Most people know that stress is bad for their health. It can increase your risk of developing certain medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, all of which could dramatically reduce your quality of life or even shorten your life significantly. But what many people don't know is that the stress you feel now could actually affect your children's health in the future. It turns out that the stress levels in both mom and dad are to blame. That's because there is evidence that stress can change genetics and development in ways that preventative health measures aren't going to be able to combat entirely.

There are hundreds of millions of people around the world who suffer from migraines. Migraines can cause debilitating pain that goes beyond a run-of-the-mill headache. Along with severe pain, migraine sufferers could experience symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, visual disturbances and even lightheadedness and dizziness. For some people, migraines go beyond being an occasional inconvenience and become something that impacts their quality of life on a regular basis. Sometimes, medication holds the key to relief, while others find relief in preventative health methods. But what's causing your migraines to happen in the first place? Thanks to a study done in 2016, it looks like your genetics may hold some answers, and potentially, some solutions.

We've all heard of DNA and why it's generally called "DNA" instead of its full name, which is deoxyribonucleic acid. These tiny strands of proteins were discovered in 1869, and they are almost constantly being replicated, damaged, and repaired as you go through your daily life. They are responsible for the way you look and function, and if you strung all of the individual strands together end-to-end, you would have a strand that could go all the way from Earth to Pluto ... and then back again! We go through our days without a thought for the incredible scope of information stored in each of our cells.

At KlothoGenics, we have learned that our genes interact with our lifestyles and habits. The things we do can have a big impact on these tiny little building blocks. The key to making the most of the situation is understanding exactly what your DNA is like with all the quirks and features passed down within it. Once you understand your DNA, you can adjust your diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits to make your life as healthy and long as possible.

Making your life healthier and longer is a worthy endeavor. However, it's impossible to do unless you understand just what you're dealing with. So it goes for anything. You can't improve what you don't understand. At KlothoGenics, we are fervent believers that there are levels of improvement and wellness that many people can't achieve because they don't understand their basic building blocks. While all humans share over 99 percent of the same DNA, we all inherit plenty of little changes and quirks from our ancestors, and they can make a profound difference. Even more, our DNA undergoes damage, repair, and replication almost constantly, and the possibility of negative change is always there. Why not do what you can to give your DNA the best chance possible?

DNA is an absolutely incredible part of our bodies. In our last blog, we shared a few of our favorite DNA facts. Today, we are excited to say that the facts are still coming! Read on to learn more about the amazing code keeping you up and running right now!

If you're reading this, it's because you've got DNA guiding the existence and design of your eyes, brain, and beyond. This microscopic molecule stores all of your genetic makeup information, and is responsible for passing that information along throughout the generations. While it is incredible, it isn't perfect, and it can be at the root of many health problems. At KlothoGenics, we have realized that we can work to understand the way our DNA interacts with the world around us, how it impacts our daily lives, and what we can do to make life longer and healthier.

For being something we can't see, DNA is an incredible molecule. In today's blog, we want to take some time to explore some of our favorite amazing facts about DNA and why you should learn more about yours!

Each of us possesses unique traits that make up who we are as individuals. This is no secret; for as long as humans have been, well, humans, we’ve across cultures spoken about what’s inside us. While these cultures and societies speak in different ways of what makes us, us, there’s no getting around the fact that we all have traits that define us as individuals. Genetic testing provides more clarity into what these “traits” are. Rather, it helps us better understand our makeup that gives us these traits, such as eye color, hair color, and each defining characteristic. But, you may be asking why this matters for athletes; eye color doesn’t really make a difference in athletic performance, right?

Genetics testing is a new concept in the world of science. Though it has been around since the 1980s, it has just now started to gain popularity. It can be used for a variety of reasons, from interpreting genes to identify causes of certain diseases to understanding which methods of exercise may be best for you. One way in which many young adults are now using genetics testing is to determine if they should procreate. A serious conversation can be had between couples deciding if they should have kids or not. This is a holistic view of preventative health because you are theoretically setting yourself up for a healthier life, and possibly avoiding giving life to someone who may be the unfortunate victim of bad genes.

“Fitness Genes” are a new way to study your body and how you can become in your best physical shape by understanding the genomes that create you. Through genetics testing, you can have your genes analyzed for specifics that describe your genetic profile and can provide clear indicators about which exercises may be more beneficial and possible risks you may experience during fitness or through lack of fitness. Therefore, genetic fitness is the analysis of certain pairs of genomes that provide answers about what types of fitness and nutrition are best for your health. KlothoGenics can analyze a genetics test to help you build a beneficial fitness plan based on your own genetics.

As a health coach, I do hear this wish a lot.

However, my goal is always for my clients to be healthy and fit … not just fit. Achieving this result requires more than a randomly selected exercise program designed for the mass market.

Whatever the reason you exercise -- to train for your first triathlon, lose weight, or achieve a desired physique -- making the decision to move your body often and with intensity improves your overall health while adding years to your functional longevity.

A healthy lifestyle is often something on a New Year’s Resolution checklist and something about which a majority of people dream, yet very few people have the personal drive to really live a 100 percent healthy life. While that is the ideal goal, everyone should strive to be healthy as much as possible. One such way is to focus on preventative health, that is taking care of your body before it gets sick and injured.

Here are three steps you can take to a healthier life.

Take a walk through your local bookstore and you’ll be confronted by shelves upon shelves of books claiming to hold the key to the diet that will help you lose fat, build muscle, feel more energetic or live a longer, healthier life.

Klotho (Clotho) was named after one of the Moirai from Greek mythology. Together with Lachesis (allotter) and Atropos (unturnable), Klotho (spinner) controlled every moment of life from birth until death. It is believed that the KL gene received the name Klotho because it has a direct relationship in a person’s longevity.

Our genes are inherited 50 percent from each parent at the time of conception. While we can’t change our genes and their predispositions, we can alter how they are expressed and affect our lives.

Who has time to sleep?

Whether it’s finishing a work project, going out with friends, or staying up late to watch a TV series on Netflix, the last thing many of us want to do is get to bed early.

When January rolls around, many of us have “losing weight” on our resolution list along with eating better and getting into “shape”—exercising or going to the gym.

When you think of inflammation, you probably envision a sore throat or a sprained ankle — something swollen and red. There is another type of inflammation, though, that often goes undetected: chronic inflammation.

Have you heard the term optimal health? It’s been floating around for the past few years, and it’s a goal of KlothoGenics®️ to help people of all walks of life achieve optimal health. All too frequently, doctors assume people are healthy when they are not sick. However, this is not completely true. You may not be sick, but you may not be living as healthily as possible. Different people’s bodies operate differently; it’s what makes us unique and awesome!

Genetic testing can take many forms and provide so much incredible information about lifestyle, wellness, and the future. Not only can gene analysis help you understand your body better, but it can give you insight about “future yous” and the genes they may possess - yes, we’re talking about your children.

Genetic testing can unleash a world of information, or rather, generations of information, because genetics are passed down from parent to child. Medicine is just beginning to take advantage of the information that comes along with genetic testing. Genetic counselors are able to create treatments based off of what gene is mutated, even treatments for cancer, there are treatments for cystic fibrosis in children. There is some debate whether or not this information is too much information, that it can instill fear in patients. But here are some reasons why genetic testing is a good idea.

Genetics testing has become more well known and curious people everywhere are getting tested in order to find out whether or not they have a higher chance of developing disease. There is a lot of information out there regarding genetics and all of the medical jargon can be really confusing. Here is a brief description of epigenetics and genes that are linked to diseases. If you’re curious about genetic testing, contact KlothoGenics today.

Everyone wants to know definitive answers regarding their genetics and health, how does everything work together? With genetic testing you can find an answer. The field of pharmacogenomic testing is where you find the answers. It’s the study of how your specific genes affect your body’s response to medications. Genetics is a beautiful part of life, but can also be frustrating.

Preventing insulin resistance is essential in achieving optimal health. Scientists have discovered more than a dozen genes related to blood sugar control. Certain population groups have a strong genetic disposition for this silent killer.

YES, there is. You probably have wondered whether there is a connection between your genes and diet. The way your metabolism works and how your body responds to a particular diet is different than others based on your genetics. Nutrients in the food uniquely alter the structure of your genes or their expression according to your genetic makeup. We now have the ability to comprehensively analyze the relationship between your genome, your diet and how both can affect your health.

Have you ever wondered why doctors always ask about the health history of your family? Which of your parents had a stroke or is currently suffering from diabetes? Or perhaps thought why it is crucial to inform healthcare providers about any family history of cardiovascular diseases, cancer or allergy to specific food or drug components? Well, your genes are the culprit behind it. Genes inherited from your parents are embedded with information about your risks of having these diseases.

We all have been made aware of drug-drug, drug-food/beverage and drug-medical condition interactions. Now, we know that your genetics determine how your body will metabolize certain drugs. The goal is to get the right drug in the right amount to treat your condition and genetics provides the answer.