Methylation in the body is critical to good physical and mental health. It’s the action of transferring a carbon atom (in the form of CH3, which is called a methyl group) from one molecule, compound or nutrient to another. And it’s required to synthesize and balance the neurotransmitters that make you feel good, motivated and calm.
Most of the methylation in the body happens via a compound called SAMe.
And SAMe is synthesized in what is called the methylation cycle.
In this cycle methionine (an amino acid and natural methyl donor in protein) becomes homocysteine while giving up its methyl group (CH3) to make SAMe and then the homocysteine is remethylated or converted back to methionine by methylfolate and vitamin b12.
If this process isn’t able to happen efficiently and as needed you aren’t able to synthesize and regulate glutathione levels or neurotransmitter levels in the body as you ought.
The unfortunate thing is – the modern diet and lifestyle often leaves this cycle either overburdened or undersupported or both.
And that means you feel sick physically or feel depressed, anxious, irritable or off mentally or emotionally.
There’s really good news!
The most critical part of this process is supported by just seven nutrients and those seven nutrients can be consumed in abundance with just two delicious foods or food groups.
The Seven Most Critical Nutrients
- Methionine
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Vitamin B12
- Methylfolate
- Folate
- Riboflavin
The Best Food For an Abundance of Methionine and B12
Meat is hands down the best way to get an abundance of methionine and B12. Eggs and dairy are the runners up but a good way behind meat when it comes to providing levels you need to make a real impact.
And among all the meats there is one big obvious winner.
Salmon!
That’s right. Not only does salmon provide abundant amounts of methionine and b12 but among all the meats wild salmon is highest in both magnesium and potassium!
And it gets better for salmon.
Salmon is a surprisingly good source of riboflavin (vitamin b2), which also supports methylation in a very powerful way (it enables the conversion of folate to the coveted methylfolate).
The Best Foods For Methylfolate and Folate
Leafy greens are definitely the big winner for methylfolate and folate levels. Particularly beet greens and spinach. These two are the highest in the most critical methylfolate, but also among the highest for folate, potassium and magnesium. And, spinach is also a good source of riboflavin.
Other leafy greens that are great to consider include kale, collards, swiss chard, turnip greens, and romaine.
Conclusion? Salmon and Greens!
Methylation is just another reason and another vote for eating the way Mother Nature intended and the way we have for thousands of years. Meats, in particular salmon. And greens, in particular beet greens and spinach. Combine to give an abundance of the raw materials needed to restore your body’s resources and capacity to synthesize neurotransmitters critical to well-being.
