Methylation is crucial to happiness and well-being.
Making too much or not enough methyl impairs our ability to think clearly, have meaningful relationships, a healthy body, and live a fulfilling life.
In today's world, methylation problems are commonplace due to food and environmental toxins, emotional trauma, genetic errors, and stress.
Methylation Imbalance Conditions
bipolar disorder, behavior disorders and ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, autoimmune diseases, and cancer.
Methylation Imbalance Symptoms
depression, high anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, perfectionism, panic disorder, addictions, PMS, chemical and food sensitivities, amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), infertility, hair loss, anemia, elevated blood sugar, high blood pressure, memory loss, violent behavior, hypothyroidism, skin rashes, headaches, insomnia, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sensitive skin, spaciness, racing thoughts, arthritis, asthma, allergies, weight gain, weight loss, and chronic infections.
Methane is the simplest organic chemical, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. In biochemistry, there are hundreds of cellular processes that involve methylation, a chemical reaction in which a methyl group is attached to an atom or molecule.1
DNA methylation is profoundly connected to mental health and is one of several epigenetic mechanisms that cells use to control gene expression (protein production). For example, if serotonin is not properly methylated, it will become inactive, which in turn leads to depression.
Born undermethylated with copper overload, I've traversed the ins and outs of this imbalance my entire life, and I know its secrets quite well.
So let's break it down shall we?
UNDERMETHYLATION TRAITS
You're likely to be a high-achiever constantly striving for greater levels of career accomplishment. Entrepreneurs, corporate executives, professional athletes, doctors, lawyers, producers, and scientists all fit this type. Looking at Hollywood and Silicon Valley as a whole, I know straight away the vast majority of these folks are undermethylated. You probably have at least a graduate level education, and may come from an affluent background.
Despite all your accomplishments and accolades, you suffer from severe inner turmoil, yet remain calm on the outside. Highly perfectionistic, no detail goes unnoticed. You were self-motivated in school and probably come from a family of high-achievers. You have obsessive compulsive tendencies you can't seem to shake that drive you nuts. You've always been very strong willed with a high libido. Despite poor concentration, ritualistic behaviors make you feel in control and you have a tendency toward addiction.
You probably have a low tolerance for pain. Seasonal allergies and headaches may be a problem, yet you respond quite well to antihistamines. You also respond well to anti-depressants, but may isolate yourself socially because you feel misunderstood and struggle with phobias.
Undermethylation is much more common than overmethylation, and undermethylated parents have higher rates of autistic children due to epigenetic insults.
Do you suffer from depression or anxiety? You may have a methylation imbalance.OVERMETHYLATION TRAITS
The opposite of undermethylation, you're likely to be the creative, sensitive type. An underachiever, you probably experience learning issues with a high level of internal tension and anxiety. There is also a tendency to overreact to experiences, and you feel that everyone is out to get you. You probably also have high empathy for others.
You struggle with depression, have trouble sleeping, and probably experience food and chemical sensitivities; obsessions without compulsions and low libido are also part of daily life. You had little motivation for scholastic achievements because you have trouble sitting still. Hyperactivity, panic attacks, and a high tolerance for pain are also part of your profile.
Physically you may be overweight with a pear shaped body (but not always), have heavy body hair, struggle with eczema, have dry eyes and mouth, and upper body/head/neck pain.
If you've tried antidepressant medications, you probably did not respond favorably to them.
In clinical studies, about 45% of persons diagnosed with schizophrenia were found to be severely overmethylated.
Overmethylators have elevated serotonin and dopamine with low levels of histamine, which explains why antidepressant medications (SSRI's increase neurotransmitter activity at the synapse) can cause suicidal ideation in these folks.
Undermethylators have low serotonin and dopamine with elevated histamine.
Both biotypes struggle with addiction. The main difference is the cause: overmethylators often turn to drugs to try and quash high anxiety/panic as a result of too much neurotransmitter activity; undermethylators become obsessive compulsive with a substance or concept (for me it was food/sugar/starving myself/being perfect no matter what) and have to have it at all costs due to not enough activity at the synapse.
The tragic suicides of Robin Williams and Kurt Cobain are classic overmethylation examples; with Karen Carpenter being a classic undermethylator.
When it comes to methylation, you either don't make enough, make too much, or make just the right amount. And be cautious with the use of folate/folic acid if you are an undermethylator. Folate is a serotonin reuptake promoter, (antidepressants (SSRI's) are reuptake inhibitors and undermethylated persons respond well to these medications) so its affect on your epigenetic structure will make you feel worse.
Trust me, I found this out the hard way.
This is why I don't recommend multi or b-complex vitamins because they all contain folate or folic acid and tend to cause more harm than good.
Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. Determining methylation status is not just about chemistry, but also about understanding you as a person. There are always myriad variables within each biotype. And this combined with the full range of functional and diagnostic testing is how we create nutrient protocols.
The fact that I was undermethylated with copper overload explained everything for me.
Note: you cannot determine methylation status without proper testing, and self-diagnosis and supplementation is not recommended. I've seen too many people get their biotype completely wrong, supplement with the wrong nutrients, and make things far worse.
Does this post resonate with you? Or do you know of someone struggling in these areas? If so, please share your story in the comments below. It is through sharing your story that we create community, eliminate guilt and shame, and bring about healing.
Love,
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