What’s up everyone? Time for part 2! If you have not read part 1 (My Endeavor for Health) yet, I suggest you start from there!
Here are the 5 posts should you need to navigate them:
1.) My Endeavor For Health: The Backstory
2.) What I Found Out About My Genetics (You’re reading this one)
3.) Supplementing Bioavailable Forms Of Vitamins, Electrolytes & Minerals
4.) My Experimentation With Diets
5.) Maintaining My Physical & Mental Health
Moving forward, I decided to order a genetics test kit from 23andMe.
Once I got it in the mail, I spit in the little tube they provided, mixed it with the buffer solution and sent it off to their testing facility the same day!
Then the hard part… patience.
It took them a while to actually test it. When the data was ready, I downloaded the TXT file that contained my genome.
With this TXT file, I uploaded it into Promethease.
Basically they sort through all your genetic information and tell you what you’re at risk for and other bodily functions that are unique to you.
For instance, being a slow metabolizer of caffeine.
After a bit of digging, I found that I was homozygous for the MTHFR gene. (Methyl-TetraHydraFolate Reductase)
Essentially, this meant I had an extremely reduced activity in this gene.
This affected my ability to convert folic acid into methyl-folate. (The biologically active form)
This is particularly important for adequate neurotransmitter synthesis and could potentially explain why some struggle from depression and other mood disorders.
Even the BCMO1 gene indicated that I had reduced beta-carotene conversion to retinol for my vitamin A requirements.
Thus, it would be better for me to supplement the retinyl palmitate form of vitamin A due to higher bioavailability.
This is important to take into account because it might SEEM like you eat a ‘balanced’ diet, but it’s not optimal whatsoever due to bioavailability.
A lot of plant foods have forms of vitamins not readily accessible for the biology of humans. (Such as beta-carotene)
Not to mention other anti-nutrients that trigger an immune response.
Anyway, I then began studying the methylation pathway.
I looked at every gene in this pathway and matched it to my genetic code looking for discrepancies and reduced activity.
If I saw reduced activity somewhere, I would supplement the necessary precursors and cofactors.
I personally ended up supplementing things like Phosphatidylserine and SAMe.
I also supplement magnesium in the form of Magnesium Glycinate or Magnesium L-Threonate as its required for over 300+ enzymatic reactions in the body including energy (ATP) synthesis.
It is estimated that up to 50% of Americans are DEFICIENT in magnesium.
I was definitely low in magnesium. After supplementing, I would benefit from reduced stress, less anxiety and heightened clarity of the mind.
After obtaining this knowledge and seeing what it could offer me, I delve into supplementing bioavailable nutrients.
Which leads me into my next post: Supplementing Bioavailable Forms Of Vitamins, Electrolytes & Minerals
Catch you on the next post!
Until Next Time,
Frun
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