Ultimate Human Podcast - Introduction to Methylation

Host: Gary Brea

Introduction

• Mission: To transform listeners into the ultimate human through topics in science, longevity, anti-aging, and biohacking.
• Goal: Bring interviews and practical stories from the brightest minds in these fields.

Gary Brea's Background

• Education:
  • Undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Maryland.
  • Graduate degree in human biology from the National University of Health Sciences, Chicago.
• Experience:
  • Worked in the life insurance industry's life settlement sector.
  • Tasked with predicting how many months people had left to live based on medical and demographic data.
  • Found the work unfulfilling and inauthentic.

Transition to Wellness

• Realization: Recognized the humanity behind the life expectancy data.
• Decision: Left life insurance to start a wellness franchise.
• Support: Encouraged by his fiancée (now wife), Sage.
• Business:
  • Started Streamline Medical Group (now 10x Health) in a strip mall in Naples, Florida.
  • Focused on treating root causes rather than just symptoms of disease.
  • Business eventually thrived with a team including local physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.

Current Passion

• Purpose: Distill complex health information and distribute it to the masses.
• Aim: Add years to people's lives and life to their years.

Topic of the Day: Methylation

• Importance: Vital yet overlooked process in modern medicine.
• Concept: Like refining crude oil into gasoline, vitamins and nutrients must be converted into usable forms through methylation.
• Common Ailments: Often linked to nutrient deficiencies rather than solely aging or environmental factors.

Key Issues Addressed by Methylation

• Symptoms Improved: ADD/ADHD, OCD, manic depression, weight gain, poor sleep, gut issues, etc.
• Common Deficiencies: Often one or two nutrients away from optimal health.

Genetic Mutations & Methylation

• MTHFR Gene Mutation:
  • Affects up to 44% of the population.
  • Impairs conversion of folic acid to methylfolate.
  • Linked to anxiety, depression, poor gut health, and other issues.
  • Supplementing with methylated vitamins can help mitigate these issues.
• MTR Gene Mutation:
  • Impaired ability to metabolize homocysteine into methionine.
  • High homocysteine levels can lead to inflammation, high blood pressure, and other conditions.
  • Supplementing with B6, B12, and methylated folate helps.
• COMT Gene Mutation:
  • Affects estrogen regulation, leading to water retention and mood issues.
  • Supplementing with DIM, methionine, and B vitamins can help.

Practical Steps for Better Health

• Methylated Multivitamins: Crucial for those with genetic issues affecting methylation.
• Morning Routine:
  1. Expose skin to first light.
  2. Perform 3 rounds of 30 deep breaths.
  3. Take a cold shower.
  4. Grounding: Bare feet on soil, grass, or sand.
• Long-term Steps: Consider genetic testing for targeted nutrient supplementation.

Conclusion

• Vision: Helping people achieve optimal health through understanding and improving methylation.
• Invitation: Tune into future episodes for more expert insights.