Quote:
Originally Posted by Villages PL
I didn't mean to imply that your grandmother did drugs, smoked or any of that. I was just trying to point out that there are a lot of unknown things that can contribute to health issues other than genes.
My grandparents were Italian immigrants too. So I know a little about some of the things that went on there. If I remember correctly, I believe my father told me that his father used to throw handfulls of DDT around the perimiter of their home to kill fleas and other bugs. They had no idea there could be potential harm to humans. Perhaps, given enough exposure to DDT, a woman could have problems, assuming that this may have been a common practice. I'm just saying it doesn't hurt to stop and consider that we don't know everything that went on back then.
I did a more careful reading of parts of Dr. Bruce Lipton's book today and this is what I came up with (in my own words). When you think your genes control you and you had no input in which genes you inherited, it's likely you will think of yourself as a victim. You will think that aging and disease is beyond your control.
But the truth is that genes can't do anything by themselves. Correlation is not causation. Certain genes may be associated with certain diseases but it's rare that a gene alone can cause disease. Only about 2% of people get disorders based on a single faulty gene. This would be for diseases like cystic fibrosis, beta thalassemia, and Huntington's. Otherwise, genes only become active when triggered by lifestyle or environment. Dr. Bruce Lipton, professor of biology, wants us to know that genes do not control our destiny.
I reread some portions of another book that is all about genes. It's "The Dependent Gene" by David S. Moore, Ph.D. The title itself tells the whole story. Like Dr. Lipton, he also believes that genes alone can't do anything. Even eye and hair color are determined by interactions with the environment.
He uses flower seeds as an example of genes not being able to do anything by themselves: Buy a package of flower seeds. They contain the genes to make flowers. If you leave them in the package, what happens? Nothing happens. They need to be planted in the proper environment. That calls for good soil, the right amount of water and plenty of sun (usually full sun). Try planting them in full shade, poor soil with insuffcient water and see if the genes give you any flowers. Most likely you'll get a stunted plant with little or no flowers at all.
|
Well, Grandma has been vindicated then.
I wasn't saying that my father's condition was caused by his genes. I said he had a congenital birth defect. His relatives lived to ripe old ages.
No doubt it was that her body was depleted from all the pregnancies.
What I've been trying to say all along is that not all health issues can be corrected via diet; in my dad's case,he was born with a congenital heart defect ; it actually kept him out of World War 1 and World War II.
They didn't do corrective surgery in those days; nor did they treat it with stents, drugs, you name it. Actually, he didn't have his first heart attack until I was an older teenager. On his death certificate it says enlarged heart and atherosclerosis which is hardening of the arteries.
I know what he ate and it was very healthy compared to what people eat today. After dinner, an occasional treat was a slice of cantalupe or a peach in season. In the winter he liked a few walnuts or chestnuts.........definitely a tangerine or an orange in the evening. He was thin his entire life.
They didn't do the whoppers and potato chips , etc.
I've no recollection of him eating sweets.........maybe at a wedding.
All food was made from scratch in those days.......not nuked in the microwave.
He had to have a green salad every evening before supper.
No bottled dressings. Plain red wine vinegar mixed with olive oil.....drizzled on, not swimming in the stuff.
Fruit was the dessert of choice. Lots of veggies.......and if you are Italian you know that Italian men can cook........they were taught by their mothers, even if there were a slew of sisters around.
He soaked his own beans for bean soups with escarole.
He did his fresh cod fish with no breading ; just broiled in the oven with a topping of crushed tomatoes and basil, garlic, etc.
They did like their seafood......but it was prepared simply as I recall.
Not deep fried as everyone enjoys it today.
They NEVER ate butter on their peasant breads.
Believe it or not, we never even had PIZZA in our house.
He always said that the American pizza was not the real pizza like Napoli (Naples).....which would be deep dish, probably like Chicago pizza.
My first pizza was as a teen , out with friends, when we'd get a slice at a pizzaria.
He walked all over the city.
In his case, it was a birth defect........as he was told as a young man.
A congenital heart defect.
As far as the genetic testing........it can be incorrect at times.
Case in point: Someone close was tested for the ALB-27 gene and came out POSITIVE. Iritis, ankylosing spondylitis, (back issues), etc. etc.
He claims NOT to have the worse case scenario of any of that.....
A first cousin of his decided to get tested as he was doctoring for years and his back pain was getting worse and worse.........he , on the other hand, tested NEGATIVE for the ALB-27 gene /ankylosing spondylitis/iritis, etc..........whereas his symptoms point to A.S. Go figure. These tests were all done at the hospital.
The cousin finally had to have cauterization done.........he was on heavy duty pain meds and the body was passed around to a myriad of doctors.
His pain was excruciating. Every known modern treatment, short of surgery, was done to his back over several years........nothing worked for long.
Lupus runs in this family as well........with symptoms similar to arthritis.
Lupus is an auto immune disease as you know.
Neither Systemic Lupus nor Discoid Lupus is related to dietary preferences.
I agree with you that healthy foods are the best way to go.
But I do know a lot of people who followed a wonderful lifelong eating plan of healthful foods.........and still died young or got cancer.
Yes, I remember the DDT..........the trucks would actually come down the streets and spray...........also people would spray the screens in the bedrooms.
I also know for a fact that the "early Xrays" did more harm than good to those who were on the receiving end...........
This is what I mean by "it's not that cut and dried" or that simple , as in eating the right foods.
My best childhood friend died of Systemic Lupus at age 39, having been diagnosed at age 19.........her husband called me on New Year's Day to say that she had expired on the examining table when he rushed her to the emergency room. She was on borrowed time from 19 to 39. As children and young adults, she ate very simply.........there were NO JUNK FOODS BACK THEN. Her lupus was not caused nor helped by her food choices.
The Prednisone also did a number on her.......causing psychotic episodes, which they warned about.
I've seen "recent" current friends (now deceased) also get Prednisone in the hospital for various lung diseases.......and end up dead.
Nurses told me that it "sometimes happens" with Prednisone........it's a risk they have to take. These were people late 40's, and 50.
My husband had childhood friends who died of brain tumors....as young teens. Maybe the DDT???? This was before "drive up fast food" places.
p.s.
As far as others who proclaim happy thoughts and a good mindset is the way to go..........(I'm simplifying it here),
how would they explain very young children or teens in the cancer wards today?
If you have had children and grandchildren, you will know that children are the most joyful happy innocent positive creatures around..............
An innocent beautiful baby in a cancer treatment facility? What negative thoughts did that little one have?
I would be more prone to believe firstly that reincarnation** played a role in their illness
...........than I would think that their negative thoughts brought upon their ill fortune.....and disease.
Children are wonderfully happy little people..........who bring joy to everyone around.
**KARMA