Is Your Family Disease Really Genetic?

Is your family disease your inescapable fate or is there something you can do about it? In this video we will explore many common diseases and investigate whether or not you can escape your destiny.
- Links and Sources -

Vegan populations only group in normal BMI range in US:

Obesity: "A focus on individual genetic traits is a mere distraction"

"fatalistic view toward developing Alzheimer's Disease."

Nigerians characterized by having..high APO E *4

Alzheimer's rare in Nigerian populations:

APO E 4 not associate with higher Alzheimer's in Nigeria:

Neal Barnard on Genetics and Diabetes:

Neal Barnard diabetes study:

Rice Diet and Diabetic Retinopathy Study:

Ugandan Autopsy Heart disease study:

Ugandan Starch Based Diet and low heart disease source:

African American Heart disease rates higher:

[lyvpodda]

My mother, my father and my younger brother have hypertension. My dad is diabetic and my brother is prediabetic. All my family have heart disease. I have a prediabetic cousin. When I tell my mom that I'm the only one that don't have hypertension or prediabetes/diabetes she says that is because I'm young, but I'm 29, my brother is 26 and my cousin is 20. Of course I'm the only vegan.

[luizaculau]

This is one of the reasons that made me decide to go vegan. My grandfather and my dad both had strokes. The doctor said I had high chances of having it. I am decided to not let it happen to me.

[theveganape]

Unfortunately, talking about prevention and suggesting that we have a part to play in our own health is very unpopular. Everyone wants to think that all their problems are out of their control. It's a shame because this information is not intended to hurt people or weaken them, but to help and empower them!

[VeganismUnspun]

Beards are genetic, that doesn't mean we can't shave.

[icannotchoose]

I was diagnosed at 13 with ependamoma, a level 2 pediatric brain tumor in the 4th ventrical, my family switched to a high fiber and complex carb whole foods vegan diet and I was determined "cancer free" two weeks after surgery. 3 years later, still perfectly healthy and I'm the only patient with this yumor to not receive radiation. That being said, this is not me telling you that no one should get radio or chemo, just that diet goes a long way.

[admireinspire]

my girlfriend overcame ulceative colitis and the 2k $ a week medicine when we went vegetarian. (we've evolved to vegans since) I didn't see your video on thw topic until after but I thjnk you nailed it!

[bmatth]

your videos are simply the best, I for sure hope YouTube pays you and doesn't pull that "consumer friendly" garbage.

[MikoVanara]

My grandmother died from diabetes and dementia and my grandfather had a heart attack soon after my dad was born. I just don't understand how the rest of my family can watch all this but still do nothing about their own health. They all have the mentality that we're all going to die anyway. What they don't stop to think about is their quality of life before they do. I don't want to spend years suffering before I die.

[justinwiens]

I wish my dad and grandad would listen to me about the dangers of animal products. My Dad suffers from high blood pressure and my grandad has already suffered one heart attack that nearly killed him. Maybe they will listen to you Mike! I'll be showing them a few of your videos!

[KasuuBeauty]

When I was little my immune system was really weak. I got sick very easily, at least twice a month they gave me antibiotics. They also prescribed me meds with stereoids for allergies which I was taking for many many years. When I was 12yo I decided to stop eating meat (typical teen rebellion). >Three years earlier I also top taking stereoids, cuz they didn't work for me<. After giving up meat my health improve so much it was insane. Especially allergies, before I couldn't eat bananas or cacao. Dust was killing me. Now I'm 21 (vegan for almost 2 years) and I feel sooo lucky with my current health. I hardly get sick.

[craiger]

My patients tell me their diseases "run in their families", and I agree, they often "run in their family cultures", but not necessarily, or impactfully, in their genes. It's the practices that get consciously and unconsciously learned from family that influence disease the most, in my opinion.

[Alienadin]

All chronic autoimmune diseases also seem to fall into this category. I was diagnosed with RA (Rheumatic Arthritis), and was told there was no cure and I'd have to take drugs for the rest of my life. Well, I changed my diet to a whole foods, free vegan diet, and my pain is no more. Not even morning stiffness.

[charlenebrissette]

I have scleroderma, fibromyalgia and a whole shitload of other medical problems that my doctors put me on a bunch of different Meds for but after going vegan I am down to 1 pill a day and feeling pretty damn good.

[rachelAO]

These type of diseases heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's contrast with congenital diseases that you're born with. I have a disease called Ehlers dahnlos which genetically was expressed at birth In my case. My vegan diet amongst other lifestyle changes actually assists me with managing my condition because it's anti-inflammatory. I have less chronic pain to deal with than I did and although it can't be cured I can live a better life.

[kyriep]

My mom died from cancer two months ago. My dad's mom died of cancer just before that. Mom's mom is next to go, breast cancer. All my parents and grandparents have type 2 diabetes. All of them have heart problems and arthritis. My mom was almost 400 lbs when she died. When my doctors look at my family, they tell me I have zero hope of not getting any of those diseases. Thank you for giving me hope, Mic. It means the world to me.

[disconouvo]

Dr. T Colin Campbell describes diet as turning off and on certain types of disease regardless of genes.
Impressive video Mic.

[shango]

Not a life-threatening disease, but going vegan has cured my life-long eczema. Yay :)

[BahaiGirl]

Shared this with my immediate family. Vascular dementia, blood pressure/sugar issues, obesity, and diabetes are all over my family. I saw my 88yo grandma and her 90yo sister together 2 years ago and it shook me. My great aunt has been vegetarian and eating organic since her 20s - thin, perfect memory, drove till she was 91, no glasses. My grandma has been eating SAD forever and in the last ten years has reduced it down to only Campbell's soups, mac'n'cheese, pot roast, cheese burgers, ham&cheese slices, clubhouse crackers with butter, and peanut chocolate wafers. About 8 years ago she had mini strokes leading to the diagnosis of vascular dementia. She has struggled with anxiety, depression, obesity (5'2" 250lbs), and high bp as long as I've been around. Seeing the stark contrast woke me to the reality that our diet and social health contributes so much more to our physical wellbeing than doctors know or let on. Mic, your videos keep me so motivated to keep up with this lifestyle change (14mo vegan). And the fact-based presentation makes it hard to deny the true power of a vegan diet when sharing with others. I love your channel so much! Thanks for the help and for doing all this research for the rest of us!!!

[jessmholmes]

mike, would love to see a video on intermittent fasting! i hear so much about the benefits but would like to know more of the science behind it!

[Frodojack]

Mic, another great video. I have two suggestions for the future: (1) A video for parents to get their children to eat vegan and (2) a video on diet and cognitive functioning/intelligence/ADD, etc.