Fine-tune your genes on summer wanderings – Epigenetic herbs and nutrients in the world’s cuisine

Most of us associate summer with travel and tasting local specialties. But did you know that many of the ingredients in the cuisines of different countries have a positive effect on the activity of our genes and thus on the health of the whole organism? So what should you be sure to indulge in on your travels and beyond?

Many of the substances that are a common part of the diet have strong epigenetic effects – if consumed regularly, they affect the course of biochemical reactions that have the ability to turn on and off individual genes in our DNA. This will help us to slow down ageing and avoid many diseases of civilisation, including the most serious ones.

So here’s a small selection of how you can benefit your health on your holiday wanderings.

Mediterranean: olives, wine, vegetables, herbs

Whether you’re visiting Italy, Greece, France or another Mediterranean country, taste the local specialties without inhibitions. Mediterranean cuisine is an epigenetic treasure trove.

Its basic component – olive oil – contains polyphenols (especially hydroxythyrosol), which have not only strong antioxidant but also epigenetic effects. It is anti-inflammatory, protects the heart and blood vessels, and benefits the joints and immunity.

Lots of fish and seafood contain essential omega-3s, and eating plenty of vegetables is also important. For example, the ubiquitous tomato contains lycopene, which is credited with epigenetic anti-cancer effects, as do sulforaphane from broccoli and allicin from garlic. In addition, the latter effectively supports immunity and has antiviral and antibacterial properties.

We must not forget the wine, especially the red wine. It contains resveratrol, which has beneficial effects not only on the heart and blood vessels, but also on immunity, bone health, sports performance, memory and other brain functions (it is also suitable for Alzheimer’s disease), slows aging and reduces wrinkles. In addition, it is a potent phytoestrogen that is suitable for women in their forties and helps to alleviate menopause-related difficulties (more here: https://www.epivyziva.cz/resveratrol/). Red wine also contains oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), which are powerful antioxidants with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects and positive effects on the heart, immunity and weight loss (more here: https: //www.epivyziva.cz/extrakt-z-jader-revy-vinne/).

All this is then complemented by a mixture of aromatic herbs that contain a number of substances with epigenetic effects – carnosol, carnosic acid, rosemary and ursolic acid… For example, rosemary is very effective for joint pain (arthritis and arthritis), tinnitus, anti-allergic, regulates blood pressure and has a significant positive effect on mental performance (more here: https://www.Basil, oregano, thyme, sage and other herbs also have epigenetic effects.

Norway: fish. Lots of fish

Norway is a fishing paradise, and fish is one of the most important foods in terms of epigenetics.

Their main advantage is their high content of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, which are essential essential nutrients. They are absolutely essential for children and pregnant women, as they are essential for the proper development of the brain and nervous system, and a deficiency of them can lead to developmental disorders and a reduction in intellect (in older age, they are essential for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia). But they are also important for cardiovascular health, immunity, athletic and mental performance, and have antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects (more here: https://www.epivyziva.cz/omega-3-nenasycene-mastne-kyseliny/).

However, fish is also a source of vitamin D3, of which the majority of the Central European population suffers from chronic deficiency. This nutrient is essential for bone, heart and blood vessel health, immunity, athletic and mental performance, sexual health and cancer prevention (more here: https://www.epivyziva.cz/vitamin-d3/).

And if you indulge in salmon, you’ll also get a good dose of the carotenoid astaxanthin. This is a powerful antioxidant and immunostimulant that will help you lose weight, improve your eye health and muscle function (more here: https://www.epivyziva.cz/astaxantin/).

India: curry, ginger and ghee

Indian cuisine is renowned for its copious use of spicy spices. Curry, of which turmeric is an integral part, is typical. It contains the colouring agent curcumin, which is one of the most powerful epigenetic nutrients. It has strong anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, promotes cardiovascular health, immunity, blood circulation, sports performance, prostate health and even anti-baldness (more here: https://www.epivyziva.cz/kurkumin/). Importantly, curry also contains black pepper, whose active ingredient piperine improves the absorption of curcumin by about 200 times.

Another widely used spice in Indian cuisine is ginger. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, improves digestive health, brain function and memory and helps to lose weight (more here: https://www.epivyziva.cz/zazvornik-lekarsky/)

However, another typical Indian raw material – ghee– is also important from the perspective of epigenetics . It contains butyric acid, which has a positive effect on the intestinal microflora and protects nerve cells from degenerative processes, which is important, for example, in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the epigenetic effects are probably also behind the fact that ghee works well in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Last but not least, the vitamin K2 contained in ghee is essential for bone, dental, heart and skin health (more here: https://www.epivyziva.cz/vitamin-k2/).

Japan: cabbage tea and soy

In Japan, as in most surrounding countries, green tea is a staple of the drinking regime. It is extremely rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is one of the substances with the broadest spectrum of epigenetic effects. It effectively slows aging, helps weight loss, has anticancer effects, protects the heart and blood vessels, has a beneficial effect on immunity and brain function, and has been shown to have beneficial effects in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and many other diseases (more here: https://www.epivyziva.cz/epigalokatechin-galat/).

Omega-3 rich fish and soy products are also an important part of the local diet. Soya contains epigenetic genistein,which is beneficial for arthritis, helps to lose weight, has anti-cancer effects and, as it is a phytoestrogen, is also very useful for women in their forties and menopause.

What about at home?

As we mentioned above, regular and especially long-term consumption of individual nutrients and herbs is necessary to take advantage of their beneficial epigenetic effects. Therefore, you can bring your DNA back to life after you return from your holiday with dietary supplements. Here are some examples of combinations that will help you finish what you started on your trip.

Mediterranean: omega-3 + rosemary, resveratrol + OPC
Norway: omega-3 + astaxanthin, omega-3 + vitamin D3
India: curcumin + piperine + ginger, vitamin K2
Japan: EGCG, genistein