Homocysteine: the "pro-aging" molecule, why you should care and what you should do.
Homocysteine is an amino acid.
It is made from a common dietary amino acid, methionine.
It’s balance helps create balance inside many of our tissues.
However, the body runs best with molecules at the “Goldie Locks” just-right levels.
Elevated levels of homocysteine damage tissues. Drive aging.
If you are at high risk of heart disease, have diabetes, obesity, feeling older and older, you should know your homocysteine blood levels.
Elevated levels have been associated with many diseases and issues, including:
fatigue
feeling like aging is picking up speed
cardiovascular disease like plaque build up in blood vessels
blood clots
congestive heart failure
stroke
history of migraines
age-related macular degeneration
hearing loss
brain atrophy
cognitive decline to Alzheimer disease
Vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and vitamin B9 (folate) break down homocysteine to generate other safer, chemicals your body needs.
Insufficient levels of B vitamins, or an ultra-processed, high sugar diet that rinses B vitamins out of the body, nudge homocysteine levels to go higher.
Levels