Improve Your Methylation and Raise Your Glutathione to Heal Autoimmunity!

The Thyroid Cure

The Functional Mind-Body Approach to Reversing Your Autoimmune Condition and Reclaiming Your Health!

Improve Your Methylation and Raise Your Glutathione to Heal Autoimmunity!

by Michelle Corey on January 22, 2015 in Autoimmune, Detox your Life, Health, Methylation, Restore your Liver

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Methylation is the latest buzzword in the health industry and for a good reason. It’s is a biochemical process involved in almost all of your body’s functions!

Without getting too technical, methylation is the addition of a single carbon and three hydrogen atoms (called a methyl group) to another molecule. The removal of a methyl group is called demethylation. Think of billions of little on/off switches inside your body that control everything from your stress response and how your body makes energy from food, to your brain chemistry and detoxification; that’s methylation and demethylation.

Think of methyl groups as the on/off switches for:

• The stress (fight or flight) response
• The production and recycling of glutathione – the body’s master antioxidant
• The detoxification of hormones, chemicals and heavy metals
• The inflammation response
• Genetic expression and the repair of DNA
• Neurotransmitters and the balancing of brain chemistry
• Energy production
• The repair of cells damaged by free radicals
• The immune response; controlling T-cell production; fighting infections and viruses; and regulating the immune response

If you have a shortage of methyl groups, or your methylation cycle is interrupted, any or all of these processes can become compromised, and you will get sick. In fact, research has clearly linked impaired methylation with all autoimmune conditions! 1,2

How to Improve Your Methylation and Raise Your Glutathione to Heal Autoimmunity

Improving methylation is important for everyone, but it’s especially important if you have an autoimmune condition. One of the reasons is the role of methylation in detoxification and in the production and recycling of glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant and master “splinter” remover. Glutathione directly neutralizes free radicals, reduces hydrogen peroxide into water (reducing inflammation), and assists in the role of other antioxidants like vitamin C, E and lipoic acid.

Glutathione contains sulfur groups, which are sticky compounds that adhere to toxins and heavy metals and carry them out of the body. This is good thing and you want lots of it!

Studies have linked impaired methylation and low levels of glutathione to every type of autoimmune condition.3 I haven’t met anyone (including me), with any type of autoimmune condition, that has adequate methylation and levels of glutathione!

In a perfect world, your body makes its own glutathione from the amino acids cysteine, glycine and glutamine, and then recycles it via methylation using methyl donors like vitamin B12, folate, betaine and other nutrients. Under normal conditions, your body makes and recycles enough glutathione to handle all the toxins that you’re exposed to. However, if you have a high toxic body burden, or a part of the methylation cycle is disrupted, you can get very sick!

Consider some possible scenarios:

• Glutathione can become depleted due to a high toxic load – meaning it gets used up faster than the body can make it. There are many toxins that deplete glutathione: alcohol, cigarette smoke, petrochemicals such as MTBE, pesticides and herbicides to name a few.
• Poor nutrition, especially low protein or vegan diets, can leave you without the essential building blocks for glutathione production.
• Your unique “genetic personality” might have difficulty creating and recycling enough glutathione. 4
• You could be lacking the important nutrients (methyl donors), such as B12, folate and betaine, which are needed to produce and recycle glutathione. If you lack enough of these nutrients, it could be due to a deficiency in your diet, or low stomach acid or some other factor like drinking too much alcohol, which impairs your ability to absorb these nutrients.
• You could have toxins, such as heavy metals, blocking your methylation pathways.
• You could have a “genetic trait” that impairs your ability to process folate, which is necessary for methylation. It’s estimated that up to 40 percent of Americans have the MTHFR “trait” and are unable to convert folate from food into its active form (l-methylfolate).

The bottom line is that there are several factors that can contribute to impaired methylation and low glutathione levels. If you have an autoimmune condition, chances are you have one or more of these disrupting factors.

Tips to Improve Your Methylation

For many people, improved methylation is a natural side effect of following the recommendations in The Thyroid Cure and Eating for Your Good Genes, Reducing Stress, Healing Your Gut, and Restoring Your Liver. In fact, New research in epigenetics and nutrition (nutrigenomics) shows that you can change how your genes express themselves by improving your methylation with nutrition!5

Here are some ways you can take control of your methylation and your genes:

• Eat healing greens! Eating tons of dark leafy green veggies daily provides you with natural folate (a methyl donor), necessary for proper methylation. Make sure to get a minimum of 2 cups of these healing foods per day.

• Get B vitamins and folate! B vitamins are methyl donors, especially folate, B6, B12 and riboflavin. Eating for Your Good Genes approved food sources of B vitamins are: organic chicken and beef liver, fish, eggs, dark leafy greens, asparagus, almonds, sunflower seeds and walnuts. Even if we eat right, most of us still need to supplement with B vitamins. Make sure your B complex or multivitamin contains adequate amounts of these important methylation cofactors. Look for folate in the form of l-methylfolate as Metafolin. Empowerment Formula is the best multivitamin on the market and contains all the B vitamins in the most bio-available form. Note: Dosages of B vitamins vary from person to person – I suggest nutritional testing to make sure you’re getting the right dose. If you suspect that you have impaired methylation, it’s important to start low and go slow. Introducing high-dose B vitamins and folate (l-methylfolate) may improve methylation fast, which can ramp up detoxification, causing pathogens to “die off;” they release toxins as they die and those toxins make you feel sick. This is called a Herxheimer (Herx) reaction, also known as a “healing crisis.” Increased methylation may also mobilize toxins such as heavy metals, which may also make you feel sick if it happens too fast.

• Support methylation with supplements! Make sure you get adequate amounts of magnesium and zinc, which support methylation. Take TMG trimethylglycine (betaine). Note: Dosage varies from person to person.

• Replace stomach acid! Remember, low stomach acid can interfere with the absorption of important nutrients such as vitamin B6, B12 and folate. Follow the guidelines in Chapter 16: Heal Your Gut.

• Take probiotics! Remember, the good bugs help produce and absorb B vitamins and folate!

• Reduce stress, booze, smoking and toxins! These toxic “splinters”burden and poison your liver, and use up methyl groups!

Tips to Boost Your Glutathione

Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant and a major “splinter” remover! Again, Eating for Your Good Genes, Healing Your Gut, Restoring Your Liver and Improving Your Methylation will automatically help boost glutathione levels in most people.

Here are some additional things you can do to boost your levels of this important antioxidant:

• Eat healing proteins! Eating foods that are high in the glutathione precursors, cysteine, glycine and glutamate will boost your glutathione levels. Eating for Your Good Genes approved food sources of these important amino acids include organic omega 3 enriched eggs, safe fish and organic lean meats.

• Eat healing sulfur foods! Sulfur is a key component of glutathione, so eating enough sulfur containing foods is vital. Eating for Your Good Genes approved food sources include garlic, onions and cruciferous vegetables like kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, watercress and bok choy. Note: Several older resources on thyroid conditions recommend avoiding cruciferous vegetables, claiming they are goitrogenic (interfering with iodine uptake to produce thyroid hormone). Let me assure you the cruciferous vegetables are safe, healthful and even protective for those with thyroid conditions as long as they are cooked, and you aren’t iodine or selenium deficient.

• Get more sulfur! Another way to get sulfur is by absorbing it through the skin by taking detox baths with Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). Studies have shown sulfur baths are capable of boosting glutathione and reducing oxidative stress.6

• Take healing protein powder! Undenatured whey protein powder, has been proven to boost glutathione levels by converting cysteine into glutathione, and it has many other immune enhancing properties.7 If you are allergic to whey (which comes from dairy), you can try a hypoallergenic rice protein powder. Rice protein contains cysteine, a glutathione precursor. Take 1-2 scoops of protein powder per day in water, juice or smoothie.

• Take selenium! Selenium plays an important role in the production of glutathione. Take 200 to 400 mcg per day.8
• Optimize your antioxidants! Vitamins, C, D and E all boost glutathione levels. 9, 10,11,12 Make sure you’re getting optimal values every day!
• Move your body! Besides supporting reducing stress and depression, exercise also boosts your glutathione levels and improves detoxification.13 Just do it!

• Get enough sleep! Studies show that lack of sleep can deplete glutathione.14 Individual need for sleep varies. Make sure your get between 7-10 hours of sleep nightly.
• Herbs to support glutathione Studies have shown that milk thistle (silymarin) can boost glutathione levels.15 Take between 100 and 300 mg per day.
• Spice it up! Curcumin has been shown to raise glutathione levels in the liver; one more good reason to use this anti-inflammatory spice! 16 You can also take a curcumin supplement. Individual doses vary.

• Additional supplements to boost glutathione: N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) is a synthetically derived source of cysteine and a basic building block for glutathione production.17 Most practitioners recommend between 600 and 900 mg, 2 times per day. Alpha lipoic acid is a critical substance for many body functions and it works alongside glutathione in detoxification.18 Standard dose is 100 to 200 mg, three times per day. SAM-e is an important methyl donor that helps synthesize glutathione in the liver.19 Start with 400 mg, once a day in the morning. Make sure your SAM-e is enteric coated and sealed in individual foil packets. I personally take Jarrow Formula’s, which you can get at your health food or vitamin store. Important: Dosages of these supplements vary from person to person. Please work with a qualified functional or integrative practitioner to find the right dose for you.

• Glutathione supplements: Glutathione supplements come in capsules and creams. The jury is still out on the your body’s ability to use these supplements (known as their bioavailability), and whether they raise glutathione levels inside the cell where it’s needed, but the research is promising.20 Look for oral products that contain liposomal glutathione such as BioGluteTM. We have less research on transdermal glutathione creams but many practitioners have observed their efficacy. Personally, I like Super Oxicell from Apex Energetics.
• Glutathione Rx: Glutathione can be administered via IV, or compounded by a pharmacist and taken via injection, nebulizer, transdermal gel, capsule or suppository. Ask your practitioner if any of these treatments are right for you.

Avoiding toxins, lowering your stress, healing your GI, and consuming foods and supplements that support methylation and glutathione can enhance your body’s ability to naturally detoxify and heal.

For a safe 14-day liver restoration program, including meal plans, please visit http://www.thethyroidcure.com/14dayliverbliss

Many times, just following the guidelines in The Thyroid Cure book is enough to reverse your autoimmune condition, and keep you healthy and vibrant for life. But sometimes doing everything “right” is not enough. While the strategies above work well for the majority of people, there are still those whose don’t feel good, or may even feel worse.

It’s beyond the scope of this blog to discuss all of the nuances one can experience while working a healing program alone. If you don’t feel well, it makes sense to take the guesswork out and work with a qualified practitioner who can order functional testing and guide you through the healing process. If you scored high on the Toxic Stress Assessment, you may benefit from functional medical and genomic testing. This advanced testing can help you and your practitioner figure out your specific nutritional needs, your toxic burden and even determine if your unique “genetic personality” presents challenges to your methylation and detoxification capabilities.

I’m here to help, so please feel free to call my office to make an appointment 575-613-4369 or join the conversation on Facebook!

References:

• Richardson B. DNA methylation and autoimmune disease. Clin Immunol. 2003 Oct;109(1):72-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14585278

• Richardson B, Scheinbart L, Strahler J, Gross L, Hanash S, Johnson M. Evidence for impaired T cell DNA methylation in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1990 Nov;33(11):1665-73. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2242063
• Perricone C, De Carolis C, Perricone R. Glutathione: a key player in autoimmunity. Autoimmun Rev. 2009 Jul;8(8):697-701. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1939319
• Habdous M, Siest G, Herbeth B, Vincent-Viry M, Visvikis S. [Glutathione S-transferases genetic polymorphisms and human diseases: overview of epidemiological studies]. [Article in French] Ann Biol Clin (Paris). 2004 Jan-Feb;62(1):15-24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15047486
• Choi SW, Friso S. Epigenetics: A New Bridge between Nutrition and Health. Adv Nutr November 2010 Adv Nutr vol. 1: 8-16, 2010. http://advances.nutrition.org/content/1/1/8.full
• Eckmekcioglu C, Strauss-Blasche G, Holzer F, Marktl W. Effect of sulfur baths on antioxidative defense systems, peroxide concentrations and lipid levels in patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2002;9:216–20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12232493
• Marshall K. Therapeutic applications of whey protein. Altern Med Rev. 2004 Jun;9(2):136-56. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15253675
• Rotruck JT, Pope AL, Ganther HE, Swanson AB, Hafeman DG, Hoekstra WG. Selenium: biochemical role as a component of glutathione peroxidase. Science. 1973 Feb 9;179 (4073):588-90. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4686466
• Johnston CS, Meyer CG, Srilakshmi JC. Vitamin C elevates red blood cell glutathione in healthy adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 1993 Jul;58(1):103-5. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/58/1/103.full.pdf
• Jain SK, Micinski D. Vitamin D upregulates glutamate cysteine ligase and glutathione reductase, and GSH formation, and decreases ROS and MCP-1 and IL-8 secretion in high-glucose exposed U937 monocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2013 Jul 19;437(1):7-11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23770363
• Kechrid Z, Hamdi M, Naziroğlu M, Flores-Arce M. Vitamin D supplementation modulates blood and tissue zinc, liver glutathione and blood biochemical parameters in diabetic rats on a zinc-deficient diet. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2012 Sep;148(3):371-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22410949
• Milad K, Racz O, Ipulova A, Bajova V, Kovae G. Effect of vitamin E and selenium on blood glutathione peroxidase activity and some immunological parameters in sheep. Vet. Med. – Czech., 46, 2001 (1): 1–5 http://vri.cz/docs/vetmed/46-1-1.pdf
• Powers SK, Ji LL, Leeuwenburgh C. Exercise training-induced alterations in skeletal muscle antioxidant capacity: a brief review. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999 Jul;31(7):987-97. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10416560
• Everson CA, Laatsch CD, Hogg N (2005) Antioxidant defense responses to sleep loss and sleep recovery. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 288: R374-R383. http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/288/2/R374.long
• Valenzuela, A.; Aspillaga, M.; Vial, S.; Guerra, R. Selectivity of silymarin on the increase of the glutathione content in different tissues of the rat. Planta Med. 1989, 55, 420–422. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2813578
• Zheng S, Yumei F, Chen A.De novo synthesis of glutathione is a prerequisite for curcumin to inhibit hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. Free Radic Biol Med. 2007 Aug 1;43(3):444-53. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17602960
• Burgunder JM, Varriale A, Lauterburg BH (1989) Effect of N-acetylcysteine on plasma cysteine and glutathione following paracetamol administration. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 36: 127–131. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2721538
• Shay KP, Moreau RF, Smith EJ, Smith AR, Hagen TM.Alpha-lipoic acid as a dietary supplement: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Oct;1790(10):1149-60. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19664690
• Vendemiale G, Altomare E, Trizio T, et al. Effects of oral S-adenosyl-L-methionine on hepatic glutathione in patients with liver disease. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1989 May;24(4):407-15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2781235
• Heim K. Glutathione bioavailability:_New technology confronts old questions. Published online 2013 Feb 27 http://www.pureencapsulations.com/education-research/newscaps/newscap-02-27-13

About Michelle Corey

Michelle Corey is an Autoimmune Recovery Expert, Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, health care advocate, researcher and author. Michelle studied holistic nutrition at Clayton College of Natural Health, and functional medical protocols at the Academy of Functional Medicine and Genomics. After completely reversing her autoimmune condition Michelle went on to help hundreds of people reverse autoimmunity and other chronic conditions. She is currently an advisor to the Academy of Functional Medicine and Genomics and the Functional Medical University, teaching doctors how to integrate Functional Medical protocols into their practices. She is also a member of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants. Michelle works one-on-one with people who suffer from complex autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, and offers Functional Mind-Body healing retreats in beautiful Taos New Mexico. Amazon author page

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