How does a high homocysteine level hurt my health?
• High Homocysteine Speeds Up Oxidation and Aging Normal metabolic processes that occur in your body are constantly producing free radicals, which are unstable forms of oxygen, also called oxidants. The pace at which you age depends in large part on your body’s ability to protect its tissues against these free radicals. High homocysteine significantly increases the amount of free-radical oxidation in your body and the damage that comes with it. • High Homocysteine Causes Damage to Your Arteries High blood levels of homocysteine can cause cholesterol that is found in your blood to become oxidized LDL cholesterol, which can cause direct damage to the walls of your arteries. This whole process is commonly referred to as atherosclerosis. High homocysteine can also cause your blood to have a higher than normal tendency to clot, which increases your risk of developing a dangerous clot that could lead to a stroke. • High Homocysteine Increases Pain and Inflammation A high blood level of homoc
