The Importance of Proper Methylation
Methylation is probably not a word that you have heard before unless you took an organic chemistry class. However, it has become a buzz word in the functional medicine and detoxification arenas. From the biochemical definition, methylation is the transfer of one carbon and three hydrogens to another molecule, like an enzyme, vitamin, amino acid, etc. Probably not that mind blowing to you, but what it means to the proper functioning of the human body is substantial. Methylation is essential for making a majority of chemical reactions in the body. It has a significant role in genetics by protecting telomeres on DNA. It prevents certain genetic diseases, and it influences one genetic trait to come from one parent as opposed to both. Methylation is essential for detoxification. It alters the toxin so that it can be eliminated by the body. It is essential for the conversion of homocysteine, which at high levels has been linked to heart disease. Additionally, it is important for the co