What science is finally confirming: The wisdom of our grandmothers and the power of epigenetics

Today's post is a reflection - on my roots and what I know as a scientist.

The truth is that the more I deepen my knowledge in genetics, the more respect I develop for the practises, knowledge and gestures that have been passed from generation to generation in my family - and in so many others.

Today, science calls it epigenetics. But our grandmothers already knew.

They knew that the way we live today shapes tomorrow. They knew how to take care before they knew how to explain. And this deserves to be recognised, celebrated and understood - with the heart... and with data.

🧬 What is epigenetics - and why does it matter?

Epigenetics It is the study of how our environment and our lifestyle can influence the way our genes express themselves - without changing the genetic code itself.

In other words: our DNA is the plan. But the lifestyle is who chooses which part of the plan is activated.

Factors such as food, stress, sleep, relationships, contact with nature and even affective touch directly influence gene expression. This phenomenon happens through mechanisms such as DNA methylation, which works as a biological switch, activating or silencing certain genes.

The practical wisdom of our grandmothers

I've always been very curious. I remember always asking my mother, my aunts and grandmothers the reason for every tea, every herb, every natural balm or herbal bath. At the time, I thought it was just tradition or because "in their time there was no better".

But today I know that much of what they did was actually a form of practical and bodily intelligence.

• They knew how to treat inflammation with leaves.

• Calm cramps with infusions.

• Balance the body with what the earth offered.

• They cooked with live ingredients.

• They respected their cycle.

• They cared for their pregnancy with intention.

• They touched the earth.

• They knew how to stop - and they knew how to observe.

  
  

They did not use terms such as "microbiota" or "hormonal resilience", but they lived with this awareness. Today, much of what we call biohacking or integrative medicine was already part of the daily practice of these women - who passed on knowledge to us through rituals, recipes and gestures repeated with intention.

When science confirms what was already known:

🍵 Plants as natural adaptogens

They: used leaves, roots and seeds in teas to increase energy, resistance or deal with stress (such as moringa leaves or ginger roots).

Science: Many of these plants are adaptogenic, that is, they help the body balance physical and emotional stress, and regulate the endocrine system.

🥬 Eat foods rich in iron and folate during pregnancy

They: recommended foods such as green leaves, beans, seeds and pumpkin for pregnant women.

Science: Iron and folic acid are crucial for the healthy development of the baby, especially in the formation of the neural tube.

🥤 Traditional fermentation: kissangua and live drinks

They: They prepared kissangua (fermented corn), garapa and other natural drinks as sources of strength and freshness.

Science: Traditional fermented drinks are rich in probiotics, which benefit the gut microbiome — Essential for digestion, immunity and even mental health.

🔗 Tradition vs Science: do we need to choose?

That's why, for me, the real revolution is in not choosing between tradition or science. The path is in integration.

As a geneticist, I deeply believe in the power of data. But I also learned that there are wisdoms that data has not yet been able to translate - and that still work, generation after generation.

Science guides my mind. But it is my roots that give direction to my heart. To live with intention is to honour both.

👣 Our choices shape the future

Studies in epigenetics have already shown that life experiences can affect not only our own genes, but also those of our children and grandchildren.

What we eat, the stress we experience, the way we sleep or move - all these can influence the gene expression of future generations.

I believe we are in a beautiful moment: a moment in which science supports, with evidence, what we have been living for a long time.

Honouring our roots is not regressing - it is recognising the base where we came from and using it as a foundation to evolve.

Living with intention, for me, is this: using what science gives us, without forgetting what our grandmothers already knew.

References

• Crews D, Gillette R, Scarpino SV, Manikkam M, Savenkova MI, Skinner MK. Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of altered stress responses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 5;109(23):9143-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1118514109. Epub 2012 May 21. PMID: 22615374; PMCID: PMC3384163.

• Hamilton JP. Epigenetics: principles and practice. Dig Dis. 2011;29(2):130-5. doi: 10.1159/000323874. Epub 2011 Jul 5. PMID: 21734376; PMCID: PMC3134032.

• Marco ML, et al. (2017). Health benefits of fermented foods: microbiota and beyond. Current Opinion in Biotechnology.

• Mazzocchi F. Western science and traditional knowledge. Despite their variations, different forms of knowledge can learn from each other. EMBO Rep. 2006 May;7(5):463-6. doi: 10.1038/sj.embor.7400693. PMID: 16670675; PMCID: PMC1479546.

• Panossian A, Wikman G. (2010). Effects of adaptogens on the central nervous system and the molecular mechanisms associated with their stress—protective activity. Pharmaceuticals.

• Skinner MK. Environmental stress and epigenetic transgenerational inheritance. BMC Med. 2014 Sep 5;12:153. doi: 10.1186/s12916-014-0153-y. PMID: 25259699; PMCID: PMC4244059.

• World Health Organization (WHO). Guideline: Daily iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnant women.