We can’t change the genes we’re born with, but we CAN change which genes get expressed and which ones get suppressed.

I know it sounds like a far-fetched science fiction story, but it’s not.  Science is discovering that you and I have much more control of our own life than we previously thought imaginable.

Anyway, before I get too carried away, let’s bring this back around to weight gain.  How does this help you with weight loss?

It all comes back to your gut.  The health of your gut is what controls weight gain, weight loss and ultimately your overall health.

See recent research has found evidence that shows a direct link between microflora (good bacteria) levels in the gut and metabolic factors that impact weight gain and obesity.  Which means that by increasing good bacteria in your gut it will help you lose weight more effectively.

If your diet includes a lot of junk foods that contain refined sugar and other processed stuff, the balance of microflora in your gut is completely disrupted.  These so-called foods feed the bad bacteria in your gut and make it very difficult for the good bacteria to flourish.  And now researchers are finding out that the imbalance of your gut flora make is much harder for the body to burn fat.

Ok, makes sense… right.  But what does this have anything to do with genetics?

Don’t worry I’m just about to get there… but before I do, we need to talk a little about Asian foods.  Yes, I’m Asian and I like Asian foods, but that’s not the only reason why I’m bring this up… it has to do with your genes… so hang in there.

Asian Food That Combat Obesity

Since the balance of your gut flora is directly linked with gut health and the effectiveness of weight loss, researchers have started studying different types of foods that impact your gut health.  Which brings me to Kimchi, a staple in Korean food culture.  It’s a spicy mixture of fermented cabbage and vegetables that’s common in Korean and other Asian households… and much like other fermented foods, kimchi helps improve the “good” bacteria your gut.

In addition to boosting the good bacteria, eating kimchi also helps reduce the undesirable bacteria in your gut as well… leading to a better balance of microflora in your gut.

Ok… so eating fermented foods is good for your gut which in turn help you lose weight more effectively.  But here’s the really interesting part…

Eating Kimchi Alters Gene Expression

A research study done at Seoul National University in Korea found that eating fermented kimchi consistently for 8 weeks improved all aspects of health including blood pressure, digestion, blood circulation, immunity, and metabolism… which is what they expected, but what they didn’t expect was that the results were due to altered gene expression.  Which means that the food you ingest CAN change what genes are being expressed!

The study of epigenetic have already shown that external environment can change gene expression… and now we also know that diet can also directly impact your health via gene expression as well.

BTW, the study also compare the effects of fresh kimchi vs fermented kimchi and they found that the fermented kimchi produced better results.

So if you’re trying to lose weight, you need to consider the health of your gut.  In addition to other health lifestyle changes, adding kimchi to your diet might be an effective way to make it easier to get rid of those extra pounds.