Metabolically Active Folic Acid - L-Methylfolate

A few months ago I discovered L-Methylfolate. My sister told me that some exams her doctor had done revealed that she could not metabolize folic acid as well as the average person. Her body could not use it the way it was supposed to be used, and therefore she was not benefiting from it. So she was advised to take L-Methylfolate. I naturally became curious about it and began doing some research of my own. I also needed to order more Folic Acid as the prescription one that I was taking was much stronger than the over the counter Folic Acid I would buy, and I would finish the prescription too quickly by doubling my dosage (taking 2 MG instead of 1 MG). Taking more Folic Acid has been one of the simplest and most effective things I have ever done to manage this disease. I started doubling my dose in July 2015, when I was experiencing a lot of pain in my legs and had NO IDEA what to do. I spoke to the Sickle Cell Coordinator (an LPN! :D) at my hospital  about taking more Folic Acid and he said it was safe to do so. My sister had actually ordered some Dioscovite, which I had been considering taking to manage the pain in my legs, and on the bottle it says to take it with 2-5 MG of Folic Acid. Thus, the idea to increase my intake of Folic Acid was born.

Upon hearing about L-Methylfolate I began to do some research. I read reviews online about it as well as reading informative web pages. The people who wrote reviews reported feeling better overall when switching to the L-Methylfolate, as it is a more active form of Folic Acid that the body can use more easily. What I had been doing to stop my prescription from running out so quickly was taking one prescription Folic Acid (1 MG) with 3 non-prescription, over the counter, Vitamin Shoppe Folic Acid (400 mcg each x 3 = 1,200 MCG). This proved to be effective and I had more energy throughout the day. The pain in my legs had also decreased. However, I noticed a great improvement when I switched from taking Folic Acid to its much more potent relative, L-Methylfolate. I had still been getting the pain in my legs with take the prescription and the over the counter Folic Acid, but having switched over full time to the L-Methylfolate, I barely notice the pain now. 

So of course, here I am with an update and information to help others the way that the L-Methylfolate has helped me. Hopefully this will help someone, and please share! :D

This is a list of the resources I used to learn about L-Methylfolate --

This website talks about Folic Acid vs. L-Methylfolate:
http://thehealthyelephant.com/misunderstoodz/mthfr/mthfr-folic-acid-vs-l-methylfolate-vs-folate/

This website talks about L-Methylfolate overdoses:
http://mental-health.emedtv.com/l-methylfolate/l-methylfolate-overdose.html

Here are the reviews that I read on Amazon about the L-Methylfolate:
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Extension-Optimized-L-Methylfolate-vegetarian/dp/B003S5RVM4/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1459736758&sr=1-2&keywords=l-methylfolate#customerReviews

Here is where I usually purchase my L-Methylfolate, which on Swanson is called 5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid:
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/q?kw=5-Methyltetrahydrofolic+acid

This website talks about L-Methylfolate & 5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid, which are virtually the same thing, different names:
https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/What+is+Metafolin+%285-methylfolate%29+I+see+it+in+some+supplements+instead+of+folic+acid.+Is+it+better+than+folic+acid/metafolin_5-methylfolate/



 

Peptic Ulcers are HEALED!

On April 12, I had an endoscopy. I am pleased to report that the gastroenterologist said that my stomach is free of ulcers!!! Somewhere along the line, with all the natural remedies I tried, I must have done something that WORKED!!! I really believe it was the Cayenne Pepper as that is what I stuck with the longest out of everything that I took. Because of the Cayenne Pepper I was able to eat like normal, which made a HUGE difference. The gastroenterologist did say that I have some inflammation in my stomach lining due to gastritis and that my stomach is producing a lot of stomach acid, for which he gave me medication (which I will only take upon pain of death, haha :) ). I haven't been taking the medication (of course, I would only take it if it was ABSOLUTELY necessary). I think my problem stems from not eating enough, and that stems from my wheat intolerance that I only discovered within the past few months. Not being able to eat wheat is REALLY LAME. Wheat is EVERYWHERE! It is sooo hard to avoid, but I have to, for my overall health. Aside from making me break out, I get ridiculous stomach cramps (like 8 on a pain scale of 1-10) from it and it's never predictable when they will happen. But it's good to know that my peptic ulcers are healed and that if I feel pain it's NOT because there are holes in the lining of the stomach. Gastritis is annoying but it could always be worse and I'm thankful it's not! :D