-- Eugene Goh
Via the blog
Homocysteine is an amino acid produced when methionine -- an essential amino acid largely found in meat, fish, eggs, beans, and seeds – is broken down.
In healthy individuals receiving adequate nutrition, homocysteine is converted back to methionine and all is well.
Certain populations, however, run into some difficulties.
The group in the most danger consists of individuals born with a condition known as homocystinuria, in which the enzyme needed to convert homocysteine back into methionine is missing.
Consequently, homocysteine often accumulates in their systems.
Since vitamin B12 plays a major role in homocysteine-to-methionine conversion, vegans also run the risk of having high homocysteine levels.
Folic acid – another B vitamins -- also plays a crucial role in homocysteine breakdown.
High homocysteine levels are problematic because they damage the inside of arteries, thereby allowing blood clots to form and LDL to build up as plaque, heightening one’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
In conclusion...yet another reason to eat your veggies.
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