I've always been a skeptic of genetics as a cause of disease. Why? Because our survival as a species depends upon the selection of those genes that ensure our survival.
Translation: Our genes are there to help us - not hurt us.
I hope you listen to this talk, but I want to inform you of a couple of points of confusion I noted after listening to this lecture twice. Overall, however, Tim Spector, MD, is a very bright doctor who has performed some landmark work by studying identical twins and the microbiome.
Dr. Tim Spector.
Arguably the world’s leading authority on the cutting edge of microbiome research, Tim is a globally-renowned epidemiologist, geneticist, and author. Awarded the distinction Order of The British Empire (or OBE), he has published over 1,000 original articles in some of the world’s top scientific journals, is the director of the TwinsUK Registry, founder of the British Gut Project, and co-founder of the data science company ZOE.
HERE IS THE VIDEO LINK BUT I HOPE YOU READ MY COMMENTS BELOW FIRST.
First, He mentions that arthritis is 3 times more of a genetic disorder compared to breast cancer. What he does not state is the percentage of arthritis that IS genetic.
Here is a statement on genetics from our intellectually bankrupt CDC. From my book, "Health Freedom Lost," Volume 1.
Genetics are often blamed for disease. In a previous chapter, we quoted the CDC that states humans are genetically 99.9% the same, and it is the 0.1% difference that causes most diseases. We dispelled that idea in that chapter. Still, a genetic revolution is in full swing. There are a couple of key problems with this approach.
1. What is the treatment of a truly genetic disease? If it is genetic, what is your hope for prevention, remission, and recovery?
2. Can a 0.1 percent genetic variation really cause 60 percent of the U.S. population to have a chronic disease? There is a crucial unrecognized problem with genetic causation of harmful diseases, whether they are cancers or other chronic diseases. How do the harmful genes maintain their representation over time? The harm caused by a gene reduces its representation in the next generation in proportion to the negative effects of the gene on the survival or reproduction of the people who carry it. Over generations, a harmful gene will become so rare that it will slip away into ignominy. That is, the gene and its disease will disappear, not proliferate.
Let's look at the arthritis and breast cancer cases. First of all, "3 times more" is a relative statistic. If these diseases are part of the 0.1% variation between humans, then the "3 times more" is ABSOLUTE terms is 3 x 0.1 or 0.3 % increase whereas 3 times more means a 300% increase. This type of logic is off by almost 1000%. And, we know arthritis is NEVER genetic actually. We have identified root-cause factors - not hopeless genetic factors - in essentially everyone with the conditions.
Second, He mentions genetics again as contributing up to 50% of disease risk. The way he said it may be confusing, but he is really saying this is NOT TRUE. He makes this very clear when he starts discussing the twins study that shows that twins who part ways at age 18 die of disparate diseases at the same rate as members of the general population yet their GENES ARE IDENTICAL.
WHAT IS NOT IDENTICAL? THEIR MICROBIOMES!
One more point on genes and genetic mutations. Let's look at MTHFR mutations which functional doctors very commonly report.
"How Common Are MTHFR Mutations? The most common MTHFR mutation is called the MTHFR C677T mutation. The mutation is extremely common in certain ethnic and geographic populations. In the United States, ≈20% to 40% of white and Hispanic individuals are heterozygous for MTHFR C677T."
"Mutations in the MTHFR gene can lead to a number of health conditions, including:
Homocystinuria: A disorder that prevents the body from processing homocysteine and methionine properly. Symptoms include eye problems, abnormal blood clotting, skeletal abnormalities, and learning problems.
Hyperhomocysteinemia: A condition where there are abnormally high levels of homocysteine in the blood or urine.
Some lifestyle changes may help counter the effects of an MTHFR gene mutation, including:
Stopping smoking
Getting enough exercise
Eating a healthy, balanced diet
Taking methylated folate, a bioavailable form of folate
Hmmm. Genetic?
And there is more....
"Inherited mutations in the gene that make the MTHFR enzyme can lead to an enzyme that is not optimally active and, consequently, may lead to elevated homocysteine levels.
*Mild to moderate homocysteine elevations are common;
*Extremely high homocysteine elevations are uncommon."
Really - can a gene be partially turned on in some cases and fully turned on in others? I thought it was all or none. The explanation above sounds a lot more like a lifestyle issue.
Here is my proof that this is a highly overstated problem.
Upon testing about 10,000 people for elevated homocysteine, only 2 had "extremely high homocysteine elevations: 82 and 86, respectively.
Those with "mild to moderate homocysteine elevations - say 15 - saw those values lower to optimal levels with a gut enhancement program, not mutation on enzyme manipulation. However, gut enhancement / microbiome diversification is a way to improve enzyme function. I am just not seeing the "inherited mutation" as the issue.
Here is one more issue with Dr. Spector's talk - but remember, overall, it was excellent. He is NOT a vegan but promotes plant-focused foods. He also advocates fish, eggs, cheese, and kefir. "I rarely eat meat, and I eat fish once or twice a week." Dr. Tim Spector.
In addressing the carnivore diet, he explained that the "hunter/gatherer" tribe in Africa, the Hadzabe, or Hadza, of Tanzania, are considered among the last remaining of their kind on Earth. He explained that their diet is predominantly fruits and vegetables, with an occasional hunt to kill and eat animal meat (and organ meat!)
What's the flaw in this argument? The Hadza are Africans living near the equator and not Africans who migrated north many millennia ago with the skill to create fire. In the north (Europe), fruits and vegetables are NOT plentiful in the winter months. Thus, the main source of food was animals that were consumed and cooked by using fire.
Here is a link to my blog on that topic.
Interestingly, Dr. Spector indicates that vegetables are best consumed "lightly cooked."
Question Everything.
The most brilliant social mind of our time , Dr. Thomas Sowell, frequently asks the question, "COMPARED TO WHAT." In the case of the Hadza, they are not comparable to those who moved north!
All that said, please watch this informative video by Dr. Tim Spector.
And because I'm in a Labor Day kinda mood - watch this 35 second video for a quick adrenaline burst.
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Wednesday at 8 pm EST -
Be Bold - Be Brave - Stay Well
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