Methylation: What the MTHFR? Your Body’s Master Conductor
- Tara Peterson
- Sep 24
- 2 min read
When you think of your body’s health, imagine an orchestra. Each section—nervous system, cardiovascular system, metabolism and energy, detox pathways—must play in harmony. Is the conductor keeping everyone in sync? Methylation.
What is Methylation?
Methylation is a biochemical process where your body adds a methyl group (a carbon plus three hydrogens) to molecules like DNA, proteins, or enzymes. Think of it as flipping a switch—turning certain processes on or off. It’s essential for:
Detoxification
Energy production
Brain health and mood
Hormone balance
Cardiovascular health
Methylation also plays a key role in recycling homocysteine, an amino acid that, in excess, can damage your heart and brain. Testing your homocysteine levels is one of the best ways to see how well your methylation cycle is working.
DNA Methylation & Epigenetics: You Have More Control Than You Think
Here’s the exciting part—methylation influences your genes. While genetics only accounts for about 15% of your health, epigenetics (lifestyle and nutrition) accounts for 85%. That means you can literally turn genes “on” or “off” depending on your choices. DNA methylation, for example, silences harmful genes and supports optimal function.
MTHFR: What’s the Big Deal?
About 3 in 5 people have an MTHFR gene mutation. This gene helps convert folate (B9) into its active form, which fuels methylation. If you have this mutation, your body may not process folate efficiently, leading to high homocysteine and poor methylation. That’s why functional medicine testing looks at homocysteine as a critical marker.
Methylation Superfoods: Methyl Donors
You can feed your methylation cycle with nutrient-rich foods called methyl donors:
Folate (B9): Lentils, beans, edamame, dark leafy greens, kale, asparagus, avocado, beets, mango, berries, citrus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, fermented veggies, homemade kefir, seeds, nuts, liver, brewer’s yeast.
Choline: Egg yolks (5–10 per week), salmon, quinoa, chicken, turkey, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, liver.
Vitamin B12: Salmon, tuna, fish, liver.
What to avoid? Processed foods and especially sugar—they downregulate methylation and throw the orchestra off balance.
7 Tips to Support Healthy Methylation Today
Add leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables daily.
Eat eggs (yes, including the yolks!) for choline.
Include salmon or tuna weekly for B12 and choline.
Reduce or eliminate processed sugar.
Try fermented foods like kefir or sauerkraut.
Stay hydrated to support detox pathways.
Ask your practitioner to test homocysteine and B-vitamin status.
Methylation is the silent conductor guiding your health. By feeding it the right nutrients and avoiding harmful foods, you can create harmony in your body and even influence how your genes express themselves.
Want to know how well your methylation is working? Schedule a free functional medicine consultation at Thrive and get tested for homocysteine. Your health orchestra will thank you!
This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all healthcare concerns, decisions, and actions must be made through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.
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