𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

Simply put, methylation is a chemical reaction that occurs in EVERY cell and tissue in our body. Chemically speaking, methylation is the process of adding methyl groups to a molecule. Since methyl groups are chemically inert, adding them to a protein (the process of methylation) changes HOW that protein reacts to other substances in our body, thus affecting how that protein behaves.

𝙀𝙣𝙯𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙮𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙡.

In some ways, methylation of proteins helps the body to detoxify. For example, the methylation process helps convert the toxic amino acid, homocysteine into a beneficial amino acid, methionine.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙏𝙃𝙁𝙍 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙈𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙮𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣?

MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is an enzyme that converts folic acid into usable form. It is a key enzyme in an important detoxification reaction in the body, converting homocysteine. If this enzyme is impaired, this #detoxification reaction is impaired, leading to high homocysteine blood levels. Homocysteine is abrasive to blood vessels, essentially scratching them, leaving behind damage that causes heart attacks, stroke, dementia and many other problems.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙏𝙃𝙁𝙍 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚?

The MTHFR Gene controls how well this enzyme works! A variant copy of this gene can render #enzyme insufficiency causing the body to insufficiently methylate several B Vitamins. A person with a variant copy of this gene may simply need more #Bvitamins, such as B6, B12 (methylcobalamin) and the active form of folate (5-methyl tetrahydrofolate).

Determining what copies of the MTHFR 🧬 you have gives you the ability to compensate accordingly. You may not just have a B6, B12 or Folate deficiencies; you may have an MTHFR mutation. Remember that these micronutrients are essential for many things; including cardiovascular support, bones health, cognitive #health and #immunity.

#Micronutrients #Prevention #Nutrition #FunctionalMedicine #Holistic #Tampa