Science says eating just one meal per day can improve your health. Learn more at https://highintensityhealth.com/OMAD ----- Thanks for tuning into episode #96! Here's an updated podcast with Dr. Ben Lynch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAdJnnvdjYU Key Takeaways 1:44 Dr. Lynch is working on identifying mechanisms that the body uses, merging different styles of medicine and the “ologies” of segmented medicine. 3:37 The Foundation: He wants to start with lifestyle, mindset, diet and environment. If we are not breathing properly or not consuming clean water and food, it is illogical to focus on the minutia. All of these foundational things impact gene expression. 6:07 You have the power. Dr. Lynch believes that we should not blame our genetics for mental health issues. He says that we have a responsibility and the power to work at fixing them. 8:51 We want simple reasons and remedies, but that is not reality. We can identify SNP (Single-nucleotide polymorphism), a DNA sequence variation. We can identify a condition. Using the SNP, we can identify a nutrient which may help, but there are over 20,000 other genes, the food you eat and your environment are interacting with your gene. 12:08 It’s complicated. The SNPs, the processes, the influences of other genes, and the myriad of other influences are not where we start. We start with the condition, using lifestyle, mindset, diet and environment. The SNPs, gene variations, may make one more susceptible to a condition, but it is not causing it. Start with the big picture. 15:33 Under Methylation/Over Methylation: These are buzz words to over simplify a very complex system. In your system, hydroxocobalamin needs to have a methyl group attached to it so it can become methycobalamin so it can be used by your body. But when some people take methylcobalamin, they react badly. This makes people believe that they are over methylated. It’s just not that simple. 19:08 Enzymes and Cofactors: Biochemist Bruce Ames discovered that enzymes work much better if they are flooded with cofactors. So if you have an enzyme that is not working well and provide additional cofactor, that enzyme should perform better. That is not always the case, because other genes work with these cofactors as well. 21:12 COMT SNP: If a patient with a COMT SNP improved by taking SAM-e, that indicates that they probably do not have methylation blocks, have adequate methylfolate/methylcobalamin and the enzymes, the conversions and recycling are working well. 23:36 Foundations: Dr. Lynch got his start in environmental medicine; food, air, water, life style…, but he found that some people still did not get better and he began to dig into genetics. 28:48 Multiple Variables: MTHFR, mutations decrease the ability of the body to produce methylfolate. Amounts of riboflavin, the cofactor for MTHFR, amounts of foods like leafy greens full of methylfolate, thyroid function, B-2, glutathione, together have an impact. All components need to be optimal for optimal functionality. 30:50 Histamine and DAO: We need histamine for stomach acid and gut motility. Diamine oxidase is an extra cellular histamine enzyme. Foods and drinks can be high histamine, like alcohol, fish, citrus foods, blueberries, chocolate, walnuts, fermented foods and leftovers. Fermented foods and leftovers are high in histamine causing bacteria. 33:23 High Histamine: It is prevalent in many conditions like eczema and other skin disorders, asthma, hives, itchiness, increased sweating and intolerance to alcohol. High histamine causes sea sickness. Reducing foods that are high histamine can be helpful. There are polymorphisms within the DAO enzyme which impact the body’s ability to deal with extracellular histamine. 38:27 Treating Exercise Induced Asthma in kids: Address diet; removing high histamine, gluten containing and leaky gut causing foods. Address environment, like mold. Address lifestyle, like getting enough sleep. 43:21 Glutathione: It is the body’s master antioxidant. Its job is to get rid of hydrogen peroxide, which naturally occurs in our bodies. If there is too much hydrogen peroxide, it can block key enzymes needed for methylation and influence many important functions in the body. 49:29 Adenosine: Adenosine makes adenosine tri phosphate is ATP, critical for life. 40% of our ATP is used at rest to pump magnesium and potassium into our cells. Many of us can make ATP quickly. Others struggle. 53:58 Mitochondrial Support: Athletes perform better when mitochondria and methylation is supported.