David PerlmutterPresident,, Perlmutter Health Center · Board-Certified Neurologist | Functional Medicine Pioneer | #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author | International Speaker | Host of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

The idea that your genes are fixed is outdated

27 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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In this solo presentation, Dr. David Perlmutter explains that certain foods can directly influence DNA activity, a concept known as nutritional epigenetics. He highlights broccoli sprouts as a particularly potent example because they are rich in glucoraphanin, which the body converts into sulforaphane. Sulforaphane activates anti‑inflammatory and detoxification pathways, reduces oxidative stress, and is reported to modulate the expression of roughly 200 genes. Perlmutter frames this as a practical, everyday strategy for improving health by deliberately choosing foods that target gene expression.

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I want to show you how you right now can change the expression of your genes to be healthier. Hi, I'm Dr. David Perlmutter. We now know that certain foods target our DNA. Think about that. Foods that we eat, well beyond being fat, carbohydrates, and protein, and the micronutrients, can actually target our DNA and change our gene expression. And by far and away, one of the most powerful and well-studied Broccoli sprouts. Broccoli sprouts are high in something called glucoraphanin, turns into sulforaphane, that turns on anti-inflammatory pathways. It reduces free radical stress. It increases our ability to detoxify against all the things in our environment that are causing us to be toxic. Think about it. Just consuming broccoli sprouts because of the sulforaphane story is a powerful way of changing the gene expression of close to 200 genes in your body. Really important information.