Our story starts out in early 2012. My wife was 2 months pregnant with our first child and I had just been offered a work assignment in the US for 18 months. We both agreed that this was a good opportunity so I took the assignment and we made the move. Life was humming along... View Article
Dec
15
What you drink impacts your MTHFR gene. We all know that tap water is not ideal. Arsenic levels are a concern as is chlorine, jet fuel, pesticides, fracking, fluoride to name a few. Whatever foreign you put into your body, your body has to filter out. If you could remove most of that from your... View Article
Nov
1
Recurrent miscarriage may be associated with MTHFR. Yet, many health professionals dismiss this heavily researched association. Does this sound familiar: “I was just told by my high-risk OB that there is no research proving MTHFR is connected to miscarriage.” If this does sound familiar, your OB is not educated correctly about MTHFR. Let me give you... View Article
Sep
28
What causes Down Syndrome? I know you are searching for answers. Why? Do you have a child with Down Syndrome? Or do you want to minimize the risk of having a child with Down Syndrome? Either way, the information here may help. I want to first state very clearly that there is no ‘defined mainstream way’... View Article
Jun
15
Bedwetting is Normal . . . to a Point Diapers on newborns must be used because their nervous system is not yet fully developed. As they progress in age and become little people, their nervous system is moving along nicely. As children continue to grow and develop, the frequency of bedwetting goes down and eventually... View Article
Jun
11
Histamine intolerance is becoming more and more prevalent. I have it. I also have MTHFR and susceptible to methylation deficiency. Given the prevalence of the MTHFR polymorphism, it only makes sense that the general population is also very susceptible to histamine intolerance. Connected. I wish I knew I had histamine intolerance 30 yrs ago. Now that... View Article
Jun
10
I observe and hear these types of questions all the time: “Is MTHFR related to schizophrenia?” “Is MTHFR related to itchy skin?” “Is MTHFR related to breast cancer?” “Is MTHFR related to depression?” “Is MTHFR related to rheumatoid arthritis?” “Is MTHFR related to my mother-in-law?” Well – all except the last one (I couldn’t resist – no... View Article
Feb
6
Nitrous oxide side effects are real. The pun of how laughing gas is no laughing matter is pretty worn out; however, it gets the point across quickly. Nitrous oxide is becoming even more pervasive despite research finding it to be quite harmful to certain populations. Let’s discuss a few things about nitrous oxide before I... View Article
Jan
13
Benefits of sauna are plentiful. Issue is one must know how to sauna in order to obtain these incredible benefits. All Scandinavian countries, Russia, Japan, and Korea utilize sauna. The way they use them varies quite a bit; however, the end result is the same: sweating. To the right, you see my in-laws 70 year old sauna located... View Article
Dec
9
Let’s face it. We’re all loaded with chemicals, toxins, heavy metals, and biological waste products of various types. You’re loaded. I’m loaded. We’re loaded no matter how hard we try to avoid environmental exposures from food, water, air, soil, furniture, work, transportation and so on. We need to get them OUT. It is not easy. It’s... View Article
Nov
26
The most read article on MTHFR.Net is ‘Methylfolate Side Effects‘. That’s unfortunate. Avoiding side effects caused by methylfolate is ideal. It’s time I address it. How do we reduce the likelihood of methylfolate side effects? My experience has taught me these preventative measures. Before, I used to just give people methylfolate if they were found... View Article
May
23
Ankyloglossia also known as tongue tie is not a condition you hear about every day, but certainly one of great impact, especially for the 4% of newborns affected by it.[1] For those not familiar with tongue tie, it is a condition where the tip of the tongue is connected to the floor of the mouth... View Article
Jan
8
Optimizing the health of unborn children is my passion. I am pleased to state that January is named National Birth Defects Prevention Month by the National Birth Defects Prevention Network and the CDC. This month is broken down into four parts with each part focusing on a key component of birth defect prevention. While I... View Article
Jan
1
DNA testing is the new trend and everyone seems to peeking into what their DNA results uncover. Obviously, I am a proponent of genetic testing – when used correctly. When DNA testing is done improperly, people are finding inconsistencies. This leads to frustration, doubt, FDA crackdowns and a threat to future DNA testing. After months... View Article
Jul
18
Did you know that your genes are affecting your thyroid? Whether you like it or not, genetic defects are at work in your body, directly or indirectly interfering with thyroid production. In this enlightening and informative presentation, Dr Lynch and Dr Christianson delve into an area of medicine called ‘methylation’ and ‘nutrigenomics.’ Be sure to... View Article
Jul
1
On October 12 – 13, 2013, Bastyr University is hosting me for a full two day seminar on the topic of “Methylation & Clinical Nutrigenomics: Individualized Medicine at Its Best“ I am very excited about this as it will be the first time I have 15 entire hours to present this material instead of the... View Article
May
24
You’ve finally decided it is time to become a loving parent. Birth control has stopped, prenatal vitamins have begun and reading baby books has become a new hobby. After a few months, you’re starting to wonder why you’re not conceiving. A trip to the infertility specialist is made and the results come in. You have... View Article
Sep
20
In order for me to help you more effectively, I want to know exactly what your questions are. Questions will not be answered here. They will be answered via these avenues: [unordered_list style=”tick”] Webinars Articles Videos Book [/unordered_list] . Please post ALL your questions about MTHFR and methylation below using the Comment feature. Example... View Article
Sep
8
Repairing the digestive system and optimizing the flora should be one of the first steps in correcting methylation deficiency. There are countless reasons for this; however, the focus here is the relation between methionine synthase and acetylaldehyde. One must first understand what methionine synthase is and why it is important. Methionine synthase: What is it?... View Article
Jun
27
I am going to share with you a classic situation which happens all the time. I hear it a few times a week while working with clients and guiding various doctors. This case study shows how fast methylation can become imbalanced – and how fast it can be rebalanced. It also shows how sensitive methylation... View Article
May
11
If we sit back and evaluate the dates when folic acid fortification began and the fast rise of autism – do they correlate? “In Spain, the prevalence of the MTHFR 677TT genotype has reportedly approximately doubled in the population since the introduction in 1982 of folic acid supplements for women in early pregnancy”… “Folic acid... View Article
Apr
5
L-methylfolate has many different names which adds to confusion. Those with MTHFR mutations scan labels, read websites or listen to their doctors rattle of conflicting terms for a nutrient they really need. Update June 26, 2019: Note how the label below illustrates: Folate (this is where you need to pay attention – inside the paranthesis).... View Article
Apr
2
Diabetes Type II is highly prevalent and one of the fastest growing medical conditions in the United States. The best way to reduce becoming a type 2 diabetic is by choosing a healthy diet and lifestyle. Period. For many, the transition to a healthy lifestyle and diet takes time and may be difficult. Thus, many... View Article
Mar
22
When one is diagnosed with a MTHFR mutation, the first thing typically prescribed is methylfolate – or, incorrectly, folic acid in high amounts. There is no standard of care prescribing methylfolate for MTHFR mutations. Thus, the variation in prescriptions is vast – anywhere from nothing done upwards to Deplin 15 mg or Folic Acid 4... View Article
Mar
16
Birth control, in the form of oral contraception, is known to lower folate levels in women. Obviously, this is undesirable when women discontinue the ‘Pill’ in order to become pregnant. The paper, Oral contraceptives: effects on folate and vitamin B12 metabolism, sums up ‘the Pill’ on folate levels: This is a significant enough of a concern;... View Article
Mar
2
Having MTHFR mutations increases the likelihood of elevated homocysteine levels. Monitoring your homocysteine level is critical especially if elevated. The issue is homocysteine testing is fraught with issues. Properly prepare yourself to get your homocysteine level measured. [unordered_list style=”tick”] You should be fasting. Do not eat anything prior to testing. Ideally get tested in the... View Article
Mar
1
L-Methylfolate is a remarkable nutrient yet it can create significant side effects. Those who have MTHFR mutations (especially the C677T MTHFR mutation) learn that methylfolate is critical to take – and that folic acid is critical to avoid. The issue is methylfolate can cause more harm than good if not started at the right time... View Article
Feb
24
Have one or two copies of the MTHFR mutation? Don’t know what to do? Looking for what people call ‘MTHFR treatment’? After working with 1000’s of individuals with this defect, I’ve developed a ‘MTHFR treatment’ which may help a significant number of people. It’s not really a ‘MTHFR mutation treatment’ – it’s a way of... View Article
Feb
5
How is that the path we take in life is somehow absolutely appropriate and fitting for us? Becoming a naturopathic physician with a specialty in environmental medicine and nutrigenomics, I am stunned at how critical this path was for me – and for my family. If I had not chosen this path, two of my... View Article
Jan
27
MTHFR research is growing at an exponential rate. Update June 2021: Currently, there are 7,813 research articles published on MTHFR as of June 25, 2021. That’s an increase of 598 papers in 3 years at a rate of nearly 200 new papers published a year. The pace has slowed down a bit. Why? Likely because... View Article
Jan
25
MTHFR Testing is important – and inexpensive. The benefits of MTHFR testing are tremendous as it allows you to be proactive in your health instead of sitting idly by wondering why you have a myriad of complicated symptoms which doctors seem to only make worse. If you already know you have a MTHFR mutation, especially more than... View Article
Jan
20
UPDATE: June 25, 2019 MTHFR and pregnancy is a bigger deal than most doctors want to admit. It’s not a problem and it’s not scary. It’s something that you need to be aware of and address. I’m glad you’re here because you are aware that having MTHFR and pregnancy is a big deal. What’s really... View Article
Jan
19
Having done 1000’s of consults for MTHFR and working with nearly triple that through email correspondence, I have seen a trend that must be made public knowledge. I am seeing sometimes incredible improvement in energy, muscle health, decreased muscle pain, improved adrenals and decreased frequency of urination through a drink mix I’ve created for my clients.... View Article
Nov
30
There is little known about the A1298C MTHFR mutation. Or so it seems. Research seems to ignore it almost completely while the C677T MTHFR mutation gets all the attention and glory. For those who have the A1298C MTHFR mutation, this is frustrating. Symptoms exist and doctors are saying there is no correlation between the MTHFR... View Article
Nov
15
I am hearing and experiencing more and more people who are responding poorly to folic acid whether it be folic acid or methylfolate. Why are people with MTHFR mutations responding poorly to methylfolate!? It doesn’t make sense right? People with MTHFR mutations and high homocysteine – especially those who are homozygous MTHFR – should respond... View Article
Nov
4
“What is MTHFR?” When people ask, ‘What is MTHFR?’, do they mean what is the MTHFR gene or do they mean what is the MTHFR enzyme? In this article, I am going to provide you the basics of the MTHFR gene. What does MTHFR stand for? Is MTHFR a gene or an enzyme? What other... View Article
Sep
25
Update on 6/24/2021: Women are finding this article to be extremely useful. Please read this article fully. Evaluate the list of genetic variations and order genetic testing with your healthcare professional. It’s not just about MTHFR. There are more to evaluate. Details below. UPDATE on 2/13/2012: This is no longer a theory as current research... View Article
Sep
19
Dear Healthcare Professional: MTHFR mutations affect a significant amount of the population and the effects of MTHFR mutations are significant. Those with MTHFR mutations have no referral network to find a physician who effectively works with all forms of MTHFR mutations. If you work with MTHFR mutations, test for it, understand all the nuances and... View Article
Sep
13
Many are asking me, “Dr Ben, I am taking this ________. Is that any good for C677T or A1298C or…?” I am finding that I am answering, “No” too often. I have here all the top homocysteine-lowering medications which are prescribed commonly by doctors. Keep in mind that many doctors do not understand nutritional biochemistry.... View Article
Sep
7
MTHFR gene mutations can cause absolutely no symptoms at all. They may also increase susceptibility to severe health conditions. Research is still pending on which medical conditions are caused by, or at least partially attributed to, the MTHFR gene mutations. I actually don’t think any of these are actually caused by MTHFR mutations. I would... View Article