Methylation is an essential process in your body that affects normal cell growth and repair, detoxification of toxins from the body, metabolism, and is particularly important for the brain and the neurotransmitters that influence moods. Problems with methylation can occur due to food and environmental toxins, genetics, stress and over supplementation with the wrong nutrients.

 

People with under methylation produce less than normal amounts of the brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine, which may cause severe mood disturbance such as depression, and schizoaffective or bipolar disorders. Other symptoms include seasonal allergies, migraines, sleep disruption, mood regulation and memory problems. These people tend to perfectionism, addictive personality, obsessive compulsiveness and have high pain tolerance. They also respond well to anti-histamines.

 

Under-methylators do best to avoid a vegetarian diet, but will do well to include lots of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kale, and radish to help support the detoxification process. Natural folates, for example, found in leafy greens like spinach, kale and broccoli can sometimes help maintain the methylation cycle