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Your Double Helix

Your Double Helix

Not everyone will admit this, but there's something magical about exercise. Your brain produces endorphins in response to vigorous exercise and you feel energized, alert, and alive. You derive tremendous satisfaction from doing something you said you'd do. You feel good about yourself all day long. Beyond these benefits related to personal fulfillment, regular vigorous exercise builds strong muscles and bones and strengthens your cardiopulmonary system. Your heart and lungs become substantially more efficient. Your heart pumps more blood with every beat and your lungs take in more air with every breath. Your entire physiology, that is, every one of your cells, tissues, and organs, benefits from a consistent program of regular exercise.

Yet, remarkably, there's more. Medical researchers and public health policy makers have long known that regular vigorous exercise helps improve the health of people with diabetes, heart disease, many types of arthritis, and even cancer. But more recently, within the last couple of years, scientists have been finding that exercise causes lasting changes in the configuration and functioning of human genes.

As we all know, our genetic inheritance is encoded in complex, tightly wound strands of DNA. Our genetic code comprises only four nucleotides - adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine - biochemical structures whose precise sequence contains all the information required to produce a living human being. (Some fun facts: There are approximately 3 billion "base pairs" of DNA in a human cell. A single uncoiled strand of DNA is approximately 3 feet (1 meter) in length. In contrast, human cells average 25 millionths of a meter in diameter.). Up until 10 or so years ago, it was generally accepted that genes (specific sequences of base pairs) controlled all protein formation and all physiologic functioning. But within the last 10 years, numerous discoveries have demonstrated a variety of additional factors that contribute to individual genetic expression. One such mechanism involves "epigenetics", the process of "tagging" genes with small "side groups" or "markers". The attachment of a methyl side group (—CH3), an action known as methylation, modifies a gene's expression, boosting its output or turning it off completely. Researchers have now consistently demonstrated that regular exercise influences and even reprograms the epigenetic pattern of methylation.1,2

One study has demonstrated that exercise-associated methylation patterns impact genes associated with energy metabolism and insulin response in muscles.3 These findings, if reproduced by follow-up studies, would go far toward clarifying the role of exercise in relieving the symptoms of many chronic diseases.

The conclusion is that not only does exercise make you look good and feel good, it also exerts a profound effect on the most basic components of human physiology. Our long-ago high school gym teachers who exhorted us in seemingly endless rounds of sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, and squat thrusts knew what they were doing. It's up to us to continue the program.

1Denham J, et al: Exercise: putting action into our epigenome. Sports Med 44(2):189-209, 2014
2Ronn T, et al: A six months exercise intervention influences the genome-wide DNA methylation pattern in human adipose tissue. PLoS Genetics 2013 Jun;9(6):e1003572. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003572
3Lindholm ME, et al: An integrative analysis reveals coordinated reprogramming of the epigenome and the transcriptome in human skeletal muscle after training. Epigenetics 2014 Dec 7:0. [Epub ahead of print]

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Meet Your Doctor, Dr. Joan Kim Wagner PhD, LAc — 3rd Generation Master Acupuncturist

  • Dr.
    Joan Kim-Wagner
    Executive Director of Evergreen Wellness
    Dr. Joan Kim-Wagner, L.Ac, Ph.D is a third generation acupuncturist whose family instilled in her the dictate to, “Help others with love and holistic guidance.” Dr. Kim-Wagner earned her Masters of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Dong-Guk University in Los Angeles. She earned her Ph.D. in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Yuin University in Southern California. She is a board certified acupuncturist in the state of California, where she has been in private practice since 2003 and is nationally certified through the NCCA. She continues to revolutionize the field of acupuncture and increase her own knowledge through ongoing study with numerous acupuncturist Masters from around the world.

Los AngelesTop-Rated Acupuncturist, Doctor Joan Kim Wagner PhD, LAc

5 Star Reviews of Evergreen Acupuncture & Wellness Center

  • "I originally went to Dr. Joan Kim-Wagner for chronic neck pain. I have to say I was quite skeptical, but also desperate to get relief and nothing else was working.She is extremely knowledgeable about the human body and has fixed every complaint I have brought to her attention. That was over a year ago. Since then less than a few weeks into being treated 3 times a week I had gone from chronic pain taking 3 medications to minimal or no pain and occasionally one medication. She has also been managing my blood pressure for which I was taking 3 different medications, now down to two. The idea is to get off of all meds completely. My weight and physical condition has improved tremendously. I only visit once a week now."
    Mike W. Los Angeles, CA
  • "Joan Wagner is a wonderful, experienced acupuncturist! She helps me with my Multiple Sclerosis- permanent disability. Thanks to Joan Wagner’s acupuncture, her loving, caring attitude, I don’t take MS steroids. It helps me to live a happy and healthy life."
    Sarah J. Los Angeles, CA
  • "I'm going to Dr.Kim for more energy and anti-aging. So far my experience has been very good.Very clean and beautiful office. Staff was very helpful. Not crazy about needles but, Dr.Kim made the process very easy."
    KAREN N. LOS ANGELES, CA
  • "I've been coming to Evergreen for 3 years. I've had a few different chronic health conditions. Acupuncture and herbs have helped bring more balance to my body and boost my immune system. Last year I came down with a frozen shoulder. Acupuncture was a part of the healing process. It always felt better after a treatment. I've had hormone imbalance and cramps my entire life. No longer have to take pain medicine for cramps. Dr Kim is helping me through the change of life and I'm so very grateful. I am given herbs that help cool my body down so I don't have to deal with heat flashes. Thank you Evergreen for all your help!"
    JOYCE B. LOS ANGELES, CA
  • "The best acupuncture facility I've been in. The staff is very helpful and friendly. I like that Dr. Kim takes the time to explain the process before you go through with your treatment."
    PIO PAULO S. GLENDALE, CA
  • "I met Dr. Kim and her staff at the women's expo in LA. She's very nice and informative. The acupuncture has definitely helped my neck and shoulder pain. The staff here are so nice and they really listen to my needs which is a plus. They are flexible with scheduling and will always call me Back when I leave a message. In addition, they send reminder texts for my appointments which I find helpful. I also love working with Marjan who is very gentle and helpful when assisting me."
    MONIKA J. LOS ANGELES, CA
  • "I went to Joan's practice in Santa Barbara, she is normally in Santa Barbara once a week. I did the all over wellness check and Face Lift acupuncture. It was so relaxing that I fell asleep. When I woke up, I can see my lips corner totally got lift up. It was like someone had taped my chin back. She also offer weight loss treatments too. I would totally recommended this to all the brides especially!"
    QUINCY A. SANTA BARBARA, CA
  • "I started going to Evergreen Acupuncture about 4 weeks ago. I had a really bad shoulder pain that ran through my Arm down to my fingers. Dr.Kim spent time and carefully diagnosed my symptoms and explained exactly what she was going to do to turn things around. The truth is that acupuncture is one of the steps toward turning on the healing process and with her advice on my diet and my daily routine, together we solved my shoulder pain and now I am feeling better.Her staff are amazing and very professional and super accommodating.They all work as a team to make you feel comfortable and welcomed each time they see you. I am looking forward to feeling even better as I continue to work with Evergreen Acupuncture."
    EDWARD V. GLENDALE, CA
  • "I started acupuncture treatments at Evergreen 2 weeks ago. The treatments helped me with my Depression & Anxiety symptoms. I can handle stress better at my job. My energy levels started to increase. My fatigue levels started to decrease. So far I’m satisfied with my treatments. Thank you Joan Kim-Wagner."
    Depression & Anxiety Patient, LOS ANGELES, CA
  • "Over the years I have visited Dr. Kim for my chronic stiff neck and shoulders. She was able to help me to move freely. I have also had the face lift acupuncture treatment which did wonders. While I was training for the LA marathon for some reason my ankle began to swell up. I hadn't fallen or out right injured it but it didn't look good. I visited Dr. Kim and immediately felt better. Dr. Kim has a calm bedside manner and has always made me feel comfortable and relaxed. I highly recommend her."
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