MTHFR! (Don't get our your soap bar yet)

We had a quick stomach bug pass through the house this week...that will make someone want to drop the F bomb...Austin and I were up all night. We got a system down. 'Mom, get the bowl!' haha. The next morning he told me 'Mom, I am the Master Barf Machine!' hahaha. We are hopefully in the clear right now.

Jonathon tip toed around the house wearing surgical gloves. 1. because he can't stand barf (he told me it was one of his biggest fears as a kid). and 2. because he headed out to Miami for another big handicapping tournament and I don't think that being the Master Barf Machine was on his list of titles he was looking to win. haha. We spent the morning watching him on a live panel for handicapping called 'Raise Your Game.' Of course I had no clue what they were talking about, but it's always fun to watch Jonathon's charisma entertain others (it can also be an obnoxious characteristic too. trust me. There have also been a few times that I might have dropped the F bomb when he was 'on.' haha.).

But lately I've been dropping the MTHFR bomb quite a bit at our house. No, not the worst of all of the worst curse words. MTHRF is something that everyone has and needs. And we found out that I have a mutation. So, I've been diving in head first for research and opinions about what this means for me and my family. A mutation can affect different people different ways. MTHFR is involved in processing amino acids and B vitamins which in turn affects all of our systems. There are different variations people can have. The mutation that I have (luckily) is one of the forms that presents more mildly. The doctors are still out about all of the connections this mutation has related to health and wellness. It's recently become a hot topic and researchers are finding more and more out about MTHFR mutations.

What do we know so far about what this means for me...
1. I will never ever ever be able to get the same nutrients from food that people without this mutation can get (but there are supplements that I can take to help!). B vitamins and amino acids that my body cannot process like people without this mutation can do are either wasted or stored where they shouldn't be. This was actually relieving because one of the things that I talk to my doctors about all the time is how I just don't feel like my body and health reflect the amazing diet that I eat. Makes complete sense now. Although I am still recovering from the aggressive chemo and radiation involved in my cancer treatment and it will undoubtedly be affecting my body for years to come, I just felt like something was not right.
2. Some things that are ok for some people (mostly 'food like products') are actually even more toxic to my system because it is compromised in processing them properly (i.e. all of those years of chugging folic acid enriched orange juice and chomping on enriched bread...don't even remind me of the 2 years I popped folic acid enriched prenatal vitamins). My body can only utilize a percentage of folic acid I eat, the rest is no bueno for my body. Not only because I can't utilize it, but because I'm also compromised in eliminating it efficiently.
3. The mutation also affects how my body eliminates other environmental toxins. This is okay. Because I have knowledge and control over what I put in, on and around my body! I will update more on some of the changes I've been working on on goals I have in this department. Yup, more cooky hippie lifestyle changes to come...and you thought that the bone broth switch to stainless steel were weird. Wait until I fill you in on our water filtration and air purification systems. haha.
4. The specific mutation I have is linked to a higher risk of developing chronic diseases. One of these is cancer. Specifically breast cancer. Not a shocker since some of the specific deficiencies and impaired detox pathways are found at higher rates in people with breast cancer. 

extra chicken feet are my special secret ingredient for extra jiggly broth. haha.

What does this mean for my family? There's no need to test anyone because all of the dietary and lifestyle changes that I am making for myself are good for anyone (mutation or not) and no one else has any chronic health issues that are unanswered. So, at the Kinchen house we have been working diligently on getting lots and lots of healthy foods into every meal and eliminating as many chemicals and junk from our day to day lives. We found out some other interesting info related to my health. Will save for another time.

Moms and Dads don't feel too bad. I think we only got about half that green bean down. And that's some major progress :)

Make choices today that make you better.
Win the Day!
Jenn