Sarah Bowles-Flannery – Naturopath and Nutritionist

Genetics – they tell us they are permanent and fixed

We are told that genetics is something that is predetermined, permanent, unchanging, nothing we can do about it. ‘You have this disease because it is genetic.’ Well there has been much research and one of these was Dr Weston Price, a dentist who made some remarkable findings. Sarah Flannery-Bowles is a nutritionist, Naturopath and Medical Herbalist who became inspired by his work during her training.

As a parent we are not informed just how important our lifestyle is while baby is in the womb. If you think about it logically we must be able to influence the DNA on a daily basis because we are constantly repairing and replenishing our cells. Two years from now your body will not be the same one you are sitting in now. Your cells will be replaced using the nutrition you put in your body today. Saying that you are what you eat may be old hat and now well accepted and yet we still do not seem to accept its power. Nutrients are the equipment the body needs to make things happen. A pregnant woman needs the best tools (nutrients) in her body to nourish that little person growing inside. Now we all know that some women seem to get away with doing all sorts of things during their pregnancy – drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, medication – and yet have perfectly normal babies, but what impact is possible long term? My mother smoked 60 cigarettes per day while pregnant with me and there is no major problem with me (others may disagree!). She was informed in those days that there was no risk. I am fairly confident that this information suited my mother who was obviously addicted. However, both my parents died from lung cancer and the lung is definitely a weak area for my sister. My nephew has also had lung issues, and my little boy has had croup five times in the last year. Now that may all be coincidental but you must question what influence 60 a day had on my genetics.

This is where I like to suggest that perhaps genetics are not simply fixed or unchanging and that lifestyle has a chance of influencing how a cell behaves. The video interview with Sarah starts to show how this is possible. As parents we always want to do the best for our children and sometimes we are told that things like smoking are OK. Today we would laugh and say you would have to be mad to believe that, but back then doctors were used for advertising cigarettes. Don’t forget that at one time we also thought the world was flat! Parents were also told that all sorts of chemical agents were safe but as we know from thalidomide and other catastrophes that information was not at all accurate.

There is no doubt that the influence we have on our children must come from our genetic material, but is it fixed? This blueprint of information has been clearly shown to be influenced by lifestyle factors so it makes sense to prepare for pregnancy or during pregnancy in a way that nourishes your baby. At Pregnancy and Preparation we know that good nutrition provides the best possible start for you and your baby. I understand there is all sorts of confusion for parents today with professionals saying contradictory things. I suggest that you use common sense and that putting good food into your body is not exactly rocket science. At one time we were told oils and fats were very bad for us and yet now know they are imperative for good brain development. It often seems like the research is designed to confuse us. There is still a protocol for folic acid and yet that is only one B vitamin. If you look at our society today we base things on the minimum. Five fruit and veg a day is a great example. People often say they have almost the five per day but they seem to forget that is only the minimum. If they are getting less than the minimum they are heading towards illness. Why not suggest the maximum and they can head towards that?

We have to face facts.

There is more cancer today than ever, more dementia, more of the serious diseases. How many people do you know now who die of old age? Today there is plenty of toxicity to deal with, to do lists, along with stress and anxiety in this hectic world we find ourselves in. We need nutrients to detoxify, grow and rebuild so great nutrition is the key to a good foundation. Have a look around the site further and start to get real clarity about what Pregnancy and Preparation means by nutrition. If you have any queries please contact us or book a consultation.