Methylation has quickly become the latest “buzz” word but what the heck does it mean and how can it impact your health?
To better understand what methylation is all about, have a read of the following blogs we’ve created.
Should I be Freaking Out About my Genes?
How Can I Improve Methylation?
Methylation processes are absolutely central to our physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. It’s a biochemical process involved in almost all of your body’s functions and it is estimated that over 1 million methylation processes occur in every cell, every second, in the body.
Think of billions of little on/off switches inside your body that control everything from your stress response and how your body makes energy from food to your brain chemistry and detoxification.
That’s methylation and demethylation.
Methyl groups:
- Provide us with energy
- Turn the stress (fight-or-flight) response on or off
- Control the production of and recycling of glutathione — the body’s master antioxidant
- Co-ordinate the detoxification of fats, chemicals, and heavy metals
- Process hormones
- Create the inflammatory response
- Reduce histamine
- Repair of cells damaged by free radicals
- Repair cell membranes
- Repair DNA and RNA
- Turns genes on and off
- Builds immune cells
- Coordinate the immune response, (controlling T-cell production, fighting infections, and viruses and regulating the immune response)
- Co-ordinate the myelination of nerves
- Coordinates neurotransmitters and the balancing of brain chemistry to prevent depression, anxiety, and insomnia
So, yes as far as processes in the body go –methylation is definitely more than “kind of a big deal “it even ranks higher even than a VIP. Methylation governs everything – even your genes!
Here are 7 signs that your methylation might need some support:
- Too much protein
Have you ever experienced brain fog or felt sluggish after a protein meal? The protein may have temporarily bumped up your homocysteine levels, leading to your methylation cycle needing more support. Meat is important for methylation – just not too much of it.
Other things that raise homocysteine levels or inflammation in the body are too much sugar, alcohol, gluten – anything that triggers inflammatory processes.
- Red-faced after exercising
Excessive histamine is associated with a prolonged red face after exercising. Comprehensive methylation supports the breakdown of histamine.
- You need pick me ups
Let’s face it, relying on caffeine and sugar is not healthy. Even some strong B vitamin formulations can be too much! It’s important to find a dose of methyl support that gives you that needed edge without putting you over the edge.
- Got MTHFR? Elevated homocysteine?
Are you one of the estimated 60% of people that have the MTHFR gene mutation? Has your lab work shown an elevated level of homocysteine? It very well may be that you need methylation support! Have a read of our blogs to learn more.
- Stress
Methylation reactions speed up during times of stress when we quickly burn through our nutrient stores. That’s why it’s important to replenish your methylation support after you’ve been stressed.
- Elevated estrogen
Two weeks prior to menses, estrogen levels start rising. By supporting methylation, estrogen levels may become more balanced.
- Trouble falling asleep
Falling asleep requires that calming neurotransmitters increase (such as GABA and melatonin) while excitatory ones decrease (such as histamine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine). Methylation is needed to help clear histamine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
Ideally, we should be doing everything we can to optimize our body’s ability to effectively methylate because it’s such a critical process that must be continually maintained throughout life. Unfortunately most of us – Have Never Even Heard About Methylation!
Problems start arising when methylation is not optimized, meaning, it’s happening slower than it should be (or the opposite: it’s happening too fast!).
Here’s a list of things that bring stress to your methylation cycle include:
- Oxidative stress, (Read our blog here)
- Alcohol (yes, as in wine, beer, and liquor)
- Yeast die-off, from having and treating yeast (also known as candida or thrush) whether with herbs or medications
- Elevated nitric oxide, which is common with chronic fatigue, inflammation, autoimmunity, and Lyme disease; nitrous oxide gas treatment at the dentist will also increase nitric oxide
- Autoimmune antibodies
- Inflammation in general
- Food sensitivities and leaky gut
- Toxins in the environment and in our personal care products
- Heavy metals (like mercury, lead, and aluminum)
You need to find the right dose of methylation support for YOU. It’s a bit of a Goldilocks situation – you don’t want too much, and you also don’t want too little.
Dr. Ben Lynch created Optimal Methylate Chewable to address the need for an easy-to-take vitamin that supports methylation quickly, comprehensively, and gently. This lower dose of methylation support is perfect for those just starting out or who are sensitive to the higher doses found in most methyl support supplements. Dr. Lynch included active forms of folate, vitamin B12, and nine other targeted nutrients to help support and optimize healthy methylation processes throughout your body.
Here’s another great option if you prefer: Thorne-Research-B-Complex-12 60 Capsules
Ready to get your methylation firing on all cylinders?
To better understand what methylation is all about, have a read of the following blogs we’ve created.
How Can I Improve Methylation?
Should I be Freaking Out About my Genes?
Wondering Why So Many Kids and Adults Have Health Problems?
