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Summary
On episode 327 of 40+ Fitness, Coach Allan sits down with Dr. Ben Lynch, a naturopathic doctor who has supported thousands of clients and trained thousands of physicians and health professionals worldwide in using epigenetics to optimize health, and who founded Seeking Health, a company that helps people address genetic dysfunction through diet, lifestyle, and supplements. They discuss his book, Dirty Genes.
Dr. Lynch explains that genes are not a fixed destiny. Epigenetics, how genes respond to diet, environment, and habits, determines whether a given gene gets turned on or off, and he walks through the “Super Seven” genes that have the biggest day to day impact on health.
The conversation also covers why synthetic folic acid behaves very differently in the body than natural folate, and the simple, lifestyle based Four Week Clean Gene protocol Dr. Lynch built to help people support their genes without expensive testing.
Links
- https://drbenlynch.com
- https://www.folicacid.com
Key Takeaways
- Genes respond to environment rather than dictating a fixed outcome. Dr. Lynch says genes are as malleable as fresh Play-Doh, and that everyday inputs like food, stress, and sleep tell specific genes to switch on or off, so day to day choices shape which traits actually get expressed.
- The “Super Seven” genes were chosen because supporting them cleans up the rest of the genome. Dr. Lynch selected MTHFR, COMT, DAO, MAO, PEMT, NOS3, and the glutathione pair GST and GPX because each is well researched, clinically significant, and can be influenced through basic lifestyle habits and targeted supplementation rather than requiring dramatic intervention.
- MTHFR is the master gene of methylation and controls over 200 other genes. Dr. Lynch says it affects the ability to think clearly, sleep well, support cardiovascular health, and build healthy cell membranes, making it one of the most consequential genes in the body when it is not functioning well.
- Synthetic folic acid is not the same thing as natural folate and can cause harm. Folic acid binds tightly to folate receptors and transport proteins in a way natural folate does not, and because human genes process it very slowly, it can build up and interfere with neurotransmitter production, detoxification, and cardiovascular health. Dr. Lynch recommends eating leafy greens for folate and avoiding folic acid fortified processed foods.
- Folic acid is a known contraindication for cerebral folate deficiency, a condition common in autistic children. Dr. Lynch explains that low folate in the brain can cause seizures and neurotransmitter deficiencies, and that the safer alternative is a more active form of folate called folinic acid or methylfolate.
- The “ABCs of clean genes,” avoidance, breathing, and chewing, matter more than expensive testing. Dr. Lynch argues that avoiding chemical exposure, breathing properly, and actually chewing food thoroughly do more for gene support day to day than chasing niche genetic test results.
- Cold hands and feet are often a sign of improper breathing, not poor circulation. Dr. Lynch says mouth breathing or shallow breathing shows up as consistently cold extremities, and that a few minutes of slow nasal breathing can visibly warm the hands and feet in the same session.
- Even mild dehydration measurably reduces energy and mental sharpness. Dr. Lynch says being just 1 percent dehydrated makes a person more fatigued and less mentally clear, since water is required for the body to actually use the energy and nutrients food provides.
“Genes do work. And if you give your genes healthy food, they can do healthy work.”
Dr. Ben Lynch
Another Episode You May Enjoy
Episode 344 – Epigenetics and health with Dr Kenneth Pelletier
