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You Are What Your Grandparents Ate: What You Need to Know About Nutrition, Experience, Epigenetics and the Origins of Chronic Disease
Learn how to live a healthy life and leave a legacy of wellness by looking both to the past and to the future.
You Are What Your Grandparents Ate takes conventional wisdom about the origins of chronic disease and turns it upside down. Rooted in the work of the late epidemiologist Dr. David Barker, it highlights the exciting research showing that heredity involves much more than the genes your parents passed on to you. Thanks to the relatively new science of epigenetics, we now know that the experiences of previous generations may show up in your health and well-being.
Many of the risks for chronic diseases -- including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and dementia -- can be traced back to your first 1,000 days of existence, from the moment you were conceived. The roots of these vulnerabilities may extend back even further, to experiences your parents and grandparents had -- and perhaps even beyond.
Similarly, what happens to you will affect your children and grandchildren. That's why it's so important to make good dietary choices, get a suitable amount of exercise and be cautious about exposure to toxins. Positive lifestyle changes have been shown to spark epigenetic adjustments that can lead to better health, not only for yourself, your offspring and their children, but also for generations to come.
This book makes hard science accessible. It is a call to action for social as well as personal change, delivering the message that by changing our own health, we can also influence the future of the world.
You Are What Your Grandparents Ate takes conventional wisdom about the origins of chronic disease and turns it upside down. Rooted in the work of the late epidemiologist Dr. David Barker, it highlights the exciting research showing that heredity involves much more than the genes your parents passed on to you. Thanks to the relatively new science of epigenetics, we now know that the experiences of previous generations may show up in your health and well-being.
Many of the risks for chronic diseases -- including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and dementia -- can be traced back to your first 1,000 days of existence, from the moment you were conceived. The roots of these vulnerabilities may extend back even further, to experiences your parents and grandparents had -- and perhaps even beyond.
Similarly, what happens to you will affect your children and grandchildren. That's why it's so important to make good dietary choices, get a suitable amount of exercise and be cautious about exposure to toxins. Positive lifestyle changes have been shown to spark epigenetic adjustments that can lead to better health, not only for yourself, your offspring and their children, but also for generations to come.
This book makes hard science accessible. It is a call to action for social as well as personal change, delivering the message that by changing our own health, we can also influence the future of the world.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published August 16, 2019
26 people are currently reading
850 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 8, 2019
This book explained how nutrition (or lack thereof) and toxic exposures in our parents and grandparents can affect our health. The first part of the book talked about epigenetics and how population studies have shown how you may be more likely to have a disease due to things that happened when you were in the womb or before that to your parents or even your grandparents. The author also talked about how nutrition, exercise, and stress can change your likelihood of getting a disease even if your genetics are predisposed toward that disease. She gave specific advice for pregnant women, babies, adolescence, and adults. She also provided advice for common disease (cancer, heart disease, etc.). I found the information interesting. Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone concerned about (or interested in) how their genetics might put them at higher risk for certain diseases.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
October 3, 2020
This book isn't bad, but it was very hard to get into for more than a couple of pages at a time. I'd find myself skipping pages and reading bits and pieces.
October 6, 2019
The book focused too much on prenatal issues and infant care. I had expected less of that and less granola.
The book would have been a better read without so many big green blocks of dietary recommendations.
The history and early research parts at the beginning of the book were interesting, especially those concerning the discovery of epigenetics. The rest, not so much.
Also, the tone in places was weird - sort of backhanded and catty. I'm not saying science-adjacent books should be dull, but the came across as weird sometimes.
Overall, wouldn't recommend, except as an additional resource for hipster parents-to-be. It's likely better than reading Gwyneth Paltrow, although can't we have higher standards? Probably next to useless for people not having kids or who have had them already.
One positive - the text is incredibly large, so easier to read for people with low-vision.
The book would have been a better read without so many big green blocks of dietary recommendations.
The history and early research parts at the beginning of the book were interesting, especially those concerning the discovery of epigenetics. The rest, not so much.
Also, the tone in places was weird - sort of backhanded and catty. I'm not saying science-adjacent books should be dull, but the came across as weird sometimes.
Overall, wouldn't recommend, except as an additional resource for hipster parents-to-be. It's likely better than reading Gwyneth Paltrow, although can't we have higher standards? Probably next to useless for people not having kids or who have had them already.
One positive - the text is incredibly large, so easier to read for people with low-vision.
December 24, 2019
Did not finish. Don't waste your time. Just a series of sound bites...almost like click bait. The science is there, but buried in the promotion of lifestyle changes.
The book design itself was awful. Extremely heavy and almost impossible to hold open. YAG!
The book design itself was awful. Extremely heavy and almost impossible to hold open. YAG!
October 8, 2019
Nourish & Nurture For Future Generations
If you are interested in doing all that you can to have a healthy child & grandchildren, read this book as soon as you can. For me, it is probably too late. I've been trying to have children & have never been able to conceive. Reading this book provides so many possible links as to why this might be. It also sheds light on many other health problems that have cropped up over the years. Beyond how we ate, how well we were physically & mentally nurtured can also have a direct effect on our health & which diseases we may be more prone to having later in life. How well fed or not our grandfathers & grandmothers were can either increase our likelihood of good health or decrease it. Hint, being well fed at conception isn't always a good thing.
The author also touches on the microbiome & how what we feed it it aka what we eat, can either improve our microbiome or harm it. For example, fast food diets cause a massive decrease in the diversity of the species that live in our guts. When we consume a more diverse & healthy organic whole foods diet, we increase the diversity of the species that live in our guts which in turn, improves our health. There are more in depth books available specifically about the microbiome. My favorite is 'Gut' by Julia Enders.
The author also links many chemicals with our current health crisis. From chemicals used to grow our foods, to chemicals around our homes, & beyond.
As a owner of a full time small organic family farm, I find this book inline with my own belief system regarding how important it is to avoid many chemicals, eat nourishing whole foods, & to move ones body regularly. It also explains why even when following a healthy lifestyle, we cannot always avoid illness if our parents & grandparents didn't have ideal living conditions for their offspring.
The number one takeaway that everyone should know at this point is that we need to eat a real wholesome whole foods diet with little to no added sugars. Fresh fruits & veggies, grass fed, free range meats, whole grains, etc. & avoid processed "foods" at all costs.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about their own health, the health of their future children, or is looking for answers to their own health problems.
If you are interested in doing all that you can to have a healthy child & grandchildren, read this book as soon as you can. For me, it is probably too late. I've been trying to have children & have never been able to conceive. Reading this book provides so many possible links as to why this might be. It also sheds light on many other health problems that have cropped up over the years. Beyond how we ate, how well we were physically & mentally nurtured can also have a direct effect on our health & which diseases we may be more prone to having later in life. How well fed or not our grandfathers & grandmothers were can either increase our likelihood of good health or decrease it. Hint, being well fed at conception isn't always a good thing.
The author also touches on the microbiome & how what we feed it it aka what we eat, can either improve our microbiome or harm it. For example, fast food diets cause a massive decrease in the diversity of the species that live in our guts. When we consume a more diverse & healthy organic whole foods diet, we increase the diversity of the species that live in our guts which in turn, improves our health. There are more in depth books available specifically about the microbiome. My favorite is 'Gut' by Julia Enders.
The author also links many chemicals with our current health crisis. From chemicals used to grow our foods, to chemicals around our homes, & beyond.
As a owner of a full time small organic family farm, I find this book inline with my own belief system regarding how important it is to avoid many chemicals, eat nourishing whole foods, & to move ones body regularly. It also explains why even when following a healthy lifestyle, we cannot always avoid illness if our parents & grandparents didn't have ideal living conditions for their offspring.
The number one takeaway that everyone should know at this point is that we need to eat a real wholesome whole foods diet with little to no added sugars. Fresh fruits & veggies, grass fed, free range meats, whole grains, etc. & avoid processed "foods" at all costs.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about their own health, the health of their future children, or is looking for answers to their own health problems.
August 6, 2023
Interesting read that provides actionable information for the reader to either make better informed dietary and lifestyle choices and gives the reasons for why you should. This is the “why” behind what we’ve heard for years.
However, the reader should express some caution in applying all of the authors ideas. For example, in the cancer section it’s a generalized commentary on breast cancer and not specific to the subtype of breast cancer, and doesn’t divulge how estrogen driven breast cancers will be fuelled by soy, or estrogen encouraging foods. When the author encourages the consumption of soy, consult with your medical team to get specific information on your disease. The book is too generalized to apply in all cases, that’s also how the book should be applied - as a general background to healthy diet and lifestyle choices.
However, the reader should express some caution in applying all of the authors ideas. For example, in the cancer section it’s a generalized commentary on breast cancer and not specific to the subtype of breast cancer, and doesn’t divulge how estrogen driven breast cancers will be fuelled by soy, or estrogen encouraging foods. When the author encourages the consumption of soy, consult with your medical team to get specific information on your disease. The book is too generalized to apply in all cases, that’s also how the book should be applied - as a general background to healthy diet and lifestyle choices.
December 16, 2020
Easy-to-read overview of epigenetic and other non-genetic factors (including the microbiome) that affect lifelong health.
The book reads like a special edition of a magazine, with plenty of pretty sidebars and colorful headings.
It's also full of practical advice, about which foods to eat or which supplements to take, but I didn't find much that was rigorously argued.
A good book for somebody with no knowledge of the subject and who'd prefer to have a friendly survey with specific dietary suggestions. It's not a book for delving deeply into the issues or for understanding the scientific details.
The book reads like a special edition of a magazine, with plenty of pretty sidebars and colorful headings.
It's also full of practical advice, about which foods to eat or which supplements to take, but I didn't find much that was rigorously argued.
A good book for somebody with no knowledge of the subject and who'd prefer to have a friendly survey with specific dietary suggestions. It's not a book for delving deeply into the issues or for understanding the scientific details.
May 5, 2021
Full of great facts and thoroughly researched. If all the asides were removed and the book was not printed like a heavy cookbook, this would have been a much better read. But the asides were distracting at time. I'm sure some people may like the dietary and lifestyle recommendations, but it still detracts from the rest of the science. I'm still giving it 4 stars because the content is good and I don't want to tank it too much for its poor format.
April 10, 2023
This book was very good, but I was hoping it would be a lot more about the effects of grandparents' diets on their grandchildren. That was actually only a small part in the first chapter, and it really just had to do with feast or famine. I already knew a lot of the other information about the importance of diet, but it was still worth reading.
January 24, 2020
Especially relevant for those contemplating a pregnancy.
August 28, 2020
I skimmed this book.
Very detailed and full of science.
Very detailed and full of science.
April 11, 2024
Really interesting science but somewhat repetitive over time and too focused on older research
May 23, 2024
The cience of epigenetics is so interesting...but this book was more like a snippet of science and basically a prenatal diet book. :/
August 30, 2024
Longer reading but absolutely worth it.
Book is full of relevant data, research and studies.
If you are a medical doctor, or just ordinary person who is interested about overall health of you or your children / grand children - this is a must read book, even it could be little bit difficult to read and absorb all the knowledge.
Epigenetics is fascinating, how our behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes and DNA sequence work...
This book goes much more deeper into the problematics compare to many general health life-style books.
You will learn from this book, that one size doesn't fit at all.
What works for me, doesn't have to work for you.
This book is pretty much evidence, how much the environment ( positive or negative ) affects our genes but also genes of our next generations.
So if you are responsible person who want to dig deeper in HEALTH science - it's good choice of reading this book :)
Book is full of relevant data, research and studies.
If you are a medical doctor, or just ordinary person who is interested about overall health of you or your children / grand children - this is a must read book, even it could be little bit difficult to read and absorb all the knowledge.
Epigenetics is fascinating, how our behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes and DNA sequence work...
This book goes much more deeper into the problematics compare to many general health life-style books.
You will learn from this book, that one size doesn't fit at all.
What works for me, doesn't have to work for you.
This book is pretty much evidence, how much the environment ( positive or negative ) affects our genes but also genes of our next generations.
So if you are responsible person who want to dig deeper in HEALTH science - it's good choice of reading this book :)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews