Seeking Health

Evolution of epigenetics

In recent years, researchers have increasingly agreed that our DNA or our genetic predisposition is strongly influenced by environmental factors. For a long time, it was thought that we could learn everything about DNA if we could only map its more than 25,000 genomes. It has now become clear that the way in which our genes are expressed is not fixed, but that this is controlled by 'epigenomes': these are, as it were, switches that can turn the DNA 'on' or 'off', comparable to the software that controls a computer. Epigenomes can be influenced by nutrition and other environmental factors, such as lifestyle and living environment. Epigenetics studies the changes in gene expression that take place at the level of the epigenomes. This therefore concerns changes in gene expression, without changes taking place in the DNA sequence. It is a science that has evolved strongly in recent years and that focuses in particular on the process of methylation: the most important epigenetic process that takes place in our body.

The process of methylation

Every minute, trillions of methylation processes take place in all the cells of our body, which in turn affect thousands of bodily processes. Methylation is a controlled transfer of a methyl group to mainly proteins, amino acids, enzymes and DNA and the process ensures, among other things, the maintenance and repair of our DNA in all our cells and tissues. Certain substances that have the ability to donate a methyl group are called methyl donors. B vitamins, vitamin C, biotin, zinc, folic acid and betaine, among others, can function as a methyl donor. Methyl groups play an important role in gene expression, as they help facilitate the on and off switches of our DNA. It is not without reason that they are one of the most researched molecules in epigenetics. Research indicates that methylation responds to environmental factors and decreases with age. This has ensured that the relationship between health and the ability to methylate has become a popular field of research. The relatively new American brand Seeking Health focuses on methylation in helping people achieve optimal health.

Epigenetics & Seeking Health

Epigenetics refers to the myriad factors that influence our gene expression. The name epigenetics was coined in 1942 by biologist Conrad Waddington and literally means 'around the DNA', referring to the markings around the DNA that can turn genes on and off. The idea behind it is that an organism's experiences, living conditions and nutrition have a major influence on its hereditary predisposition. For Dr. Ben Lynch, epigenetics represents the power of our genes and the fact that we do not have to submit to our DNA, but that we can work together with our genes and only need to know how to shape this cooperation. Lynch's method is therefore aimed at being able to track down our DNA markings (also called SNPs or 'single-nucleotide polymorphisms') and to make them manageable with the help of supplements, adjustments to diet and lifestyle, in order to 'clean up dirty genes', as it were, in Lynch's words.

Folic Acid and More Optimal Supplements

Seeking Health products are made from the belief that supplements should be pure and formulated with care and skill. Most Seeking Health supplements are therefore free of GMOs and common allergens such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, gluten, corn, yeast and soy. All ingredients are carefully researched and tested and suppliers must meet specific standards before the ingredients can be used. The brand also has folic acid in its range as capsules and as lozenges. This is a non-methylated form of folic acid that can be converted into the active form of folate or folic acid, called the active L-5-MTHF. In short, Seeking Health is a company with passion that formulates its products with the utmost care and strives for quality.