I was diagnosed with MTHFR +/+ in 2014 and went through several years of difficult trials and errors in trying to fix my folate insufficiency. I have a tendency 'overmethylate' and found that taking standard doses of commonly recommended supplements like methylfolate and TMG lead to extremely uncomfortable overstimulation episodes. I eventually gave up and just took a multivitamin with minimal methylfolate, which wasn't enough. I would still run low on folate and my mood would fluctuate at different times of the day. I would also feel inflammed and slightly depressed at the end of the work week, around Friday.
This year I came across Dr. Chris Masterjohn's methylation protocol and I have been having fantastic results with it. It feels like perhaps the final 'layer of the onion' I had to unlock on the path to wellness.
As I understand it, Dr. Masterjohn's approach does not involve taking large doses of vitamins or synthetic supplements. He recommends on supplying the body with natural folate, steadily in your diet from fresh whole foods, several times throughout the day so it doesn't run low. He recommends frequently the "3 L's" as natural folate sources:
I feel so much better! I have consistently better moods and more positive attitude of "life is fun" instead of weariness and subtle melancholy. I also have visibly improved muscle tone. I will check my homocysteine levels soon to make sure they are in range.
If you haven't found substantial relief from MTHFR or experienced unpleasant side effects from other methylation protocols, I highly recommend you try Dr. Masterjohn's protocol. Please post your experiences in the tread below.
This year I came across Dr. Chris Masterjohn's methylation protocol and I have been having fantastic results with it. It feels like perhaps the final 'layer of the onion' I had to unlock on the path to wellness.
As I understand it, Dr. Masterjohn's approach does not involve taking large doses of vitamins or synthetic supplements. He recommends on supplying the body with natural folate, steadily in your diet from fresh whole foods, several times throughout the day so it doesn't run low. He recommends frequently the "3 L's" as natural folate sources:
- Liver - 4oz of grass-fed beef liver, twice per week (as its extremely potent)
- Legumes
- Leafy Greens - I prefer organic romaine lettuce heads
- Choline - 4 to 5 egg yolks per day, or sunflower lecitin, or equivalents.
- Riboflavin - at least 3mg per day
- Creatine - 3 to 5g per day. This stuff is "expensive" in that it takes a lot of methyl groups for the body to make, so supplementing creatine helps free up folate.
- Glycine - in the form of bone broth, collagen or supplemental free-form powder.
I feel so much better! I have consistently better moods and more positive attitude of "life is fun" instead of weariness and subtle melancholy. I also have visibly improved muscle tone. I will check my homocysteine levels soon to make sure they are in range.
If you haven't found substantial relief from MTHFR or experienced unpleasant side effects from other methylation protocols, I highly recommend you try Dr. Masterjohn's protocol. Please post your experiences in the tread below.
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