When I’m sitting with a client, taking their case history, I often hear a familiar story.

“My mum had dementia…so I probably will too.”
“My dad had diabetes …it’s in my genes.”
There’s always that little pause, a look of worry as if they’re waiting for the same thing to happen to them one day.

And there’s this little flicker in their eyes, a mix of fear, sadness, and acceptance. Because when you’ve watched someone you love go through something difficult, it’s natural to worry it might happen to you too.

But here’s the good news: your family history is not your fate.

What Epigenetics Tells Us and Why It’s So Empowering

For years, we were told our genes were like a script written in permanent ink, fixed and unchangeable. But that’s not how it works.

The exciting field of epigenetics has turned that idea upside down. Epigenetics looks at how our daily habits, environment, and mindset influence which of our genes are expressed, meaning switched on or off without changing the DNA itself.

I like to describe it like your home’s electrical switchboard. Your genes are the wiring you can’t change that but whether a switch flips depends on how much load you put through it. Stress, poor sleep, processed food, lack of movement that’s overload. Supportive nutrition, emotional regulation, deep rest, joy, connection that’s balance.

So yes, you may carry certain “circuits” that run in your family, but whether they get triggered or stay calm depends a lot on how you live, think, and nourish yourself every day. That’s incredibly empowering.

You Have More Influence Over Your Health Than You Think

Did you know, every single thing you do sends information to your genes. The food you eat, the way you handle stress, the quality of your sleep even your thoughts all act as little biochemical messages.

When we live in a constant state of pressure, exhaustion, or self-neglect, we’re essentially flipping the wrong switches. When we nourish our bodies with real food, move regularly, breathe deeply, and calm our nervous system, we’re helping those switches stay balanced.

Its no longer “woo woo”, It’s measurable in science and it’s one of the most hopeful messages to come out of modern research on longevity and prevention.

Functional Longevity Testing: Seeing What’s Happening Beneath the Surface

This is where I get really excited, because we can now see how your body is responding on a cellular level.

Functional longevity testing helps us understand how your body is ageing biologically in comparison to your age and how many birthdays you have had. Some of the things we can look at include:

Telomere testing: the little “end caps” on your DNA that shorten with stress, poor sleep, or inflammation. They give us insight into your biological age and how fast you’re actually ageing on the inside.
DNA Profiles and Methylation testing: this shows us how well your body is regulating key genetic pathways related to metabolism, mood, detoxification, and energy production.
Nutrient efficiency markers: these tell us whether your body is making good use of the nutrients you’re giving it, or if it’s struggling in certain pathways (like B-vitamin conversion, choline metabolism, or omega-3 utilisation).
Inflammation and mitochondrial markers: these show how your cells are coping with life’s load, and how we can better support repair and resilience.
Detoxification Pathways

I love these tests because they help us create a personalised plan rather than a generic “take this and hope it helps” approach. Once we see what’s happening under the hood, we can make targeted changes with nutrition, lifestyle, and supplements that truly make a difference.

Less Fear and More Understanding

So many people wait until something goes wrong before they act. But epigenetics shows us that we can change the trajectory long before disease develops.

Maybe your mum had dementia or your dad had heart disease, that’s useful information. It tells us where your “switchboard” might need extra support. It’s simply data we can use wisely.

When you understand your biology, you stop living in fear and start living with focus. You begin to see your health as something you intentionally shape to the best of your ability.

Rewriting the Family Story

I’ve met so many people who quietly expect illness to find them one day because that’s what happened to their parents or grandparents. You are not destined to repeat that story.

Your genes set the stage, but you write the script.

With the right information, you can live with energy, clarity, and confidence. You can choose foods and supplements that actually suit your biology. You can take the tests that give you clarity instead of guessing. You can feel in control as the advocate for your health.

And that, to me, is the real gift of epigenetics.

Testing for Longevity and Optimal Ageing

We now have the ability to test your biological age to see how fast (or how gracefully) your body is truly ageing and to explore your DNA profile for insights into where your individual vulnerabilities may lie.

This is about identifying opportunities to support your body’s natural repair systems, slow cellular ageing, and build long-term resilience.

Whether you’re 30 or 70, it’s never too early or too late to be proactive.
Epigenetic support and longevity testing give you a way to understand your body more deeply, make informed choices, and age well with purpose, energy, and vitality.

You deserve to thrive at every stage of life.

With warmth and wellness,
Kylie Cloney, BHSc (Complementary Medicine)

Medical Disclaimer:

This post is for general education only and is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare professional. See our Medical Disclaimer.

References

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Berdasco M, Esteller M. Clinical epigenetics: seizing opportunities for translation. Nat Rev Genet. 2019;20(2):109 -127.
Horvath S, Raj K. DNA methylation-based biomarkers and the epigenetic clock theory of ageing. Nat Rev Genet. 2018;19(6):371 :384.
López-Otín C, Kroemer G. Hallmarks of Health. Cell. 2021;184(1):33 - 63.
Sinclair DA. Lifespan: Why We Age - and Why We Don’t Have To. New York: Atria Books; 2019.
Baccarelli A, Ghosh S. Environmental exposures, epigenetics and cardiovascular disease. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2012;15(4):323- 329.
Zierer J et al. Metabolomics and Epigenetics in Human Ageing. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2023;19(4):236 - 252.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Epigenetics. 2022.
World Health Organization. Noncommunicable Diseases: Fact Sheet. 2024.
Cancer Council Australia. Genetic Testing and Family History. 2024.

Myth Buster: Why Your Genes Aren’t Always Your Destiny