After working as a journalist and political speechwriter for many years,  I was able to pursue another of my passions when I was offered the opportunity to write a cookbook. That was the first of more than a dozen cookbooks and it marked the beginning of my serious interest in the health benefits of consuming nutritious whole foods.  Several years ago, this interest took me in an entirely new direction when I discovered the work of epidemiologist David Barker. You Are What Your Grandparents Ate is based on 40 years of research into the field of science spawned by his research, which is known as the developmental origins of health and disease.  Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of studies are now showing that many of the risks for chronic diseases — including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and even dementia — can be traced back to your first 1,000 days of existence, from the moment you were conceived and perhaps even beyond to the experiences of your parents and grandparents.

Yes, you may be more susceptible to certain chronic illnesses due to your ancestors’ experiences. The good news is you can change this story. Emerging research in the field of epigenetics is showing that taking even small steps, like getting more exercise and eating more nutritious food, can help to reverse  inherited vulnerabilities by changing how your genes express themselves.  The end result is better health, not only for yourself but also for your offspring and their children, and likely for generations to come.

Joseph P. Fiorellini, DMD, DMSc, is a professor in the Department of Periodontics and the director of the Advanced Graduate Program in Periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, trustee for the American Academy of Periodontology, board director for the Academy of Osseointegration, and a consultant for American Dental Association Commission for Continuing Education Recognition Program. He has published over 100 manuscripts, reviews, and textbook chapters. Dr Fiorellini serves as the associate editor of The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, is a member of several editorial boards, and is the recipient of several awards.

Peter Fischer ist Physiotherapeut, Doctor of Physical Therapy (www.usa.edu), und beschäftigt sich seit 30 Jahren mit der Prävention und Eigentherapie von Wirbelsäulenbeschwerden. Er hat den "Rücken-Fit-Navi" erarbeitet, in den letzten 12 Jahren kontinuierlich weiterentwickelt und für die Anwendung in der Praxis optimiert. Seine Arbeit wurde in Deutschland und in den USA mit verschiedenen Auszeichnungen prämiert — zuletzt mit dem "PhysioAward" 2015.

Altamiro Flávio ist Zahnmediziner mit Abschluss an der Goias Federal University. Seit 1992 ist er Spezialist für prothetische Versorgung und hat seit 2004 eine Professur für zahnärztliche Prothetik inne. Er ist Mitbegründer der Brasilianischen Gesellschaft für Botulinumtoxin und Gesichtsimplantate (SBTI) sowie Mitglied und wissenschaftlicher Koordinator der Brasilianischen Gesellschaft für Ästhetische Zahnheilkunde (SBOE). Neben seiner Tätigkeit in eigener Klinik veranstaltet er weltweit Kurse und Seminare, in denen er sein Wissen an Kollegen weitergibt.

Dr Edoardo Foce graduated with a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Genoa, Italy, with postgraduate specialization in dentistry and prosthodontics. From 1988 to 2019, Dr Foce was as an active member of the Italian Society of Conservative Dentistry, the Italian Society of Endodontics, the European Society of Endodontics, the Italian Academy of Prosthetic Dentistry, the Italian Society of Oral Surgery and Implantology, and the Italian Society of Periodontology and Implantology. He is currently active as a member of the Italian Society of Periodontology and Implantology and the Italian Academy of Prosthodontics. Between 2009 and 2013, Dr Foce served as Visiting Professor of Periodontology at San Raffaele University in Milan, Italy. He has been a guest speaker at conferences and congresses related to various dental specialties. Currently, Dr Foce works in private practice in La Spezia, Italy, where he deals with multidisciplinary dentistry with a special interest in dental implantology and prosthetic-periodontal cases. 

Rebecca Föhr is a passionate cook and food blogger. From an early age, she loved being in the kitchen and helping her mother bake and cook. She started cooking her own dishes at an early age and eventually discovered photography. Since 2016, she has been regularly showing on her Instagram account (xbeccabella) how delicious, mainly plant-based food can look in order to inspire her readers to try healthy and varied cuisine and encourage them to follow suit.

Mauro Fradeani, MD, DDS, is the founder and director of ACE Institute and Fradeani Education. He serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry and is an associate editor of The International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry. He is the author of Esthetic Rehabilitation in Fixed Prosthodontics, Volume 1: Esthetic Analysis: A Systematic Approach to Prosthetic Treatment (Quintessence, 2004) and Volume 2: Prosthetic Treatment: A Systematic Approach to Esthetic, Biologic, and Functional Integration (Quintessence, 2008). Dr Fradeani maintains a private practice limited to prosthetics on natural dentition and on implants in Pesaro, Italy.

Dr. Konstantin Frank spent more than a decade intensively researching the anatomy of the human face. He shares his knowledge as a speaker at scientific conferences around the world and works closely with colleagues around the globe who are also involved in the clinically practical application of human anatomy. He is currently working at the Ocean Clinic Marbella in Spain, which is one of the world's leading centers for esthetic facial surgery.

Alina Fratila ist seit vielen Jahren als renommierte Ärztin in der ästhetischen Chirurgie und Dermatologie tätig.

Anna Carolina Freiheit was born in Berlin in 1992. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2009, she changed her diet completely and became vegan. She trained as a vegan nutritionist to be able to pass on her newly acquired knowledge to others. Since 2016, Anna has run the Instagram blog Healthyliciousvegan and is currently completing her fitness trainer license.

Jackie Freitag’s fight against herself began in her childhood. After the difficult circumstances in her parental home got out of hand, Jackie found solace in food and sport from the age of 10. A long ordeal followed, during which she suffered from eating disorders for a total of 13 years, including bulimia, binge eating, and even anorexia. In 2014, she found her footing in the fitness scene. Jackie set up her own business as a certified fitness trainer (A license) and certified nutritionist (A license). However, then came the great awakening and her first leap of consciousness, which made her rethink her entire life. Because what is often concealed in the fitness scene are the problems and downsides behind all the admiration! There are constant ups and downs: metabolic problems, binge eating, weight gain, psychologic pressure, mood swings, and the resulting eating disorders. But nobody wants to talk about these things or come out of the closet. After her “awakening,” Jackie dedicated herself to her years-long battle against herself to find out what was really behind it, what the causes were, and where this relentless craving for recognition and admiration from the “outside” actually originated. The beginning of a long, deep, and instructive inner healing journey began. After years of self-analysis and emotional self-care, she analyzed her behavior, changed her habits, worked through her traumas, continued her education (including psychotherapy, trauma processing, inner child work, neuroplasticity, brain functions, personality development, and spirituality), trained as a yoga teacher, and healed her soul and body from the inside out. Since the end of 2019, as a former sufferer, she has been helping people to end the struggle with themselves, their bodies, and food. Today, Jackie Freitag is a speaker at events, an author, and a missionary with a big vision: She wants to bring people back to their full power, enable them to rediscover their inner glow, and promote their full potential. Together with her team, consisting of former sufferers, coaches, nutritionists, psychologists, and doctors, she has already been able to accompany over 1500 people in recent years on their journey toward a new lease on life.