We often hear people blame their genes for all their health ailments, including being overweight or obese, developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc. Genetics definitely play a part, but they do not set your fate entirely in stone. Unfortunately, some of us will develop some of these ailments no matter what we do, but it doesn’t mean we can’t help try to fight our genetic destiny. In less than scientific terms, we can rewrite our genetic codes. Saying you are predestined for one of these health ailments and not doing anything to try to fight it seems sad, like giving up, and we want better for you! You always can change your lifestyle! So often, people look at me as a healthy individual and say “well you just have good genes”.  Hmm, if only that were true. Both sides of my family are prone to overweight/obesity; one of my grandpas died of a heart attack at a young age, the other had bypass surgery in his 60s; type 2 diabetes is common; different cancers have inflicted different family members; and the list goes on and on, just like most American families. I don’t live my life believing I am destined for these ailments, but rather I focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and I encourage you to do the same. Eating right, exercising, and taking care of your mental health are essential components of a healthy lifestyle; they must become your norm.  So how much is genetics and how much is lifestyle?

• The American Heart Association (AHA) states 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented. The AHA stresses 7 actions you can take for prevention: get active, control cholesterol, eat better, manage blood pressure, lose weight, reduce blood sugar, and stop smoking.
• The World Health Organization states that at least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable, stressing that tobacco is the single greatest avoidable risk factor for cancer mortality worldwide.
• The American Diabetes Association points out that studies show that it is possible to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes by exercising and losing weight.
• The Blue Zones project, which is based on research from areas where people live noticeably longer better, states only about 20% of how long the average person lives is determined by genes.

I like the odds presented by these organizations; definitely proves it’s worth the fight! If you are a smoker, quitting smoking should be your first step. For everyone else, learning to cook can be a great strategy to improve your health and the health of your family! Hopefully, we can help with that 😉

To YOUR Taste!

Chef V