Is the MTHFR Gene Affecting Your Health?

Hi Friends,
Have you heard of the MTHFR gene? It’s a gene 🧬 controlling an enzyme with profound impacts on our health and well-being. Let’s review its potential implications, and the importance of Methylated B Vitamins. 

MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, a key enzyme in our body responsible for converting folic acid (B9) into its active form, methylfolate. It controls a process called methylation in every cell of our body, which influences detox pathways in our liver, production of brain 🧠 neurotransmitters, and even our hormone levels!

Did you know that 50% of the population has one or more mutations in the MTHFR gene? If you have a mutation in this gene, you may not be able to process folic acid (found in most commercial brands of supplements and fortified foods).  

Having a mutation in this gene can also be a root cause of common symptoms like:

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia  
• Depression 😔
• Anxiety 😰
• Migraine Headaches 🤕
• High Blood Pressure 
• ADHD  
• Infertility  
• Dementia 🧠 
• Cancers 🦀
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Diabetes
• Obesity  
• Chemical Sensitivities ⚠️

One clue that you might have a mutation in the MTHFR gene is if you have an elevated homocysteine (inflammatory amino acid) on your blood test. Normally the MTHFR enzyme is responsible for helping you eliminate homocysteine from your body. Ideal homocysteine is 6 mcmol/L. This is important because high homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of heart attack🫀, stroke and dementia 🧠.

The good news is there is a lot you can do to support this gene, even if you have a mutation! By eating a diet rich in green leafy 🥬 vegetables you’ll be helping to promote healthy methylation by the MTHFR enzyme.  Please see my recipe below for sautéed chard! ⬇️

Supplementing with Methylated B Vitamins can help alleviate a lot of these symptoms! This is why you want to make sure your B9 is in the form methylfolate (not folic acid) and your B12 is in the form methylcobalamin (not cyanocobalamin). It’s also best to minimize processed foods fortified with synthetic folic acid.

We offer the following supplements that support the MTHFR Gene:

Dark leafy green vegetables are a natural source of folate to promote methylation. They also have magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin K and potassium.

Sautéed Chard:

Ingredients:
2 bunches of organic red chard, washed, and chopped
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons olive oil 
1 tsp organic ghee
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

In a large pan on low-medium heat, heat the olive oil and add in the onions and garlic.  Sauté for a few minutes until fragrant.  Add the chopped chard, salt, pepper, and chicken broth.  Cover and lower the heat to low.  Cook for 5 minutes.  Finish off the dish by stirring in 1 tsp of organic ghee.  

Enjoy!