Dr Ben Lynch Podcast

Stop taking synthetic folic acid. Folic acid is poorly converted to reduced (active) folate. Folic acid also competes with biopterin for DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase). Biopterin is crucial for neurotransmitter production.

Is active folate only available in supplements? No! Methylfolate (an biochemically active form of folate) is found naturally in vegetables, like leafy greens. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate used to fortify overly processed foods! Avoid it as much as you can. There are over 200 forms of folate! In summary: Eat whole foods for quality folates. Avoid synthetic folic acid in processed foods.

How To Treat Snp's by Dr Ben Lynch

Are you falling asleep without issue, but waking up 2-3 hours into the night? Here are 2 common reasons why you might be waking up at night: 1) Blood sugar imbalance - If your blood sugar drops too much at night, your body releases norepinephrine and cortisol to raise your blood sugar, but this also wakes you up. Maybe you are eating too early. Have your healthy fats, carbohydrates, and proteins at most 3-4 hours before bed. 2) Stress - Stress causes imbalances in cortisol levels. Look for ways to calm down and reduce the burden on your adrenal glands.

Neurotransmitters are important to keep you alert at the right time. Cortisone rises in the morning and decreases in the evening. Melatonin is lower in the morning and is higher in the evening to make you feel sleepy. Artificial light, laptop monitors, and cell phones can inhibit the production of melatonin at night. Eating foods high in glutamate in the evening can make it difficult to feel sleepy (you can find specific foods at nutritiondata.self.com). Magnesium, B6, and niacin also help break down glutamate into the calming GABA. Try to avoid histamine containing foods in the evening. Lowering histamine levels also helps lower glutamate levels.

SHEI Q & A on Methylation & Nutrigenomics 8/6/15 by Dr Ben Lynch

Having trouble waking up in the morning? Learn how to stop hitting the snooze button. In this video, I discuss strategies to help your body wake up and increase alertness in the morning. 1) Increase morning light - more light in your bedroom in the morning helps burn off melatonin (the sleepy hormone). Try a sunrise/sunset alarm clock that gradually increases light in the room in the mornings. 2) Support cortisol production - Cortisol is known as the stress hormone, but you need appropriate amounts to wake up and remain alert. Constant stress can deplete your cortisol levels. Supplement with vitamin C, vitamin B5, and adrenal cortex in the morning with breakfast (supplements should be used temporarily--only while you need it.) 3) Support ATP (the body's fuel source) production - consider an NADH supplement. NOTE: Fatigue and inability to wake up can be caused by a medical condition like hypothyroidism among others. Work with your doctor to make sure these strategies are right for you. Did you like this video? If you are a doctor and want to learn how to truly optimize your patients' health, check out SHEICON2015 to join Dr. Ben Lynch and 400 others who want to transform their medical practices - http://www.seekinghealth.org/

Q & A Methylation & Nutrigenomics by Dr Ben Lynch

Methylfolate and folinic acid can both be converted to the other via enyzmatic reactions, but this isn't always easy for the body to do. Consider the functions of each: Methylfolate supports methylation with the help of methylcobalamin. Methylation supports 200+ enzymatic reactions! Folinic acid supports DNA base production in rapidly dividing cells including growth of hair, skin, and lining of the intestines.

Niacin (Vitamin B-3) is involved in over 400 biochemical reactions in the body! As with other nutrients, methylfolate and niacin levels need to be in balance. High doses of specific nutrients will push certain biochemical pathways more than others. This is why niacin can be used to offset methylfolate side effects. Niacin deficiency can cause: irritability, headaches, migraines, and possibly skin issues.

Is genetic testing clinically relevant? Genetic tests allow us to determine why some patients are susceptible to certain things, while others are not. These tests don't determine what treatment should be. They support the use of the right treatments. Genetic test results don't guarantee that there is a problem, or even that there is NOT a problem. Genetic tests have to be used in the context of diet and lifestyle. Treat the patient, not the SNP. Think big picture!

Learn why you might be getting those MSG headaches after eating Chinese food or your favorite bag of chips. MSG stands for monosodium glutamate. MSG is a common flavor enhancer used in some of your favorite packaged foods and in some Chinese restaurants.

Do you have a patient or loved one with exercise induced asthma that is limiting his or her athletic performance? Get your kids, or yourself, playing again. 3 Common causes of exercise induced asthma: 1) Delayed food sensitivities 2) Histamine intolerance (read more here: http://mthfr.net/histamine-intolerance-mthfr-and-methylation/2015/06/11/) 3) Mitochondrial dysfunction

What makes an angry drunk? Ethanol inhibits the methyl cycle over time because it depletes nutrients important (including methylfolate, magnesium, methylcobalamin, and Vitamin B2 aka riboflavin). This slows methylation, which is needed to decrease epinephrine and norepineprhine levels. Alcohol also causes increased urination and increased loss of magnesium, which is necessary for proper methylation. Histamine and tyramine are high in some alcohols, especially aged alcohols (red wine). MAO (monoamine oxidase) is the enzyme needed to break down amines. This enzyme is generally slower in men than women.