Homocysteine: How to Reduce Your Levels
Everyone should add this test to their bloodwork. Homocysteine is an amino acid that has been gaining a lot of traction as an indicator and piece of the health puzzle. If levels of homocysteine are high in the body, people may be at much greater risk for heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's, migraines, hearing loss, brain atrophy, eye problems, and other inflammatory conditions. Homocysteine is derived through the methylation process and another amino acid called methionine. Methionine is taken into our bodies through food like meat (especially beef and lamb), eggs, fish, dairy, seeds, nuts (Brazil nuts have the highest levels), and some vegetables (broccoli, mushroom, cauliflower). The methionine to homocysteine conversion and back to methionine is dependent on certain B vitamins, minerals, and trimethylglycine (extract from beetroot). 30 to 50 percent of the population has an MTHFR defect, and this limits the ability to methylate. Methylation is a vital process in the body tha