Your surrounding environment is a big factor on how your genes may express themselves. Certain types of metals such as nickel, cadmium, lead, and particularly arsenic" are known to increase production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Through redox cycling, the oxidative DNA damage can interfere with the ability of the methyl transferases to interact with DNA. Another environmental factor is air pollution. Any of these things can cause oxidative stress on DNA (9). Several investigations have examined the relationship between exposure to environmental chemicals and epigenetics, and have identified toxicants that modify epigenetic states. In spite of the current limitations, available evidence supports the concept that epigenetics holds substantial potential for furthering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of environmental toxicants, as well as for predicting health-related risks due to conditions of environmental exposure and individual susceptibility (56).
Nutrients can reverse or change epigenetic phenomena such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, thereby modifying the expression of critical genes associated with physiologic and pathologic processes. Nutrients and bioactive food components can influence epigenetic phenomena by either directly inhibiting enzymes that catalyze DNA methylation or histone modifications, or by altering the availability of substrates necessary for those enzymatic reactions. Because of this, nutritional epigenetics has been viewed as an attractive tool to prevent pediatric developmental diseases and cancer as well as to delay aging-associated processes (54).
Diet & Nutrition
Environment
Research shows that what you eat can cause epigenetic changes. During childhood, shortages or excesses of food can cause major health problems. When essential nutrients that are naturally found in our foods are deficient, it puts us at risk of the breakdown of the methylation cycle. Each of these essential nutrient have their own functions, and some play an important role in maintaining your DNA. This can increase your chances of acquiring genetic diseases. The best way to prevent this from happening is to reduce methyl intake and be observant to what you consume. After all, you are what you eat! (3)
When people mention "lifestyle", many would think of different factors such as "nutrition, behavior, stress, physical activity, working habits, smoking and alcohol consumption." Lifestyle factors can influence epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation and miRNA expression. Studies have produced an increasing amount of evidence that supported that statement. It has been identified that "several lifestyle factors such as diet, obesity, physical activity, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, environmental pollutants, psychological stress and working on night shifts" can affect epigenetic patterns. DNA Methylation has been the center of most studies so far. However, only a few focused on lifestyle factors in relation to histone modifications and miRNAs. Most epigenomic changes are probably harmless, but some changes may trigger or increase the severity of disease. Scientists already have linked changes in the epigenome to various cancers, diseases and mental illnesses. It is becoming increasingly obvious that what you do with your life affects your DNA! (55)
Lifestyle
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It was thought that a new embryo's epigenome is entirely erased and rebuilt from scratch, but actually some epigenetic tags remain in place as genetic information passes from generation to generation. This process is called epigenetic inheritance. Epigenetic inheritance goes against the idea that inheritance occurs only through the DNA code that is passed from parent to offspring. This means that a parent's experiences or lifestyle, in the form of epigenetic tags, can be passed down to their offsprings or future generations. There is little or no unconventional doubt that epigenetic inheritance is real. In fact, some of the strange patterns of inheritance that geneticists have been puzzling over for decades have been finally answered through the studies of epigenetic inheritance. (44)
Inheritance
