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There’s an amino acid you’ve probably never heard of. One that prevents aging and staves off disease … but only if it’s working properly in your body. At optimal levels homocysteine works in your favor but at elevated levels, it can lead to the development of debilitating disease. The condition is called hyperhomocysteinemia, and it might be responsible for the strange symptoms you live with everyday.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that converts into two vitally important compounds; SAMe (S-adenosyl methionine) and glutathione. Amino acids are naturally made products, which are the building blocks of all the proteins in the body.
SAMe increases the availability of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are essential in the prevention of irritability, aggressive behavior, and depression. Low levels of these neurotransmitters increases risk of both suicidal and homicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps eradicate unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals. The antioxidant protection glutathione offers includes cancer prevention, immune system stabilization, anti-aging, cognitive repair, and mental health support.
Low glutathione levels play a major role in the development of bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, addictive behaviors, and schizophrenia.
So we need homocysteine to be able to convert into both SAMe and glutathione (GSH), and therefore maintain low levels of homocysteine (which is good-use it up.) But it cannot do this effectively without the correct nutrients, and will continue to accumulate in body tissues (which is bad).
Elevated levels of homocysteine (>10 micromoles/liter) in the blood may be associated with atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries) as well as an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clot formation, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.
In 1969, Dr. Kilmer S. McCully reported that children born with a genetic disorder called homocystinuria, which causes the homocysteine levels to be very high, sometimes died at a very young age with advanced atherosclerosis in their arteries. However, it was not until the 1990’s that the importance of homocysteine in heart disease and stroke was appreciated.
Chronic Autoimmune Dysfunction
If you’re suffering from any kind of autoimmune condition, it could be due to elevated homocysteine levels in your blood. Excessive homocysteine levels deplete your glutathione levels so severely your body no longer has the antioxidant protection it needs. Without this protection, you’re susceptible to the development of a wide variety of infections. Over time, your immune system weakens as it struggles to protect you without necessary support.
High homocysteine levels also cause chronic inflammation and pain by increasing arachidonic acid and the pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Chronic inflammation increases your risk for obesity and the development of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disease, digestive dysfunction, and mental health disorders.
Cardiovascular Disease
Hyperhomocysteinemia greatly increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. It destroys the lining of your arterial walls, which promotes the formation of blood clots and causes the build-up of scar tissue. This is especially true if you have other heart disease risk factors such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, or family history.
Dementia
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, abnormally high levels of homocysteine nearly doubles your risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Low glutathione levels mean chronic brain inflammation, which directly contributes to cognitive decline.
Depression
Hyperhomocysteinemia leads to depleted levels of SAMe, which causes a critical drop in dopamine and serotonin. Without these neurotransmitters, severe depression as well as other mood disorders can result. Those feelings of hopelessness, doom, and generalized disinterest in life could simply be a matter of decreasing your homocysteine levels to balance your mental health.
Hyperhomocysteinemia is caused by a combination of factors. These factors include:
Animal Protein Consumption
Studies have shown that high animal protein consumption can lead to elevated homocysteine levels. Especially if the meat consumed is red, processed meat. Think cold cuts, bacon, and canned meat. Not only do these foods elevate your homocysteine levels, they also contain dangerous nitrates and nitrites that have been linked to the development of cancer.
Vitamin Deficiencies
In order for your body to convert homocysteine to useable SAMe and glutathione, you must have the proper nutrients available in your system. If you are deficient in folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B2, zinc, TMG (trimethylglycine-from choline) or magnesium, your body will be unable to convert homocysteine to mood-stabilizing SAMe. If you are deficient in vitamin B6, vitamin B2, or zinc, your body will be unable to convert homocysteine to disease-preventing glutathione.
Vitamin deficiencies are a common aftereffect of a poor diet, poor digestion, and low gut bacteria.
Coffee and Energy Drink Consumption
Excessive coffee and energy drink consumption can lead to critically- elevated levels of homocysteine. Scientific studies have concluded that the caffeine content depletes your body of vital B vitamins, leading to lowered SAMe and glutathione concentrations. If, instead of coffee, you use energy drinks, I strongly recommend stopping. Energy drinks are very dangerous to your health. A single serving contains more caffeine than 4 cups of coffee as well as a long list of synthetic chemicals and additives that lead to the development of chronic disease.
Stress
High levels of stress can also increase your homocysteine levels and lead to further oxidative damage.
Genetics
A small percentage of patients have a genetic predisposition for elevated homocysteine levels due to a MTHFR mutation. It is still possible to lower the homocysteine levels, however.
High HCY levels can wreak havoc on your health
Homocysteine can be one of the most overlooked health dangers you face today. If too much HCY builds up, it can damage your body’s most delicate tissues, including your arteries, brain, bones and even your DNA. High levels of HCY can:
Get your HCY levels checked
Unfortunately, you can’t feel dangerous, elevated HCY levels. There’s also no “home test” that can gauge your HCY either. But, it’s easy to have it checked by your healthcare professional. It’s important to know your HCY levels for two reasons: it’s an accurate way to determine your present health, and to predict your likelihood of developing serious health conditions.
Diagnose Hyperhomocysteinemia with an Easy Blood Test
The only way to be certain if your strange symptoms are related to high homocysteine levels is to get a blood test. Physicians may order the test for patients who have a family history of heart disease but no other risk factors, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. These tests aren’t done routinely, are not widely available, and their cost (about $100) may not be covered by health insurance. A normal homocysteine level is between 4.4 and 10.8 micromoles per liter of blood. Direct Labs offers a homocysteine test that measures your levels. You’ll save money by purchasing the test yourself wholesale and visiting the nearest LabCorp office for a draw.
You’ll receive your results in 5-7 business days.
In my opinion, an ideal target range is 6.5 micromols/liter. Most labs will report up to 12 micromols/liter as being normal. A level above 12 needs prompt attention!
Take Action – Lower Your Homocysteine Levels Now
To lower your homocysteine levels naturally, I recommend a combination of simple dietary changes and nutritional supplements
Eat a Whole-Food, Minimally-Processed Diet
I give the same advice to all my patients dealing with a chronic disease: Taper off a junk food diet and start eating more holistic, minimally-processed foods.
This means loading up on plenty of organic vegetables, fruit, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, poultry, wild-caught fish, and healthy fats like butter, coconut oil, avocado, and walnuts. If you plan to eat red meat, be sure the beef you select is grass-fed and 100% organic.
Take the Right Nutritional Supplements
Even if you eat a healthy diet, you may still have nutritional gaps. Stress, low stomach acid, and low probiotic count can have a negative impact on your digestion. If you aren’t absorbing nutrients as you should, your homocysteine levels could still continue to rise to dangerous levels. This is why I recommend a quality multivitamin to supplement your diet and give you the nutrition you need.
Take this HCY Protection. This healing formula contains the exact nutrients your body needs to keep your homocysteine levels in balance.
Low magnesium levels often contribute to high homocysteine levels. Magnesium deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in the world. That’s why I recommend taking Magnesium Supplements. Regulating your magnesium levels helps your body better cope with stress and eases short-term insomnia.
Protect yourself from the risks, threats and dangers of high homocysteine: add clinically-proven HCY Protection to your daily supplement regimen.
