Are you a bit overweight? If you are, do you believe it is because of your diet, or because of your genes? Perhaps your whole family is overweight, and you assume it is your fate to be porky. If that is your belief, you are harboring a myth that can needlessly harm your health and quality of life. No matter your genetic makeup, you can achieve a healthy weight. Further, if you have progressed into type 2 diabetes and are blaming it on your genes, you are basically killing yourself.
There are certain genes that can make weight and sugar management more challenging. But if you suddenly found yourself in a war zone where food was scarce and your energies were turned towards mere survival, you would lose weight no matter your genetics — guaranteed. If you were scrounging for scraps of food for day after day, your genes would keep you alive by raiding your fat storage, your blood sugar would stabilize at a lower level that would still sustain you, and your insulin sensitivity would increase significantly — and unless you are skewing your body with diabetes or sugar management drugs which could cause your blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low, your sugar levels would not crash.
Throughout history, entire civilizations have had to survive famines, and except perhaps for the rulers and officials, no one was fat. In contrast with today, when food in this country is plentiful, over 40% of Americans are obese (body mass index over 30) according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). Further, the obesity rate in the U.S. has been rising since the 1960s. Fat storage is a function of environment first, and genetics are a distant second.
Actually, we could say that genetics are first if we consider epigenetics. We live in a world where conditions change all the time, and if our genetics were rigid, unable to adjust to changes, we would not survive. We are designed with both stability and flexibility. Stability allows us to mature and basically be the same person throughout life, and flexibility allows us to shift with the environment while remaining stable at our core.
Palm reading
You may have heard about the flexibility of the willow tree, but a better example would be the palm tree. We’ve seen plenty of hurricane videos where the palm trees, which can grow to be as tall as 14 stories, would be whipped violently by hurricane winds for hours, yet they remain standing when the storm passes. The average palm tree lives 100 years and some last 600 years, going through many storms in their lifespans. Palm root systems spread out so they anchor the tree when the storms come, but also absorb lots of water during dry times. The palm tree remains stable because it is so flexible.
That is a picture of how our genetics work. We obviously have aspects of our genes that simply don’t change in response to environment: hair and eye color for instance. But skin color, which is basically set at birth, also can change due to sunlight exposure. Likewise, our genes are ready to respond to calorie intake, the need for stable blood sugar, calorie expenditure, toxicity levels, and other factors to determine when to add to or subtract from fat storage. It is those factors that will ultimately determine your personal weight and your insulin management.
This is over the top…
Epigenetics is the flexibility of genetics. “Epi” basically means “on top of” or ”over”. The majority of codes in your genes are inactive, awaiting times when they are needed. Estimates vary, but generally around 2% of genes are active at any one time, meaning 98% are inactive. Inactive means that the codes exist, but are not coding proteins, therefore are not doing any work. This means you have a huge library of codes that are just waiting to be “checked out” of the library and used. That further means that you have enormous flexibility in your genetic expression, which gets exercised by the environment given to your cells.
Genes are turned on or off through a process called “gene regulation”, where “transcription factors” (special proteins) bind to portions of your DNA, marking them for the transcription process, skipping over inactive codes when encoding the proteins that control cell functions. Your body is only responding to the active gene portions that encode the messenger proteins.
So are weight and diabetes determined by base genetics, or by epigenetics? Do “fat genes” doom you to obesity, or are genes associated with sugar management guaranteeing diabetes for some of you? Are you stuck with these conditions or can you “steer out” of them? These are perfect questions for the researchers…
Genes can be disadvantages, but not show-stoppers
The FTO (fat mass and obesity associated) gene is aptly named, being the gene most strongly associated with obesity: those who have this gene have a 1.7 times chance of being obese. So if ever there was a “fat gene”, FTO is it. Researchers from the Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University and other British universities published a review study in BMJ (British Medical Journal), analyzing results from eight randomized controlled trials with 9563 participants to determine the impact of the FTO gene under controlled circumstances. While the FTO gene carries with it the 1.7 times increased risk of obesity in the general population, the researchers controlled the diet of the participants so that they lived differently than the control group without this gene. Their results: “Our findings show that weight loss in those carrying the FTO minor allele is similar to the rest of the population after dietary, exercise, or drug based interventions.” (1) In other words, those carrying this gene in an active state had essentially no less weight loss than other study participants when their environment was controlled.
The Medical Research Council and various studies have shown that FTO causes higher levels of the “hunger hormone”, ghrelin, to circulate, making a person feel hunger sooner and more frequently. People with the FTO gene tend to eat more and prefer higher calorie foods than others for this reason. The BMJ study did not allow them to eat more as a study participant, but controlled their diet, and their bodies responded similarly to the other participants. They were not giving in to their greater desire for food. The FTO did not doom them to obesity, but made the challenge of controlling their diet harder.
This is the crux of the matter: we all have to exert some controls over our desires and passions or we would be like wild animals. Certain challenges are more difficult for some than for others. The particular mix of temptations that come your way may be different than those of your neighbor — that doesn’t give you license to give in to them, and doesn’t change the natural consequences if you do.
So much for obesity, how about diabetes? Type 1 involves pancreatic damage so it isn’t reversible, but the type 2 is much more common (at least 90% of all diabetes) and over 34 million Americans have it. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) says that about 98 million Americans have pre-diabetes. The total U.S. population is about 335 million, so over a third of Americans have partial or full blown diabetes. That is an epidemic! If diabetes, discounting type 1, is an epigenetic response, then this is a curable epidemic. Epigenetics don’t play favorites, they just are responses to the environment, whatever that is for a person’s body.
The research shows similar results to that for obesity and genetics. Diabetes is basically a natural lifestyle consequence for anyone, regardless of genetics. As published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers from the University of Eastern Finland determined that type 2 diabetes can be prevented (are you pre-diabetics paying attention?) with a combination of diet and exercise, even for those with high genetic risk. Their study of 973 men, with 600 divided into high risk and low risk groups for diabetes and the rest being the control group, was an intervention into their lifestyle over three years with directed diet and exercise programs. (2) The high risk group had a much lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes over the three years than the control group. The intervention decreased weight and significantly impeded the worsening of glycemia for both the high and low risk groups.
This study showed that diet and exercise can prevent type 2 diabetes regardless of genetic risk, and it did just that for many study participants. As stated in the study: “The effects of lifestyle changes were equally significant for individuals regardless of whether they had a low or a high genetic risk.” Again, just as in the BMJ study, diabetes is an epigenetic response to poor diet and low exercise.
It’s not enough to know that you can prevent type 2 diabetes with lifestyle: you need to know just what steps to take. The obvious one is to cut out sugar — no surprise there. But don’t forget that many foods, even natural foods, contain lots of sugar. Most fruit is in that category. Then there are the foods that quite readily turn to sugar during digestion, such as potatoes or rice, which can contribute to your sugar load. You need low glycemic fruits (there aren’t many) and vegetables, especially if you are at risk.
And a special shout-out to you who believe you can substitute meat for sugar carbs. Meat certainly doesn’t contain sugar, right? Well, a massive study (of 1.97 million adults) showed that all meat can increase type 2 diabetes risk. This study was published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. In this review study, the researchers considered three types of meat: unprocessed red meat, all processed meat, and poultry. They found that increasing meat consumption in any of these categories increased the risk of type 2 diabetes, although processed meat carried the greatest risk. (3) Sorry, but meat eating does not reduce diabetes risk. That is a harmful myth because what is being touted as a diabetes risk reducer is actually making the problem worse.
It’s all up to you
Epigenetics is your friend, because it gives control to you. Change your environment, and your genetic expression will change accordingly. If you have a gene that promotes a greater desire for food or a slower metabolism, you just have to work harder. Sorry about that, but the good news is that you still have control.
You don’t need to be one of the fortunate participants in a study who are pushed into avoiding diabetes to get your lifestyle back on track. You can do your own pushing. You do need to get beyond excuses that allow you to ignore study results, however. If you are overweight or learn that you are pre-diabetic, consider yourself fortunate because you can shed those pounds and avoid a crippling disease — nothing is stopping you.
Dr. Nemec’s Review
70% of Americans have blood sugar imbalances, and it’s about the same percentage for people that are not where they want to be with their weight. This means over 2/3 of Americans will die prematurely because of the predisposing factors of blood sugar and weight imbalances. This is huge — definitely an epidemic — and it’s not getting better. All conventional medicine can offer is more medication with side effects. Medication is a life saver in an emergency situation, but that’s not what majority of the prescriptions written in this country are for. These are written because people do not know how to take care of themselves. They are out of control with their diet and their lifestyle and are reaping the harvest of this loss of control.
What these study show is that epigenetics rules the genes. It rules the body. It rules your health. And will most certainly rule your destiny, including your longevity. This is so exciting that the majority if not totality of your health and life are under your control. You are not a pre-program gene, you are an ever changing environment: that means then can choose how to control that environment and those choices epigenetically change the outcome.
Fat or sugar
It makes no difference if you have fat genes or sugar genes, or cancer genes or heart genes or Alzheimer’s genes.
The only thing that makes a difference is the choices you make and the environment that you produce and control with your thoughts, perceptions, diet, exercise, sleep, and hydration level. All part of our Seven Basic Steps to Total Health.
The narrow road
In life, we all have decisions to make that have tremendous ramifications. If you choose to think and to eat and to exercise like a normal American, you will end up like a normal American with premature diseases, and be taking medication the rest of your life — however long it may be. It will most definitely be reduced not only in quantity but also in quality. This is just because of your choices. But you can choose differently — that is your will. This means so much — it really means: how much do you want a new life? Those who want it will get it. Those who would like to have it, but don’t want to sacrifice for it, will not have it. This is like anything in life, and unfortunately, most people are lukewarm — half in and half out. The results are obvious: high stress, the need for medications and decrease quality and quantity of life.
Rewrite your story
Like any story, if you don’t like the way it ends then change it before it ends. Have you ever read a book and were really disappointed with the ending, with how the main characters turned out? Have you ever gone to a movie coming out of the theater very disappointed because of how the movie ended? All you have to do is rewrite the book, rewrite the script, and then it’ll turn out exactly like you wanted it to.
But, but, and more, but
As I explain health and life to our patients at Revolution New Medicine, I tell them how they can have a new life a life beyond what they’ve ever had once all mental-emotional brain and body blockages are removed. I tell them that they can be free in ways they’ve never been free before. They can lose 10 or more years of age because age is caused by inflammation, and when you reduce inflammation, you decrease your age. I explain in detail the approach to achieve these goals, including diet and lifestyle changes, eating food and living a life knowing what your genetic weaknesses are after doing our nutritional genetic workup, but not being afraid of any outcome because everything could be changed epigenetically. After all of this wonderful future created for them that can start this moment. Here’s with some of their response is.
“But Dr. Nemec I can’t see myself eating like that always”
“But Dr. Nemec, I like food too much to give it up”
“But Dr..Nemec, I don’t have time to exercise, and I really don’t like to exercise”
“But Dr. Nemec………………..”
Do you understand what I’m saying?
I know these things are foreign to you and I know they will be uncomfortable, but not always — just for the first month to three months, then they will be second nature, they will be programmed at the subconscious level.
You choose blessing or cursing
Moses told the people of Israel, you choose: “I am setting before you life and blessing, and death and curse” — so you can choose. What Moses was saying is everyone has choices to make: one will produce life, abundant life, and the other one will produce early death, but not only that — a much lower quality of life because of the amount of inflammation maintained in your body, which is the root of all symptoms, conditions, and disease.
We all need help
In this journey of life, everyone needs a helping hand one to guide them, to show them the way, and even hold their hand if necessary. This was the principal when Jesus taught his disciples. He was the teacher, they were the students, but not in the sense that we see today. Instead, this was an apprenticeship where they lived with Jesus, ate with Jesus, slept with Jesus, did everything with Jesus 24×7. The goal of the student is to be exactly like the teacher in every way. As Jesus said, “ if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father. “ And the principle of discipleship is: if you’ve seen the disciple or student, then you have seen the teacher because they are identical in every way — they think the same way, they will respond the same way. The two essentially are one.
We have been holding people‘s hands at Revolution New Medicine for over 40 years. That’s why so many people have achieved a quality and a quantity of life they could never have imagined. We are always here for you to hold your hand until you can do it all by yourself, and even after we keep checking to make sure you can sustain it for all the years of your life.
The perfect you is just waiting for you to make the choice.
Here are the ways we can help you in your health journey:
- Outpatient Comprehensive Teaching and Treatment Program-has the most benefit of teaching, treatment, live classes and personalized coaching. This program has the most contact with Dr. Nemec with 3- 6 month programs that can be turned into a regular checking and support program for life. This is our core program that has helped so many restore their health and maintain that restoration for years.
- Inpatient Comprehensive Teaching and Treatment Program-is our four-week intensive inpatient program for those that are not in driving distance, usually over 4 hour drive. This is the program that is an intensive jumpstart with treatment, teaching, live classes and coaching designed for all our international patients along with those in the US that do not live in Illinois. This program is very effective especially when combined with our new membership program support.
- Stay at Home Program-is offered to continental US patients who cannot come to Revolution New Medicine but still want a more personal, customized plan to restore their health. This program also includes our Learn Membership Program.
- Membership Program is our newest program offered for those that want to work on their health at a high level and want access to the teaching at Revolution New Medicine along with the Forums: both Dr. Nemec’s posts and other members posting. And also, to have the chance to get personalized questions answered on the conference calls which are all archived in case you miss the call. The Membership Program has 3 levels to choose from: Learn, Overcome and Master. The difference is at the Overcome and Master levels you received one on one calls with Dr. Nemec personalizing your program for your areas of focus.
(1) Katherine M Livingstone, Carlos Celis-Morales, George D Papandonatos, Bahar Erar, Jose C Florez, Kathleen A Jablonski, Cristina Razquin, Amelia Marti, Yoriko Heianza, Tao Huang, Frank M Sacks, Mathilde Svendstrup, Xuemei Sui, Timothy S Church, Tiina Jääskeläinen, Jaana Lindström, Jaakko Tuomilehto, Matti Uusitupa, Tuomo Rankinen, Wim H M Saris, Torben Hansen, Oluf Pedersen, Arne Astrup, Thorkild I A Sørensen, Lu Qi, George A Bray, Miguel A Martinez-Gonzalez, J Alfredo Martinez, Paul W Franks, Jeanne M McCaffery, Jose Lara, John C Mathers. FTO genotype and weight loss: systematic review and meta-analysis of 9563 individual participant data from eight randomised controlled trials. BMJ, 2016; i4707 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.i4707
(2) Lankinen MA, Nuotio P, Kauppinen S, Koivu N, Tolonen U, Malkki-Keinänen K, Oravilahti A, Kuulasmaa T, Uusitupa M, Schwab U, Laakso M. Effects of Genetic Risk on Incident Type 2 Diabetes and Glycemia: The T2D-GENE Lifestyle Intervention Trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Dec 18;110(1):130-138. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgae422. PMID: 38888187; PMCID: PMC11651687. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38888187/
(3) Li, Chunxiao et al., Meat consumption and incident type 2 diabetes: an individual-participant federated meta-analysis of 1·97 million adults with 100?000 incident cases from 31 cohorts in 20 countries, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, Volume 12, Issue 9, 619 – 630, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(24)00179-7/fulltext
