Most people understand that DNA determines many of our characteristics, from hair and eye color to the potential for developing illnesses our parents had.

While it’s true that DNA plays an important role in how we look and how our bodies function, we need to remember that DNA isn’t destiny. The environment we live in — and the choices we make within that environment — can upregulate or downregulate the expression of certain genes. This phenomenon, known as epigenetics, shows that our daily habits influence how our genes behave.

So, how does the environment in which you live affect your health? It’s a powerful question. And the good news is this: You have more control than you think.

Let’s examine why.

How Your Physical Environment Affects Health

From a functional medicine perspective, your physical environment has a tremendous effect on every aspect of your life.

For instance, living in a bustling city versus a quaint town on the southeast coast of Florida influences your daily rhythms and health in measurable ways.

Consider how different it is to wake up to a sunrise at the beach compared to being jolted awake by an alarm clock or an ambulance siren in city traffic. One experience sets a calm tone for the day; the other triggers stress before you even get out of bed. Both environments affect your hormones, mood, and ultimately your physical health.

Or, take something as simple as grounding — walking barefoot in your backyard and literally connecting with nature. This differs significantly from lacing up running shoes for a jog in the city park. I’m not saying exercise in an urban park won’t benefit you; it absolutely will. But there’s something uniquely restorative about direct contact with the earth.

The builders of New York City, the largest city in the United States, understood our need for nature and knew they had to create Central Park. That green space now serves as the playground and grounding point for millions of people living amidst concrete and steel.

Small Adjustments — Big Changes

So, how does the environment in which you live affect your health? The answer lies not just in where you live, but in what you do with your surroundings.

Maybe you don’t live near a green space. Am I telling you to pick up and move across the city as soon as you finish reading? Certainly not. When it comes to making environmental changes for better health, the key is starting small.

Large changes aren’t sustainable for most of us, but small adjustments have a real effect, which compounds over time.

Think of it like a plane flying from Miami to San Francisco. That aircraft is technically “off target” 95% of the time, but the pilots are constantly making tiny corrections to reach their goal. Your health journey works the same way.

So if you don’t live near a park, try something as simple as getting a houseplant or growing herbs in a window box to help you stay connected to nature. These living plants within your city dwelling can provide a bridge to the natural world your body craves.

Biomarkers Show How Environment Affects Health

The biomarkers we measure in labs, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, all give us clues about how the environment affects health.

Exposure to pollution, different food sources, how quickly that food reaches the table after harvest — these all make a measurable difference in our health outcomes.

Natural lighting in the environment matters, too. It’s a documented fact that people living on the western edge of a time zone, who get more daylight hours, tend to be happier. More daylight translates to more peace, tranquility, and increased outdoor activity.

How Environment Affects Your Daily Health Choices

Now that I’ve emphasized how the environment affects health, I have a caveat.

We live in such an abundant society that good food choices, exercise options, and supportive communities exist almost everywhere in the United States. So while environment plays a significant role in health, our choices within that environment play an even more significant role.

Our environment shapes the variety of choices available to us. It’s up to us to make the healthiest decisions possible within that variety.

For example, I’ll be the first to acknowledge that living here in South Florida makes certain healthy choices easier. Our moderate climate and year-round outdoor access provide natural advantages.

We can be outside 12 months a year. We have consistent access to sunshine, which supports healthy vitamin D levels. The beach offers grounding opportunities that many cities simply can’t match. Our long growing season means fresher, local produce is more readily available.

But — and this is important — that doesn’t mean people in colder climates can’t be just as healthy. It simply means they’ll have to be more intentional about finding their version of these benefits in their environment.

When people move from one area of the country to another, they often worry life won’t be the same. And to an extent, they’re right — it won’t be the same. But rather than dread or anxiety, try approaching such change with this attitude: “I’m going to discover how this new environment can benefit my health.” That’s where you’ll find opportunity and adventure.

The One Thing That Makes All the Difference

In my book recommendations, I’ve mentioned The One Thing by Gary Keller before. The overarching question in the book is this: What is one thing you can do that prevents or minimizes all other concerns?

For me, the answer was developing an exercise routine. Exercise is the most challenging pillar of health for me, and I knew I’d need instruction, a specific time slot, and accountability to build the habit. Personally, I found that Pilates met all my criteria, so I built it into my life.

Your “one thing” might be different. Maybe it’s meal planning with friends and family. Maybe it’s getting morning sunlight. Maybe it’s scheduling walks around your neighborhood after dinner.

The point is to identify that single change that creates a cascade of positive effects within your environment.

How Does Environment Affect Health: Final Thoughts

In considering how the environment in which we live affects our health, I remembered a book I read called 365 Tao. It discussed how our surroundings dictate much of our lives and the importance of being mindful of those environments.

That’s an excellent point. We can bring intentionality to where we end up living by making choices that place us in a healthy environment.

For instance, where we choose to go to college has an enormous impact on where we live the rest of our lives. The job we take will determine our peer group. Our major and career will influence not just our work hours, but our ability to live in different parts of the country (some careers are more geographically bound than others).

But regardless of where we reside, this remains true: It’s the conscious choices we make within that environment that will have the greatest impact on our health.

So remember: You have the power to change your health — no matter where you live, or what your genes say.