Hi, everyone!
Got MTHFR mutation and want to improve your health?
Today’s post is dedicated to all people who want to…
Learn What Foods To Avoid If You Have MTHFR Mutation
Carrying a mutation of the MTHFR gene can elevate the risk of heart disease and pregnancy complications.
While we can’t change the gene, there’s a lot we can do to protect our health and wellbeing…
Everything starts with diet.
Everything we eat can either help us or harm us.
MTHFR mutation isn’t the exception.
Some foods can be bad for you and worsen inflammatory processes and increase the risk of some health problems.
Some foods are good, of course.
In this post, we’re going to focus on foods to avoid with MTHFR gene mutation, or decrease their consumption, for a healthy and happy life.
MTHFR and Dairy
This is, probably, one of the most confusing MTHFR diet restrictions for most people.
For people with MTHFR mutation, the consumption of dairy isn’t the best idea.
Dairy products could be bad for you because they may impair the way the body processes folate and transports it to your brain.
Dairy, especially cow’s milk, contains folate receptor A; the main receptor through which folate reaches the brain.
While folate receptor A from cow’s milk is different enough from the human receptor to generate antibodies, these antibodies can block the transport of folate to your brain.
Studies, actually, confirm an abundance of folate receptors are present in milk.
These receptors may trigger autoantibody and antigen response.
If you have MTHFR mutation, it means your body may have lower folate levels, and you need to get enough through diet.
Dairy makes it difficult to do so due to impaired transport of the vitamin.
Therefore, the consumption of dairy can worsen your condition and the symptoms you experience.
This is particularly the case with commercially produced dairy, which can worsen inflammation.
Many people nowadays have a dairy sensitivity, which can produce antibodies that clog folate receptors.
Dairy sensitivity tends to co-occur with gluten sensitivity, which, in people with MTHFR, a mutation can cause discomfort and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Make sure to either avoid dairy entirely or decrease consumption.
Nowadays, there are many non-dairy alternatives to try.
Consult your doctor if you’re pregnant.
MTHFR Gluten Sensitivity
Nowadays, a gluten-free diet has become widely popular, but it’s more than just a random fad.
Gluten can be bad for certain people, especially for those with celiac disease.
What most of us don’t realize is that gluten easily belongs to MTHFR gene mutation foods to avoid.
If you have MTHFR mutation, then reducing gluten consumption (or avoiding it entirely) could mean the world for your health.
People with MTHFR mutation and gluten sensitivity can experience problems such as the breakdown of gut tissue.
This leads to leaky and inflamed gut and all the uncomfortable symptoms that come with it.
What happens when you have a leaky gut?
Large, undigested molecules pass into circulation where they trigger an inflammatory response.
Avoiding gluten-containing foods is an important dietary change every person with MTHFR mutation should make.
By avoiding substances that cause inflammation, you get to reduce the strain on the body.
Gluten is present in a wide range of foods, including bread, pasta, cereals, candies, cookies and crackers, salad dressings, cakes, and pies, just to name a few.
Read the labels and opt for gluten-free alternatives.
MTHFR Folic Acid
Folate is an important nutrient for people with MTHFR mutation.
Its synthetic form, folic acid, is something worth avoiding.
What’s more, it would be impossible to make a list of foods to avoid MTHFR and fail to mention folic acid.
People with MTHFR gene mutations find it difficult to convert folic acid into its active form.
In other words, the body can’t use it properly.
This can aggravate the symptoms of your health problem.
Folic acid is available as a supplement on its own, but it’s also an ingredient in many other dietary supplements and products.
If taking supplements, consult your doctor about the subject.
Strive to consume more folate rather than its synthetic form.
Also, some foods are fortified with folic acid, so it’s a good idea to read labels and be careful when buying bread, cereal, rice, and pasta.
Strive to avoid all products and foods with added folic acid.
Processed Foods
Processed and refined foods may contain folic acid, as I mentioned above.
The best thing to do is to consume lower amounts of processed food or avoid them entirely.
Yet another reason to avoid these foods is their unhealthy nutritional content.
Although processed foods are affordable and delicious, they don’t supply the body with much-needed vitamins and minerals.
As a person with MTHFR mutation, you need to consume healthy foods to avoid nutritional deficiencies, especially folate and vitamin B12.
Instead of processed, opt for whole foods and healthier cooking methods.
Histamines
Histamine is a chemical that takes part in numerous functions.
It communicates messages to the brain, triggers the release of stomach acid to aid digestion, and it’s also a part of immune response after injury or allergic reaction.
Histamines are also found in various foods such as;
- alcohol and other fermented beverages,
- dairy products,
- dried fruits,
- processed and smoked cheese,
Just to name a few!
MTHFR mutation is associated with histamine intolerance.
Symptoms of histamine intolerance are numerous, ranging from migraines and food allergies to rapid heartbeat, sweating, and flushing.
You see, people with MTHFR mutations have reduced levels of the active form of folate (methylfolate).
This compromises methylation, which is necessary for the proper functioning of the enzyme that degrades histamine.
This leads to histamine intolerance and its symptoms.
So if you have MTHFR mutation, you may want to avoid histamine-rich foods or decrease their consumption.
What Foods To Avoid If You Have MTHFR: Does It Matter?
Yes, it does.
Diet has a prominent role in supporting health and wellbeing in people with MTHFR mutation.
Some foods can contribute to nutritional deficiencies and inflammation.
The goal is to enrich the diet with foods that supply the body with much-needed nutrients and prevent deficiencies.
Of course, this is also the subject you need to discuss with your doctor if you already have some health condition or you’re pregnant.
Connect with other people to share experiences on what foods to avoid with MTHFR.
Avoiding some foods can transform your health and wellbeing and lower the risk of complications that people with MTHFR mutation could experience.
Now you know what foods to avoid if you have MTHFR
Food can either support the health of people with MTHFR mutation or impair it.
In this post, I focused on what foods to avoid if you have MTHFR.
And, as you could see…
Limiting the consumption of certain food groups can protect you from inflammation and other complications.