Enhancing Vibrancy: Methylation & Homocysteine

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Body systems lack vibrancy without methylation. Methylation is the process of adding three hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom to a molecule in order to convert it into something else. Together, these are called a “methyl group.” This happens in your body billions of times per second and allows your body to repair DNA, reuse molecules responsible for detoxification, maintain mood, and control inflammation. Poor methylation can lead to a host of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, depression, and dementia.

 

Chronic Illness and Homocysteine

Homocysteine has a large influence on your susceptibility to chronic illness. Even greater this influence than weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Every time you ingest protein-rich foods, the methylation cycle produces mild inflammation in the form of homocysteine. In a healthy and well-nourished body, this homocysteine is converted into a powerful antioxidant called glutathione and a compound called SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine). These help the body to produce and regulate hormones and maintain healthy cell membranes. If you are not optimally nourished, the methylation cycle becomes impaired and homocysteine starts to accumulate in the blood. Levels above 6mmol/L have been shown to lead to significantly increased risk for chronic illness. 

 

What Factors Impair Methylation?

  • Poor diet: too much animal protein, sugar, saturated fat, caffeine, alcohol, and processed food, and low intake of vegetables.
  • Digestive issues and nutrient malabsorption.
  • Genetic factors (identifiable through the 23andMe Genetic test).
  • Medications, including the birth control pill and proton pump inhibitors and antacids.
  • Smoking
  • Toxicity from pesticides, pollution, etc.
  • Stress

 

Enhancing Vibrancy by Improving Methylation and Lowering Homocysteine:

  • Improve your diet!
    • Eat lots of leafy greens and other vegetables (ideally ten servings per day).
    • Cut out caffeine, alcohol, and processed food.
    • Reduce saturated fat, animal protein, and canned foods.
  • Correct digestive issues.
  • Reduce stress.
  • Remove toxic exposure and detox your body.
  • Stop smoking.
  • Enjoy a nutritional IV, such as our Myer’s, Gut-Healing, or Vitamin/Mineral IVs.
  • B-vitamin injections.
  • Take supplements:
    • HCl
    • A good, methylated B-vitamin complex
    • Zinc
    • Trimethylglycine
    • Glutathione
    • Vitamin C
    • NAC and ALA
    • SAMe
    • A quality multivitamin

 

Vibrancy is a state of strength, full of energy and life. You can achieve it by starting on a new health journey at Linden & Arc Vitality Institute. Contact us today.