Your homocysteine levels is a great measure of one of your most important health statistics. As a general rule most, people think that the lower it is the better their health must be. But this thinking is enough to make you sick, literally.
Having a low homocysteine score is important because it can tell you a lot about your health and well-being. However, it is also a cardiovascular disease risk factor, and there is a line when it comes to going too far. When that happens you and your health can end up in all sorts of trouble.
Understanding Homocysteine
Homocysteine is an amino acid produced by the body, playing a crucial role in various metabolic processes. It is synthesized from methionine, another essential amino acid, through a multistep process. Homocysteine serves as a storage molecule for sulfur and a transfer molecule for methyl metabolism, enabling the body to produce essential compounds like glutathione and SAMe. Maintaining optimal homocysteine levels is vital, as both high and low levels are associated with negative health outcomes.
Rule number 1 (The importance of having low homocysteine):
It’s important to maintain a low homocysteine score. To reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by 75 percent. Reduce your risk of cancer by 1 third, halve your risk of Alzheimers disease, Substantially lower your risk of developing diabetes. Overall halve your risk of death from all health causes.
Rule number 2 (The importance of keeping a good balance of low homocysteine):
It’s important to maintain a homocysteine score that’s not too low to prevent methylation problems. Homocysteine is an amino acid produced by the body and is an intermediate in the metabolism of other amino acids such as methionine and cysteine. It can dramatically reduce your ability to produce SAMe and Glutathione, two of the body’s highly important factors in maintaining excellent health.
The numbers( What should my homocysteine levels look like?):
So when it comes to homocysteine levels where should the numbers be?
In an ideal world, a homocysteine score of around 7.5 is best. A low homocysteine score would be anything under 6. You might start to wonder if there is a problem. When your homocysteine gets above 10 which is considered “high risk”.
What about MTHFR gene mutations and low homocysteine?
The problem with having an MTHFR gene mutation is that you have a % reduced ability to make active folate. This problem can be complex and often plays out differently for each individual. Some people with MTHFR gene mutations have problems with elevated homocysteine because they can’t get enough folate to help break down their homocysteine. While other people over time have developed the loss of proper functioning of making enough homocysteine. When this happens methylation slows down which can lead to the loss of many biological functions that leads to often serious health problems.
Low homocysteine levels have also been linked to idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, a condition characterized by nerve damage without a known cause.
Low homocysteine symptoms are often energy related with people suffering from fatigue, becoming toxic, aging more rapidly and developing poor health that results in disease.
How does low homocysteine make you sick with cardiovascular disease?
There are many ways that low homocysteine can make you sick, lets look at the main key problems:
Low homocysteine levels can also contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis.
Under-methylation – This is a condition in which you lack the right amount of methylation, click here to learn more about under-methylation.
Low Glutathione production – This is a condition were your body is not getting enough of the resources that it needs to produce a powerful antioxidant chemical called glutathione. Glutathione is your body’s major antioxidant so it is responsible for disarming free radicals that basically damage your DNA. Without enough glutathione, your body won’t be able to keep up with free radicals. This prevents the body from being able to properly detoxify everything from medical drugs, toxic metals, petrochemicals, alcohol and because glutathione can also covert to the amino acid cysteine, having low glutatione can also effect the proper detoxification of many hormones many of which can lead to cancers. The end result of all of this is of course rapid aging, poor energy & poor health.
Causes and Consequences of Imbalanced Homocysteine Levels
Imbalanced homocysteine levels can have severe consequences on overall health. Elevated homocysteine levels, also known as hyperhomocysteinemia, are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and other conditions. On the other hand, low homocysteine levels, or hypohomocysteinemia, can impair glutathione production, making nerves susceptible to oxidative stress and damage. Factors contributing to imbalanced homocysteine levels include genetic mutations, nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, and certain medications.
The Importance of Blood Tests
Blood tests are essential for determining homocysteine levels and identifying potential health risks. A homocysteine blood test measures the amount of homocysteine in the blood, providing valuable insights into cardiovascular disease risk factors. The test can also help diagnose conditions like homocystinuria, a genetic disorder that affects amino acid metabolism. Regular blood tests can help monitor homocysteine levels and detect any changes, enabling individuals to take proactive steps to maintain optimal levels.
Low SAMe (s-adenosyl methionine) production
-SAMe is considered the bodies best methyl group carrier, this means it “donates” itself to many uses in keeping the body healthy and even you happy. A lack of SAMe production basically mean there isn’t going to be enough “donors” to make methylation work properly. Vitamin deficiency, particularly in B vitamins, can also contribute to low SAMe production and subsequently low homocysteine levels.
Gene Mutations – Many people have genetic mutations that work within the homocysteine cycle, MTHFR gene mutations are only 1 of many, these gene mutations can affect any or all aspects of the above which can ultimately cause low homocysteine levels.
Nutritional problems – Often when people first become unwell it can be easily overlooked that the underlying problem of having a low homocysteine level can be a nutritional imbalance. Digestive health problems can be a vicious cycle, this is because a lack of good nutrition can cause nutritional/digestive imbalances and this leads to an inability to properly digest foods, supplements etc, this then leaves you without the ability to properly digest the very things you need to be able to get well. Many genetic mutations also interfere with our nutritional needs that lead to poor health from low homocysteine levels.
What to do to solve low homocysteine related health problems with folic acid supplementation
Correcting a low homocysteine health problem can be complex depending on your overall health and history of health problems. While lowering homocysteine is often necessary for those with high levels, it is crucial to ensure that levels do not drop too low. Homocysteine is a very valuable and important substance that is essential to good health but only in the right amount, many supporting co-factors are also involved in maintaining healthy homocysteine levels, that’s why it is essential that you get some qualified help to correct any imbalances in your homocysteine because in most causes no matter if your homocysteine is too high or too low it can be corrected within 3 weeks with the right guidance.
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Taking Control of Your Homocysteine Levels
Maintaining optimal homocysteine levels requires a combination of dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle modifications. Increasing folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intake can help lower homocysteine levels. A nutrient-rich diet, including foods high in sulfur, can also support homocysteine metabolism. Additionally, reducing stress, exercising regularly, and avoiding environmental toxins can help maintain healthy homocysteine levels. Individuals with low homocysteine levels may benefit from supplements like methionine, N-acetylcysteine, and taurine, while those with high levels may require folic acid supplementation and lifestyle changes. Regular blood tests and consultations with a healthcare professional can help individuals take control of their homocysteine levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other conditions.
