Ingredient Stacking: Have You Been Duped?

by Mila McManus, MD

Have you been duped by ingredient stacking? It is a marketing ploy used by food manufacturers to give you the wrong impression of reality. — Ingredient Stacking – Sugar

Has ingredient stacking duped you? It’s one of the many marketing ploys food manufacturers intentionally use to deceive you about what’s in their products. Manufacturers are supposed to list ingredients in descending order, based on the amount/volume used. One of the ways they can prevent listing sugar or sweeteners first is to use two or more types of sweeteners so that the first ingredient can be something other than sugar. With over 56 common names for sugar, it is easy to be duped. Let’s look at a two ingredient stacking examples.

Look at the first picture below (“Example One”). In this example, the manufacturers got foods perceived by most people as protein into the first two positions. However, continue down the list, and you will see that there are six more sweeteners: tapioca starch, erythritol, allulose, cane sugar, monk fruit extract, and stevia leaf extract. If the ingredient list were truly transparent, “sweeteners” would be listed as the first ingredient since they make up the greatest amount/volume used! Ingredient stacking is a clever, dishonest technique used by food companies to lie with food labels. And by the way, soy protein isolate is a genetically modified and molecular isolation of only part of the soy molecule in an air puffed format – an ultra-processed food. Allulose is a new darling on the food sweetener stage, but early research suggests that it harms the gut biome, so we advise you to avoid it as well.

Next, look below at Example Two. Here is another excellent example of ingredient stacking. The second ingredient is sugar, but there is more of it as you move down the stack. Next comes brown sugar, corn syrup, and tapioca starch, all used to sweeten the product. By using different sweeteners in lesser amounts, the manufacturer can elevate the milk, cream, flour, and cocoa to the highest level on the list. Also note that three gums, and the subtle note at the bottom that this food CONTAINS BIOENGINEERED INGREDIENTS, should inspire you to return it to the freezer case at the grocery store.

Ingredient stacking happens with other ingredients besides sugar. You will find wheat gluten and gum stacks if you pay close attention. Ingredient stacking, health claims on the front of the package, and the package itself, should alert you to caution. We can go so far as to say if the package has any health claims on the front of it, it is another duping marketing ploy. The trending health claims now are plant-based, more protein, gluten-free, and a good source of Omega-3. But none of that assures you that it is a healthy choice! Read the ingredient list and fine print first. Then carefully examine the Nutrition Facts for fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Ideally, continue eating real whole food from the produce section, meat and fish counter, legumes, lentils, split peas, and nuts.

Don’t be duped. Limit packaged food. Eat the real thing. Stay well.

References:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/56-different-names-for-sugar#55-56-Other-sugar

By Mila McManus MD|2025-03-04T06:03:06-06:00March 6th, 2025|Articles, General|

Gluten Hides in Unexpected Places

by Mila McManus, MD

Gluten hides in unexpected places, not only in food sources, but in many other items that may surprise you! First, let’s define gluten and explain why you should care. Then, we’ll provide examples of its hiding places.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein network made up of gliadin and glutenin. Gliadin and glutenin form an unbreakable web that gives bread structure and makes it light and fluffy. The most common sources are wheat, barley, and rye grains. Wheat comes in many varieties, such as durum, emmer, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, Kamut, and einkorn. Oats are naturally gluten-free but are often cross-contaminated with gluten in the fields or during manufacturing.

Why Should I Care?

Gliadin makes up 70% of gluten’s protein and is the culprit in damaging the gut biome.

In Celiac disease, people are sensitive to both gliadin and glutenin, and the gliadin damages the lining of the intestine.
In gluten sensitivity or allergy, there is no damage to the lining of the intestine, but intestinal permeability is increased, allowing inadequately digested food particles and toxins into the bloodstream.
Gliadin can also trigger tissue injury by disrupting the immune response.
In studies using human cells in a lab, gliadins have been shown to reorganize the intestine’s thin, flexible cellular fibers, resulting in excessive permeability. To help you visualize, the gut should look more like a fine wire sieve, not a larger holed colander.

Since gliadin cannot be removed from gluten, a gluten-free diet is the best approach to avoiding damaging the gut biome. Unfortunately, this is not as easy as avoiding bread, pasta, and pizza. Let’s examine the more obvious and sneakier hiding places of gluten.

Where Does Gluten Hide?

The Celiac Disease Foundation has the most detailed list of hiding places of gluten, which you can access here . Beyond the bread, pasta, and pizza products made with wheat flour, some of the most unexpected hiding places for gluten include:

Brewers yeast, noodles, cereals (oat, rice, and corn-based), sauces, and gravies.
Granola bars, French fries, potato chips, processed lunch meats, candy, and candy bars.
Malt vinegar, soy sauce, flour, or barley enzymes can be used to make soup, salad dressing, marinades, and brown rice syrup.
Pre-seasoned meats, self-basting poultry.
Eggs served in restaurants where pancake batter is added to the scrambled eggs or omelets.
Beers, ales, lagers, malt beverages, and malt vinegar are made from gluten-containing grains.
Cosmetics such as lip gloss, lipstick, and mascara.
Oral care and dental products
Herbal and nutritional supplements
Over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs
Playdough!

Look for this new Certified Gluten-Free symbol when shopping. Be cautious when eating in restaurants. A healthy gut biome is one of the best tickets to good health. Please don’t ruin it. Be well.

References:

The Celiac Disease Foundation. https://celiac.org/.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/what-is-gliadin?srsltid=AfmBOoqVgDfXkcy2QR391ikE__4JI9y4e33ngDGu7j6lnnaQHGmnBHf2

By Mila McManus MD|2025-02-26T07:11:54-06:00February 27th, 2025|Articles, General|

What is Helleborus?

by Mila McManus, MD

Helleborus is a homeopathic remedy extracted from the Christmas Rose plant with pharmacological effects on the body without side effects. — Helleborus niger or Christmas Rose plant

What is Helleborus? Helleborus is a homeopathic remedy extracted from the Christmas Rose plant. Also called Helleborus niger, it contains a wealth of substances with pharmacological effects on the body without side effects. See my video about it here.

A German physician named Samuel Hahnemann started homeopathy two hundred years ago. Homeopathic medicine uses highly diluted plant, animal, and mineral substances to stimulate the body’s healing mechanisms naturally, and Helleborus is just one of many homeopathic remedies. In homeopathy, extremely powerful but tiny therapeutic doses of natural extracts are used with little to no unpleasant side effects or danger of toxic reactions.

Helleborus has many anti-inflammatory effects. It can help with chronic pain, arthritis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases. It also helps fight cancer by inducing apoptosis, where cancer cells blow up and die. It can also cause cytotoxic effects, directly killing cancer cells. Other uses include traumatic brain injury, depression, and anxiety, as well as to alleviate seizures and improve cognition. It has also been used for the treatment of some gynecological issues. It has a diuretic effect (meaning it helps eliminate excess fluid) and antifungal and antibiotic properties. It is an immune modulator and has antioxidant properties.

Please talk with your healthcare provider at The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness to see if Helleborus is right for you.

**Note: Helleborus is not an FDA-approved therapy. (This doesn’t mean it can’t be used, it just means that it won’t be standard-of-care, or covered by insurance).

References:

Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. 6^th ed.(New York: Avery/Penguin Random House, 2023)

https://www.collaborativemedicalarts.net/articles/2019/7/16/introduction-to-helleborus

By Mila McManus MD|2025-02-17T15:55:37-06:00February 19th, 2025|Articles, General|

VW UTI Zoomer : This is a game-changer

The UTI Zoomer by Vibrant Wellness is a game changer in the treatment of chronic UTI's and interstitial cystitis.

by Mila McManus MD

Are you suffering from recurrent UTIs? Do you struggle with Interstitial Cystitis? Are you tired of undergoing multiple rounds of antibiotics without long-term relief? The UTI Zoomer by Vibrant Wellness is a game-changer. This panel goes beyond standard urinalysis testing by combining pathogen detection, antibiotic resistance gene detection, and detailed urinalysis – all in one simple urine test.

Up until relatively recently, urine was considered to be sterile, but newer technology has revealed that there’s a urobiome with many microbes in the urine, which can affect bladder and prostate health. The UTI Zoomer takes an in-depth assessment of urinary health by measuring a wide array of pathogens using advanced RT-PCR technology for precision results. Included are:

Identification of antibiotic-resistant genes which is crucial for guiding appropriate antibiotic therapy, preventing ineffective treatments, and minimizing the risk of complications.
Urinalysis markers identify bacterial and fungal pathogens commonly linked to UTI, such as Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans.
The urinalysis evaluates key markers- glucose, bilirubin, ketones, specific gravity, pH, protein, nitrite, leukocytes, red and white blood cells, and epithelial cells, providing a complete picture of urinary health.
The panel offers personalized antibiotic and supplement suggestions to address the urobiome imbalances.
Results are provided with a detailed full report of findings and recommendations. Click here to view a sample report.

This comprehensive and integrative approach helps your provider make accurate evaluations and develop effective management strategies for urinary tract conditions, supporting a more tailored and successful treatment plan for you.

Ask your provider about the UTI Zoomer today and end the madness of chronic bladder and prostate issues.

References:

Vibrant Wellness UTI Zoomer: Unlock a Deeper Understanding of UTI’s Webinar, Tue, Jan 21, 2025.

By Mila McManus MD|2025-02-13T05:58:18-06:00February 13th, 2025|Articles, General|

Overcoming Treatment Plan Shock

by Mila McManus, MD

When you visit a Functional Medicine physician for the first time, you may need to overcome the shock of your first detailed treatment plan. — Overcoming Treatment Plan Shock

When you visit a Functional Medicine physician for the first time, you may be shocked when you read your first treatment plan! These plans contain important information and instructions, and their length and content can feel overwhelming when you don’t feel well and are unfamiliar with how functional medicine differs from the traditional medical model. Let’s examine the reasons and benefits of detailed treatment plans and then find helpful solutions to overcoming the initial shock of getting one.

Why Is My Treatment Plan So Long and Complex?

Treatment plans are long and complex because you are a unique and complex individual. Unlike conventional managed medical care, our physicians practice individualized medicine. As the physician seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease, s/he must consider the gut biome, immune system, nutrition, genomics, lifestyle, stress, and your current symptoms, diagnoses, and concerns. This comprehensive individual approach to medicine combines advanced tests with time-proven protocols, therapies, supplements, lifestyle changes, and education. By the very nature of this comprehensive, individual approach, there is much to explain, recommend, and share with you! Your treatment plan is intended to give you confidence that there are healing solutions, and that your practitioner has a solid plan that fits your complex needs. It also reflects the content of your financial investment in your health and the partnership you are developing with your provider. And lastly, your treatment plan provides a thorough roadmap to reference as you progress towards better health and quality of life.

Solutions to Overcome Treatment Plan Shock

Recognize that while long and detailed, your treatment plan empowers you to begin making choices and begin healing.
Invest as much time carefully reading your plan as your provider spent preparing it for you. This will help you build a strong working partnership with your medical team.
Print out the plan. Sit down and read it thoroughly, first noticing the divisions: Prescriptions, Supplements, Lab Orders, Other Plans, and future appointments.
Start implementation by going to the “Other Plans and Follow-Up” section, where you’ll find Important Information and other recommendations. Take in each action Item one at a time, and then move on to the next one.
Choose a different day to sit down with the Supplement Plan. Use a highlighter to mark timing and dose. Prepare your pill boxes and put non-pill supplements where you will remember to take them.

Still Overwhelmed and Struggling to Cope?

Are you having a difficult time coping with your health circumstances? Are you feeling anxious just thinking of starting your treatment plan? Are you worried about whether you can make the life changes needed for the success of your treatment plan? Would you find it helpful to have someone review your treatment plan with you? If you would like to meet with our health coach/counselor, Nancy Mehlert, she offers services (virtual appointments) to help you gain insight into your circumstances, increase your coping skills and resilience, and find a way forward on your journey to good health. Click here to schedule an appointment.

Go forward. Get Well.

By Mila McManus MD|2025-02-06T05:58:05-06:00February 6th, 2025|Articles, General|

Mindful Eating Hacks for 2025: Part II

by Mila McManus, MD

Welcome back to Part II: Mindful Eating Hacks for 2025. Last week, we introduced the idea that learning to be mindful about your eating habits can be transforming. We provided the first six of twelve mindful eating hacks for better health in 2025. You can follow this link to read them. This week, we present the other six mindful eating hacks that are scientifically supported to improve health and nutritional lifestyles. Most of the habit hacks are easy to implement and don’t cost anything. Implement them individually or together for greater impact. You may want to try incorporating one each month during 2025.

SEVEN: Clean out your freezer, fridge, and pantry. Mindfulness is much easier when every available choice in the house is a good one. The whole family can benefit by hacking this habit so that items such as candy bars, potato chips, soda pop, and ice cream won’t be kept in the house as a routine choice. Ultra-processed foods and the commercials about them on television are BOTH designed to trick your neurochemistry into craving them. Don’t fall prey to the advertising. Put clean, healthy choices in the house, and keep the bad choices off the grocery list.

EIGHT: In response to hunger, hydrate first. Hack the hangry habit. When you think you are hungry, pause and think about drinking a glass of water. This mindful eating habit can help curb your appetite. One side note: avoid drinking too much liquid with your meal. Liquids dilute your stomach acids and enzymes, and reduce the quality of your digestive process. During meals, minimize your liquid intake to 4 ounces or less. (Also, it takes 10-20 minutes for water to pass through your stomach, so after that, you’re good to go with respect to eating.)

NINE: Change the order in which you eat your meal. Eat some protein, healthy fats, and raw vegetable fiber first. Eat starches and sugar at the end of the meal. Protein, healthy fats, and fiber are slower to digest, resulting in satiation, which is why this is a good mindful eating habit. Sugars and starches digest very rapidly, spike blood sugar, and create hunger cravings again. Placing the slower-moving, longer-digesting foods first slows the starches and sugars afterward. For example, if you plan to have grilled chicken, rice, salad, and fruit, eat the chicken and salad first, followed by the rice and fruit. Eating a salad first is another good strategy for filling up with fiber in raw vegetables, then eating protein, followed by potato, rice, fruit, or sweets.

TEN: Stop eating at least three hours before bedtime. Quality sleep is a challenge for many people. One reason can be that the digestive process is preventing sleep from occurring. When food has had a chance to digest, this mindful eating hack allows the body to focus on the relaxation, repair, and cleansing that should happen during sleep. If your stomach is full and digesting, your body is distracted from other duties.

ELEVEN: Fast at least 12 hours per 24 hours. Food scarcity triggers the body to clean the house, eliminating waste, debris, and damaged cells. The process is called autophagy and occurs when food is avoided for 12-15 hours. The good news is that you are already more than halfway there if you try to sleep at least 7-8 hours every night. All you need to do is mindfully incorporate #10 above and do the same the next morning by delaying breakfast for 2-3 hours. Drinking water, black coffee, or tea will not break the fast. But you have broken the fast if you add anything with calories, such as creamer, sugar, or food. Mindfully fasting for 12 hours reduces snacking and energy consumption to fewer daily hours, often resulting in less overall energy consumption.

TWELVE: If it has a drive-thru, don’t eat there. When it comes to healthy food, convenience is not your friend. If you want to take control of your health, you must face the truth about convenience foods. Don’t be fast, cheap, and easy regarding your diet. If you are, you can expect disease and ill health. This mindful eating hack will transform your health. Slow down, invest in your nutritional health, and allow a little more time in your schedule to eat healthfully. This may be the last mindfulness habit hack, but it will have long-lasting beneficial outcomes for the entire family.

Here’s to mindfully eating your way to new habits and better health in 2025!

Reference

https://drhyman.com/pages/eating-guide-101

By Mila McManus MD|2025-01-29T09:31:57-06:00January 30th, 2025|Articles, General|

Mindful Eating Hacks for 2025

by Mila McManus, MD

Over the next two weeks, we will introduce you to twelve science-backed hacks to help you be more mindful and create new eating habits. — **Part 1 of 2**

Learning to be mindful about your eating habits can be transforming. Over the next two weeks, we will introduce you to twelve science-backed hacks to help you be more mindful and create new eating habits. Because we eat a few, to several, times daily, our eating habits are deeply entrenched, and we often don’t think much about them. Most of the following hacks are easy to implement AND don’t cost anything, AND they will help you change how you think about your eating patterns. Implement them one by one or put them together for greater impact on your health!

ONE: Eat until you are 80% full. This concept originates from Okinawa and is called “Hara Hachi Bu” in Japanese. It matters because there is a delay between your stomach being full and the leptin hormone communicating that to your brain. Be mindful that ultra-processed foods often contain ingredients designed to trick your brain so that it does not hear the fullness message from leptin, contributing to overeating, craving more, and metabolic dysfunction, including weight gain, diabetes, and/or dementia. One aspect of mindfulness is learning to listen to your body and stop eating when you can still comfortably do some yoga or go for a stroll.

TWO: Sit down to eat and eat slowly. Digestion is accomplished through the parasympathetic nervous system, along with healing, recovery, and rest. If you are stressed while eating, you do so in your “fight or flight” state through the sympathetic nervous system. Science demonstrates that our gut permeability is increased during this stressed state, and our production and release of digestive enzymes are decreased, making for poor digestion. Thoughtlessly eating on the go can increase the likelihood of leaky gut and digestive discomfort. Mindful eating is eating more slowly and chewing your food longer. It helps decrease overeating as you are more likely to “hear” or experience the fullness message given by your leptin hormone.

THREE: Plan meals and snacks to avoid reaching the point of “hangry”. Failure to plan is a plan to fail. Once you hit the hangry (hungry and angry) place, odds are that your choices will also suffer. Maintaining steady blood sugar levels and avoiding severe spikes and drops is a fundamental habit hack to avoid most diseases. Being mindful of the need to plan, organize, and shop for your week will help you succeed. Carry a cooler if necessary and plan balanced snacks such as mixed nuts, olives, apples, or celery with nut butter, fresh veggies, hummus or guacamole, grass-fed beef sticks, and/or a balanced, clean ingredient food bar such as the Aloha brand.

FOUR: Make sleep a priority. Poor sleep is directly correlated to poor eating habits. Skimping on sleep alters and disrupts your appetite hormones. It stimulates ghrelin to communicate hunger messages and reduces leptin messages of fullness. And, of course, when you are tired, you have less emotional bandwidth to make better food choices in the first place. Sleep is also when your body detoxifies, resets hormones, and recovers from stress. Focusing your mind and thinking on prioritizing sleep is one of the most important habit hacks you can do for yourself.

FIVE: After eating, get moving. Muscles love glucose (i.e. sugar). This habit hack is one of the best ways to maintain stable blood sugar: get moving within 30 minutes of eating. Mindfully plan to walk, do some gardening, wash the car, or go for a family bike ride after meals. Enjoyable activity after eating reduces stress, promotes the body’s utilization of the food eaten, improves relationships, and helps with digestion and quality sleep.

SIX: Track your eating frequency. For a week or two, keep a journal of each snack and meal, including the time of day and how you felt emotionally or what you were doing before you went to get a snack. Being mindful in this way helps you to identify emotional and distracted eating, and/or eating out of boredom. Scrolling the phone or watching TV while eating is not mindful and can lead to far more calorie consumption than your body can utilize. You may want to move all eating to the kitchen table rather than the couch, desk, or bed. This goes hand in hand with eating slowly until 80% full and will prevent you from mindlessly finishing off a bag of crackers or chips. It will help you see what emotions or events make you go to food to soothe you. Then, you can find healthier ways to relax and soothe your emotions or relieve your boredom rather than doing so with food. Here’s a link to a simple practice to reduce anxiety without using food.

Stay tuned next week for the other six mindful eating hacks for 2025. In the meantime, start hacking and be well.

Reference

https://drhyman.com/pages/eating-guide-101

By Mila McManus MD|2025-01-22T10:12:36-06:00January 23rd, 2025|Articles, General|

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Reduce Aggressive Behavior

by Mila McManus, MD

Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for cognitive function and emotional regulation, and a recent meta-analytic review confirms their effectiveness in reducing aggressive behavior. Unfortunately, Omega-3s are grossly void in a standard Western diet. Ideal sources are found in SMASH fish—salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and herring. They are also harvested from the tiny plankton called krill. 100% grass-fed and finished beef is another source, though commercially raised beef has hardly any, relatively speaking. You might need good sources and intentional supplementation of Omega-3 fatty acids.

One large meta-analytic review (see link below for full report) of randomized controlled trials with over 3,918 participants further supported the evidence and effectiveness of Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in reducing aggressive behavior in children and adults. The study confirmed beneficial effects across age, gender, recruitment samples, diagnoses, treatment duration, and dosage. Omega-3 supplementation also reduced reactive and proactive forms of aggression, especially concerning self-reports. These findings provide sufficient evidence that omega-3 supplementation can be a cost-effective and safe way to reduce aggression in children and adults in the community, clinics, and criminal justice system.

Omega-3 supplementation can also do much more. It is useful to improve or treat leaky gut, fatty liver, dementia, bipolar disorder, diabetes, elevated triglycerides, obesity, general inflammation, infertility, hair loss, edema, eczema, joint pain, dry eyes, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual cramps, and mitochondrial dysfunction. It’s also a natural blood thinner, but would not itself replace a prescribed one.

Consult with your healthcare provider to see if Omega-3 fatty acids are right for you. Also, pass the information to families you know who struggle with aggressive behavior in children or adults.

Be Well.

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359178924000466

By Mila McManus MD|2025-01-16T06:24:11-06:00January 16th, 2025|Articles, General|

Counseling Services Available

by Mila McManus, MD

The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness is excited to announce that mental health counseling has been added to its wellness practice!

The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness is excited to announce the addition of mental health counseling to our wellness practice! We firmly believe that physical health and healing work optimally when addressing mental and emotional concerns, stresses, or traumas. Mental health counseling provides support, promotes emotional well-being, and helps individuals develop coping skills to manage stress and life challenges. Adding counseling is a natural addition to our services, and our counselor is someone you may recognize.

Nancy Mehlert, MS, joined the team at The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness in 2006 as a Nutrition Consultant, bringing a wealth of expertise and a personal passion for health and wellness. Her journey into holistic nutrition began as a patient of the practice, where she experienced transformative results that inspired her to transition from a successful 20-year career in corporate Human Resources to pursue a career in nutrition and counseling. She has been our staff nutritionist for almost 19 years.

Nancy earned her Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition, graduating with High Honors in 2010. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Christian University, where she graduated Cum Laude and was honored as the Senior Scholar in Psychology.

We’re thrilled to announce that Nancy is expanding her services! Currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Counseling, Nancy will begin offering counseling sessions as part of her practicum training starting January 1, 2025.

These sessions will be available at a special introductory rate:

$40 per session

This affordable pricing provides an excellent opportunity to benefit from Nancy’s compassionate care while supporting her journey toward full licensure. Nancy’s counseling services will be a valuable addition to her ongoing nutrition consulting, allowing patients to benefit from a comprehensive approach to health and wellness.

To sign up, follow this link or send an inquiry email to aplacetotalk@TWIHW.com.

Feel free to share the link and email address with anyone who may benefit from affordable counseling. You need not be an established patient to utilize our counseling services.

Be Well in Mind and Body.

By Mila McManus MD|2025-01-08T05:01:42-06:00January 9th, 2025|Articles, General|

Industrial Seed Oil: Are You Eating Machine Lubricants?

by Mila McManus, MD

Ever wonder how industrial seed oils became "heart healthy" overnight? Proctor & Gamble donated an enormous sum to do it.

Have you ever wondered how industrial seed oils went from machine lubricant to “heart healthy” cooking oils overnight?

In 1948, the American Heart Association was a tiny, struggling organization with little influence. That is, until Procter & Gamble showed up with a “donation” of $1.7 million (the equivalent of $20M today). Procter & Gamble had already changed American cooking once before. In 1911, they launched Crisco, the first shortening product made with cottonseed oil.

By the 1940s, they had already spent decades convincing Americans that industrial seed oils were better than traditional animal fats like butter and tallow, using the now notorious slogan “it’s digestible.”

Armed with P&G’s million-dollar donation, the American Heart Association would give seed oils the ultimate stamp of approval: “heart healthy.”

From that point on:

Seed oils were in

Animal fats were out

Chronic disease started skyrocketing

Big Food got richer, and America got sicker

This single “donation” helped transform industrial waste into one of the most consumed ingredients in our food supply. And that’s just the beginning of the story.

On November 22nd, a new documentary, “Fed A Lie,” was released. Please take time to watch it. In it, the full story is revealed about how industrial seed oils infiltrated our food supply and their correlation to the sudden rise in obesity and chronic disease. This is bigger than just seed oils. It’s about taking back control of our health from an industry that profits from keeping us sick.

Here at The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness, we are strong supporters of removing seed oils to prevent disease. In the order of most harmful listed first, soybean, sunflower, grape seed, cottonseed, corn, rice bran, and canola are detrimental to your health. If you struggle with obesity, diabetes, weight gain in the belly, high blood pressure, cancer, high cholesterol or high LDL lipids, or any other chronic disease, eliminating seed oils is critical to improvement. Look for it in bakery items (donuts, pastries, cookies), salad dressings, packaged and bagged foods (chips, nut mixes, crackers, frozen meals), pre-seasoned or prepped meals, and all fast food.

Avocado, olive, palm, and coconut oils are less inflammatory oils. We recommend cooking only in saturated fats such as butter, ghee, beef tallow, pork or duck fat, and palm or coconut oil. Use avocado and olive oils only for cold preparations, such as salad dressing and hummus.

Skip Seed Oils. Get Well!

References

https://ninateicholz.com/about/the-big-fat-surprise

https://chrisknobbe.com/book

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3335257/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22334255/

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/energy-research/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2021.756122/full

By Mila McManus MD|2024-12-18T09:04:57-06:00December 18th, 2024|Articles, General|

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