Well what do I mean by lasting changes? Research has shown that depending on what your mother eats may influence your genes and health in the long run. The gene agouti is found in humans and mice. The agouti/melanocortin system is an important regulator of body weight homeostasis. Mouse studies have shown that when the agouti gene is not methylated the result is obese yellow coated mice which may be at risk for cancer and diabetes. When the gene is methylated mice are brown, of normal weight and size. The only difference between the two types of mice is the methylation control on the agouti gene. In parallel experiments were carried out where yellow female mice were fed a methyl enriched diet; the offspring grew to be normal weight, size and were brown in color and remained so for the rest of their adulthood. This study identified that an individual’s wellbeing is not only determined by what they eat but also what their parents ate.

References
Nutrition and the epigenome. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/nutrition/

The foods we eat also have a big effect. I think back on what my mother used to preach, and I think she had it right. She told me to eat my greens and have lots of fruit. On the other hand, somehow she knew too much alcohol, red meat, and sugary drinks are bad. “Where did all the ice cream go?” echoes from the past. My hiking and canoeing mother encouraged me to do sports and other outdoor activities. I knew these choices were healthy and protected me from heart disease. What I didn’t realize was that my mother was protecting me from cancer, too.

The World Cancer Research Fund has recommendations for how to prevent cancer. I think they interviewed my mom.

Here are some of them:
• Be as lean as possible in the normal range of body weight
• Be physically active every day
• Avoid “energy-dense” foods and sugary drinks.
• Eat lots of non-starchy veggies and fruit
• Limit red meat and processed meat in your diet
• Avoid salt

You can check out the details and see the whole list on their web site:

http://www.wcrf.org/research/expert_report/recommendations.php

Now that I have passed on my mother’s preaching, you have yet another reason to eat well and exercise. I’m off to the gym… to fight cancer and heart disease at the same time!