In more scientific terms, it is the transfer of methyl groups (ie, one-carbon, three-hydrogen molecules, also known as CH3) to and from various bioactive compounds in the body. Methylation is vital for the production of key neurotransmitters, amino acids, antioxidants, and hormones that directly affect multiple areas of health, and folic acid is extremely important in this process.*
Folic acid directly enables the methylation cycle to function smoothly as a necessary nutrient for the conversion of homocysteine to methionine.* In its active, methylated form (i.e., 5-MTHF)folic acid regulates the metabolism of homocysteine (keeping it moving and not accumulating) so that we can have healthy homocysteine levels.*
Homocysteine is an amino acid (also known as a protein building block) that is very important in the body; however, when levels are not kept in check and rise, it can have implications throughout the body, from our heart and brain to our immune function and can have health consequences related to the heart and immune system.
That is why nourishing our body with folic acid every day (preferably in its methylated form, especially for people with the MTHFR gene variant) is absolutely critical, keeping the “wheels” of the methylation cycle turning.* Activated (also known as methylated) forms of folate do an excellent job of keeping these levels in check and supporting healthy methylation.*
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