Why is methylation balancing not working for me?
Why is Methylation Balancing Not Working for My Mental Health?
Methylation balancing is a relatively simple concept to grasp, but it becomes complicated due to the numerous variables that impact the body and mind's health. Determining your baseline methylation through genetic analysis is only the first step. Understanding the factors that influence your methylation can be a lengthy process. Many people become discouraged when embarking on this journey as the initial changes can be drastic. However, over time, they may forget how transformative these changes were, leading to an inability to achieve further balance.
Methylation balancing is not solely impacted by genetic factors. Various environmental elements must be considered when striving for optimal mental health. Metals, synthetic and natural ingredients found in food, cosmetics, and personal hygiene products can affect methylation in unexpected ways. For example, antiperspirants that contain aluminum chlorohydrate can interfere with the methylation pathway responsible for folate metabolism and SAMe production. Those with detoxification and MTFHR gene issues will have additional variables to consider when attempting to balance their methylation levels.
It is already known that those with methylation issues struggle with metabolizing synthetic versions of vitamins, such as folic acid and cyanocobalamin. Some may opt to forgo dietary changes and instead attempt to balance their methylation levels through supplements such as betaine, SAMe, and vitamin C. However, this requires more effort, as they must compensate for the additional methylation imbalances introduced by the products and foods they consume.
Artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame, can pose a problem for methylation balancing, as they can trigger similar brain responses to glutamate stimulation. Glutamate-rich foods further complicate methylation balancing as they stimulate the brain, leading to an imbalanced feeling. Unfortunately, the food industry has found various ways to label glutamate, making it challenging to identify.
Maintaining proper methylation is vital for healthy living and functioning. Mental health is an excellent indicator of methylation balance as imbalances can be immediately felt and addressed. However, the long-term effects of methylation balance may take years to observe, making it challenging to identify how the body and mind are affected by the products and foods consumed.
Ideally, eliminating all metabolic stressors that impact methylation is the best way to balance. However, achieving this requires significant effort, planning, and self-regulation, which can be challenging, even for those committed to making lifestyle changes.
Rycerz, Karol et al. "Review paperEffects of aspartame metabolites on astrocytes and neurons." Folia Neuropathologica, vol. 51, no. 1, 2013, pp. 10-17. doi:10.5114/fn.2013.34191.
