Methylation and Detox: What You Need to Know
Methylation is perhaps the best-kept secret, even in conversations around the body’s cellular function, DNA repair, and detoxification. There are those who recover easily from toxins or stress, and then there are those who suffer from chronic fatigue, brain fog, and inflammation. The answer could be in methylation. We’re here to explain the workings of methylation, its importance to detox, and how to support methylation.
What Is Methylation?
Detoxification is an active and complex biochemical process involving the liver, the gallbladder, the kidneys, and the elimination of waste. The entire process occurs in phases and requires specific nutrients for support. Methylation is a biochemical process that occurs billions of times a second in the body. It involves the addition of a methyl group (one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms) to another molecule and fundamentally changes its function or ‘switches’ it on or off. This is akin to the genetic operating of the ‘switches’ for the various systems in the body. Methylation processes can regulate neurotransmitter production, immune response, and even detoxification.
Methylation and Detox: The Essential Link
The process of detoxification occurs in the liver and is the rest of the body’s primary site of methylation. The liver is pivotal to detoxification because it relies on methylation to neutralize and eliminate toxins. This primarily takes place in Phase II of liver detoxification, where toxins are modified through methylation in order to tag them as readily excretable through urine or bile due to their water-soluble form.
Inadequate methylation may hinder this and result in the retention of toxins as well as sluggish detox symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, skin problems, and heightened inflammation. These symptoms may indicate that methylation support is needed:
- Symptoms of adrenal fatigue
- Increased problems with the recovery of the body after stress and illness
- Inability to rest completely, along with heightened levels of fatigue
- Shifts in the mood, along with the brain losing focus
- Difficulties with the recovery period after illness, coupled with chronic inflammation during the recovery period
- Genetic and adrenal support is key in methylation
Genetic Factors: MTHFR and Detox
One of the most well-known and talked-about genes of methylation is the MTHFR. Genes like this may have some variations and then slow down the conversion of folic acid to methylfolate, which is crucial for the body during methylation. If the body has any variants of the MTHFR gene, then its detoxification, hormone breakdown, and neutralization of heavy metals and toxic aldoses become worse and more difficult. Genetic detox support becomes crucial in these situations.
Symptoms may include:
- Chemical intolerance, coupled with the inability to detoxify
- Hormones not functioning optimally
- Use of rest as a form of recovery, then feeling as though the body is slow functioning, signaling a detoxic state.
- Extreme amounts of fatigue, with the state and level of the body not changing, along with the stress levels not being added.
- Feeling lazy and with brain fog
- Increased levels of inflammation, along with being in a state where the body gets exhausted and cannot recover due to the stress
- Feeling as though detoxing through rest is a form of doing.
A test to assess methylation through genealogy can determine the presence of MTHFR. Studies show that people homozygous for the C677T variant may experience a drastic cut (as high as 70%!) in the activity of the MTHFR enzyme. Compound heterozygotes (one C677T and one of A1298C) also see a substantial, but less overtly impactful, reduction in activity.
It is certainly the case that not everyone expressing those variants will suffer from symptoms. But this decreased activity is a problem in the processing of folate, homocysteine, and methylation, particularly when combined with a poor dietary approach, excess stress, and low B vitamin intake. Good thing you can find out your status regarding MTHFR!
How to Support Methylation Holistically
You do not need a genetic profile to start supporting methylation. Begin with these foundational steps:
Optimize Methylation Nutrients
Direct your attention to the following nutrients that drive methylation:
- Methylfolate (not folic acid)
- Vitamin B12 (as methylcobalamin)
- Vitamin B6
- Magnesium, Zinc, and Betaine (TMG)
Support Liver Function
Liver-detox herbs, for example, milk thistle, dandelion root, and artichoke extract, can aid detox. Cruciferous and other bitter-skinned foods (like broccoli and Brussels sprouts) also help.
Stress and Sleep
Methylation suffers from poor sleep and high stress levels. Cortisol at high levels is the great siphon of methyl groups.
Body Movement
Exercise enhances detox through the movement of blood and lymph circulation. You can also help break down and eliminate stored toxins by sweating, either through vigorous movement or through a sauna.
Body adaptation is an important issue on its own and goes hand in hand with the biology of the human body. If you suffer from chronic, unexplained detox symptoms, you may need to consider the process of methylation. MTHFR and other similar variations have the ability to unlock advanced detox support. Understanding detox support and genetic support is the relationship of nurture to a methylation detox puzzle.
Properly balanced, holistic methylation pathway strategies boost detoxification pathways. Learn more about how to support detoxification pathways, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!