Dr. Kara Fitzgerald's work in epigenetics revolves around the concept of "nutrigenomics" and "nutrigenetics," which are areas that investigate how nutrients and dietary factors can influence gene expression and how an individual's genetic makeup may affect their response to different nutrients. She has been at the forefront of applying epigenetic principles in the context of functional medicine to help patients optimize their health. By understanding an individual's unique genetic makeup and epigenetic influences, she aims to tailor personalized therapeutic strategies that can positively impact gene expression and improve health outcomes. Through her clinical practice, research, and educational efforts, Dr. Fitzgerald has contributed to advancing the understanding and application of epigenetics in functional medicine. She emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors, diet, and other environmental influences in modulating gene expression to promote better health and prevent disease. In this week’s Everything Epigenetics podcast, Dr. Fitzgerald speaks with me about the growing popularity of biological age, healthspan, lifespan, and longevity, and why you should care about these important concepts. We also discuss how to know if you’re methylating correctly, if aging should be considered a disease, and the impact of epigenetics on longevity. Furthermore, we dive into her Younger You program and how it has proven to reverse biological age. Dr. Kara and I then chat about why she continues to stay focused on this space, why this new research is important, how we should think about this in the context of other anti-aging interventions that are being studied, and more. Dr. Fitzgerald is on the faculty at IFM, is an IFM Certified Practitioner and lectures globally on functional medicine. She runs a Functional Nutrition Residency program, and maintains a podcast series, New Frontiers in Functional Medicine and an active blog on her website, www.drkarafitzgerald.com. Her clinical practice is in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. In this episode of Everything Epigenetics, you’ll learn about:  Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s unique approach of  translating what’s happening in the science into actionable information The methylation cycleDNA methylation Why biological aging, healthspan, lifespan, and longevity are so important How lifestyle affects epigeneticsThe impact of epigenetics on longevityThe Younger You programAging as a diseaseDr. Fitzgerald’s flagship study titled “Reversal of Epigenetic Age with Diet and Lifestyle in a Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial”How exercise, meditation, and sleep can affect DNA methylation and biological age Dr. Fitzgerald’s future research  Where to find Dr. Kara Fitzgerald: Website - https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/kfitzgeraldnd Potential reversal of epigenetic age using a diet and lifestyle intervention: a pilot randomized clinical trial- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33844651/ Thank you for joining us at the Everything Epigenetics Podcast and remember you have control over your Epigenetics, so tune in next time to learn more about how.