As humans, we have an intrinsic desire for happiness and the healthy functioning of our minds and our bodies. Innately built into our DNA is that of self-repair mechanisms, many of which are largely untapped and yet still undiscovered.
The study and role of epigenetics in how we function and perform throughout our lives has been described and popularized in recent times by scientists like Joe Dispenza, neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, cell biologist Bruce Lipton, Dr. Candace Pert, and many others.
While there are many different facets and angles upon which epigenetics can be discussed, one of the most fascinating and studied aspects is that of the p53 gene–often referred to as “The Guardian of the Genome,” a term coined by Professor Sir David Lane when he discovered the gene back in the 1970s. (1)
To this day, it remains one of the most researched molecules and is the most widely studied gene in the human genome, with over 80,000 research publications on its structure, function and the role it plays. (2)
The p53 gene consists of 393 amino acids and its general role is to protect cells, regulate cellular metabolism, support healthy and normal cell division, stimulate the cellular process known as autophagy and perhaps most crucially, protect and repair damaged DNA. (3)
Epigenetic changes correlate with the p53 gene protein in that the gene supports the stability of the genome and also plays a critical role in regulating overall epigenetic changes that can occur within cells. Because of this, it can be said that the p53 gene and epigenetic programs are in regular communication with each other. (4)
While looking at ways to hyper-optimize the function of p53 is important, what may be more important today is learning about ways to ensure the p53 gene merely maintains its regulatory structure and function.
The reason is because of the prevalence of various synthetic pesticides used throughout society that are known to disrupt the function of p53. (5) Hence, limiting one’s exposure to, and intake of foods and beverages containing synthetic pesticides, is the first step in ensuring healthy functioning of this all-important gene.
Glyphosate is one such pesticide that is known to negatively interact with the p53 gene, as well as several other genes throughout the body. (6, 7, 8) Glyphosate’s biological activity has made headlines in recent years and is just one of many different pesticides that have been regularly used on foods throughout the world. Glyphosate’s toxicity became more widely known when in 2015 The WHO classified it as a class 2A probable human carcinogen. (9) While safe insect and pest mitigation is a topic worth scientific discussion, the overuse of pesticides throughout our world has led to ecological and biological decline in various ways.
One of the most sprayed crops in our world is coffee beans. In fact, it has been commonly reported that around 97% of coffee beans are sprayed with pesticides. The Maximum Residue Limits report shows that as of 2022, there are at least 43 different pesticides used on coffee beans throughout the world. (10)
In addition to pesticide contamination, coffee beans routinely contain mold and mycotoxins–a topic that isn’t often revealed in the coffee industry…(11, 12) and not surprisingly, mycotoxins are known to also interact with the p53 gene. (13)
Glyphosate and other pesticides also interrupt the normal functioning of another crucial biological process known as the Shikimic Acid Pathway, or the Shikimate Pathway.
First discovered in 1885 by Dutch chemist Johan Fredrik Eykman, the shikimic acid pathway is crucial for life and is “a seven-step metabolic pathway used by bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, some protozoans, and plants for the biosynthesis of folates and aromatic amino acids.” (14) This pathway plays a major role in creating biologically important compounds like serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine, dopamine, CoQ10 (pronounced Co-Q-10) and thyroid hormone, specifically through beneficial gut bacteria. (15)
While glyphosate is known to damage this pathway, the shikimic acid compound itself can help support the pathway’s healthy functioning.
White pine needles from the Pinus strobus species of pine trees are abundant in this naturally-occurring shikimic acid and is one reason Indigenous humans have used pine needles and pine needle tea to support immune health, respiratory and lung health, as well as cardiovascular function.
Because of the importance that shikimic acid plays in the overall processes of life itself and the widespread use of glyphosate and other pesticides, consuming naturally occurring shikimic acid from white pine needles is something that is becoming more widely known.
We have partnered with an exclusive source of these white pine needles, which are sustainably wild-harvested and concentrated in a safe extracted form that is stored in glycerin and not alcohol (perhaps show a photo of the product page here?). This source also offers the aforementioned coffee beans that are grown with organic practices and without pesticides, as well as going beyond organic in ensuring their coffee beans are also mold and mycotoxin-free. This source openly shows their certificate of analysis (seen on the product page) and is the only company in the world that offers both Pine Needle Extract from white pines as well as organically grown, mold and mycotoxin-free ground and whole bean coffee.
To view these unique and life-supporting products, please click on the links below in the description. Thank you.
Pine Needle Extract: https://bit.ly/3GeSexG
Ascent Coffee: https://bit.ly/3juIh6p
Written by Lance Schuttler
Produced by Video Advice
References
- https://ki.se/en/research/p53-the-guardian-of-the-genome
- https://www.mskcc.org/news/new-findings-clarify-how-guardian-genome-works
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4817743/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5558922/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261875879_Analysis_of_P53_Gene_Mutations_in_Peripheral_Blood_Lymphocytes_of_Egyptian_Spray_Workers_Exposed_to_Multiple_Pesticides_of_P53_Gene_Mutations_in_Peripheral_Blood_Lymphocytes_of_Egyptian_Spray_Workers_
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887233319307969?via%3Dihub
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8883356/
- https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1351327/v1/cdb1cea3-0544-4276-a6e3-742d768e2b86.pdf?c=1645208505
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8883356/
- https://www.ico.org/documents/cy2021-22/icc-134-2-r1e-maximum-residue-limits.pdf
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14726276/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7759018/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27071452/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikimate_pathway
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4392553/
