RNA is working intermediate copy of a gene (which is made of DNA), and most RNA molecules act as information messengers from which the final protein products are created. Just like DNA, RNA is also vital for all living beings.
Month: November 2016
Reliv Lunarich: Working directly at the Epigenetic Level
This product optimizes bioactive lunasin – a naturally occurring soy peptide and the first nutritional compound identified to work directly at the epigenetic level by increasing expression of certain genes, to help promote optimal cell health. While many other dietary compounds are known to affect gene expression, their exact mechanisms of action (how they work) remain unknown.
RGS NZ: Y-Span Trial Program
At RGS NZ, we were fascinated with the information that we had read about Y-span, and we wanted to be able to see the potential of this product in real life. What better first project for RGS NZ to carry out in exploring the world of Epigenetics by gaining a broader view of what was possible from this product that was created using gene expression science, and to see the real life results of how it impacts our health and well being. The participants that were chosen were close friends and family – firstly because we wanted people that we could trust but more importantly we wanted our close friends and family to be able to experience the benefits of what Y-span had to offer! So briefly, the parameters that the participants were to continue living their normal lifestyle. They were required to get a full medical checkup including blood tests before and after the 3 month period, they had S3 Biophotonic scan before commencement then at each month point. And they were required to complete a weekly survey which captured any information about changes that they were feeling.
One interesting case study within the Y-span Trial that we want to discuss further is that of Robert Bowden. Rob practicing Osteopathy for 42 years believes in holistic total body treatment. Robert has been coined as the “Grandfather of New Zealand Osteopathy” – he achieved the first piece of Osteopathic legislation in the southern hemisphere. Rob believes in a holistic approach to total body treatment, including body structure as well as lifestyle and. nutrition
Unfortunately, Rob has suffered from mouth periodontal disease for the last 30 + years of his life. This is a chronic inflammatory disorder which meant that his mouth was severely infected with plaque bacterial which was able to penetrate into weakened gum tissue. Of course his immune system was naturally trying to fight the bacterial infection, however during this process his immune system was not able to distinguish the bacteria from his own body so then it also started to destroy his own tissues. This lead to oxidative damage and subsequently chronic inflammation and deterioration of his gums and jaw bone from around his teeth, and ultimately Rob has lost a lot of his teeth over this years. There are several epigenetic changes that occur in order for the disease to progress, for example an increase in the expression of genes that cause inflammation.
Now it’s important to note here that there is no recognized modern cure for what my father has, the only treatments involve antimicrobial medications or in an extreme case bone and tissue graft surgery. If you below on the left you will see how the bone was soft/mottled and severely receded from around his teeth – it had been getting worse like this for decades. And here on the right is the same set of teeth, and you can see the jaw bone has become both more solid and has significantly regenerated – meaning that he will no longer lose these teeth. The below right X-ray was taken after Rob had been on Y-span for 3 and a half months, and it was after one month of taking Y-span that the dentist originally noted that there was sudden improvement in Rob’s periodontal condition. You could imagine the dentist surprise at this outcome – he had been Rob’s dentist for decades and had only been able to try to keep his mouth as clean as possible and just remove teeth when necessary(as per standard medical practices), and had never seen anything like this before. How amazing is what we see here! Rob is pretty happy about the dental bills that he’s going to save on, and he is committed to permanently continue to take Y-span.
Briefly, I want to explain what I believe to be happening in order to see such drastic improvements in Rob’s disorder. As previously mentioned, negative epigenetic changes in gene expression happen which leads to the progression of the disease e.g. bacterial infection trigger abnormally high expression levels of genes that cause inflammation. And since the majority of epigenetics changes are changeable and reversible, it is accordingly relevant that positive epigenetic changes in gene expression can also help ameliorate the disorder. Recent research indicates that dietary supplementation with a single vitamin or antioxidant often fails to show the expected benefits in chronic inflammatory disease such as periodontitis. Therefore the results that were obtained here are not due to any single component of Y-span, but rather the synergistic action from the complex interactions between the mixture of high quality fish oil, antioxidants and micronutrients that are present in Y-span. To summarise, it appears that firstly Rob’s immune system has been activated in a good way to be able fight the bacterial infection in his mouth while not destroying his own tissues. Secondly, I believe that his body’s ability to both absorb calcium and then fix the calcium to create bone has significantly enhanced in order for his jaw bone to actually regrow. And at the base level of all of this I believe is Y-span promoting positive changes to the expression of his genes within his cells, in order for his body to naturally target its problematic areas and do what it needs to do!
Lynda Wharton shares her Experience with Y-span
Lynda Wharton has been at the forefront of holistic therapies in New Zealand for over 25 years. She is both a Traditional Chinese Acupuncturist and a Naturopath, and is a member of the New Zealand Register of Acupuncturists (MNZRA). Lynda specializes in the holistic treatment of women’s health problems. Lynda is also a health researcher, she was the recipient of the 2008 NZ Health Industry Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Natural Health as an Author, Journalist and Public Speaker. She is the author of three published books on Natural Health – the latest is Well-being (Harpers) – a comprehensive guide to Women’s Health.
In this video Lynda shares her experience with us on her 3 month Y-span Journey. She talks about her history of committed healthy living and taking high quality practitioner grade supplements (since she is an established and well known health practitioner she practices what she preaches!), yet she still struggled with her own chronic health issues. After being on Y-span for 3 months she experienced significant improvements in several chronic health issues, which were also reflected in her blood test and antioxidant results. She ends her testimonial with her life long commitment to continue taking Y-span.
The Revolutionary Skincare Solution: AgeLOC Me
This revolutionary skin care experience was developed using the same science technologies used to create Y-span, except it is targeted at the outside of our bodies (i.e. our skin) rather than the inside. The science used to develop AgeLOC Me incorporates one of core concepts of Epigenetics – by gaining a more precise understanding of how the nutrients and antioxidants that we topically apply to our skin can influence the way our genes express themselves, to ultimately have a positive effect on our skins health and ageing process. However, another critical element is incorporated into the scientific design of this skin care solution – it is customized to your own personal environment!
The Epigenetics of Ageing – Playing the Game for a Longer Life
A compelling theory that has been made is that the Epigenetic changes that occur throughout our lifetime may actually be actively controlling the ageing process. Why is this important? Because changes to our Epigenome have the potential to be reversible through the right kind of environmental signals, and remember we are able to create and control our environment, to a certain extent. Ageing does not have to be an inevitable process of decline and disease – our ageing process is flexible and changeable.
We are what we eat – The Importance of Nutrition from our Food and Supplements
Every minute in your body, 3 billion cells die and 3 billion cells are created. To properly replenish these cells, your body needs 40 different chemical components including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. When any of these components are deficient even in the smallest amounts, your body cannot make the necessary repairs. One of the consequences of not being able to properly repair our cells is the negative impact to our cells Epigenome, which can then lead to accelerated aging and disease.
Lifestyle choices – what is our “Environment” and why is it important?
By now you’re probably wondering what exactly are these environmental signals which speak to our cells and affect the behaviour of our genes? Now that we know that our personal environment affects our genes this is where things start to get really interesting! Environmental signals encompass a wide range of factors and these include, very importantly nutrition (from our food and our supplements); atmospheric stressors such as sun, cold, wind and heat; emotional and mental stressors such as being under chronic pressure, fear, grief, and also good emotions such happiness and love, and even who we socialize with; also exercise (or lack thereof!); our sleep patterns, and our exposure to toxic chemicals such as heavy metals and pesticides, environmental pollutants such as car exhaust, and even our exposure to viruses and bacteria.
Definition: Epigenome
The epigenome of a cell consists of all of the chemical changes that affect gene expression.
Definition: Gene Expression
Gene expression is the “work output” of a gene – the process takes the information from a gene and produces an intermediate molecule called RNA, which then is used to create a final functional product called proteins which build and maintain our bodies. Any changes to our gene expression subsequently affects the development and functioning of our bodies, therefore optimal regulation of our gene expression is critical to our overall health and wellness.