Anti-Aging and Clinical Nutrition – Some of the main factors that disrupt the methylation process include:

• Low Stomach Acid (reduces the absorption of B vitamins and other nutrients)
• Unhealthy Diet (sugar, pesticides, GMO foods, and irradiated food depletes nutrients)
• Smoking (chemicals from smoke inactivates and depletes B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and damages collagen)
• Chemicals and Environmental Toxins (blocks vitamin production and uptake)
• Medications (acid blockers, cancer, and ‘auto-immune’ drugs such as methotrexate, high blood pressure medications, and synthetic hormones all disrupt the absorption of key nutrients)
• Alcohol and Caffeine (depletes B vitamins, C, magnesium, potassium, and glycogen stores)

One of the best ways to support cell methylation is, of course, avoiding all of the listed factors. Be sure you are getting enough B vitamins, zinc, and selenium. Eat plenty of dark leafy greens, grass-fed meats, eggs (especially egg yolks), beets, nuts, and seeds (sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts for zinc and selenium).

In addition, supplementing with a beet source Betaine HCL (trimethylglycine or TMG) and natural source potassium effectively remethylates cells and turns ‘off’ oncogene expression, protecting against tumor and cancer activity. TMG and potassium also breaks down the polysaccharide sac of even the most virulent organisms such as tuberculosis, as well as bio-films (sacs of multiple infections) in the body.

It supports healthy digestion and intestinal health, leading to the highest absorption of B vitamins and other key nutrients to properly repair the cells of all tissue, bone, organs, and glands. Therapeutic doses of trimethylglycine and potassium are often used to treat Lyme’s disease, cancer, auto-immune disorders, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, mood disorders, and chronic pain.

Slowing the loss of methyl groups through a healthy diet, smart lifestyle choices, and proper supplementation can certainly slow the aging process and prevent or reverse chronic illness. In a study cited in the Journal of Medical Hypothesis (Vol. 51, pgs 179-221, 1998) it is estimated that at birth, each cell has about 90 million methyl groups.

An average loss of 1800 DNA methyl groups per cell each day limits lifespan to about 65 years. A reduction of methyl group loss to 1200 methyl groups per cell each day would extend the lifespan to 95 years!

Adding extra years to your life by keeping cells healthy and methylated is a much better option than prolonging life through medications. How enjoyable could those extra years be if the medications create a body that is dependent, weak, and painful? Healthy choices and understanding the body’s awesome natural process of methylation will keep you happy, healthy, and able to fully enjoy every minute of life you are blessed to have!

Anti-Aging and Clinical Nutrition – The Benefits of Optimizing Cellular Methylation by Dr. Kathy Veon

Dr. Veon is a board-certified Acupuncture Physician and Clinical Nutritionist.  She specializes in Functional Medicine, Clinical Nutrition and helping people overcome Chronic Illnesses.  She earned her post-doctorate (DAOM) at Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, CA with specialties in both Internal and Physical Medicine.

Kathy has received extensive training in acupuncture, Chinese and Western herbology, Clinical Nutrition Therapy, Nutrigenomics, Holistic Medicine, Quantum Reflex Analysis (QRA), Emotional Repolarization Technique (ERT), EVOX Perception Reframing Therapy, Cation Mud Therapy (Pelotherapy), NAET (allergy elimination technique) and other holistic modalities.

She has received specialized training in addiction and detox therapy and is certified as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (ADS) through the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA).