Habits Alter Your Genes

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Each one of us inherits 23 chromosomes from our Mother and 23 chromosomes from our Father. Residing on each one of those 46 chromosomes are genes. It is estimated that humans have approximately 23,000 genes. So, one chromosome can be home to literally hundreds of genes.

Each gene is like a computer command that directs the RNA within a specific cell to manufacture a specific protein needed to help the cell function. Different genes command RNA to make different proteins, so multiple genes are needed to keep just one cell functioning properly.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the technical name given to your 46 chromosomes. Those 46 chromosomes, in actuality, represent an instruction manual that tells RNA in each cell to manufacture the various proteins necessary to keep the cells in your body running smoothly.

Interestingly, an individual gene can be turned on or off by something called methylation. Methylation is the process of creating enzymes that make genes active or inactive.

What triggers methylation?

Many things, in particular – Habits.

The simple act of forging a new habit can have profoundly beneficial or harmful effects on your health and well being.

Good habits, such as reading to learn, is an example of a habit that turns on certain good genes. These good genes, once activated by your reading habit, instruct RNA to produce proteins that help grow and strengthen brain cells that are being called into service as you read. Reading, in effect, stimulates genes to help maintain and grow brain cells.

So long as you keep reading and learning, those genes will keep churning out proteins that help strengthen brain cells, which, in turn, boosts your IQ.

Bad habits, or time-wasting habits, such as sitting on a couch watching Netflix for hours at a time, is an example of a habit that keeps good genes toggled in the off position.

How?

This TV watching, time-wasting habit, in effect, keeps those learning genes inactive due to your lack of mental activity. Without these good genes working to maintain and strengthen brain cells, the brain cells and their synapses weaken.

In other words, your brain cells become impaired by your time-wasting habits. This can result in a lower IQ, at best, or Alzheimer’s, at worst.

When you have bad habits, good genes can’t do their job. We can see this manifest itself in the form of various disorders such as obesity, Type II Diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and all sorts of other preventable diseases.

You are your habits, right down to your genes.

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Thomas C. Corley About Thomas C. Corley

Tom Corley is a bestselling author, speaker, and media contributor for Business Insider, CNBC and a few other national media outlets.

His Rich Habits research has been read, viewed or heard by over 50 million people in 25 countries around the world.

Besides being an author, Tom is also a CPA, CFP, holds a master’s degree in taxation and is President of Cerefice and Company, a CPA firm in New Jersey.
 
Phone Number: 732-382-3800 Ext. 103.
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Comments

  1. Lisa Schreiber says:

    Excellent information…actually, life-changing! Thank you!

  2. Spoozhmay says:

    Mind blowing, thanks for your hard work!

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