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Some of this is the worst, most wildly inaccurate information....

lets start with sulfur gas---this is caused by gut dysregulation. However, typically it's fermentation of food too high in the intestines. Leaky gut is synonymous with this, except it occurs after the bacteria has created holes in the stomach lining and is leaking into the bloodstream. (you will know when this has happened)

Segway to: eat less sugar, consume LESS fiber (easier and faster movement through bowels) and LESS probiotics; see this is still good bacteria, it's just in the wrong place when it comes to these specific issues... so they need to tone it down and know their place

Now why do you feel like crap? Several reasons-- you were paleo, you shut off insulin production, whereby forcing your body into a reliance on fats. Paleo is better than keto--so we won't go there. However, throwing sugar back to a system inhibiting insulin production is screwed--basically you are having unprocessed sugar flow through your bloodstream until your system kicks back on insulin into full swing. These diets really screw the system... (a keto diet will increase oxidative stress by forcing cellular respiration to occur multiple times ... More

Some of this is the worst, most wildly inaccurate information....

lets start with sulfur gas---this is caused by gut dysregulation. However, typically it's fermentation of food too high in the intestines. Leaky gut is synonymous with this, except it occurs after the bacteria has created holes in the stomach lining and is leaking into the bloodstream. (you will know when this has happened)

Segway to: eat less sugar, consume LESS fiber (easier and faster movement through bowels) and LESS probiotics; see this is still good bacteria, it's just in the wrong place when it comes to these specific issues... so they need to tone it down and know their place

Now why do you feel like crap? Several reasons-- you were paleo, you shut off insulin production, whereby forcing your body into a reliance on fats. Paleo is better than keto--so we won't go there. However, throwing sugar back to a system inhibiting insulin production is screwed--basically you are having unprocessed sugar flow through your bloodstream until your system kicks back on insulin into full swing. These diets really screw the system... (a keto diet will increase oxidative stress by forcing cellular respiration to occur multiple times, it will also delay nutrients)

Now you get to the mechanisms of this gene--it's role is in oxidation/oxidative stress/ etc. if you want to help this issue take a supplement called NAC, so amino acids are correct. I just did research on this-- it's the only compound that is able to bypass a slow transport cycle for creating your body's own natural antioxidants. It acts as an antioxidant itself, but your peroxisomes inside your cells are able to also readily convert it to the factor that you are deficient in. (they actually still use this in an IV to detox patients in the ER that have overdosed on NSAIDS)

Sooooo now you head over to glutathione--> the antioxidant--->if you have a shortage=release of free radicals to damage tissues in the bodies after cellular metabolism--> unfortunately, after this process, if you come up short, in your bodily cells, your neuronal cells certainly don't have enough which is where it is expected to head next after it's done it's job---> in your brain this is also responsible for mopping up excess glutamate in your brain--->glutamate is contributes towards making you a nervous/paranoid/depressed person--->NAC was labeled the "amino acid changing psychiatry"--->now you are incessantly anxious and high strung because you physically cannot regulate/keep yup with these processes


(you see, this gene indicates an inhibition factor to the antioxidant production. This process is already too slow and releases 2-5% byproducts as free radicals due to the way the amino acids have to get inside your cells--through specialized transport systems. NAC alters this as it is already membrane permeable in it's format when it enters the body)

Hope this helps and makes sense--tried to make it logical. Stumbled on this when looking for variants of this gene and was baffled by the thread--so yes late, but accurate.  Less

One cause of sugar cravings is a neurotransmitter imbalance, which can be caused by the stress of living in modern society, by genetics, or by the lower nutritional value of food produced by industrialized agriculture, to name a few. ... Which means a lot of people have neurotransmitter imbalances at the root of their health issues.

I immediately stopped craving sweets, my appetite immediately returned to normal, and I immediately began sleeping better, when I started TAAT - Targeted Amino Acid Therapy.

In addition to NeuroScience at neuro-relief.com, there's Neurogistics.com, which has an international clientele, including top athletes.

Sounds like you may have a serotonin deficiency, because the foods that make you feel better all increase serotonin levels -- hence the term "comfort food."

There are simple, non-invasive urine tests available to calculate your neurotransmitter levels. One is NeuroScience, Inc. in Osceola Wisconsin. Contact them and they'll give you a list of practitioners in your area who use their test protocols.

Also, your gut manufactures 95% of your serotonin, so if you have "leaky gut" that could be contributing to a serotonin shortage.

Have a look at salicylate and amine intolerances. The type of diet you've gone on and your genetic issues could suggest intolerances. I had this happen with me when I went paleo a couple of years ago. I haven't had my 23andme results yet so I don't know which genetic issues I've got to deal with but my naturopath thinks COMT is an issue.

i had the EXACT same experience as you did (@PP2254)!!!

I have been all over the place diet wise in my lifetime. From vegan to paleo and every diet book in between. But I had been following a paleo diet for nine months. Very insidiously, symptoms like sadness/depression began plaguing me. I hesitated calling them that because nothing had really changed in my life to cause them. I just felt like I was kinda done living. Not suicidal but just more apathetic. I am normally a very optimistic, Polyanna-type person so even my husband sat up and took notice! I kept having my thyroid checked because hypothyroidism runs rampant in my family. The numbers were borderline normal so my doctor thought my symptoms warranted a try on T4 medication. I had ZERO improvement on the medication. It didn't affect me in any way, good or bad. So I stopped taking it. Meanwhile, my blood work revealed my cholesterol to have shot up from the 160 range to the 260 range from the Paleo way of eating. Even though the vap test showed the LDL particles to be large, buoyant ones, it was kinda hard to swallow. When I ... More

i had the EXACT same experience as you did (@PP2254)!!!

I have been all over the place diet wise in my lifetime. From vegan to paleo and every diet book in between. But I had been following a paleo diet for nine months. Very insidiously, symptoms like sadness/depression began plaguing me. I hesitated calling them that because nothing had really changed in my life to cause them. I just felt like I was kinda done living. Not suicidal but just more apathetic. I am normally a very optimistic, Polyanna-type person so even my husband sat up and took notice! I kept having my thyroid checked because hypothyroidism runs rampant in my family. The numbers were borderline normal so my doctor thought my symptoms warranted a try on T4 medication. I had ZERO improvement on the medication. It didn't affect me in any way, good or bad. So I stopped taking it. Meanwhile, my blood work revealed my cholesterol to have shot up from the 160 range to the 260 range from the Paleo way of eating. Even though the vap test showed the LDL particles to be large, buoyant ones, it was kinda hard to swallow. When I went back to my doctor he looked at the results and told me he would rather see me back on my plant based diet! I went home and had a bowl of rice and beans and my happy meter soared. I felt like I have been in a manic state ever since in that even if something goes wrong in my life, at my core I am happy. It's been 9 months of following a strict plant based diet for me so far and again, I have to say that my circumstances over the past several years are basically the same yet I am happier than I have ever been in my life. I had given a vegan diet a try around 5 years ago and it didn't have this affect that time around which is why I tried paleo. But the first time I tried doing it, I ate very little starch and mostly non starchy veggies. This time I eat tons of potatoes, beans and other starches and that has been what I believe has increased my seratonin to the point that I now realize a level of inner, chemically induced happiness that I have NEVER known before, even as a child. I will never stray from this way of eating and because I feel so great, it's been an easy transition.

Good luck to you! I think the advice given to you above that some people need to have some starch on the paleo diet is the direction you should head if you are attached to eating paleo. If you are not attached to paleo, then check out Dr. McDougall's, Starch Solution and T. Colin Campbell's, China Study. They all have lectures on YouTube. Less

You might have adrenal fatigue. I do, and I need a certain amount of carbs to feel well. Just eat healthy carbs, fruit, beans, etc

Some people on primal diets require more starches to help them maintain their blood glucose; however, adding back bread and sugar is the worst thing you can do to alleviate the problem, both are highly inflammatory and spike insulin. Add small amounts (1/2 cup - 1 cup/day) of safe starches, like white rice, potato and sweet potato to keep your glucose on a more even keel. Paul Jaminet's book, The Perfect Health Diet, explains why. I'm not the author nor related to nor affiliated with him.

You are probably addicted to sugar and getting away from this addiction makes you depressed. You will get over it, but it takes time and perhaps doing it little at a time for you is o.k. I just find I must eliminate it and try not to cheat or I'm in trouble again. Good luck.

To @GV2694: Yes, try seeking health brand in Amazon, or try Amy Yasko s site HolisticHeal.com

To @GV2694: Yes, try seeking health brand in Amazon, or try Amy Yasko s site HolisticHeal.com

I get my B12 in liquid form from Metabolis in England. I use B12 Hydroxy and B12 Adeno both. I tried folinic acid but that didnt work as well as folate 5L MTHFR

Hi,
I have the same homozygous gene mutation (MTHFR-1 A1298c). I tried speaking to my doctor about it, but it was completely over her head. Where did you get your methyl folate and methyl b12? Are these typically available over the counter?

all gut related comments are on-especially those related to stress in the brain.I have MTHFR-1 A1298c Homozygous,and it causes Candida,Leaky Gut,low Hydrogen Sulfide(rotten egg farts)-all due to wrong intestinal flora/bacteria causing a stress reaction in the brain which affects the liver CYP enzymes,G6PD,all Phase II liver detox enzymes-which in turn affects the gut,Pancreas,bile flow,toxicity,brain fog,amino acid deficiency.What is needed is high fiber diet with pre- and pro-biotics+high saturated fat diet+extra virgin coconut oil+Butyraid+ a few select amino acids in SMALL quantities.I would not take Phenylalanine as it can promote ammonia,which is part of my condition(called PKU).I have found veggies,other than green peas and green veggies such as Kale,cause bowel problems by disrupting fermentation causing low Hydrogen Sulfide,etc.Same with carbs and sugars unless in low quantities and mixed with high fat+fiber.I eat Hosgood Organic Oat Bran 2x a day as prebiotic,l-Reuteri+ as Probiotic,and COSTCO Monterey Jack Cheese(2 LB) all taken 2x/day.Swanson's is best for supplements.My cholesterol is very low,IBS resolved-and this diet is contrary to ... More

all gut related comments are on-especially those related to stress in the brain.I have MTHFR-1 A1298c Homozygous,and it causes Candida,Leaky Gut,low Hydrogen Sulfide(rotten egg farts)-all due to wrong intestinal flora/bacteria causing a stress reaction in the brain which affects the liver CYP enzymes,G6PD,all Phase II liver detox enzymes-which in turn affects the gut,Pancreas,bile flow,toxicity,brain fog,amino acid deficiency.What is needed is high fiber diet with pre- and pro-biotics+high saturated fat diet+extra virgin coconut oil+Butyraid+ a few select amino acids in SMALL quantities.I would not take Phenylalanine as it can promote ammonia,which is part of my condition(called PKU).I have found veggies,other than green peas and green veggies such as Kale,cause bowel problems by disrupting fermentation causing low Hydrogen Sulfide,etc.Same with carbs and sugars unless in low quantities and mixed with high fat+fiber.I eat Hosgood Organic Oat Bran 2x a day as prebiotic,l-Reuteri+ as Probiotic,and COSTCO Monterey Jack Cheese(2 LB) all taken 2x/day.Swanson's is best for supplements.My cholesterol is very low,IBS resolved-and this diet is contrary to nutrition and Dr's.Methyl Folate and Methyl B12 are needed along with P-5-P and a little Molybdenum for the excess sulfides-Google Amy Yasko.I am 76 and play golf 4x a week and walk 36 miles a week.What you need is what works for you-not what someone else says as this gene and SNP's make you unique as you are a Methylator, which makes you sensitive to low Folate,low B12 ,low greens,drugs,sulfur compounds-avoid all antibiotics, esp.CIPRO.Check out Hydroxytyrosol and Oleuropein enriched Olive Leaf Extract.All drugs,if taken, have to be at 1/3 dose to avoid toxicity due to low Phase II liver enzymes.Exercise(walking) is essential-preferably daily-so are Branched Chain Amino Acids and Tryptophan+Glutamine+VitC+Creatine+DHEA+Q-10+Resveratrol+Carnitine+NAC+TMG+Taurine+Tyrosine+Magnesium Malate-all in low quantities,except the last one and Melatonin taken before bed(sublingual high absorption).Above all stay positive and believe in yourself and a higher power.Fred1236 Less

I found this research interesting:
"Researchers did magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans to see how the sweets affected the women and found that sugar, but not aspartame, triggered activity in a part of the brain involved in reacting to stress.

The MRI results suggest that sugar may have interrupted the normal response to stress in the hippocampus region of the brain, limiting production of the stress hormone cortisol, said senior study author Kevin Laugero, a nutrition researcher at the University of California, Davis."

I have added back some breads and other sugars. I have begun to take L-methylfolate. I feel much more like I was before starting paleo.

I'm experiencing a similar thing and was interested o read on Heartfixer website that if you have ++ or +- in CBS and/or BHMT or SUOX or NOS, the sulphur and ammonia overload in a Paleo diet can really complicate your efforts at healing. They suggest reducing these levels first before anything else. Not a permanent food restriction, just a period of full or partial reduction until urine sulphate levels are within normal range. Plenty of info on heartfixer.com.

If you ate a lot of bananas, tea (including green/white), coffee, and avocados while on paleo, then this could have set off your COMT polymorphism. These foods are high in catecholamines. Impaired COMT enzyme activity can result in anxiety if your catecholamine levels spike.

As a nutritionist these are all good comments. I would advise that going back on bread and sugar is contraindicated for depression. As you all note; what we have today to eat isn't what our grandparents ate. Bread has 40 times the gluten content of even a generation ago. Gluten is a molecule that cannot be broken down by the human body so everyone is gluten intolerant at the current gluten levels. Furthermore, it and the sugar involved affect the same receptors as cocaine and morphine. Thus the addiction component. Keep your carbohydrates to complex carbs from vegetables. Protein levels may be determined by taking your ideal weight divided by 2.2 minus 10%. Divided into meals per day. Too much protein is inflammatory and many going paleo make that mistake. The quality of the protein is also significant as much commercial meat has many hormones, antibiotics, etc. If you experience blood sugar issues eat protein with every meal and eat 3 meals per day with snacks as necessary. All meals should include protein, healthy fat (butter/lard/avocados/nuts/seeds/olives & oil/coconut oil/wild caught salmon) and complex carbohydrates. Eliminate from your diet anything you have a ... More

As a nutritionist these are all good comments. I would advise that going back on bread and sugar is contraindicated for depression. As you all note; what we have today to eat isn't what our grandparents ate. Bread has 40 times the gluten content of even a generation ago. Gluten is a molecule that cannot be broken down by the human body so everyone is gluten intolerant at the current gluten levels. Furthermore, it and the sugar involved affect the same receptors as cocaine and morphine. Thus the addiction component. Keep your carbohydrates to complex carbs from vegetables. Protein levels may be determined by taking your ideal weight divided by 2.2 minus 10%. Divided into meals per day. Too much protein is inflammatory and many going paleo make that mistake. The quality of the protein is also significant as much commercial meat has many hormones, antibiotics, etc. If you experience blood sugar issues eat protein with every meal and eat 3 meals per day with snacks as necessary. All meals should include protein, healthy fat (butter/lard/avocados/nuts/seeds/olives & oil/coconut oil/wild caught salmon) and complex carbohydrates. Eliminate from your diet anything you have a sensitivity to. Depression is a complex issue for everyone and those with COMT an even more delicate balancing act that in severe cases may need to be very carefully managed. So much so that it can control your life. You many want to read a good general article recently written on Mercola.com. Go to his site and reference "Depression" for all posts on the subject. Be sure you hit all the "normal" or more typical highligts of depression before you head down the other path. Heterozygous should be able to be managed quite successfully without extreme measures. My thesis was in neurodegeneration. Hitting the basics can in the majority of cases do wonders. Give the body the tools it needs and it will work miracles. Snps need not rule. Remember genes can be turned on AND off. Less

pp-2254 I'm 65 year old, went paleolithic a year ago, but also emotional problems. You are 100% correct. Moderation, moderation, moderation. Some of us need some carbs; there have been many comments along these lines. I recommend a book by Joey Lott on amazon, where he refutes--using plain common sense and his own experience--Strict Paleo.
The health advice we get from the world always seems to be a process of over-corrections. There is value to some of the paleo info, but, personally, I'm returning to the food my grandparents ate, including meat, vegetables, carbs, saturated fat, whole milk (organic), and Cod Liver Oil. That, together with getting the right forms of b12 and folate per Yasko protocol, and I am healthier than ever.

To the comment on Food Babe. I am impressed that even if she does not have a degree in chemistry or biology that she has a voice to make others aware of what they are eating and also she is gaining support to continue to do something about this issue with our food companies. Just studying it by ourselves is important, however, getting a best seller out there that shows foods can be changed is a way to help more people! Awareness is what she has done for our country! She has indeed made more people think before buying chemicals in their foods!
GO FOOD BABE ARMY! Check out her food blog of all the videos that have been sent in by people all over the USA! I live with someone who doesnt thiink that a little chemical here and a little chemical there is going to create any health issues! And eating out is chemicals all around us!
Changing to low oxalates has made a big impact in my genetically challenged body! I have had burning mouth for over 2 years and the pain is slowlly getting less.
Can oxalates actually end up in your mouth and cause numbness ... More

To the comment on Food Babe. I am impressed that even if she does not have a degree in chemistry or biology that she has a voice to make others aware of what they are eating and also she is gaining support to continue to do something about this issue with our food companies. Just studying it by ourselves is important, however, getting a best seller out there that shows foods can be changed is a way to help more people! Awareness is what she has done for our country! She has indeed made more people think before buying chemicals in their foods!
GO FOOD BABE ARMY! Check out her food blog of all the videos that have been sent in by people all over the USA! I live with someone who doesnt thiink that a little chemical here and a little chemical there is going to create any health issues! And eating out is chemicals all around us!
Changing to low oxalates has made a big impact in my genetically challenged body! I have had burning mouth for over 2 years and the pain is slowlly getting less.
Can oxalates actually end up in your mouth and cause numbness and tingling and itching? I have no other symptoms, except fatigue at times. I have MTHFR 1298, CBS,COMT,VAC,GSTP1, GSTM1 plus more with hemachromatosis. So in the past 3 plus years my body has tested off in the organic acid areas! I agree to start in the gut which most doctors are clueless at what that should be including the Mayo gut specialty where I went in 2013 and told it was in my head! Less

A couple of additional thoughts to what has been said before. The COMT gene metabolizes dopamine so those of us with polymorphisms are down-regulated in our ability to metabolize dopamine.

This down-regulation can start dopamine cycling. Your dopamine levels get too high, so your body shuts down production (because excess dopamine is dangerous and kills brain cells). Then your dopamine levels get too low, so it turns back on. This cycling can cause a form of depression, which is why COMT is linked to bipolar disorder and other mental illness.

Fixing your gut is the first thing, so you might want to ask your doctor to order the US Biotek 96 Food Sensitivity Panel to see what foods are causing an immune response. There is tons of information on the internet about 4R programs for gut healing.

If you also have GAD1 polymorphisms, phenylated GABA will help greatly reduce anxiety. Regular GABA does not cross the blood-brain barrier, so it only helps supplement GABA needs in the gut and elsewhere in the body. I take Kavinace at night, and I sleep extremely well and wake up feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Magnesium is also critical for reducing anxiety, Because of the ... More

A couple of additional thoughts to what has been said before. The COMT gene metabolizes dopamine so those of us with polymorphisms are down-regulated in our ability to metabolize dopamine.

This down-regulation can start dopamine cycling. Your dopamine levels get too high, so your body shuts down production (because excess dopamine is dangerous and kills brain cells). Then your dopamine levels get too low, so it turns back on. This cycling can cause a form of depression, which is why COMT is linked to bipolar disorder and other mental illness.

Fixing your gut is the first thing, so you might want to ask your doctor to order the US Biotek 96 Food Sensitivity Panel to see what foods are causing an immune response. There is tons of information on the internet about 4R programs for gut healing.

If you also have GAD1 polymorphisms, phenylated GABA will help greatly reduce anxiety. Regular GABA does not cross the blood-brain barrier, so it only helps supplement GABA needs in the gut and elsewhere in the body. I take Kavinace at night, and I sleep extremely well and wake up feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Magnesium is also critical for reducing anxiety, Because of the use of Roundup, magnesium is being bound into the soil and is not available for plants to take up. That is why vegetables produced by conventional agriculture have poor nutritional profiles when compared to vegetables produced by organic methods. People are no longer getting the magnesium from food they used to get, and research is linking these deficiencies to autism, mental health and somatic disorders. I recently switched to buying only organic foods, and I highly recommend it. I also take 400mg of magnesium glycinate everyday.

Finally, getting the rest of the methylation cycle in balance is critical. The right dosages of B3, B6, B12, methylfolate, zinc and TMG, depending on your other polymorphisms, will get you there. The form of B12 you should take (adenosylcobalamin, hydroxocobalamin or methylcobalamin) depends on a combination of your COMT and VDR Taq SNPs. Amy Yasko has published a table, which I can post, if you need. For instance, I take adeno- and hydroxocobalamin because my COMT/VDR Taq status causes me to have plenty of methyl groups available for the methylation cycle. Taking methylcobalamin could push me over the edge and into anxiety. Less