A Body Process at Warp Speed

MethylationYes, I said warp speed! Read to learn more.

We all know the NutriBullet makes nutrition more absorbable but I bet you didn’t realize just how important the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals can be. As you will discover below, most nutrients work together in our body to make processes happen. Some of these processes make things, some change things, while others tear things apart. As a by-product of some processes, toxic or damaging compounds are made.  If you are lacking one of the nutrients vital to the process, over time DNA damage can occur creating illness and disease.

Most of my clients don’t understand the importance the right or wrong foods play in their health. Part of my process requires explaining how the lack of nutrients from their diet are related to there current state of health. Certain nutrients are absolutely critical for different body processes to function. If you are eating a diet rich in processed, refined and fast foods you are missing essential nutrients that can protect you from many adverse health conditions, illness and diseases. Just like you can’t build a house without wood, nails and tools. Your body systems can’t work properly without certain nutrients in adequate amounts.

Have you heard of methylation or homocysteine?

I doubt if you have ever heard of methylation or homocysteine. Both have a big impact on your health at the cellular level and are tied together in a unique way. Your diet has a huge influence on both the methylation process and homocysteine.

What is methylation?

Methylation is a key biochemical process that occurs millions and maybe even a billion times a second (I would call that warp speed)) and is critical, even essential for the proper function of almost all of your body’s systems. Methylation helps repair your DNA, reduce inflammation and keep the cellular detoxification system functioning at optimal levels. The methylation process helps recycle two very power molecules Sam-e and GSH from homocysteine (a damaging protein). For the methylation process to function optimally it is very dependent on Vitamins B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), Vitamin B9 (folate), and the compound betaine. Betaine is a derivative of the amino acid glycine and is also converted from the essential nutrient Choline.

What is homocysteine?

Homocysteine is a protein formed during the methylation process in our bodies. Without adequate B12. B6, Folate and betaine, homocysteine levels increase. These B vitamins and betaine are used to recycle homocysteine into two very powerful cellular compounds called Sam-e (S-Adenosyl methionine) and glutathione (GSH). Both are considered the most power cellular protectors in our body and Glutathione is considered the master antioxidant of the body.

How Does Homocysteine Affect Our Health?

As homocysteine levels increase this can result in damage to our DNA and increasing cellular inflammation across our body. Higher levels of homocysteine are associated with an increase in heart disease and cancer in some studies and not as much in other studies. However, what the other studies did show consistently was that levels of HDL (heart protective cholesterol) were low when homocysteine was high all while Folate, B6 and B12 levels were low. We know adequate levels of these nutrients lower homocysteine levels thereby by increasing heart protective HDL cholesterol levels.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3454269/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18990318

The relationship with cancer and homocysteine levels provided similar results in studies for different cancers. It’s confusing. They find that there is an association between breast cancer and lower levels of B6, B12, Folate but not necessarily because of elevated homocysteine. Still,  lower levels of these nutrients are linked to a greater risk of breast and other cancers.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2840179/

To make sure our methylation process is working optimally we need adequate amounts of B6, B12, Folate and Choline. The foods below are the best sources for these nutrients.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)  RDI 1.6 mg daily 1.9 mg

  • Tuna
  • Spinach
  • Cabbage
  • Bok Choy
  • Bell Peppers
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Bananas
  • Turnip Greens
  • Garlic
  • Cauliflower
  • Turkey
  • Salmon
  • Potatoes

Folate (Vitamin B9)  RDI  400 mg to 600 mg daily

  • Lentils
  • Asparagus
  • Spinach
  • Turnip Greens
  • Broccoli
  • Beets
  • Romaine
  • Bok Choy
  • Parsley
  • Beans
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Green peas

B12 (Cobalamin)  most common in animal foods    RDI 2.4 mcg  to 2.9 mcg

  • Sardines
  • Salmon
  • Clams
  • Cod
  • Nutritional yeast
  • Blue green algae
  • Spirulina
  • Whey powder
  • Eggs (more in free range organic)

Choline  (used to make betaine)  RDI 400 mg to 550 mg

  • Eggs
  • Cod
  • Shrimp
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Collard greens
  • Broccoli
  • Swiss chard
  • Cauliflower
  • Asparagus
  • Spinach
  • Green peas
  • Cabbage
  • Shiitake mushrooms

If you want to protect your DNA and heart make sure you are getting adequate levels of B6, B12, Folate and Choline. Use your NutriBullet everyday with a variety of colorful foods to reduce your risk of disease and illness.

Healthy Wishes!

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

 

 

 

 

 

Preventing and Reversing Chronic Inflammation

As a part of our daily American lifestyle, we are exposed to situations, events and chemicals in our lives that cause chronic inflammation in our bodies. This type of inflammation can be very harmful and its important to eliminate or reduce it.

In Part I we discussed what inflammation is and how it harms our body. Now lets look at the symptoms of inflammation and how to reduce it.

Symptoms of inflammation include:

  • Premature aging such as wrinkles, arthritis and other degenerative conditions.
  • Susceptibility to infections.
  • Food allergies and sensitivities
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Acid reflux (GERD)
  • Cancers
  • Skin conditions like psoriasis and acne.
  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Bronchitis
  • Chronic pain
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Osteoporosis
  • Heart disease
  • Fungal infections like Candida
  • Urinary tract infections

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to manage the stress in your life.  I know people who live a very healthy lifestyle, they eat very healthy, exercise, reduce their exposure to toxins and they still get cancer, may have chronic infections or any of the other adverse health conditions caused by stress. The common thread is the amount of stress they are carrying in their daily lives.  This must be managed if you wish to reduce your risk for illness and serious health conditions.

Activities to reduce stress

  • Massage (gentle)
  • Yoga
  • Qi Gong
  • Tai Chi
  • Swimming
  • Aqua exercise
  • Infra-red sauna
  • Hot tub
  • Epsom salt soak
  • Deep breathing
  • Meditation
  • Aromatherapy

Reduce or eliminate the Standard American Diet (SAD),

The standard American diet and lifestyle leads the way as the primary instigator of chronic inflammation. The consumption of refined sugar, refined flours, dairy, artificial sweeteners, refined and processed foods, trans fats, saturated fats and preservatives create inflammation throughout the body.  This may eventually cause cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, allergies, reduced immune system function, high cholesterol, chronic infections, auto immune diseases, heart disease, digestive disorders and other adverse conditions.

Prevention

  • Eat a diet rich in organic (organic foods reduce our exposure to inflammatory causing chemicals) vegetables, beans, low sugar fruits, low glycemic grains, nuts and seeds. Occasionally add wild caught salmon, cod, halibut or sardines and free range organic turkey, chicken and eggs.  Avoid red meat and pork or certainly restrict the intake of red meat and pork.
  • Add Omega 3 fatty acids to your diet. (salmon, cod, sardines, ground flax seed, chia seeds, walnuts, broccoli, strawberries)
  • Leave junk food alone!
  • Get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night. Adequate sleep is critical for our health.
  • Exercise daily; exercise boost the body’s ability to detoxify and at the same time improves the function of all body systems.
  • Drink adequate amounts of pure water daily.
  • Get some sunshine everyday.
  • Laugh often and enjoy your friends and family
  • Reduce the intake of caffeine and alcohol in your life
  • If you smoke, quit!

Nutrients that help reduce or cut stress and inflammation

  • 5-HTP: 50 to 150 mg’s per day, stress control and mood enhancer, helps balance serotonin and dopamine levels improving mood, mental and emotional outlook, helps reduce pain and improve sleep
  • Vive: 2 servings per day, a whole food blend designed as a broad spectrum nutrition source. improves energy, mental function, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, builds muscle, improves immune function
  • Acetyl L-Carnitine  1000 mg’s twice per day, improves energy and mental health
  • Adrenal Cortex Extract: increases energy, aids with weight loss and mood, improves the health of the adrenal glands and helps balance adrenal hormones particularly cortisol
  • Vitamin C: 1000 mg’s twice per day; boost immune function, intestinal cellular membrane health. I would encourage you to eat foods rich in Vitamin C first.
  • Vitamin E: (mixed tocopherols) 400 IU’s per day, improves cellular membrane function, a powerful antioxidant that works with vitamin c
  • Krill oil:  reduces inflammation in the digestive system as well as the body and improves nerve function, mental and cognitive health
  • D-Ribose: 5000 mg’s twice per day, improves cellular energy for muscles.
  • CoQ10: 200 mg’s twice per day, improves energy and is powerful antioxidant and is important for heart health
  • Magnesium: 750 mg’s per day mostly from diet, limit supplement intake to 500 mg’s per day, improves muscle energy, relaxation, stress reduction, sleep, bone strength, blood pressure, and much more
  • Vitamin D3: 5000 IU’s once or twice per day
  • Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticoses) help the adrenal glands function better relieving stress.
  • Zinc: 25 mg’s 3 times per week, if a bigger dose is taken or if taken every day, 2 to 3 mg’s of copper must be added to the intake.
  • Lecithin:  2000 mg’s per day, improves brain and nerve function
  • Biosuperfood F2: 6 capsules per day, brings about endocrine balance by awakening the hypothalamus-thalamus-pituatary-thyroid relationship. It is also rich in astaxanthin which is natures most powerful antioxidant. 
  • Probiotics; important for rebuilding and maintaining the digestive tract and boost immune function
  • L-Glutamine: 5000 mg’s daily, very important for healing and improving the function of the digestive tract, we carry a product that provides the L-Glutamine plus other nutrients in one product for healing the digestive tract.

Summary

Leave junk food alone. It builds a junk body. Eat a diet rich in natures best foods. These foods are anti-inflammatory, nutrient dense and promote body balance and overall health!

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

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