Study – Grow – Know

Our Genetic Fallout

August 21, 2023 at 1:24 PM 3 comments

I’ve previously written on the subjects of genetic mutations that every person alive has, though most of us are not aware. [1] Because our genes control literally who we are (how we react/act to stimuli), and in essence, create our personalities, knowing which particular genes are problematic for us is extremely important, as in my case.

In short, our bodies need to go through the process of methylation throughout the day. This is the simplest definition I could find for it:

Methylation is a critical biochemical process that happens billions of times in every single cell of the human body. It’s responsible for a vast range of biological functions such as:

• Detoxification
• DNA expression
• Neurotransmitter production
• Hormone regulation

Whilst it can be complex in nature, the process of methylation simply entails the transfer of four atoms: one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms. These are transferred from one substance to another. [2]

Often, B vitamins are used or included in this process, especially folate and B12. Aside from this, other genes control things like dopamine (and other neurotransmitters), and how quickly it might be used up in a person’s brain. Our genes are very complex, which to me, proves God created, not evolution, but that’s another story.

People are born with genes that they inherit from their parents. We normally have sets of two genes and if one is “mutated,” it can cause problems. If both are mutated, the problems will be far worse. People can go through their entire lives not understanding their genes create how they think, their natural energy level, whether or not they are a glass half empty or half full, whether they tend toward mental depressive cycles (or worse) and a whole lot more.

A number of years ago, my wife and I went through gene testing (via 23andMe). We were seeing a holistic practitioner at the time and were told this would be beneficial to understand what genetic codes within us we needed to be aware of and often worked against us.

It turns out both my genes for MTHFR are mutated. This gene is responsible for methylation. Because both of my genes are mutated, they simply do not work correctly and problems can and do result from that inefficiency.

Most foods today are not only highly processed, but “enriched,” which means artificial vitamins and minerals are added back into the food after it has had much of its natural bounty removed. So when you see the word “enriched,” it means things were added back into the food because the vitamins/minerals that were naturally in that food were removed during the processing.

Among the vitamins added back into the food is man-made folic acid. Someone like me, with two mutated MTHFR genes cannot process folic acid. It’s impossible. It will simply build up in my system and cause manifold problems like headaches, aches and pains, depressive thoughts, lack of motivation, weakens the immune system, etc. So what do I do? I have to avoid all foods that contain man-made folic acid and eat foods that contain the methylated form of it, folate. So, eating bananas, avocados, raw spinach, etc., all provide folate that my body can actually use.

But I have another problem. The COMT gene in me is also mutated. What this means is that things like dopamine or other neurotransmitters in my brain tend to be used up very quickly. This also applies to certain medications that I take. In one example, my doctor prescribed a particular medication that seemed to work fine at first. Then, eventually it got used up very quickly and stopped having the good effects over time. I had to be switched to another medication that was similar but had a different base, which so far, seems to be continuing to work well. That could change though.

Now what is also very interesting with respect to the methylation cycle itself, is that some of the exact same side effects of low methylation are also the same side effects of high methylation. The goal is to be in the middle, not low or high (or under or over methylated). So, if I am under-methylated, I might experience fatigue, headaches, dizziness or other things associated with being under-methylated. Some of those same side effects might exist if I am over methylated. So how to know? There are a few differences.

Here are some symptoms for over-methylation:

• Anxiety
• Adrenal fatigue
• Depression
• Inability to concentrate
• Poor motivation
• Easily frustrated
• Sleep disorders, insomnia
• Sensitivities to foods/chemicals
• High energy levels [3]

Symptoms of under-methylation include:

• Fatigue
• Digestive disorders
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
• Poor memory
• Allergies [3]

I’ve experienced a number of those symptoms listed above and please notice that a few are the same for either under or over methylation. So what to do? You have to get to know how your mind and body work so that if you are experiencing fatigue or moving toward feeling depressed, is it due to not having enough methylfolate (and other B vitamins), or too much? I have to consider what I’ve eaten and/or which supplements I’ve taken to know the answer to that. Sometimes, it’s a best guess scenario.

So, if I think I’m under-methylated, I can eat a banana or other food with folate or other B vitamins in it. If I need to up things more quickly, I can put a B12 lozenge under my tongue and let it dissolve and then carefully note how I feel because of that. If I end up ingesting too much folate or B vitamin, I can round it off by taking more niacin because niacin depletes methylation.

I’ve begun cataloging the symptoms and taking note of my body and brain – how things feel – so that I can nip things in the bud as soon as I begin to realize what is happening. Unfortunately, it is not an exact science except for God. I’m not Him so I need to depend on Him in prayer and the experts in the area of methylation that can help me juggle and adjust what needs to be adjusted in my system.

Proper methylation creates a balance in my brain and body where neurotransmitters do what they were designed by God to do. If I’m under or over-methylated, I’m off kilter and I need to do what I can to right the ship, so to speak. It’s similar to a diabetic who is required to give him/herself insulin shots during the day to keep things in balance. That diabetic needs to be tuned into what their body is telling them in order to know how to react. It takes time to learn to adjust things.

Remember, we are talking about physiological reactions to how our bodies work (or don’t). While in our brain, we may know that we need to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and just get it done (as my mother would say), in another part of our brain, the neurotransmitters are not present and working due to the faulty way my body methylates. This double edged sword creates a very fine line that I have been learning about and how to navigate it. It has not been an easy journey.

Dr. Ben Lynch, in his book “Dirty Genes” speaks of the fact that we all have dirty or mutated genes and the best thing we can do is learn what they are and how to best approach life with those genes the way they are. In fact, he believes that we can turn those dirty genes off by doing the right things in life that promote health and consistency. He believes this is first and foremost, done in what we eat. He has great suggestions for all types of mutations, not merely the MTHFR or COMT.

There are times beyond food when we may need to supplement here or there, but Lynch’s goal seems to be to help people learn to identify their dirty genes and then live in a way – again mainly through eating and other lifestyle changes – that caters and supports those mutated genes so that our bodies will run well in spite of them.

Think of something. When God created Adam and then Eve, He created two physically and physiologically perfect people. They were untested regarding their hearts and loyalty at that point, but neither of them suffered from any medical condition from “birth” nor did they have mutated genes that created problems for them. That is, until they sinned. Once they rebelled against God’s ONE command to not eat from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they began to die, and their DNA became corrupted. This simply means that their genes slowly began to change and mutate because of death that would eventually overtake them. They literally started dying at that point. Yet, because of the fact that they started out physically perfect, it took hundreds and hundreds of years for it to bring them to actual physical death. Adam lived to be nearly 1,000 years old. That is not hard for me to believe because it would’ve taken that long for his literally perfect genes to corrupt themselves enough for his body to die.

Today, most people dying well under 100 years of age. From the moment we are born, we begin that process of dying. We also inadvertently hasten death by what we eat and how we live. Changing these two things might actually prolong our life or at least make our quality of life before we die so much better.

The more we know about our genes and how “dirty” some of them are and the effects they have on our physiological systems, the greater chance we have to live in greater health.

But quite frankly, I look forward to that day when I will shed this gene-mutated physical body and replace it with the glorified  body that Jesus has created for me. When that happens, all of my dirty genes will be permanently gone, replaced with absolute perfection. I only hope I can remember what it was like so that I will recognize the absolute and remarkable difference.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Even in our defects, God has given us knowledge about how to compensate for those defects so that our health and lives will be improved here on this planet. But that day…that day when we see Him face to face, will be with eyes that see perfectly, a heart that is not tainted with sin, a body that is fit for eternity and a mind that will be fully capable of adoring Jesus every moment, for all eternity! I so look forward to that.

[1] https://studygrowknowblog.com/?s=methyl&searchbutton=Go%21

[2] https://foodforthebrain.org/methylation-why-is-it-important-for-mental-health/

[3] https://methyl-life.com/blogs/mthfr/mthfr-overmethylation-symptoms

Entry filed under: Atheism and religion, christianity, Religious - Christian - Prophecy. Tags: folate, genetic codes, methylation.