Nutritional Genomics

Introduction to DNA Methylation Status & Activity

Dr. Alex Jimenez Discusses the Basics of Methylation Status and Activity

Methylation is the process of producing and/or developing a “one-carbon metabolism” from methyl, or CH3, groups. The main methyl donor group utilized for DNA methylation activity is known as s-adenosyl-L-methionine, or SAMe. Other methylation donors, such as MTHFR, COMT, and DNMT, will also use SAMe as their co-factor when regulating DNA methylation status.

According to healthcare professionals, DNA methylation occurs numerous times per second and it is in charge of a variety of bodily functions. Because methylation happens continuously throughout the human body, our overall health and wellness can determine whether we will be involved in healthy methylation activity or some sort of compromised methylation status.

DNA Methylation in the Human Body

DNA methylation is involved in a variety of fundamental processes throughout the body, such as cell division or DNA and RNA synthesis, early CNS development to address neural tube defects, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, immune cell differentiation, neurotransmitter biosynthesis and metabolism, such as that of dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and acetylcholine, histamine clearance, detoxification and hormone biotransformation, cellular energy metabolism, phospholipid synthesis, and myelination of peripheral nerves, among other processes.

The biochemical pathway chart above demonstrates the metabolism of methylation donors as well as their basic function, including that of MTHFR. Several methyl donors are also demonstrated to interchange reversibly while several methyl donors are only demonstrated to transfer into one-way pathways. Insufficient co-factors or vitamins and minerals associated with these can cause imbalances and deficiencies when regulating DNA methylation status. The methylation cycle works together methylation donors to recycle homocysteine into the by-product of that process. The compounds, such as the nutrients, minerals, and enzymes involved in this reaction also shown in the biochemical pathway above.

Basics of Methylation Status & Activity

Methylation can be affected by genetic as well as external and environmental factors. Our extended exposure to these otherwise harmful factors can even alter an individual’s epigenome. DNA methylation occurs at CpG regions through the utilization of DNMT enzymes associated with gene repression to become five different methylation groups.

A variety of DNMT’s are in charge of maintaining and regulating DNA methylation status and activity. DNMT1 is in change of controlling DNA methylation patterns. DNMT3A and DNMT3B are in charge of producing new methylation triggers and they’re also involved in genomic imprinting during embryonic development. Methylation begins to occur during the early perinatal period, where we inherit our parent’s methylation marks.

Understanding how DNA methylation status is influenced by our health and wellness is fundamental to promote methylation support. The utilization of supplements and/or medicine can help improve DNA methylation, however, there may be a risk of side-effects. Nutrition and lifestyle modifications are safe and effective options to help improve overall DNA methylation.

Promoting methylation support is an essential process towards maintaining overall health and wellness. DNA methylation is involved in a variety of bodily functions. Maintaining and regulating healthy methylation can help prevent a variety of health issues, as we will discuss in the next series of articles. The purpose of the following article is to introduce the basics of DNA methylation. It’s fundamental to understand how nutrition, lifestyle habits, supplements and even medicines, can improve DNA methylation as well as to promote overall health and wellness.

Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight

Smoothies and Juices for Methylation Support

While many healthcare professionals can recommend nutritional guidelines and lifestyle modifications to improve methylation support, there are several options you can try yourself at home. As described above, methylation support supplementation should be determined by a healthcare professional. Smoothies and juices are a fast and easy way to include all the necessary nutrients you need for methylation support without any side-effects. The smoothies and juices below are part of the Methylation Diet Food Plan.

Sea Green Smoothie
Servings: 1
Cook time: 5-10 minutes
• 1/2 cup cantaloupe, cubed
• 1/2 banana
• 1 handful of kale or spinach
• 1 handful of Swiss chard
• 1/4 avocado
• 2 teaspoons spirulina powder
• 1 cup water
• 3 or more ice cubes
Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until completely smooth and enjoy!

Berry Bliss Smoothie
Servings: 1
Cook time: 5-10 minutes
• 1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen, preferably wild)
• 1 medium carrot, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or chia seed
• 1 tablespoons almonds
• Water (to desired consistency)
• Ice cubes (optional, may omit if using frozen blueberries)
Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. Best served immediately!

Sweet and Spicy Juice
Servings: 1
Cook time: 5-10 minutes
• 1 cup honeydew melons
• 3 cups spinach, rinsed
• 3 cups Swiss chard, rinsed
• 1 bunch cilantro (leaves and stems), rinsed
• 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled and chopped
• 2-3 knobs whole turmeric root (optional), rinsed, peeled and chopped
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately!

Ginger Greens Juice
Servings: 1
Cook time: 5-10 minutes
• 1 cup pineapple cubes
• 1 apple, sliced
• 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled and chopped
• 3 cups kale, rinsed and roughly chopped or ripped
• 5 cups Swiss chard, rinsed and roughly chopped or ripped
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately!

Zesty Beet Juice
Servings: 1
Cook time: 5-10 minutes
• 1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced
• 1 apple, washed and sliced
• 1 whole beet, and leaves if you have them, washed and sliced
• 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled and chopped
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately!

Protein Power Smoothie
Serving: 1
Cook time: 5 minutes
• 1 scoop protein powder
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
• 1/2 banana
• 1 kiwi, peeled
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of cardamom
• Non-dairy milk or water, enough to achieve desired consistency
Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender until completely smooth. Best served immediately!

ProLon® Fasting Mimicking Diet

Balanced methylation support can be achieved through proper nutrition. The ProLon® fasting mimicking diet offers a 5-day meal program which has been individually packed and labeled to serve the foods you need for the FMD in precise quantities and combinations. The meal program is made up of ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare, plant-based foods, including bars, soups, snacks, supplements, a drink concentrate, and teas. The products are scientifically formulated and great tasting. Before starting the ProLon® fasting mimicking diet, 5-day meal program, please make sure to talk to a healthcare professional to find out if the FMD is right for you. The ProLon® fasting mimicking diet can help promote methylation support, among a variety of other healthy benefits.

Many doctors and functional medicine practitioners can recommend nutritional advice and/or guidelines to help improve DNA methylation. Proper nutrition and lifestyle habits can ultimately help improve DNA methylation. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal and nervous health issues as well as functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez


Additional Topic Discussion: Acute Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most prevalent causes of disability and missed days at work worldwide. Back pain attributes to the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at least once throughout their life. Your spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles, among other soft tissues. Injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.


Formulas for Methylation Support

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Proudly, Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.

Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.

If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.

For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link.*XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download

* All the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.

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Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Introduction to DNA Methylation Status & Activity" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
License Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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