caledonia
Senior Member
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I just finished reading a new book from Ben Lynch called "Dirty Genes". Actually, it's his first book. Like all of his materials, it's chock full of information.
I'm going to have to read it several times to absorb everything. I got it for free from the library, but I think it has enough info to keep for reference, so I'll be buying a copy of it.
He has selected seven of the most important genes based on two years of researching the medical literature. They are:
MTHFR C677T (methylation)
GST/GSX (glutathone/detox)
COMT V158M (brain/mood)
MAOA (brain/mood)
PEMT (cell membranes, gallbladder, liver)
NOS3 (heart issues)
DAO (digestion)
He emphasizes epigenetics over genetics. Epigenetics are how your environment and lifestyle affect your genetic expression. Therefore you can use certain lifestyle and environmental modifications to clean up your genes and stop them from expressing into disease. He calls this part the Soak and Scrub.
If that still doesn't clear things, then you can do supplements and other measures to further clean them. He calls this part Spot Cleaning.
This is versus what people usually do, which is to look at their genetics and start taking supplements based on their genetics. Then wonder why it's not working for them.
The one part where I think good information is lacking is regarding toxic metals. Both the degree to which they cause your genes to be dirty (I think it's a lot worse and more prevalent than he does), and how to clean up the toxins. He says to sweat them out in a sauna. While that would be somewhat helpful, it won't get mercury out of your brain - you need chelation for that. Plus many of us don't tolerate sauna due to adrenal fatigue.
Also, I don't know if there is anything in the book that would help or ME/CFS specifically. He does mention that a dirty MTHFR can cause CFS, therefore cleaning that up should be at least somewhat helpful. Note that mercury, lead, and a few other metals will make MTHFR dirty. I can't remember if he mentions this in the book, but it is in his other materials, such as the Strategene report.
Fibromyalgia is attributed to a dirty MTHFR, COMT, MAO A and GST/GSX.
So while I do think the book has some flaws, overall I think it has a lot of valuable information at least for general health issues. I found out that my PEMT +/+ is expressing itself with possibly gallbladder or liver issues. I've been having lots of knots and pain in my right shoulder blade area. That is supposed to be referred pain from the gallbladder and/or liver. Menopause (which I'm going through) is supposed to make this worse.
My mother had to have her gall bladder removed, and her mother (my grandmother) died from a gall bladder infection. Both of those occurred post menopause. Yikes.
However, the message from the book is that I am not doomed by my genetically slow PEMT +/+ and whatever is making it dirty - there are things I can do before it gets too bad. So I'll be trying the recommendations for PEMT and see if that helps.
Overall I would give this book a thumbs up, and recommend checking it out.
I'm going to have to read it several times to absorb everything. I got it for free from the library, but I think it has enough info to keep for reference, so I'll be buying a copy of it.
He has selected seven of the most important genes based on two years of researching the medical literature. They are:
MTHFR C677T (methylation)
GST/GSX (glutathone/detox)
COMT V158M (brain/mood)
MAOA (brain/mood)
PEMT (cell membranes, gallbladder, liver)
NOS3 (heart issues)
DAO (digestion)
He emphasizes epigenetics over genetics. Epigenetics are how your environment and lifestyle affect your genetic expression. Therefore you can use certain lifestyle and environmental modifications to clean up your genes and stop them from expressing into disease. He calls this part the Soak and Scrub.
If that still doesn't clear things, then you can do supplements and other measures to further clean them. He calls this part Spot Cleaning.
This is versus what people usually do, which is to look at their genetics and start taking supplements based on their genetics. Then wonder why it's not working for them.
The one part where I think good information is lacking is regarding toxic metals. Both the degree to which they cause your genes to be dirty (I think it's a lot worse and more prevalent than he does), and how to clean up the toxins. He says to sweat them out in a sauna. While that would be somewhat helpful, it won't get mercury out of your brain - you need chelation for that. Plus many of us don't tolerate sauna due to adrenal fatigue.
Also, I don't know if there is anything in the book that would help or ME/CFS specifically. He does mention that a dirty MTHFR can cause CFS, therefore cleaning that up should be at least somewhat helpful. Note that mercury, lead, and a few other metals will make MTHFR dirty. I can't remember if he mentions this in the book, but it is in his other materials, such as the Strategene report.
Fibromyalgia is attributed to a dirty MTHFR, COMT, MAO A and GST/GSX.
So while I do think the book has some flaws, overall I think it has a lot of valuable information at least for general health issues. I found out that my PEMT +/+ is expressing itself with possibly gallbladder or liver issues. I've been having lots of knots and pain in my right shoulder blade area. That is supposed to be referred pain from the gallbladder and/or liver. Menopause (which I'm going through) is supposed to make this worse.
My mother had to have her gall bladder removed, and her mother (my grandmother) died from a gall bladder infection. Both of those occurred post menopause. Yikes.
However, the message from the book is that I am not doomed by my genetically slow PEMT +/+ and whatever is making it dirty - there are things I can do before it gets too bad. So I'll be trying the recommendations for PEMT and see if that helps.
Overall I would give this book a thumbs up, and recommend checking it out.