Transgenerational Epigenetics: How Your Grandparent’s Health Affects Your Health

“You are what you eat” the adage goes. But you are also what your parents and your grandparents ate, too! How is this possible? It all comes down to the theory of transgenerational epigenetics. 

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What is Transgenerational Epigenetics?

Transgenerational epigenetics or transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is the idea that genetic traits can be passed down from parents to children and on to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, this theory is based on exposure to toxins, which alter our genes for the worse.

In terms of toxicology, these toxins can be anything from pollution and pesticides in food to emotional trauma, thought patterns, and stress. You mean, my life experiences can affect my progeny?

Trauma or Toxins?

Unfortunately, yes. Trauma and emotional stress are absolutely toxins that can modify behavior and cognition as well as physiological functions in our metabolism and central nervous system. But it’s the toxins directly from our environment that we have seen increase exponentially in the last hundred years. And these pollutants are overwhelming our biology.

In our conversation with Dr. Larry Palevsky, he explains why the increasing amount of toxins in our environment has resulted in pandemic-size numbers of chronic diseases and overall poorer health in the younger generations.

I think one of the reasons that we are seeing well over 50% of children in our culture with one of many chronic illnesses is because…we have exposed generation after generation to one toxin after another.

About Dr. Palevsky

Dr. Lawrence Palevsky is an NYS licensed pediatrician who utilizes a holistic approach to children’s wellness and illness. He received his medical degree from the NYU School of Medicine in 1987, and received his pediatric board certification in 1990, and passed his pediatric board recertification exams in 1997, 2004, and 2011.

In his current pediatric practice, Dr. Palevsky offers well-child examinations, consultations, and educational programs to families and practitioners in the areas of preventive and holistic health, childhood development, lifestyle changes and safe and alternative treatments for difficult-to-treat conditions.

Additionally, Dr. Palevsky teaches holistic integrative pediatric & adolescent medicine to parents and medical and allied health professionals both nationally and internationally.