Methylation: the Good and the Bad

Hi,

Our next "ation" is methylation.  It is both good and bad. 

It is good in the sense that our body needs this process to function.   It helps the body detoxify any toxins you have in your body.  It repairs damaged DNA and helps create new cells.  And it also produces anti-aging hormones.  These are all good things. 

Methylation is actually a process that occurs in all of your cells.  It involves CH3 (a methy group) going through a cycle in and around each cell.  Rather than explain this very complicated cycle, just know that this cycle is vital.  And also it is too complicated for me:-).

Okay, so where are the problems?  The problems occur when the your body doesn't have the raw materials for the methyl groups to work.  Couple this with the lack of certain catalysts - B12, zinc and folic acid - and the methylation process comes to a screeching halt. 

This is where the problems occur.  Things like: heart and artery disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancers, diabetes, depression, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), myalgic encephalitis, parkinson's disease and low thyroid functions. 

These problems, and notice the similarity to the other "ations", come about because a lack of the CH3 causes an amino acid in your blood called homocysteine to accumulate and damage your blood vessels.  This in turn is what causes the damage to your cells and leads to premature aging and death. 

Most people think that it is cholesterol accumulating in your bloodstream that causes the damage.  This is true as far as it goes.  The thing is the cholesterol won't accumulate in your bloodstream if everything is okay. 

But, the damage that homosysteine does to the blood vessels is what makes it possible for the cholesterol to plug up your arteries. 

Okay, so what next? 

First you can increase the amount of B12 and other B vitamins, folic acid (B9) and zinc in your diet.  However, don't overdo it.  Look for the recommended intakes.  Too much zinc, for example, is not good for you at all. 

You should also supplement with TMG and SAM-e if necessary.  You will have to take a blood test to find out if supplementation is necessary. 

You will want to keep your homocysteine levels at 6.3umol (micromol) per liter of blood or less.

If it is anywhere near 15umol then you have up to a quadruple chance of coronary artery disease.  Not good. 

TMG or trimethylglycine methylates homocysteine in the blood and helps drop the levels.  You can get some of your TMG naturally by eating nuts and seeds.  It is also in grains and meats, but is usually destroyed my cooking. 

SAM-e is a methly donor and plays a role in cell maintenance and nerve function.  It also needs Vitamin B12 and folic acid to function properly. 

So eat your nuts and seeds, get enough of your B vitamins and zinc and you will keep the methylation process in high gear. 

Thanks,

Mike Val
http://www.valshealthsite.com/