Indole-3-carinol (I3C)

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and genistein in soy.  Cruciferous vegetables contain a compound named indole-3-carinol (I3C) that increases the
levels of BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins in our bodies.  These proteins play an important role in repairing damaged DNA.  Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are strongly linked to breast cancer and also ovarium cancer.

Vitamin B9, Folate (or Folic acid in the synthetic form)

Romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, mustard greens parsley, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and lentils.
Essential for cell reproduction and therefore critical during pregnancy when a baby’s cells are multiplying at an incredible rate.  There are numerous articles regarding this online, even your health insurance site Aviva (www.aviva.co.uk) or whoever it may be, has information on the vitamin. Studies involving folic acid in epigenetics also showed how this compound flood the body with tiny four-atom configurations named methyl groups switching a flawed gene off during fetal development.

Antioxidants      (Glutathione, Amino acids (vitamin c), Lipoic acid, Uric acid, Carotenes, a-Tocopherol (vitamin E), Ubiquinol (coenzyme Q)).

Fruits & vegetables, antioxidants can cancel out the cell-damaging effects of free radicals.  Associated with a lower risk of heart disease and some neurological diseases and protection against a number of cancers.

Pectin

Studies showed that a fragment released from pectin, binds to and is believed to inhibit galectin 3 (Gal3), a protein that plays a role in all stages of cancer progression.  Pectin is found in all fruits and vegetables   Professor Morris who conducted the study says “For a whole combination of different effects it is best to consistently eat a range of fruits, vegetables and high-fibre foods,”  “You don’t necessarily have to eat a superfood.”(1)

Wholegrains

Whole grains are rich in compounds that function as antioxidants.  Whole grains are also good for hormones, they stabilize blood sugar and thereby regulate insulin levels and also contain
phytoestrogens that helps lower oestrogen levels in the body.

Hormones transport signals from one cell to another.
These messages can cause many effects, including stimulation or inhibition of growth,

• In puberty hormones can affect mood and mind
• induction or suppression of apoptosis (programmed cell death)
• activation or inhibition of the immune system
• regulating metabolism
• preparation for a new activity (e.g., fighting, fleeing, mating)
• preparation for a new phase of life (e.g., puberty, caring for offspring, menopause)
• controlling the reproductive cycle(2)

Omega3

Fish (Salmon, Tuna, Sardines or Mackerel ) & nuts (Walnuts, Hazelnut and Pecans).  Lack of omega 3 has been linked to a huge range of illnesses and is now even considered as
treatment for mental illness such as depression, Adhd, alzheimers to heart disease, asthma and many more.   Stored in the cell membrane it is thought to play a role in allowing substances to pass through
the cell and is also converted to prostaglandin.  Prostaglandins reduce inflammation and inhibit blood clotting and also maintain other regulating roles in the body.  Vital for a healthy mind and good brain structure, critical for a baby’s developing brain.

1. Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081013084334.htm

2. Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone

A surprise discovery in an Alzheimer’s disease study found that a high protein, low carbohydrate diet may lead to a smaller brain with a less developed hippocampus.

Researchers compared the following diets;

a regular diet

a high fat/low carbohydrate custom diet

a high protein/low carb diet

a high carbohydrate/low fat diet

Looking for triggers in brain plaque formation associated with Alzheimer’s, the researchers made the unexpected discovery that compared to the other three diets the brains of mice fed a high protein/low carb diet had brains that weighed 5% less, with the hippocampus also less developed.

Researchers will now undertake further studies on mice not engineered to develop Alzheimers disease to test the result.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091020192206.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824182447.htm

Dr. Kelle Moley from the Washington University School of Medicine, found that the epigenetic changes that occur between ovulation and conception had a lasting effect on the health of the offspring. She believes we should now also re-direct our scrutiny of maternal health to the pre-pregnancy period.

Other findings were;

Mothers who had vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies had offspring who were fatter,

became insulin resistant and had higher blood pressure.

Low protein levels in the mother during the early months of conception led to abnormal growth, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and jumpy behaviour. The offspring also grew

bigger than average after birth, extracting as much nutrients as they can to make up for the lack of nutrition in the womb.

According to Shuk-meu Ho Ph.D from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center these early epigenetic changes or “memories” remain dormant until environmental influences activate them to alter the risk for disease.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721122843.htm

The latest and possibly one of the most startling studies on vitamin D, raise the question on whether Autism can be caused by a deficiency in vitamin D. A nutrient that many people in the northern hemisphere are deficient in for two reasons, the most obvious lack of sunshine and the second reason because they do not eat sardines or salmon, the only food that can provide you with sufficient amounts of vitamin D. The study from Sweden was on Somali immigrants that have an unusually high rate of Autism after several years of migrating from a country where autism is virtually nonexistent.

What I find frustrating is a study I read a few months ago, well after the emergence of vitamin D. The researchers fed participants oily fish and the authors contributed the good result to omega 3. There is more than one ingredient in a food, and what we need to consider is that it is more than just a possibility that these nutrients work together in harmony.

One of the reasons why supplements just cannot reproduce the same results as a food, proved in studies on lung cancer where, carrots have a protective effect but supplements with beta carotene increases the chance of developing lung cancer.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=vitamin-d-and-autism

When you think of immunotherapy you immediately think of viruses and vaccines but now researchers managed to use immunotherapy to treat peanut allergy. They exposed children suffering from peanut allergy to a small amount of peanut flour and slowly increased the amount until the children had a tolerance of 10 peanuts. (Don’t try this at home; one of the children needed an adrenaline injection).

This is a major breakthrough for good health all over the planet as I many times wished I could pack nuts in my children’s lunchbox. Nuts are a good source of oleic acid and great for growing brains. I would love to see a treatment for nut allergies so that this brain food can again be consumed by many children, including those suffering from nut allergies.

See a previous post in December 2008 Is it safe not to eat peanuts during pregnancy?

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/139731.php

Scientists are working on ways to target specific cells only and that would make medicine much safer and less harmful because it will not cause unwanted epigenetic changes to other areas of the Epigenome.

If researchers announced today that they discovered a drug that inhibits cancerous tumors there would be an almighty rush to buy this drug from all around the globe. Six recent studies showed that an apple a day can inhibit tumors, yet you do not see anyone with a sprained toe from rushing to buy apples. Dieticians and Nutritionists the world over must feel like pulling their hair out.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217125742.htm

In one of his studies he found 76% of mothers and 81% of babies deficient in vitamin D. Holick said, “The recommendation that you should never be exposed to the sun is putting many people at risk for vitamin D deficiency. While in the sun, it’s important to cover the face but okay to expose the arms and legs for 10 minutes or so without sunscreen. If you’re going to be out in the sun for 5, 10 or 15 minutes don’t be paranoid.”

Fast forward four years and a paper published in August 2008 by Professor Anthony Norman at University of California Riverside listed 36 organs in the body that respond biologically to vitamin D (included are bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and the uterus). Norman said, “It is becoming increasingly clear to researchers in the field that vitamin D is strongly linked to several diseases.” Norman recommended an average daily intake of at least 2000IU for adults. He goes on to say, “More than ever we need to increase the amount of research on vitamin D… to meet the challenge of preserving or improving the health of everyone on the planet.”

Soon after this paper was published the American Academy of Pediatrics doubled the amount of vitamin D recommended for infants, children and adolescents. A summary of the new recommendations can be found on this link or here

Since then several other studies have emerged linking vitamin D deficiency to Parkinson, weight gain and stunted growth in girls, increased rate for cesarean sections, immune system deficiencies, diabetes, cognitive impairment and even two that suggested vitamin D can protect against low levels of radiation, and placental infection,

Ruth A Lawrence MD, Editor in chief of Breastfeeding Medicine for the Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry said, “Vitamin D is a hormone not a vitamin and it is not just for kids anymore. Perhaps the most startling information is that adults are commonly deficient in modern society. Vitamin D is now recognized as a pivotal hormone in the human immune system…”

The problem is that very few foods contain vitamin D, with only small amounts in cheese and milk. A pregnant mother must eat either sardines or salmon very regularly, not only for omega 3 but because these two foods are the only ones that contain enough vitamin D to meet daily requirements. If you have young children and struggle to get them to eat fish, buy a vitamin D fortified milk.

And finally you have to ask the question. Is the reason the flu virus are so dominant during the winter months, because a lack of sunshine on top of chronic deficiency in vitamin D is leaving our immune system defenseless?

Sun exposure, smoking and environmental toxins can cause genetic and epigenetic mutations. Currently the only defense we have against our polluted environment is food. If you think a supplement will give you and our baby the protection you need, you may as well believe that you can drive to the next galaxy with a car.

Based on how little we know supplements couldn’t possibly be sufficient, especially during pregnancy when baby is fine-tuning his genetic switches.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090129140847.htm”

Here’s a tip that works well for me when I crave sweet food. Cravings are blood sugar imbalances and protein can help to stabilize the blood. Before I grab the packet of cookies or cake, I eat a wholegrain biscuit with cheese, sometimes I need two. Soon after, the craving disappears.