Can what we eat affect our kids?

Genetic information resides in our DNA. 

During conception, we pick up some DNA from our dad & some from our mom, and DNA was what makes us a unique individual. 

Environmental influences can affect our health personally, but did you ever dream that the effects of those environmental influences could be passed on to our kids?

But today we know that environental influences can actually modify our DNA and that those modifications can be passed on to our offspring - a process called epigenetics.

So can what we eat affect our kids?

According to two articles in FASEB Journal, the answer might be yes!

One study female rats were either on a standard rat chow or a "junk-food diet" high in fat and sugar during pregnancy and lactation.  When the weaning rats were then separated from their moms and exposed to a variety of foods, both the male and female offspring showed a marked preference for high fat foods.

The second study female mice were maintained on standard mice chow or a low-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation. 

Their offspring had a lower body weight and less fat surrounding their major organs throughout their life. 

This study not only shows that the diet of the moms influenced the eating behavior and body composition of their offspring, but that this chain in eating behavior was caused by a permanent modification of their DNA. 

Most prenatal nutrition advice is based on what it takes to have a healthy baby - not on what it might take for your child to experience better health through their life. 

My personal opinion is, yes your baby "gets what you get and twice as much".  So if you're thinking about having a baby, start a healthy diet now.  And adding high end supplements (ensuring there isn't any contaminants and they are whole food high end is best) will only increase the chances you will have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby, now and in the future. 

Mary Beth

**Thank you Dr. Stephan Chaney for providing this information.