Methylation

Methylation is the latest buzzword in the health industry, and for good reason.  It’s a biochemical process involved in almost all of your body’s functions!

What is methylation?  Without getting too technical, methylation is the addition of a single carbon and three hydrogen atoms (called a methyl group) to another molecule.  The removal of a methyl is called demethylation.  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 control:

• The stress (fight or flight) responses
• The production and recycling of glutathione – the body’s master antioxidant
• The detoxification of hormones, chemicals, and heavy metals
• The inflammation response
• Genetic expression and repair of DNA
• Neurotransmitters and the balancing of the brain chemistry
• Energy production
• The repair of cells damaged by free radicals
• The immune response, controlling T-cell productions, fighting infections and viruses and regulating the immune response

If you have a shortage of methyl groups, or your methylation cycle is interrupted, any or all of these processes can become compromised, and you could get sick.  Research has clearly linked impaired methylation with autoimmune conditions.

Methylation and glutathione – improving methylation is important for everyone, but it’s especially important if you have an autoimmune condition.  One of the reasons is the role of methylation in the production and recycling of glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant, and master “splinter” remover.  Glutathione directly neutralizes free radicals, reduces inflammation and assists in the role of other antioxidants like vitamin C, E, and lipoic acid. 

Genetics

Did you know that your inherited genes may not express unless a given circumstance is presented?  For example, someone may have many inherited cancer genes that unexpressed do not bring about cancer in that individual.  However if the right circumstances or problem is presented such as emotional trauma, or heavy metal or chemical, bacteria, fungus, etc., is introduced in that person’s life — the gene may express causing a full-blown cancer issue.  

Certain supplementation has been found to prevent, halt or change gene expression.  In other words, through careful testing, methylation (such as 5MTHF) and gene supplementation, in many cases you can actually prevent, halt or cause to cease the gene expression of symptoms and disease.

The number one alternative treatment in the world is now treating by methylation and genetics. 

“It’s important to understand that genes work in many different ways.  Certainly, some genes are dictators – the genes for hair or eye color from example. If they call for you to have blonde hair or brown eyes, that’s it.  Those dictator genes won’t take no for an answer. 

But, the genes for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and a host of other illnesses are like committees.  They don’t give orders, they make suggestions.  And research suggests that changes in diet and lifestyle can keep those genes from expressing themselves.  Like dry seeds on a desert floor, they simply lie dormant.  If you don’t water them, they’ll never sprout.”  ~ Dr. Neal Barnard