Absolute Edge: Performance & Rehab

Discover why 40-60% of the population has the MTHFR gene mutation and how it impacts detoxification, energy production, inflammation, recovery, and mental health. Learn the 7-step MTHFR Optimization Protocol to support methylation and transform your health.

Show Notes

Episode 29: The Monday Advantage: Understanding MTHFR and Why Your Body Might Not Be Detoxifying Properly

Are you doing everything right—eating clean, exercising regularly, sleeping well, managing stress—but still struggling with chronic fatigue, persistent inflammation, slow recovery, or brain fog?

The missing piece might be the MTHFR gene mutation—a genetic variant that affects 40-60% of the population and can significantly impact your body's ability to detoxify, produce energy, control inflammation, and heal from injury.

Most people who have it don't even know it.

In today's episode, we break down exactly what MTHFR is, why it matters, how to know if you have it, and the evidence-based protocol to optimize your methylation and transform your health.

What You'll Learn:

  • The Two-Path Comparison: Person A (working against their genetics) vs. Person B (working with their genetics)—and how knowledge changes everything
  • What is MTHFR? Understanding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and its critical role in methylation
  • Why Methylation Matters: Its essential role in:
    • Detoxification (eliminating toxins, heavy metals, metabolic waste)
    • DNA repair and gene expression
    • Neurotransmitter production (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, melatonin)
    • Energy production (mitochondrial function and ATP)
    • Inflammation control
    • Cardiovascular health (converting homocysteine to methionine)
  • How MTHFR Mutations Impact Your Health: Enzyme function can be reduced by 20-70%, creating a bottleneck in your methylation cycle
  • The 10 Common Symptoms of MTHFR:
    1. Chronic fatigue and low energy
    2. Persistent inflammation and pain (joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, autoimmune conditions)
    3. Slow recovery and healing
    4. Brain fog and cognitive issues
    5. Mood disorders (depression, anxiety, irritability)
    6. Cardiovascular issues (high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart disease)
    7. Digestive issues (IBS, food sensitivities, leaky gut)
    8. Hormonal imbalances (PMS, endometriosis, fibroids)
    9. Sensitivity to toxins and medications
    10. Family history of cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions, mood disorders
  • The MTHFR Optimization Protocol: A 7-step targeted approach:
    1. Get Tested: Identify your MTHFR genetic status, homocysteine levels, nutrient deficiencies, and overall methylation capacity
    2. Optimize Folate Intake: Avoid synthetic folic acid, focus on methylfolate (5-MTHF) and natural food sources
    3. Support Methylation with Active B Vitamins: Methylcobalamin (B12), Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (B6), Riboflavin (B2)
    4. Support Detoxification Pathways: NAC, alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium, zinc, selenium, vitamin C, plus liver-supporting herbs
    5. Reduce Toxic Load: Dietary and environmental changes to minimize toxin exposure
    6. Optimize Gut Health: Probiotics, fermented foods, prebiotic fiber, healing leaky gut
    7. Manage Stress: Box breathing, sleep optimization, sunlight, movement, reducing overcommitment
  • The 5 Benefits of MTHFR Optimization:
    • Increased energy and reduced fatigue
    • Reduced inflammation and pain
    • Faster recovery and healing
    • Improved mental clarity and mood
    • Better long-term health (reduced cardiovascular and autoimmune disease risk)

Key Takeaways:

Your genetics aren't your destiny. They're just information.

If you have the MTHFR mutation, you don't have a broken body. You just need a personalized approach that supports your methylation pathways.

Critical Warning About Folic Acid:

If you have MTHFR, synthetic folic acid (found in most multivitamins and fortified foods) can actually make the problem worse by blocking folate receptors and preventing your body from using the little methylfolate it can produce.

Why You Need Personalized Testing:

The specific forms and amounts of nutrients you need depend on your genetic variant, your current nutrient levels, and your symptoms. Taking too much of certain B vitamins can actually create imbalances. This is why testing is critical.

Natural Food Sources of Folate:

  • Dark leafy greens
  • Broccoli and Brussels sprouts
  • Asparagus
  • Avocado
  • Legumes (lentils, chickpeas, black beans)
  • Beets
  • Citrus fruits

Key Nutrients for Methylation Support:

  • Methylfolate (5-MTHF or L-methylfolate) - the active form your body can use
  • Methylcobalamin - active form of B12
  • Pyridoxal-5-phosphate - active form of B6
  • Riboflavin - B2, especially important for certain MTHFR variants

Detoxification Support:

  • N-acetylcysteine (NAC) - supports glutathione production
  • Alpha-lipoic acid - helps with toxin elimination
  • Magnesium - required for 300+ enzymatic reactions
  • Zinc - supports immune function and detoxification
  • Selenium - critical for glutathione function
  • Vitamin C - supports Phase 1 and Phase 2 liver detoxification
  • Herbs: Milk thistle, dandelion root, turmeric, ginger

Get Tested at Absolute Rehabilitation and Wellness:

If you've been doing everything right but still struggling with chronic fatigue, persistent inflammation, slow recovery, brain fog, or unexplained symptoms, it's time to dig deeper.

Don't guess. Get tested.

At Absolute Rehabilitation and Wellness, we can help you:

  • Get tested for the MTHFR gene mutation
  • Identify your specific nutrient deficiencies
  • Build a personalized optimization protocol based on your unique biochemistry
  • Monitor your progress and adjust your plan as needed

Connect with Absolute Rehabilitation and Wellness:

Absolute Edge: Performance & Rehab is brought to you by Dr. Nick Kuiper and Team Absolute. We don't just treat symptoms—we dig deeper to find the underlying dysfunction, whether it's biomechanical, metabolic, or genetic, and we build comprehensive plans that address the root cause.

Keywords:

MTHFR gene mutation, methylation, detoxification, Burlington physiotherapy, Ontario chiropractor, chronic fatigue, brain fog, slow healing, persistent inflammation, energy optimization, neurotransmitter production, homocysteine, methylfolate, active B vitamins, genetic testing, nutrient deficiency testing, personalized health, functional medicine, Dr. Nick Kuiper, Absolute Rehabilitation, methylcobalamin, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, riboflavin, NAC, glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid, liver detoxification, Burlington wellness, GTA health, Southern Ontario rehab, chronic pain relief, mood disorders, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular health, autoimmune conditions, gut health, leaky gut, hormonal imbalances, metabolic health, mitochondrial function, ATP production, inflammation control, tissue repair, recovery optimization, performance optimization, preventative care, health optimization, root cause medicine, integrative health

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What is Absolute Edge: Performance & Rehab?

Absolute Edge: Performance & Rehab - Your Daily Health Authority
Welcome to Absolute Edge: Performance & Rehab, the daily podcast that gives Ontarians the competitive advantage in health, wellness, and recovery. Hosted by an AI-powered narrator and brought to you by Dr. Nick Kuiper of Absolute Rehabilitation and Wellness in Burlington, Ontario, this show delivers evidence-based health strategies in just 3-5 minutes every weekday.

Whether you're dealing with chronic pain, recovering from a sports injury, managing stress and mental health, or simply want to optimize your physical performance, Absolute Edge provides actionable protocols you can implement immediately.