Why Methylation Matters for Your Health

The Hidden Process That Is Key to Health

Methylation may sound like a complicated scientific term, but at its core, it’s one of the most

important processes happening in your body—over a billion times per second! Think of it as

your body’s “on and off switch” for countless cellular functions that keep you healthy.

I love how Dr. James Braly and Patrick Holford describe it: “It is like one big dance, with

biochemicals passing methyl groups from one partner to another” (The H Factor). In other

words, methylation is teamwork at the cellular level.

Why is methylation important?

When methylation is working well, it helps regulate everything from how your genes are

expressed to how your body detoxifies. When it’s not working properly, it can increase your risk for a wide range of health problems, including:

• Cancer

• Heart disease

• Infertility and pregnancy complications

• Birth defects

• Mental health disorders (anxiety, depression)

• Sleep issues

• Hormonal imbalances (PMS, PCOS, fibroids)

• Autoimmune conditions

• Detoxification problems
  

One of the most important roles methylation plays is in gene regulation. Your DNA holds the

instructions for how your body works, but methylation decides whether certain genes “turn on” or “stay off.” For example, healthy methylation can stop tumor-causing genes from switching on—helping to prevent cancer.

The MTHFR gene and methylation

You may have heard of the MTHFR gene (short for Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase). This gene helps your body turn folic acid (the form of folate found in enriched foods and many supplements) into methylfolate, the form your body uses.

If you have a mutation or deficiency in the MTHFR gene, your body may struggle to process

folic acid efficiently. This can lead to low folate levels and issues such as:

• Poor red blood cell production

• Higher risk of neural tube defects during pregnancy

• Elevated homocysteine (an amino acid that increases heart disease risk)

• Difficulty detoxifying

• Imbalances in neurotransmitters (affecting mood and mental health)
  

Could you need methylation support?

Here are some signs that your body may need help with methylation:

• Anxiety, depression, or mood swings

• Fatigue or low energy

• Brain fog or memory problems

• Trouble falling or staying asleep

• Hormonal imbalances (PMS, PCOS, fibroids)

• Infertility or history of miscarriage

• High blood pressure or circulation problems

• Allergies or histamine intolerance

• Digestive issues linked to poor bile production

• Autoimmune conditions (thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.)
  

How do you test methylation?

There are several ways to get insight into your methylation status:

• Specialty blood tests can measure your methylation ability directly.

• Homocysteine testing gives indirect clues about your methylation efficiency.

• Vitamin B12 and folate levels are sometimes checked, though they don’t tell the full

  story.

• Genetic testing (such as MTHFR) can reveal whether you carry certain mutations, but it’s important to review results with a knowledgeable practitioner.
  

Why this matters

If you have a personal or family history of cancer, heart disease, infertility, or mental health

conditions, understanding your methylation could be a powerful step toward prevention. By

supporting methylation with the right nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle changes, you may

reduce your risk of chronic disease and improve your overall health.

For more information on methylation, read Dr. Ben Lynch’s book called Dirty Genes. You can

find Dr Lynch on Instagram at @drbenlynch. To learn more about your own methylation ability, or to have testing done, please book an appointment with Anna Rider NP to discuss this important process and what you can do about it.