Dr Oz: What Are Super Genes? + Preventing Disease & Stress

Dr Oz: Epigenetics & Super Genes

Would you believe that you can actually “change the destiny of your DNA?” Dr Oz said “just because you’re born with it, doesn’t mean you have to live with it!” Now that I likely have your attention, Dr Oz had ways to transform your genes into genes that can actually work for you and improve your lives. Dr Oz first turned to Dr Deepak Chopra, who explained that the more you expand your awareness, the more your body responds. He said your genes respond to every experience you have whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.

Dr Rudy Tanzi explained that something called a “super gene” takes advantage of epigenetics. Epigenetics is a new revolution in genetics that focuses on the activity in genes. You can’t change the genes you’re born with, but everything you do in life changes your gene activity. When you offset certain risks caused by genes given by your parents, those are called “super genes.”

Dr Oz: Super Genes & Preventing Disease

To look at genes in person, Dr Oz introduced grandma Lauren, mother Sharon, and daughter Amanda. They each know what they inherited from each other, but Amanda pointed out that there is a familial history of cancer and heart disease in her family, which she obviously wants to avoid. Sometimes bad genes can take over causing issues, overrunning the bad genes. But now there’s research that good genes can dominate (super genes) to fend of certain diseases and illnesses.

So what’s the key to turning on those super genes? Dr Tanzi said every choice you make effects gene activity. If you take on good patterns and routinely do things that are good for you, you change genes into super genes, lowering your risk for serious diseases and illnesses.

Dr Oz: How To Turn Your Genes Into Super Genes

To change the fate of your health and turn your genes into super genes, there are three things you need to take care of: inflammation, stress, and sleep. First, Dr Tanzi explained that antioxidant foods like blueberries, seeds, peppers, and ginger can bring down free radicals. You also need to build up your gut with probiotics, using foods like yogurt, kefir, fermented food, bran cereal, and bananas.

Dr Oz: A Better Way To Deal With Stress

Deepak said you also need to deal with stress, which Dr Oz talks about constantly. Deepak explained that stress is the perception of a threat. It’s all about how you perceive things. Everyone has stresses in life, but we should stop feeling threatened and instead see opportunities. Before you react to anything, Deepak suggested “observe your reaction to react.” Cut off the vicious cycle and become a spectator to your thoughts. Use meditative breathing and remind yourself that stress is the “worst use of imagination” while creativity is the best.

Always remember “no regret, no anticipation, just this moment as it is.”

To keep genes working for you, sleep is more important than ever. Especially if you’re over the age of 40, you need at least seven hours of sleep each night. Your body and brain clean themselves when you sleep. Deepak said you don’t “try to sleep.” Instead, get rid of all distractions and have simply darkness. He said there are two activities for which your bedroom is meant for, both begin with the letter “s” and one is sleep!

Dr Oz: Joey & Rory + Joey Feek Terminal Cancer

Before the end of his show, Dr Oz reported that country music superstars Joey and Rory Feek are sharing personal home videos that captured the hearts of millions of Americans. Joey is choosing to make the rest of her time left with her family a special and happy time, before she passes away from terminal cancer. Joey and Rory were third place finalists on Can You Duet, which led to a record contract.

They were blessed in 2012 with their first child Indiana, who was born with down syndrome. Then, four months later, Joey was diagnosed with aggressive cervical cancer. She underwent a hysterectomy and doctors believed they caught it in time, but they hadn’t. Joey completed chemotherapy but it failed to keep the cancer from spreading. After an 18-month battle, the couple decided to stop all treatments. Rory shared the news on her blog, saying sometimes there’s just not enough that can be done and you just have to say “enough.” Joey moved to Hospice and shared her final days surrounded by love, family, and faith.