Supporting Your Best Mental Health Genes as an Entrepreneur
When I met Valentina Bain, an epigenetics specialist & certified somatic therapist, I was taken aback. I wish I had known how much our body’s DNA, genes and environmental factors affect all areas of our life, including mental health. Doing different tests to learn more about my DNA and genes, then understanding how I could change my lifestyle to improve my overall health would have been a great option to managing my mental health and managing an entrepreneur lifestyle. Luckily it’s never too late!
To that, I want to introduce you to Valentina, who is an entrepreneur, a wealth of knowledge on all things genes, DNA, hormones and more. I hope you take away different ways to improve your health, wellness, and performance as a business owner, co-founder, manager, and colleague.
Supporting Your Best Mental Health Genes as an Entrepreneur
By Valentina Bain
As someone who suffered from chronic health issues as a child that led to learning disabilities, an early ADD diagnosis, and ongoing anxiety, I understand the frustrations of mental health challenges firsthand. Over the years, I have learned how to work with my own genetic makeup through epigenetic strategies to optimize my ability to accomplish goals and thrive, both personally and professionally.
Have you ever wondered if your genes determine your destiny when it comes to mental (or physical) health? The exciting field of epigenetics shows us that small lifestyle tweaks can influence our gene expression in empowering ways.
Epigenetics refers to external factors that affect how genes are expressed, without changing the DNA sequence itself. While your genes don’t change behaviors like diet and exercise, stress management can influence the “on/off” switches for specific genes, controlling whether they are activated or deactivated.
For mental health, genes like BDNF, SLC6A4, TNF-alpha, and telomeres have been shown to play a role in conditions like depression, anxiety, focus, and inflammation - some of the most common conditions affecting entrepreneurs. By supporting these genes through targeted nutrition, stress relief techniques, adequate sleep, and exercise, we can optimize our mental health.
Strategies like adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, exercising daily, trying meditation, prioritizing quality sleep, and staying socially connected have been shown to curb inflammatory genes, boost mood genes, support cognitive genes, and more.
As an entrepreneur, optimizing your gene expression is key for feeling mentally clear, focused, energized and improving your business performance!
Implementing small, consistent changes to your lifestyle habits can truly help support optimal mental health gene expression, boosting your energy, resilience, focus and performance as an entrepreneur.
While these strategies are helpful to get started, customized nutrition, exercise, stress relief and sleep strategies can support your unique gene expression at the next level and even help heal root causes of imbalances.
If you are interested in creating a personalized epigenetic plan based on your DNA, book a discovery call to learn more. You can also follow me on Instagram @valentina.bain. Let's connect to unlock your full potential!
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Hang on Health, a Nashville, TN nonprofit, empowers entrepreneurs with mental resilience. By supporting entrepreneurs with mental wellness resources such as education, community and coaching, they are emboldened to achieve peak performance.
