Our feelings affect our genes: New techniques allow researchers to measure how our attitudes affect gene expression - showing how to turn off risk factors for disease.

Remarkable new techniques show that negativity and loneliness turn on the inflammatory response – a risk factor for disease. Which, on the flip side, allows for self-empowerment via the psychology of the cells.

Social genomics steer our health

The new branch of research, called social genomics, shows that our experiences – and how we see the world – color the molecular biology of our body and create a different us, says University of California, Los Angeles, genomics researcher Steve Cole, PhD. Simply put, our genes affect our health, and our attitude can influence our genes.

Our experiences - and how we see the world - color the molecular biology of our body and create a different us.

Steve Cole, PhD. University of California, Los Angeles.

The most remarkable findings

Several lines of research shows that adversity, including stress, poverty and loneliness, can reprogram the immune system to be ready for trouble. In the short term it’s probably a good strategy, but in the long term it can lead to health problems such as heart disease and cancer.

Lonely people have vascular changes that increase their risk for high blood pressure, and they have elevated levels of the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine, according to John Cacioppo, PhD, who’s seeing the most remarkable findings of his career.

220 genes were turned on in the cancer cells of women with low levels of social support and high levels of depression - genes that were not active in women who had less stress.

Steve Cole, PhD

Mind-boggling possibilities

Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, PhD from Columbia University, is giddy with excitement. It’s kind of mind-boggling, she says. These discoveries will have policy implications. The psychology of cells gives us a dimension and understanding of mechanisms that we’ve never had before. The potential of these studies is myriad.

How to influence your biology

Based on the findings in the field of social genomics, you can start practicing feeling better, no matter what challenges and difficulties you have been experiencing so far. Get all the benefits of increasing your positivity and loving feelings in the Love Power Course. Go from being upset and feeling down to experiencing a positive, calm and a joyful feeling.

Learn to:

Eliminate sabotaging feelings
Soothe your emotions
Be proud of what works
Get Bubbly Happy
Dream Big and Bold

Read about the Love Power Course:

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REF: The Psychology of Cells. American Psychological Association. Beth Azar, May 2011.

Hello, I’m Joanna Armstrong, and I have been a therapist and mentor since 2009. Primarily, I use the unusually efficient method called Emotional Freedom Technique, also known as EFT-tapping, with my clients.

You are welcome to try it for yourself >