Do you know the difference between Folate versus Folic Acid and how it can impact your health?
Did you know that the difference between folate vs. folic acid can critically impact your health? This is because 47% of North Americans have a genetic mutation called the MTHFR polymorphism, which alters how they metabolize folate.
Folate is critically important for the cognitive and detoxification processes of the body. MTHFR works in our biochemistry billions of times per second to help our body detoxify or ‘methylate’ substances. Because there are three potential spots where the MTHFR gene can go awry, the 47% of people affected are further broken down into people who:
· Have 88% of the capacity to detoxify as the average North American
· 66% of the capacity
· And 33% of the capacity
Whereby if you have just one mutation, you’re minimally affected, but if you have all three, the same toxin load is a much higher burden on you, which becomes more noticeable in an increasingly toxic world. The less capacity you have to methylate, the less able you are to turn folic acid (a synthetic vitamin) into folate, the naturally occurring substance, and folic acid can build up into toxic levels in your body.
Folic acid has been added to fortified foods since 1996, like breads and cereals, but is now showing to be harmful to those with MTHFR mutations. Those with the mutation have a significantly higher chance of being diagnosed with tongue and lip ties, Autism, ADHD, other developmental and behavioural conditions, autoimmune, and heart conditions, to name a few.
Fortunately, there IS something we can do about this. Genetic testing is now available at The World Of My Baby using an infant (and adult)-friendly cheek swab to detect the gene. There are natural supplement protocols to support the detoxification process, thereby decreasing risk of the associated conditions. The supplements include activated B vitamins such as activated folate (5-MTHF) and the amino acid n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC).
If you’re curious to learn more about the implications of MTHFR, folic acid vs. folate, testing for the gene, and treatment, consider attending the Folate vs. Folic Acid seminar at The WOMB on April 25th for more information.
Blog submitted by Dr Erica Robinson from The Womb
IMAGE FROM http://mthfr.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mutation.jpg
