Cloud states, "There'sinto epigenetics years before it was "cool" but, more
evidence that lifestyle choices like smoking and eatingimportantly, for teaching us how to use the new
too much can change the epigenetic marks atop yourscience to create and maintain a "new," happy,
DNA in ways that cause the genes for obesity tohealthy life.
express themselves too strongly and the genes for