November 17, 2025 ⢠23 mins
Homocysteine is one of those lab markers that most people have never heard of, but it can tell you a lot about your health. When it rises, it can quietly cause inflammation, affect blood flow, and disrupt brain chemistry. Over time, that can lead to fatigue, mood changes, memory problems, and even migraines.
In this episode, we talk about what homocysteine is, why it matters, and how it can impact everything from your heart and circulation to your mental clarity. We also explain how it connects to migraines, especially when blood vessels tighten or brain chemicals like serotonin fall out of balance. You will learn what causes high homocysteine, how nutrition and genetics play a role, and what simple steps can bring it back to a healthy range.
This conversation focuses on natural ways to support your body through real food, key vitamins, better sleep, and stress management. It is about understanding what is happening inside your body so you can take steps that truly make a difference.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Welcome back to Mindful Objective, the show where we
explore health through integrative and practical lens.
I'm your host, Doctor Daniel Perl, integrative health
ractitioner and professor. Today we're talking about
homocysteine. It's a simple lab marker that
can reveal a lot about your body's inflammation, blood flow,
and even your risk for migraines.
Elevated homocysteine irritates blood vessels, increases
(00:20):
oxidative stress and slows your methylation, the process that
keeps your brain chemistry and detox system balanced.
If you're homocysteine is high, it can trigger more than just
heart and circulation issues canaffect your mood, your focus,
your energy and frequency or severity of migraine attacks.
The good news is that there's something you can control
through nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted some
implementation. In this episode, we'll look at
(00:42):
what homocysteine is, why it rises, and how it's linked to
migraines and what steps you could take to bring that back
that balance naturally. As always, this shows for
educational purposes only, we donot treat, diagnose, or cure any
illness or disease. So let's go ahead and dive in.
Homocysteine is amino acid your body makes every single day as
it metabolizes methionine, whichyou get from protein.
(01:04):
That might not sound like a big deal.
Our bodies make hundreds of compounds from foods we eat.
But homocysteine sits in a delicate balance.
Small amounts, it's harmless andnecessary for normal metabolism.
But when it builds up, though, it can quietly cause damage to
tissues and blood vessels, leading to inflammation that
spreads throughout the whole body.
The reason homocysteine is so interesting from an integrative
(01:25):
health perspective is because itconnects to so many systems.
It's not just cardiovascular marker.
It influences your brain, your energy production, your liver
function, and even your ability to detoxify.
So think of it like a checkpointin your body's chemistry.
When the checkpoint is clear, traffic flows smoothly.
When it's blocked, everything downstream becomes stressed.
This balance depends heavily on B vitamins, especially B6B12 and
(01:49):
folate. These vitamins help convert
homocysteine either to methionine or esteem, both of
which your body uses to repair and for antioxidant protection.
Without enough of these nutrients, the conversion slows.
Homocysteine begins to rise intothe bloodstream.
So why does it matter? Because elevated homocysteine
irritates the lining of blood vessels called endothelium.
(02:10):
This irritation leads to inflammation, and inflammation
triggers a buildup of plaque. Overtime, arteries become stiff,
oxygen delivery declines, and the risk for heart disease
increases. Studies have shown that even
mildly of elevated homocysteine can double your risk of heart
attack or a stroke. That's crazy, but that's only
part of the story. Elevated homocysteine also
(02:30):
increases oxidative stress, which accelerates aging and
damages DNA. It can disrupt neurotransmitters
like serotonin and dopamine, which affect your mood and
cognitive functions. This means that high
homocysteine can show up as depression, brain fog, and
memory issues long before cardiovascular systems even
appear. Many doctors overlook it because
standard panels do not include it automatically, and a lot of
(02:52):
doctors don't even talk about what homocysteine is or even
mention it to you. You usually need to request it
or work with a practitioner who understands its importance.
Functional practitioners often see homocysteine as a red flag
for deeper metabolic imbalances.When your homocysteine is high,
it's a sign your body strugglingwith methylation and
detoxification. These are two processes critical
(03:13):
for staying healthy long term. I'm one of those people.
I ran my homocysteine, man, Thiswas when I started a journey
over 10 years ago and my homocysteine was at 37.
You're going to see how important these markers are and
why you got to get your body thehelp it needs.
So again, I started this. I ran my levels over 10 years
(03:33):
ago. My level was at 37.
The ideal range for homocysteineis typically between 5:00 and
8:00. Think of that five and eight.
And mine was 37. So again, the ideal range for
homocysteine is typically between 5:00 and 8:00.
And so think back. I was at 37.
Pretty damaging. Levels between 9 and 15 are
often labeled normal by conventional standards, but in
(03:54):
functional health, we view anything above 8 as a signal
that something isn't working efficiently.
Some people have mild between 15and 30.
Others have moderate between 30 and 100.
Some people have a level of morethan 100.
That's a severe level. So again, the goal is not
perfection. The goal is optimization.
(04:15):
When homocysteine is in a healthy range, it suggests your
body has one. It needs to manage inflammation
and support vascular and brain health efficiently.
Importantly, high homocysteine levels typically do not 'cause
noticeable symptoms. So detection requires a blood
test, usually performed after a 10 to 12 hour fast.
But again, lot of times you go for normal conventional blood
(04:35):
work, they do not include homocysteine.
And a lot of times, even if you request that, they deny that
request. So again, you could come to us,
we can run that lab and kind of get to the bottom of it.
But by paying attention to this one marker, you can often catch
inflammation, oxidative stress, years before major disease
develops. It's like checking the oil in
your car, right? You're not waiting for an engine
(04:56):
to fail, you're preventing it. That's what our whole goal here
is, prevention, right? That's the foundation of
integrative health, understanding your body's early
warning signs and responding before damage occurs.
Homocysteine gives you that chance and we can help you out.
So to really understand homocysteine, we have to talk
about methylation. This is your biochemical process
that happens billions of times per second in your body.
(05:18):
Huge number, right? Billions of times per second.
Methylation is how your body adds small carbon and hydrogen
group called methyl group to DNA, hormones and your
neurotransmitters. This tiny chemical change
controls how your genes are expressed, how your body
detoxifies chemicals, and even how you produce energy and
maintain your mood balance. Homocysteine sits at the
(05:39):
crosshairs of that entire process is both byproduct and
participation methylation. When methylation is working
efficiently, homocysteine is converted to methylene, which
supports creation of Sammy, which we talked about on the
last podcast. This is one of the body's main
methyl donors in your body. When the system slows down,
homocysteine accumulates. The MTHFR gene is one of the
(06:01):
biggest factors on how well thisprocess works.
We had a focus on that active form of folate, right?
This is what your body uses to recycle homocysteine back into
methionine. So people who carry that MTHFR
gene, again, I'm double dominantthere.
Commonly the C677T or A1298C. These are two common variants of
(06:24):
that mutation, and they may reduce enzyme efficiency
throughout the body. That means they need more
support to keep that methylationrunning smoothly.
Some estimates suggest that up to 40% of population have at
least one MTHFR variation, whichmeans many people are
predisposed to higher homocysteine levels without even
realizing it. Why?
Because you're never getting tested for it.
(06:46):
So this is where nutrition becomes critical.
Folate from natural food sourceslike leafy greens, lentils and
avocados provides real methyl groups which your body can use
right. Synthetic folic acid, often
found in fortified foods, must be converted before it can help,
and people with MTHFR mutations often struggle with that
conversion. So B12 and B6 are equally
(07:06):
important. Vitamin B12, especially in the
form of methylcobalamin. This helps convert homocysteine
to methionine, while vitamin B6 in its active form, P5P,
supports the conversion of homocysteine to cysteine to
ultimately glutathione, which isyour body's master antioxidant.
Without enough of these vitamins, homocysteine builds
(07:27):
up, oxidative stress increases and detoxification slows down.
Environmental and lifestyle factors make things even worse.
Stress, alcohol, smoking, and certain medications like acid
blockers or birth control pills deplete your B vitamin.
A diet low in quality protein orleafy greens can also impair
that methylation process. Now add in that genetic factor,
(07:48):
and it's easy to see why so manypeople have elevated
homocysteine levels without evenknowing it.
This is where functional testinggives you that clarity.
A simple homocysteine blood testcan reveal whether you're in
that optimal range or not. Additional panels like organic
acid test or methylation panel can show how efficiently your
pathways are running. If you suspect them, THFR
variant genetic testing can confirm it and help you
(08:10):
personalize that nutrition strategy.
So the take away is this. Your methylation process is like
your body's operating system. If it's sluggish, everything
from detoxification to brain function suffers.
Supporting methylation through nutrient dense foods, stress
management and right supplementsis one of the most powerful ways
to lower your hormone cysteine levels and improve your long
term vitality. When you do that, you're not
(08:32):
just changing your number, you say on a lab sheet.
You're strengthening your foundation for energy, mood,
focus, and your longevity. So one important thing we got to
talk about is how sneaky homocysteine is.
So most people with elevated levels feel completely fine
until they don't. It can take years for symptoms
to appear, and by the time you do, damage has already started.
That's why it's often called thesilent marker.
(08:54):
So let's take a look at how it shows up in your everyday life.
For some people, it begins with fatigue that never quite goes
away. They wake up tired even after a
full night of sleep. Others note as brain fog,
difficulty remembering names, focusing at work, fall
conversations, mood changes likeanxiety, irritability or
depression can appear, often linked to neurotransmitter
(09:15):
imbalances with poor methylation.
And we see this right, fatigue kind of happens.
Same with the brain fog and stuff with different symptoms
overlap for different issues that people have out there,
right? When you think of just vitamin
deficiencies, you could have brain fog.
You think of these other health issues, you know, issues with
your gut. It could go back to brain fog.
So homocysteine is one of those other things that do cause brain
(09:38):
fog. Some individuals experience
tingling or numbness in their hands and feet.
This happens because high homocysteine can damage small
blood vessels and nerves over time.
Others might notice the muscle stiffness, joint pain or slow
recovery after workouts. These are subtle signs that
oxidative stress is affecting tissues.
The cardiovascular effects are really more serious here.
High homocysteine reduces nitricoxide, the compound that keeps
(10:00):
blood vessels flexible and open.That means blood pressure rises,
your arteries may stiffen, and there's a higher risk for blood
clots, right? Studies linked elevated
homocysteine heart attacks to strokes to artery disease, even
in people whose cholesterol levels look normal.
In the brain, homocysteine acts as a neurotoxin.
It over stimulates neurons, leading to cell death and
(10:22):
contributing to diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and
dementia. Researchers have found that
every five point increase in homocysteine rises the risk of
dementia by nearly 40%. That's massive statistic there,
right? And it's one that people most
never heard of from their doctors.
Homocysteine also effects women health during pregnancy.
Elevated levels can increase risk of complications such as
(10:45):
preeclampsia, A miscarriage, or neural tube defects in babies.
That's why modern prenatal vitamins now include methylated
folate instead of synthetic folic acid.
This is to better support methylation even in women with
those MTHFR variants. And then you also see the
connections with skin in here. Poor methylation can impair
collagen production and detoxification, which sometimes
(11:06):
shows up as dull skin, acne, andslow wound healing.
Hair may become thinner and morebrittle overtime.
Right. These may seem like surface
level issues, but they're external clues that something
deeper is off in your body. So in practice, I often see
patients who are chasing symptoms for years, chronic
fatigue, stubborn weight gain, mood swing, and even poor focus,
(11:28):
only to discover that their elevated homocysteine was quite
driving inflammation up, which is the the main factor here.
Once we identify it, we support it with the methylation.
Things start shifting right, energy improves, mood
stabilizes, and sleep quality often returns.
That's the power of looking deeper than the surface.
Homocysteine testing doesn't replace other diagnostics that
(11:49):
are out there. It works with them side by side.
It's one of those hidden pieces that help explain why somebody's
labs might look normal while they still feel off.
Your body gives subtle signs that there's a disease
developing. Paying attention to those clues
and connecting them to root causes like methylation and
balance is the foundation of preventative and integrative
care. That is our focus here.
(12:12):
The best part about homocysteineis that you can almost always
bring it down naturally. It's one of those markers where
daily choices make a measurable difference.
Like everything in life, it starts with diet.
Focus on foods that provide natural folate such as spinach,
kale, collard greens, lentils, avocados, asparagus.
These foods supply active forms your body can use, unlike
(12:33):
synthetic folic acid, which mostpeople cannot process
efficiently. Include vitamin B6 rich foods
like chickpeas, salmon, chicken,potatoes.
For vitamin B12, look for grass fed meats, eggs, fish.
If you're vegetarian or vegan, you'll likely need to take a
supplement. Another supplement we need to
talk about is TMG. This can directly convert
homocysteine and methionine. Beets are one of the best food
(12:56):
sources for TMG and beet powder or juice.
Can it be a simple way for you to support that pathway
naturally? Hydration and minerals matter to
magnesium and zinc support enzyme activity in that
methylation cycle. Nuts, seeds, and leafy greens
are excellent sources here. Choline, which is found in eggs
and liver, also contribute to methyl groups, and this helps
(13:16):
keep homocysteine in check. So that's another way you could
do it in eggs and liver. Lifestyle habits, right, play a
big role. Chronic stress burns through B
vitamins quickly. When stress hormones like
cortisol rise, your body uses more nutrients to keep that
metabolic demand in check. So you got to build in stress
reducing habits, right? Breathing exercises, stretching,
daily walks, these can all help preserve those vitamin stores.
(13:40):
As we always say, regular movement.
Also, this is equally important.Exercise improves circulation,
it reduces inflammation and supports detox pathways.
You don't have to train like an athlete.
Brisk walking, cycling or resistance training a few times
a week can make a real difference.
And we always say get off that. Alcohol and processed foods.
Alcohol depletes folate in B12 while refined sugars and
(14:02):
processed fats increase oxidative stress in the body.
Even moderate drinking can push homocysteine levels higher.
If your methylation is already sluggish if you drink, do so
mind balance it with nutrient dense foods, but again, stay
away from that alcohol for supplementation.
Methylated B complex. This is often used an effective
way to start this whole methylation process.
(14:24):
Look for ones that include methyl carbalamin, which is B12,
methylfolate which is B9, and peroxidil 5 phosphate, which is
B6. If your homocysteine remains
elevated after a few months, adding TMG can help with this.
And there's a great product out there by Pure called
Homocysteine Factors. You could get it through our
full script, but again, homocysteine Factors includes
(14:46):
all the necessary vitamins for homocysteine and MTHFR.
So another thing you got to do is think about functional lab
testing, such as organic acid test.
You know, you got to find out ifyour body's using those
nutrients efficiently and if youneed additional support.
For example, some people metabolize B12 poorly due to gut
issues or low stomach acid. In those cases, sublingual or
(15:07):
injectable forms may be a betteroption for you.
The key is personalization. What works for one person may
not work for another. That's why testing and
professional guidance makes sucha difference.
Through targeted nutrition, proper supplementation,
lifestyle support, most people can bring the homocysteine down
within three to six months. So it is possible when that
happens, you feel change, betterenergy, sharper thinking, calmer
(15:29):
mood and smoother recovery. You're not just lowering a
number, you're creating an efficient and more resilient
body. What we tell people out there
too is oftentimes we'll say, well, you have the option to run
a MTHFR genetic test, right? Do you want to see if you have a
methylation issue? But oftentimes too, we could
just run your homocysteine for alot cheaper and then address it
(15:50):
in that way. If your homocysteine is high,
most likely, you know, you may have that MTHFR genetic disorder
and we could address it still with those same proper
supplements. So you do have the option out
there. If you want to see it on paper,
you want to perform a genetic test, you have the option to do
that. If you want to perform a genetic
test plus homocysteine, you havethe option for that also.
Or if you want to go the cheaperroute and just get the
(16:12):
homocysteine blood lab marker done, you have the option to do
that at a cheaper cost. So there are options out there
for you. If you have any questions, reach
out and I'll gladly provide you with some direction there.
Now the last thing we're going to talk about is homocysteine
and migraines because this is a big topic for all those migraine
sufferers out there or people with headaches.
Migraines, as we know, are not just headaches.
(16:33):
They're complex neurological events that often involve
inflammation, blood vessel changes, and altered brain
chemistry. Research over the past decade
has shown a clear connection between elevated homocysteine
and migraine attacks, especiallythose accompanied by aura.
To understand why, think of whathomocysteine does inside the
blood vessels. When levels rise, it irritates
the endothelium, the thin liningthat controls vessel tone and
(16:56):
blood flow. Irritation reduces nitric oxide,
the compound that helps those vessels relaxed.
So during a migraine, those samevessels can constrict and then
suddenly dilate, causing that familiar throbbing in the head,
right? Could be neck pain, it could be
forehead pain, it could be side of the head pain, could be
throbbing in the eye. So many different variants of
migraines nowadays. High homocysteine can make this
(17:18):
cycle worse by promoting inflammation and oxidative
stress within those vascular walls.
Another piece of the puzzle involves methylation
neurotransmitters. Proper methylation helps your
body make that balance between serotonin, dopamine,
norepinephrine. The brain chemicals regulate
mood, pain perception, and your dilation of blood vessels.
When methylation slows because of nutrient deficiencies or that
(17:41):
MTHFR variant, serotonin levels usually drop in, homocysteine
climbs. Low serotonin is a well known
trigger for migraines, which explains why medications that
rate serotonin actively often reduce their frequencies.
Studies even have found that people with migraines,
particularly women, tend to havehigher average homocysteine
levels than those without them. One study in journal Headache
(18:02):
showed that supplementing with folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin
B12 significantly reduce homocysteine and migraine
frequency over a course of six months.
The improvement was most pronounced in people carrying
that MTHFR, the six the MTH FRC677T variant, which impairs
folate metabolism. That tells us methylation
(18:23):
support can directly influence migraine control.
From integrative perspective, this connection is valuable
because it opens multiple pathways for us to intervene
instead of relying only on medication.
Adult pain. After it starts, you can work
upstream to calm the system before the trigger hits.
Supporting methylation with methylated B vitamins help
stabilize neurotransmitter productions.
This could help improve vasculartone, reduce inflammation in the
(18:46):
brain. And what will this do over time
if this lowers overall sensitivities to triggers like
stress, bright light or hormone changes?
Lifestyle factors. Again, this factors a lot.
And when it comes to migraines, dehydration, skipping meals,
poor sleep and alcohol all raisehomocysteine and strain pathways
that clear it. Adding more leafy greens, eggs,
(19:06):
salmon, beets, food rich in folate, B vitamins.
This creates the raw materials your body needs to keep
homocysteine balanced. Hydration and mineral intake
help keep that blood flow steady.
Magnesium in particular relaxes muscle in the blood vessels and
helps shown in several studies to help reduce migraine
frequency. So functional lab testing and
(19:28):
the big one we go after is that organic acid test.
This gives us that deeper look at showing whether
neurotransmitter precursor such as tryptophan and tyrosine are
converting properly. In some clients.
The issue is just not intake butabsorption.
Low stomach acid, gut inflammation, microbiome
imbalance can block that B vitamin uptake.
We and at that point, what do wedo?
(19:48):
We have to address digestion, right?
This is often reduces migraine intensity and that methylation
process improves. So for those with stubborn
migraines, obviously me, it can help to view your condition as
part of a broader inflammatory state rather than isolated head
problem, right? Is your whole body inflamed?
Is that the reason or is it specific to migraines only?
(20:10):
Usually there's a bigger issue there.
Elevated homocysteine often indicates that your nervous and
vascular systems are under oxidative stress.
So you got to address that, right?
How do you do it? By lowering it, you not only
support your cardiovascular health, but you also support
your brain's resilience right there.
Many people notice that their homocysteines level normalize
(20:30):
their migraines. Patterns will change over time.
They may still have occasional headaches, but they're shorter,
less severe, and easier to control.
And when you go back and think about it, I went from, you know,
seven days a week migraine levelof a 10 or 12 or not 10 or 12,
but migraine levels of, you know, A8 to A10.
That lasted, you know, months and months and months.
(20:51):
And I was in a constant state ofmigraine.
And people always ask, how did you live like that?
And well, what, what choice do you have?
You still have to function, right?
And it's not an excuse, it's painful, but you just deal with
it, right? Life goes on.
Nobody cares, right? That's the way they look at it
is I have to deal with it. Nobody cares.
So, but over time, I was able toreduce those migraines.
(21:13):
Now if I get a migraine, maybe Iget one a month.
That's a pain level of a one or two, totally easy to deal with
compared to, you know, seven days a week of eight to 10.
So, you know, if migraines are part of your health story,
consider testing for the homocysteine.
It's simple, it's inexpensive. It helps to understand, you
know, those underlying conditions that are out there.
(21:33):
So you also want to combine targeted nutrition, stress
management, consistent sleep andhydration, which also may help
control those migraines. And from the start, right, you
may get a way to where now you're having you're able to
control the migraines or the migraines are so minimal,
they're not affecting you anymore.
So the key take away to migrainerelief is not just about pain
(21:54):
management. It's about restoring that
balance. By improving methylation and
keeping your homocysteine in check, you create a calmer,
better oxygenated brain. You got to build a better
environment that relieves those everyday stressors.
That is the integrative approachto action.
Identify the root, correct the imbalance, and let the body do
what it's designed to do heal. As we wrap up this episode,
(22:15):
remember homocysteine might sound complex, but it's a simple
reflection of how your body manages nutrients and that
inflammation. When you understand it, you can
take targeted action that supports your health, your
brain, and overall well-being. If you haven't had your
homocysteine tested, it's worth adding to your next blood panel.
You can also reach out through our practice to learn about
functional testing options that look deeper into methylation and
(22:36):
detox pathways. And remember, our full Script
store offers professional grade supplements at 20% below retail
pricing and all the products arepractitioner trusted for purity
and potency. Remember that third party tested
and also reach out for any recommendations you may need.
Thanks for listening. Mindful objective.
Remember the best Healthcare is proactive and integrative.
(22:58):
Take charge of your health, staycurious, keep learning, see you
next time. Stay well.
Welcome back to Mindful Objective, the show where we
explore health through integrative and practical lens.
I'm your host, Doctor Daniel Perl, integrative health
ractitioner and professor. Today we're talking about
homocysteine. It's a simple lab marker that
can reveal a lot about your body's inflammation, blood flow,
and even your risk for migraines.
Elevated homocysteine irritates blood vessels, increases
(00:20):
oxidative stress and slows your methylation, the process that
keeps your brain chemistry and detox system balanced.
If you're homocysteine is high, it can trigger more than just
heart and circulation issues canaffect your mood, your focus,
your energy and frequency or severity of migraine attacks.
The good news is that there's something you can control
through nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted some
implementation. In this episode, we'll look at
(00:42):
what homocysteine is, why it rises, and how it's linked to
migraines and what steps you could take to bring that back
that balance naturally. As always, this shows for
educational purposes only, we donot treat, diagnose, or cure any
illness or disease. So let's go ahead and dive in.
Homocysteine is amino acid your body makes every single day as
it metabolizes methionine, whichyou get from protein.
(01:04):
That might not sound like a big deal.
Our bodies make hundreds of compounds from foods we eat.
But homocysteine sits in a delicate balance.
Small amounts, it's harmless andnecessary for normal metabolism.
But when it builds up, though, it can quietly cause damage to
tissues and blood vessels, leading to inflammation that
spreads throughout the whole body.
The reason homocysteine is so interesting from an integrative
(01:25):
health perspective is because itconnects to so many systems.
It's not just cardiovascular marker.
It influences your brain, your energy production, your liver
function, and even your ability to detoxify.
So think of it like a checkpointin your body's chemistry.
When the checkpoint is clear, traffic flows smoothly.
When it's blocked, everything downstream becomes stressed.
This balance depends heavily on B vitamins, especially B6B12 and
(01:49):
folate. These vitamins help convert
homocysteine either to methionine or esteem, both of
which your body uses to repair and for antioxidant protection.
Without enough of these nutrients, the conversion slows.
Homocysteine begins to rise intothe bloodstream.
So why does it matter? Because elevated homocysteine
irritates the lining of blood vessels called endothelium.
(02:10):
This irritation leads to inflammation, and inflammation
triggers a buildup of plaque. Overtime, arteries become stiff,
oxygen delivery declines, and the risk for heart disease
increases. Studies have shown that even
mildly of elevated homocysteine can double your risk of heart
attack or a stroke. That's crazy, but that's only
part of the story. Elevated homocysteine also
(02:30):
increases oxidative stress, which accelerates aging and
damages DNA. It can disrupt neurotransmitters
like serotonin and dopamine, which affect your mood and
cognitive functions. This means that high
homocysteine can show up as depression, brain fog, and
memory issues long before cardiovascular systems even
appear. Many doctors overlook it because
standard panels do not include it automatically, and a lot of
(02:52):
doctors don't even talk about what homocysteine is or even
mention it to you. You usually need to request it
or work with a practitioner who understands its importance.
Functional practitioners often see homocysteine as a red flag
for deeper metabolic imbalances.When your homocysteine is high,
it's a sign your body strugglingwith methylation and
detoxification. These are two processes critical
(03:13):
for staying healthy long term. I'm one of those people.
I ran my homocysteine, man, Thiswas when I started a journey
over 10 years ago and my homocysteine was at 37.
You're going to see how important these markers are and
why you got to get your body thehelp it needs.
So again, I started this. I ran my levels over 10 years
(03:33):
ago. My level was at 37.
The ideal range for homocysteineis typically between 5:00 and
8:00. Think of that five and eight.
And mine was 37. So again, the ideal range for
homocysteine is typically between 5:00 and 8:00.
And so think back. I was at 37.
Pretty damaging. Levels between 9 and 15 are
often labeled normal by conventional standards, but in
(03:54):
functional health, we view anything above 8 as a signal
that something isn't working efficiently.
Some people have mild between 15and 30.
Others have moderate between 30 and 100.
Some people have a level of morethan 100.
That's a severe level. So again, the goal is not
perfection. The goal is optimization.
(04:15):
When homocysteine is in a healthy range, it suggests your
body has one. It needs to manage inflammation
and support vascular and brain health efficiently.
Importantly, high homocysteine levels typically do not 'cause
noticeable symptoms. So detection requires a blood
test, usually performed after a 10 to 12 hour fast.
But again, lot of times you go for normal conventional blood
(04:35):
work, they do not include homocysteine.
And a lot of times, even if you request that, they deny that
request. So again, you could come to us,
we can run that lab and kind of get to the bottom of it.
But by paying attention to this one marker, you can often catch
inflammation, oxidative stress, years before major disease
develops. It's like checking the oil in
your car, right? You're not waiting for an engine
(04:56):
to fail, you're preventing it. That's what our whole goal here
is, prevention, right? That's the foundation of
integrative health, understanding your body's early
warning signs and responding before damage occurs.
Homocysteine gives you that chance and we can help you out.
So to really understand homocysteine, we have to talk
about methylation. This is your biochemical process
that happens billions of times per second in your body.
(05:18):
Huge number, right? Billions of times per second.
Methylation is how your body adds small carbon and hydrogen
group called methyl group to DNA, hormones and your
neurotransmitters. This tiny chemical change
controls how your genes are expressed, how your body
detoxifies chemicals, and even how you produce energy and
maintain your mood balance. Homocysteine sits at the
(05:39):
crosshairs of that entire process is both byproduct and
participation methylation. When methylation is working
efficiently, homocysteine is converted to methylene, which
supports creation of Sammy, which we talked about on the
last podcast. This is one of the body's main
methyl donors in your body. When the system slows down,
homocysteine accumulates. The MTHFR gene is one of the
(06:01):
biggest factors on how well thisprocess works.
We had a focus on that active form of folate, right?
This is what your body uses to recycle homocysteine back into
methionine. So people who carry that MTHFR
gene, again, I'm double dominantthere.
Commonly the C677T or A1298C. These are two common variants of
(06:24):
that mutation, and they may reduce enzyme efficiency
throughout the body. That means they need more
support to keep that methylationrunning smoothly.
Some estimates suggest that up to 40% of population have at
least one MTHFR variation, whichmeans many people are
predisposed to higher homocysteine levels without even
realizing it. Why?
Because you're never getting tested for it.
(06:46):
So this is where nutrition becomes critical.
Folate from natural food sourceslike leafy greens, lentils and
avocados provides real methyl groups which your body can use
right. Synthetic folic acid, often
found in fortified foods, must be converted before it can help,
and people with MTHFR mutations often struggle with that
conversion. So B12 and B6 are equally
(07:06):
important. Vitamin B12, especially in the
form of methylcobalamin. This helps convert homocysteine
to methionine, while vitamin B6 in its active form, P5P,
supports the conversion of homocysteine to cysteine to
ultimately glutathione, which isyour body's master antioxidant.
Without enough of these vitamins, homocysteine builds
(07:27):
up, oxidative stress increases and detoxification slows down.
Environmental and lifestyle factors make things even worse.
Stress, alcohol, smoking, and certain medications like acid
blockers or birth control pills deplete your B vitamin.
A diet low in quality protein orleafy greens can also impair
that methylation process. Now add in that genetic factor,
(07:48):
and it's easy to see why so manypeople have elevated
homocysteine levels without evenknowing it.
This is where functional testinggives you that clarity.
A simple homocysteine blood testcan reveal whether you're in
that optimal range or not. Additional panels like organic
acid test or methylation panel can show how efficiently your
pathways are running. If you suspect them, THFR
variant genetic testing can confirm it and help you
(08:10):
personalize that nutrition strategy.
So the take away is this. Your methylation process is like
your body's operating system. If it's sluggish, everything
from detoxification to brain function suffers.
Supporting methylation through nutrient dense foods, stress
management and right supplementsis one of the most powerful ways
to lower your hormone cysteine levels and improve your long
term vitality. When you do that, you're not
(08:32):
just changing your number, you say on a lab sheet.
You're strengthening your foundation for energy, mood,
focus, and your longevity. So one important thing we got to
talk about is how sneaky homocysteine is.
So most people with elevated levels feel completely fine
until they don't. It can take years for symptoms
to appear, and by the time you do, damage has already started.
That's why it's often called thesilent marker.
(08:54):
So let's take a look at how it shows up in your everyday life.
For some people, it begins with fatigue that never quite goes
away. They wake up tired even after a
full night of sleep. Others note as brain fog,
difficulty remembering names, focusing at work, fall
conversations, mood changes likeanxiety, irritability or
depression can appear, often linked to neurotransmitter
(09:15):
imbalances with poor methylation.
And we see this right, fatigue kind of happens.
Same with the brain fog and stuff with different symptoms
overlap for different issues that people have out there,
right? When you think of just vitamin
deficiencies, you could have brain fog.
You think of these other health issues, you know, issues with
your gut. It could go back to brain fog.
So homocysteine is one of those other things that do cause brain
(09:38):
fog. Some individuals experience
tingling or numbness in their hands and feet.
This happens because high homocysteine can damage small
blood vessels and nerves over time.
Others might notice the muscle stiffness, joint pain or slow
recovery after workouts. These are subtle signs that
oxidative stress is affecting tissues.
The cardiovascular effects are really more serious here.
High homocysteine reduces nitricoxide, the compound that keeps
(10:00):
blood vessels flexible and open.That means blood pressure rises,
your arteries may stiffen, and there's a higher risk for blood
clots, right? Studies linked elevated
homocysteine heart attacks to strokes to artery disease, even
in people whose cholesterol levels look normal.
In the brain, homocysteine acts as a neurotoxin.
It over stimulates neurons, leading to cell death and
(10:22):
contributing to diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and
dementia. Researchers have found that
every five point increase in homocysteine rises the risk of
dementia by nearly 40%. That's massive statistic there,
right? And it's one that people most
never heard of from their doctors.
Homocysteine also effects women health during pregnancy.
Elevated levels can increase risk of complications such as
(10:45):
preeclampsia, A miscarriage, or neural tube defects in babies.
That's why modern prenatal vitamins now include methylated
folate instead of synthetic folic acid.
This is to better support methylation even in women with
those MTHFR variants. And then you also see the
connections with skin in here. Poor methylation can impair
collagen production and detoxification, which sometimes
(11:06):
shows up as dull skin, acne, andslow wound healing.
Hair may become thinner and morebrittle overtime.
Right. These may seem like surface
level issues, but they're external clues that something
deeper is off in your body. So in practice, I often see
patients who are chasing symptoms for years, chronic
fatigue, stubborn weight gain, mood swing, and even poor focus,
(11:28):
only to discover that their elevated homocysteine was quite
driving inflammation up, which is the the main factor here.
Once we identify it, we support it with the methylation.
Things start shifting right, energy improves, mood
stabilizes, and sleep quality often returns.
That's the power of looking deeper than the surface.
Homocysteine testing doesn't replace other diagnostics that
(11:49):
are out there. It works with them side by side.
It's one of those hidden pieces that help explain why somebody's
labs might look normal while they still feel off.
Your body gives subtle signs that there's a disease
developing. Paying attention to those clues
and connecting them to root causes like methylation and
balance is the foundation of preventative and integrative
care. That is our focus here.
(12:12):
The best part about homocysteineis that you can almost always
bring it down naturally. It's one of those markers where
daily choices make a measurable difference.
Like everything in life, it starts with diet.
Focus on foods that provide natural folate such as spinach,
kale, collard greens, lentils, avocados, asparagus.
These foods supply active forms your body can use, unlike
(12:33):
synthetic folic acid, which mostpeople cannot process
efficiently. Include vitamin B6 rich foods
like chickpeas, salmon, chicken,potatoes.
For vitamin B12, look for grass fed meats, eggs, fish.
If you're vegetarian or vegan, you'll likely need to take a
supplement. Another supplement we need to
talk about is TMG. This can directly convert
homocysteine and methionine. Beets are one of the best food
(12:56):
sources for TMG and beet powder or juice.
Can it be a simple way for you to support that pathway
naturally? Hydration and minerals matter to
magnesium and zinc support enzyme activity in that
methylation cycle. Nuts, seeds, and leafy greens
are excellent sources here. Choline, which is found in eggs
and liver, also contribute to methyl groups, and this helps
(13:16):
keep homocysteine in check. So that's another way you could
do it in eggs and liver. Lifestyle habits, right, play a
big role. Chronic stress burns through B
vitamins quickly. When stress hormones like
cortisol rise, your body uses more nutrients to keep that
metabolic demand in check. So you got to build in stress
reducing habits, right? Breathing exercises, stretching,
daily walks, these can all help preserve those vitamin stores.
(13:40):
As we always say, regular movement.
Also, this is equally important.Exercise improves circulation,
it reduces inflammation and supports detox pathways.
You don't have to train like an athlete.
Brisk walking, cycling or resistance training a few times
a week can make a real difference.
And we always say get off that. Alcohol and processed foods.
Alcohol depletes folate in B12 while refined sugars and
(14:02):
processed fats increase oxidative stress in the body.
Even moderate drinking can push homocysteine levels higher.
If your methylation is already sluggish if you drink, do so
mind balance it with nutrient dense foods, but again, stay
away from that alcohol for supplementation.
Methylated B complex. This is often used an effective
way to start this whole methylation process.
(14:24):
Look for ones that include methyl carbalamin, which is B12,
methylfolate which is B9, and peroxidil 5 phosphate, which is
B6. If your homocysteine remains
elevated after a few months, adding TMG can help with this.
And there's a great product out there by Pure called
Homocysteine Factors. You could get it through our
full script, but again, homocysteine Factors includes
(14:46):
all the necessary vitamins for homocysteine and MTHFR.
So another thing you got to do is think about functional lab
testing, such as organic acid test.
You know, you got to find out ifyour body's using those
nutrients efficiently and if youneed additional support.
For example, some people metabolize B12 poorly due to gut
issues or low stomach acid. In those cases, sublingual or
(15:07):
injectable forms may be a betteroption for you.
The key is personalization. What works for one person may
not work for another. That's why testing and
professional guidance makes sucha difference.
Through targeted nutrition, proper supplementation,
lifestyle support, most people can bring the homocysteine down
within three to six months. So it is possible when that
happens, you feel change, betterenergy, sharper thinking, calmer
(15:29):
mood and smoother recovery. You're not just lowering a
number, you're creating an efficient and more resilient
body. What we tell people out there
too is oftentimes we'll say, well, you have the option to run
a MTHFR genetic test, right? Do you want to see if you have a
methylation issue? But oftentimes too, we could
just run your homocysteine for alot cheaper and then address it
(15:50):
in that way. If your homocysteine is high,
most likely, you know, you may have that MTHFR genetic disorder
and we could address it still with those same proper
supplements. So you do have the option out
there. If you want to see it on paper,
you want to perform a genetic test, you have the option to do
that. If you want to perform a genetic
test plus homocysteine, you havethe option for that also.
Or if you want to go the cheaperroute and just get the
(16:12):
homocysteine blood lab marker done, you have the option to do
that at a cheaper cost. So there are options out there
for you. If you have any questions, reach
out and I'll gladly provide you with some direction there.
Now the last thing we're going to talk about is homocysteine
and migraines because this is a big topic for all those migraine
sufferers out there or people with headaches.
Migraines, as we know, are not just headaches.
(16:33):
They're complex neurological events that often involve
inflammation, blood vessel changes, and altered brain
chemistry. Research over the past decade
has shown a clear connection between elevated homocysteine
and migraine attacks, especiallythose accompanied by aura.
To understand why, think of whathomocysteine does inside the
blood vessels. When levels rise, it irritates
the endothelium, the thin liningthat controls vessel tone and
(16:56):
blood flow. Irritation reduces nitric oxide,
the compound that helps those vessels relaxed.
So during a migraine, those samevessels can constrict and then
suddenly dilate, causing that familiar throbbing in the head,
right? Could be neck pain, it could be
forehead pain, it could be side of the head pain, could be
throbbing in the eye. So many different variants of
migraines nowadays. High homocysteine can make this
(17:18):
cycle worse by promoting inflammation and oxidative
stress within those vascular walls.
Another piece of the puzzle involves methylation
neurotransmitters. Proper methylation helps your
body make that balance between serotonin, dopamine,
norepinephrine. The brain chemicals regulate
mood, pain perception, and your dilation of blood vessels.
When methylation slows because of nutrient deficiencies or that
(17:41):
MTHFR variant, serotonin levels usually drop in, homocysteine
climbs. Low serotonin is a well known
trigger for migraines, which explains why medications that
rate serotonin actively often reduce their frequencies.
Studies even have found that people with migraines,
particularly women, tend to havehigher average homocysteine
levels than those without them. One study in journal Headache
(18:02):
showed that supplementing with folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin
B12 significantly reduce homocysteine and migraine
frequency over a course of six months.
The improvement was most pronounced in people carrying
that MTHFR, the six the MTH FRC677T variant, which impairs
folate metabolism. That tells us methylation
(18:23):
support can directly influence migraine control.
From integrative perspective, this connection is valuable
because it opens multiple pathways for us to intervene
instead of relying only on medication.
Adult pain. After it starts, you can work
upstream to calm the system before the trigger hits.
Supporting methylation with methylated B vitamins help
stabilize neurotransmitter productions.
This could help improve vasculartone, reduce inflammation in the
(18:46):
brain. And what will this do over time
if this lowers overall sensitivities to triggers like
stress, bright light or hormone changes?
Lifestyle factors. Again, this factors a lot.
And when it comes to migraines, dehydration, skipping meals,
poor sleep and alcohol all raisehomocysteine and strain pathways
that clear it. Adding more leafy greens, eggs,
(19:06):
salmon, beets, food rich in folate, B vitamins.
This creates the raw materials your body needs to keep
homocysteine balanced. Hydration and mineral intake
help keep that blood flow steady.
Magnesium in particular relaxes muscle in the blood vessels and
helps shown in several studies to help reduce migraine
frequency. So functional lab testing and
(19:28):
the big one we go after is that organic acid test.
This gives us that deeper look at showing whether
neurotransmitter precursor such as tryptophan and tyrosine are
converting properly. In some clients.
The issue is just not intake butabsorption.
Low stomach acid, gut inflammation, microbiome
imbalance can block that B vitamin uptake.
We and at that point, what do wedo?
(19:48):
We have to address digestion, right?
This is often reduces migraine intensity and that methylation
process improves. So for those with stubborn
migraines, obviously me, it can help to view your condition as
part of a broader inflammatory state rather than isolated head
problem, right? Is your whole body inflamed?
Is that the reason or is it specific to migraines only?
(20:10):
Usually there's a bigger issue there.
Elevated homocysteine often indicates that your nervous and
vascular systems are under oxidative stress.
So you got to address that, right?
How do you do it? By lowering it, you not only
support your cardiovascular health, but you also support
your brain's resilience right there.
Many people notice that their homocysteines level normalize
(20:30):
their migraines. Patterns will change over time.
They may still have occasional headaches, but they're shorter,
less severe, and easier to control.
And when you go back and think about it, I went from, you know,
seven days a week migraine levelof a 10 or 12 or not 10 or 12,
but migraine levels of, you know, A8 to A10.
That lasted, you know, months and months and months.
(20:51):
And I was in a constant state ofmigraine.
And people always ask, how did you live like that?
And well, what, what choice do you have?
You still have to function, right?
And it's not an excuse, it's painful, but you just deal with
it, right? Life goes on.
Nobody cares, right? That's the way they look at it
is I have to deal with it. Nobody cares.
So, but over time, I was able toreduce those migraines.
(21:13):
Now if I get a migraine, maybe Iget one a month.
That's a pain level of a one or two, totally easy to deal with
compared to, you know, seven days a week of eight to 10.
So, you know, if migraines are part of your health story,
consider testing for the homocysteine.
It's simple, it's inexpensive. It helps to understand, you
know, those underlying conditions that are out there.
(21:33):
So you also want to combine targeted nutrition, stress
management, consistent sleep andhydration, which also may help
control those migraines. And from the start, right, you
may get a way to where now you're having you're able to
control the migraines or the migraines are so minimal,
they're not affecting you anymore.
So the key take away to migrainerelief is not just about pain
(21:54):
management. It's about restoring that
balance. By improving methylation and
keeping your homocysteine in check, you create a calmer,
better oxygenated brain. You got to build a better
environment that relieves those everyday stressors.
That is the integrative approachto action.
Identify the root, correct the imbalance, and let the body do
what it's designed to do heal. As we wrap up this episode,
(22:15):
remember homocysteine might sound complex, but it's a simple
reflection of how your body manages nutrients and that
inflammation. When you understand it, you can
take targeted action that supports your health, your
brain, and overall well-being. If you haven't had your
homocysteine tested, it's worth adding to your next blood panel.
You can also reach out through our practice to learn about
functional testing options that look deeper into methylation and
(22:36):
detox pathways. And remember, our full Script
store offers professional grade supplements at 20% below retail
pricing and all the products arepractitioner trusted for purity
and potency. Remember that third party tested
and also reach out for any recommendations you may need.
Thanks for listening. Mindful objective.
Remember the best Healthcare is proactive and integrative.
(22:58):
Take charge of your health, staycurious, keep learning, see you
next time. Stay well.
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