DNA and MTHFR

I thought the military had the corner on the market for acronyms and abbreviations but of course there are so many more outside the military world!

Have you heard of the MTHFR gene mutation? It looks like an abbreviation for a dirty word, but it’s actually an abbreviation for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. What? Keep reading...

The MTHFR gene mutation causes an inability to process certain forms of key nutrients and makes it very difficult for the body to detox. People with the MTHFR mutation are unable to “methylate” ingredients like Folic Acid, as well as certain B vitamins, and instead, these ingredients turn toxic in their body. Methylation is a very complex thing but simply put, it’s the ability to process toxins and hormones. When the methylation process is inhibited for any reason, Glutathione levels drop, making the body more susceptible to oxidative stress, and far less tolerant to toxins. This lack of detoxification can lead to all kinds of behavioral, mental, and even physical illnesses or disabilities. 

Here’s a good article to help further understanding of this whole MTHFR business: 

https://draxe.com/mthfr-mutation/

I first learned about the MTHFR gene mutation a little over a year ago when a dear member of my extended family had quite a health crisis. This got the rest of my family into research mode as it is something that is passed through the family line. I began taking a couple extra supplements to help my body with the methylation process, but over more time it became clear that I needed to straight up change some of my go-to vitamins and supplements. 

If you don’t know if you have a MTHFR gene mutation, you may want to strongly consider getting tested as 30-50% of the population has it without knowing. It’s not something to be afraid of, but it is something important to know because consuming the right things (or unknowingly consuming the wrong things) can impact many aspects of your health over time.