Today, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald joins me to talk about DNA Methylation.
Life expectancy in the United States is on the decline. We are living for a shorter time and according to the World Health Organization, even though we have a life expectancy of 79.3 years, the average age for developing a serious illness is 63.1 years old. That means that we spend the last 16.2 years of our life ill. Aging is driven by DNA methylation, a process that influences which genes are turned on and which are turned off. We use DNA methylation as an epigenetic clock to measure biological age. DNA methylation changes as we age, to our detriment, and it’s not just a surrogate marker of aging. DNA methylation appears to drive aging itself.
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There is no evidence in the literature that consumption of any amount of food-based folate- so lots of leafy greens etcetera, that’s seeds, mushrooms, choline in eggs, even liver- there’s no evidence that demonstrates it could promote imbalanced methylation. So this food-forward approach seemed essential.
– Dr. Kara Fitzgerald
Foods that could lower your biological age:
- Liver (or liver capsules)
- Eggs
- Mushrooms (shitake or enoki)
- Leafy greens
- Pumpkin seeds
- Blueberries
Whenever we’re taking these methyl-donor rich foods, we want to accompany them with these methylation adaptogens- your big green salad and throw some rosemary on it, do some turmeric-based dressing. There is an infinite way that we can combine epinutrients. In the book, I have a 30-page epinutrient appendix. It’s the only nutrient appendix of its kind.
– Dr. Kara Fitzgerald
About Dr. Kara Fitzgerald
Kara Fitzgerald, ND, IFMCP, is engaged in clinical research on DNA methylation using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her virtual and in-person Functional Medicine clinic.
She is the author of Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better, a ground-breaking work detailing an 8-week study that resulted in a 3-year reversal of biological aging, and the step-by-step program that will help you live better and longer.
In her quest for personalized health care for all, she leads clients through her Younger You Program and has as a Younger You companion cookbook, Better Broths, and Healing Tonics.
Dr. Fitzgerald is on faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) and is an IFM Certified Practitioner.
She regularly lectures internationally and hosts the podcast New Frontiers in Functional Medicine. She received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine in Oregon and is in private practice in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
We are really in the driver’s seat of whether or not we live a long healthy life. It’s up to us.
– Dr. Kara Fitzgerald
In This Episode
- How cancer hijacks our epigenetics. [4:25]
- Dr. Fitzgerald defines methylation and explains how it differs from DNA methylation. [9:05]
- Foods that are important to improve methylation. [15:45]
- Foods that seem to direct epigenetic traffic. [17:39]
- Lifestyle pieces that could favorably influence DNA methylation in addition to the diet. [19:33]
- Foods that could lower your biological age. [25:46]
- Studies show that people who drink coffee live longer. [27:44]
- How to exercise to help prevent aging. [30:32]
- Foods to avoid that could be pro-aging. [33:13]
- Supplements that are recommended for anti-aging. [40:10]
- A backdoor approach for those who do not tolerate supplements well. [44:00]
Links & Resources
Use code Omega3 to get 10% Omega3 Fish Oil
Use code ENERGY to get 10% off Mitochondrial Complex
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Dr. Fitzgerald’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKaraFitzgerald/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kfitzgeraldnd
Relative Links for This Show:
Younger Your Program: https://youngeryouprogram.com/basa/
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