Lead author Shanna H. Swan Ph.D professor of Obstetricts and Gynecology, director of the URMC Center for Reproductive Epidemiology, and expert in phthalates said, “Because testosterone produces the masculine brain, researchers are concerned that fetal exposure to anti-androgens such as phthalates – which are pervasive in the environment – has the potential to alter masculine brain development”.

Previous findings also showed that phthalates altered male genital development.

Food packaged, stored or cooked in plastic is a major source of exposure for humans.  Phthalates are used to soften plastic, soaps, shampoos, lotions, vinyl and many other household products.   You can find more information on phthalates at Wikipedia

Another study published in February 2008 also found “Babies Recently Treated With Lotion, Shampoo, And Powder More Likely To Have Phthalates Chemicals In Urine“.

And the recent study can be found here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091116085040.htm

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

Telomeres are regions of repetitive DNA at the ends of our chromosomes.  These repetitions of DNA prevent the ends of our chromosomes from being seen as broken DNA by the cell’s DNA repair machinery.

Every time your cells divide your telomeres shrink, up to a point where they are short enough to stop your cells from dividing and  your body from making those cells.  Over time this process leads to aging and death.

A New York based company T.A. Sciences now claims to have manufactured a supplement that has proven to stop telomeres from shortening.  The product is TA-65 and made from a more than 1000 year old Chinese herb named Astragalus.  Don’t bother growing Astragalus in your backyard, the amount of TA-65 produced by the plant is very low and not nearly enough to have the same effect as the purified and concentrated supplement.

And if you were wondering how much the TA-65 supplement cost…US$14 000 per year.  If you can’t afford the price tag you may be interested to know that lifestyle changes can also slow down the shortening of telomeres.  Stress and lack of sleep have also shown to shorten telomeres, so in addition to healthy eating and exercise, make sure you relax and get some shut eye.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=anti-aging-pill-targets-telomeres

Junk DNA is large sections of DNA that appears to have no function.  Over 95% of the human genome, at one time, has been labeled as Junk DNA and currently still 50% of the human genome are still considered Junk DNA.

Essentially Junk DNA is portions of DNA for which there are a high frequency of sequence change, a random genetic drift with no apparent outcome.

Scientists found a protein that allows sections of Junk DNA to be cut and pasted within the genetic code, a process referred to as DNA transposition.  DNA transposition can have an important positive effect on the performance of neighboring genes.

For example, in humans, a rearrangement of antibody genes can help the immune system target infection more successfully.

Researchers will now study this process of DNA transposition further in a hope to harness this ability to shift DNA for the benefit of genetic therapies.

Dr. Julia Richardson said, “By forming a picture of the enzyme that causes DNA to shift and discovering how this works, we understand more about how these proteins can be adapted and controlled.  This may one day enable genes to be pasted into cells exactly where they are needed – which could be of enormous benefit in developing gene therapies.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090921134702.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090805110741.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727102024.htm

Now a discovery by the University of Texas Health and Science Center in Houston may help explain what causes colic. Professor Marc Rhoads said, “Right now, pediatric gastroenterologists can treat just about anything that comes through the door. With colic there is no evidence-based treatment we can offer. Colic can be a dangerous situation for a baby. The parent’s frustration over the crying can lead to maternal frustration, post partum depression and even thoughts of harming the baby.”

Research found that Klebsiella, a bacterium that can normally be found in the mouth, skin and intestines, may be causing an inflammatory reaction in the gut.

Professor Rhoads says, “Inflammation in the gut of colicky infants closely compare to levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Colic could prove to be a precursor to other gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease and allergic gastroenteropathies.”

Researchers are now looking towards a larger study that examine the use of a probiotic, a dietary supplement made up of good bacteria, to help control the gut inflammation caused by Klebsiella.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090724144520.htm

The latest finding in animal studies, “A Diet High In Fructose Impairs Memory”. There is mounting evidence that insulin levels and function in the brain is vital to learning and memory. Also explaining the link between diabetes, Alzheimer’s and impaired cognition.

Research shows that levels of brain insulin and its related receptors are disrupted in people that suffer from Diabetes, and in people suffering from Alzheimer they found diminished insulin receptor signaling. Scientists found that disruption of insulin signaling with receptors leads to loss of synapses functioning, vital for connectivity between brain cells.

A landmark study in June 2008 on tadpoles found that Insulin receptors in the brain regulate the maintenance of synapses, contributes to the processing of sensory information and is involved in adjusting the plasticity
of brain circuits.
Two remarkable facts came from this study ;

The insulin receptor correlates with the
density of the synapses (neuron to neuron connections) in brain circuits. Synaptic density is maintained by the insulin receptors and when the receptors are dysfunctional the synaptic density decreased.
Insulin receptor signaling regulate the formation and function of brain circuits in
response to experience or learning.
And they just keep rolling in, a study in June this year headlined “Brains Plasticity Changes And Resets In Homeostasis”.

What does this mean for your baby?

Your brain use more glucose than any other organ in your body, and during pregnancy your baby’s brain needs a constant supply of glucose to develop. However whilst keeping up this flow of glucose to your baby, you need to stick to low GI carbohydrates to make sure you do not elevate insulin levels. Make each one count, keep it as nutritious as you possibly can.

Don’t eat for your body, eat for your baby’s brain, the knock on effect will have a better outcome for both you and your baby, physically and mentally.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090716113247.htm

http://www.cshl.edu/public/releases/08_insulin_receptor.html

Lead author Psychologist John Spencer says “People have tried for centuries to shift the debate one way or the other, and it’s just been a pendulum swinging back and forth. We’re taking the radical position that the smarter thing is to just say “neither” – to throw out the debate as it has been historically framed and embrace the alternative perspective provided by development systems theory.”
Development systems theory maintains that genes are expressed at every point in development and influenced or affected at all times by environmental factors, like diet, environmental toxins, parental behaviour and socioeconomic status of a family.

You can argue that this means of course that it is both nature and nurture but I agree that this statement is far too simple for the complexity of how genes and environment interacts to shape a developing child.

And so, we move on to argue the finer details of how not getting that favorite toy for Christmas is going to affect your child genetically.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090720163723.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