Your DNA and Your health

clare gale • May 5, 2025

“Genes load the gun, environment pulls the trigger.”


Your DNA, Your Health.

Your symptoms could be caused by a fault in your DNA, there is a way to “turn down the volume!”

I am Clare Gale, Naturopathic practitioner for more than 25 years and in 2024 I found out I have a gene mutation which has changed my life. I was living with chronic pain and could not understand why. I eat well, avoid alcohol, processed foods and exercise.

In 2011 I sat on the wrong end of a sun bed and tore a muscle in my lower back. I have seen every specialist, had several medical procedures, have regular chiropractic treatments and taken medication but still I lived in constant extreme pain. 

Before my accident I was jogging most days, swam and went to gym 4 times a week and lived a happy, healthy lifestyle. I got a job on a cruise ship and knew I would need extra energy so at that point I started taking a good quality multivitamin. 

All my life I seemed unable to tolerate most medication, I had various side effects to many prescription drugs which made them intolerable to me. The heat and inflammation in my body caused my muscles to burn with pain, especially at the area of back injury. Exercise made it worse. 5 years ago, it was so bad I was walking with two sticks. 

Both through the NHS and privately and saw several specialists from spinal surgeons to rheumatologists but no solution could be found. All of my body hurt but the worse part was my lower back. The physiotherapists recommend exercise but the more I did, the worse I got. The pain was unbearable.

I did find some relief through herbs and nutrition, the natural world did offer some solutions, but not everything….what was going on with me?

Constantly in search of a solution I spoke to a physiotherapist who casually mentioned that he thought I may have a gene SNIP. I had no idea what he was talking about and went on to do some research, it seems he was right….in fact I have two!

Subsequently I have realised that most medical professionals have never heard of MTHFR.

I sent my DNA off to a specialist company who analysed my sample and sent me a detailed report. Understanding this report allowed me to realise why I had been having so much pain and why it was happening. It also gave information as to what I could do to reduce my suffering. 

MTHFR is a mutation in the gene, also known as a polymorphism, defect or variation and can be passed down from your parents.

MTHFR is a critical enzyme in the body. It's required for a metabolic process that repairs DNA, switches genes on and off, and numerous other important functions.

C677T and A1298C are the most well-studied and tested MTHFR mutations, these are my two.

This number and letter sequence refers to what is known as a single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP (pronounced “snip”). 

MTHFR mutations are actually quite common, and researchers suspect there are at least 30 different types.

For me, what happened was I was taking a high quality multivitamin which of course contains Folic Acid. Folic acid is the artificial form of vitamin B9 and common in most multivitamins. For people with MTHFR mutations, most of us are unable to methylate (process) this nutrient. In turn our liver and kidneys produce high levels of homocysteine which in turn causes inflammation. This inflammation attacks areas of weakness or injury such as my lower back.

This lightbulb moment made me realise why I was struggling with so much pain for so many years. But what could I do to reduce the homocysteine levels and reduce my pain. 

Of course I stopped taking the multivitamin with folic acid in which was the first and most vital thing to start my healing process. 

I contacted a MTHFR specialist in America and was given advice to how to balance my body through lifestyle changes and nutrition. Everyone is different so what works for one may not be right for all. For me I now take a high dose of Methyl Folate (natural form of B9) vitamins B6 and B12. At all costs I avoid Folic Acid which to me is a poison! I eat well, avoid processed foods, alcohol and artificial sweeteners.

I am now about 70% better than I have been in the last 10 years and continue to improve daily. 

Folic acid in food. As folic acid is an artificial nutrient, in fresh food it does not exist, only methyl folate the natural form that is fine and actually good for us. However….. there is legislation that has been passed in the UK to say in 2026 ALL white flour MUST have folic acid added to it. So all foods made using this white flour such as bread, cakes, pastry, pasta, some sauces etc will contain it. In most countries of Europe and USA this is already the case.

Brown flour is fine, so I can eat brown bread which I prefer anyway, but I do love cakes and won’t me able to eat unless made with brown flour…it just won’t be the same!

Allowing my body to feel normal again is the best thing, avoiding these trigger foods is a small price to pay to be able to do all the things I love like gardening and dancing which I have not been able to do in recent years. 

My day job as a Natural Health Practitioner I use a Bio Resonance computer to analysis hair sample to help identify imbalances in the body. I can look at things like system and organ function, nutritional levels, hormone balance, food sensitivities, toxins and much more. I was part way there for helping myself but I didn’t have all the facts. They are only available through DNA testing. The volume switch for my symptoms is now turned down low allowing me to continue life in much better place and now have low levels of pain and improving daily. 

If you think you may have health concerns that could be helped through testing then please get in touch and I will gladly help point you in the right direction. 

I do not offer DNA testing and am not affiliated to any companies who do. There are several companies that you will find online who do offer this service. 

I am happy to chat to anyone who thinks that this could be something that is affecting them and can help point you in the right direction. Having suffered so badly for so long, I am keen to help others who may have a similar story.

Clare Gale VTCT, City & Guilds, RIPH&H

07717281604

https://www.uknaturalhealthclinics.com/


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