Grilled Peach Steak Salad

Edited from Ashely McCrary, www.healthylittlepeach.com

As May and June approach, our delicious Texas Peaches will start showing up in road stands and grocery stores. Here’s a wonderful outdoor grilling treat that includes the sweet and beautiful peach in a creative way. This recipe is Whole30 and Paleo compliant.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Salad

1 pound Flank Steak (ideally antibiotic free and/or 100% grass fed)

2 peaches, sliced

2-3 slices of pre-cooked bacon (uncured)

1 large red onion, peeled and sliced

3-4 tablespoons pecans

1 avocado, peeled, pitted, sliced

½ cup coconut or Bragg aminos

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

4 cups spinach/arugula mix or field green mix

Peach Vinaigrette dressing

1 large peach

2 garlic cloves, peeled

¼ cup olive or avocado oil

4 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1 tablespoon coconut or Bragg aminos

Instructions:

1. Place the steak in a silicone bag or shallow dish. In a small bowl, add ½ cup coconut or Bragg aminos, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix together and pour over the flank steak. Seal the bag or cover the dish and place in the refrigerator to marinate, ideally overnight.
2. Prepare the grill. Ideal temperature is 425°
3. Take the flank steak out of the refrigerator about 10-15 minutes prior grilling.
4. Prep salad ingredients. Slice the peaches, onions, and avocados and set aside. Fruit works better on the grill if firm and cut into larger, thicker pieces. Set out the pecans and lettuces.
5. Make the dressing. Place all the dressing ingredients into the food processor or blender, including the 3rd peach, with the pit removed, 2 garlic cloves, olive or avocado oil, white wine vinegar, salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, and coconut or Bragg aminos. Blend until creamy.
6. Take the flank steak, the peaches and the bacon to the grill. Place the steak on the grill. Spray the grill with non-stick spray or douse a paper towel in oil to run over the grate just prior to adding the peaches. Try not to move the peaches until they are striped well, then turn. You could also skewer the peaches if you prefer. Place the pre-cooked bacon on the grill last, reheating for just about 30-45 seconds on each side.
7. Remove the steak, peaches, and bacon from the grill. Thinly slice the flank steak into strips.
8. Arrange lettuces among 4 bowls or plates, top with onion, pecans, avocado, crumbled bacon, then grilled peaches and slices of flank steak. Top with dressing and serve.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-04-30T14:56:24-06:00May 1st, 2020|General, Recipes|

Going Forward

Nancy Mehlert, MS

Ready to leave the COVID 19 Pandemic behind you? It seems like a lot of people are ready for the quarantined life to be over.

I’ve been thinking about what happens to our nutrition at times like these, and I think it has been different, for different people. I know many who have stayed the course, gotten more exercise and smoothly sailed through, in terms of nutrition at least. And others, who have found the stresses dragging them back to old habits, comfort food, and drinks. We are all different. We struggle in different ways.

It is common for major life changes to get in the way of our best laid nutritional plans.

May I encourage you to be kind to yourself? There is no use in beating yourself up or drowning in guilt. These times have been, and continue to be, difficult. It is hard to find anyone who thinks this is an easy time. The complexities of caring for the elderly, schooling children, staying employed, and all working under the same roof 24-7 – none of this is easy stuff, individually or collectively.

But as we see some possible light at the end of this tunnel, now is a good time to take stock and organize your thoughts in a positive, GO FORWARD mind set. It is a good time to figure out how to GO FORWARD in confidence and make some corrections to course where needed. Here are some productive and healthy things to do in the next couple of weeks as we hopefully emerge from this quarantine:

If you feel like your nutritional wheels totally fell off the wagon, have you discovered something valuable from the experience? We learn from our mistakes. What’s yours? What would you do differently next time as a key learning point? Then, forgive yourself, and GO FORWARD.

What have you done well? Look hard. Find at least one thing. There is something good to be discovered. Give yourself credit for that one thing. GO FORWARD with that good thing.

Talk to friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. Ask them how they have coped nutritionally during this strange time and learn from their successes and mistakes. Take a new idea, a new recipe, a new habit, and GO FORWARD with it tucked into your steps.

Start now to pull your nutritional boundaries back into place, one thing at a time. Start with just one thing and do it (or stop it). Then choose the next thing. GO FORWARD in positive and affirming ways that will help you transition smoothly into the next season of life.

Reach out if you need help with course correction. Perhaps a detoxification program would be in order, or a nutrition consultation to revitalize your menu plans with a few easy recipes. Or maybe some ONDAMED sessions and/or IR Saunas to reinvigorate your energy pathways and detoxify.

Resolve to take one new good habit into the future with you. I’ve started to use Stasher® Bags for food storage and Swedish dishcloths (shop@threebluebirds.com) , both of which make me happier and less wasteful in the kitchen. Take a look at our revised and updated Highway to Health and Health Reset Protocol Cookbook where you will find helpful reminders and plenty of ideas for healthy eating. Let’s GO FORWARD TOGETHER!

By Mila McManus MD|2020-04-30T14:31:35-06:00May 1st, 2020|General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

RAPID COVID-19 ANTIBODY TESTING AVAILABLE

Test for COVID-19 antibodies (IgM and IgG)
Best for testing whether you’ve already had the illness (at least 2 weeks from exposure or onset of symptoms)
Reports suggest that 20 to 50% of people infected may be asymptomatic, and many more with very mild symptoms attributed to a simple cold or allergies.
Results in 15 minutes!
Requires a finger prick.
$99
Call (281) 298-6742 or email admin@TWIHW.com

By Mila McManus MD|2020-08-07T12:20:44-06:00April 30th, 2020|General|

The Woodlands Institute of Health and Wellness is GREAT! Dr. Mc.Manus is a God send to me. I have fibromyalga and am allergic to the medication for it. I have only been seeing her for a month and my pain is much better. She is helping me get healthy!!! I am so excited. It is worth EVERY penny. She has determined what foods make the inflammation worse. K.B.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-04-12T09:36:37-06:00April 14th, 2020|General, Testimonials|

The Down and Dirty on Detoxing

By Mila McManus M.D.

Your body normally performs detoxification functions every day. There are five primary exit pathways for removal of toxins. They are:

1. Sweating through the skin
2. Urination
3. Bowel movements
4. Mucus formation to then blow, cough, or swallow
5. Exhaling from the lungs.

Internal organs that also play a critical role in the removal of toxins include the liver, kidneys, and lungs. Any activities that promote sweating, urination, bowel movement, thinning of mucous, or deep breathing will assist in promoting detoxification. Also, hydration is essential for detoxification.

Intentional promotion of detoxification has become a necessary lifestyle habit as a result of our increasingly toxic world where our food, water, air, chemical, and heavy metal exposures have exponentially increased over the last 60-80 years. The toxic burden on the body is significant and contributes to chronic inflammation, congestion, and disease.

The FIRST and BEST line of protection is to avoid as many toxins as possible in the first place!

Trying to detoxify by overcompensating with excess sweating and over-supplementation can be harmful. Improve what goes in by:

Eating organic food
Filtering the water you drink and in which you bathe
Filtering air and circulating fresh air in the home
Using chemical free personal care and laundry products
- https://www.thinkdirtyapp.com/
- https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Using chemical free household products (cleaners, candles, fragrances, pesticides)
Turning off Wi-Fi and electrical circuits in the bedroom at night while sleeping (electropollution)
Eliminating the use of as much plastic as possible, especially as it relates to food storage and preparation. (plastic water bottles, straws, microwave containers, storage containers, clingwrap)

It is also wise to intentionally and regularly employ lifestyle choices that promote detoxification.

Each of these options promote and encourage gentle detoxification:

IR Sauna
Quality detoxification dietary plans such as Black Box Detox, Designs for Health 14- and 21-day programs, Core Restore 7- and 14-day programs and Prolon. (All available at TWIHW)
Fasting
Dry Brushing
- Short instructional you-tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJfFe18L7pQ
Supplementation as recommended by your functional medicine specialist. Some possible choices include glutathione, N-acetyl cysteine, sulfur, chlorella, charcoal, and protease.

An increasingly useful approach is to test the body to determine what toxins are present so that optimal detoxification protocols can be precisely implemented.

Heavy metal testing
Environmental toxin tests

Both of these urine collection tests are available at TWIHW.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-04-12T09:48:51-06:00April 14th, 2020|General|

Supplement of the Month: Glutathione

Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant and is found in virtually every cell of the human body. It is an extremely important cell protectant. This heavy lifter bolsters antioxidant action, promotes detoxification and fortifies the immune system. As the formation of free radicals exceeds the body’s ability to neutralize and eliminate them, oxidative stress occurs. A primary function of glutathione is to alleviate this oxidative stress. Food sources of glutathione are few and oxidative stress and depletion can outpace the body’s need for it.

Glutathione is most prevalent in the main detox organs of the human body which are the liver, lungs and kidneys. Glutathione can become depleted as the body neutralizes the oxidizing effects of battling viruses, bacteria, heavy metal toxicity, radiation, certain medications, and even the normal process of aging. A correlation has been made between increased vulnerability to infection (chronically ill) and glutathione depletion. Glutathione can bind to toxins, heavy metals, solvents and pesticides and help the body to excrete these substances through urine or bile. It also protects the lungs against airborne pollutants and the intestinal lining from absorption of industrial chemicals.

Especially for glutathione, liposomal preparations are important. Liposomes are delivery vehicles for transporting substances into the body effectively by facilitating absorption both in the mouth, skin and digestive tract.

At TWIHW, we offer three glutathione products. One is Essential Pro Liposomal Glutathione Softgels, which are taken orally. We also offer Researched Nutritionals Tri-Fortify Liposomal Glutathione sublingual gel which comes in two flavors and is placed under the tongue. Finally, we also can dose glutathione through IV preparations.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-04-12T09:40:00-06:00April 14th, 2020|Articles, General|

TWIHW Green Drink

We make our Green Drink in a Vitamix here at our office. A Vitamix, Ninja, Nutribullet are all examples of blenders that will work. You may need to adjust the amount to fit your pitcher size.

This recipe makes 8 cups.

Ingredients:

4 cups filtered water

A big handful of organic spinach

A smaller handful of organic baby kale.

A large lemon w/ the peel trimmed off.

1 medium organic Granny Smith apple

½ organic cucumber

Thumb size piece of ginger, peeled

1 stalk organic celery

Some ice, about a cup – cup and ½

Instructions:

Be sure all produce is clean.
Peel the lemon and the ginger.
Place all ingredients in the blender and process until smooth.
Other cleansing healthy additions include parsley and/or cilantro.

Nutrition: 1 cup (8 ounces) serving, 31 calories, 0.8 grams protein, 7 grams carbohydrate, 1.7 grams of fiber, 0 grams fat.

Don’t underestimate the nutritional value of the drink. It is full of vitamins, minerals, fiber and other important micronutrients.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-04-12T09:37:23-06:00April 14th, 2020|General, Recipes|

Do Five & Detoxify

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

Promoting routine detoxification through our dietary choices is a simple thing everyone can do.

Here are the top FIVE dietary detoxifiers:

#1 Eat organic food

#2 Eat your veggies – especially cruciferous vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbage, as well as cucumber, celery, carrot, zucchini, squash, watercress, artichoke, asparagus, ginger, turmeric, parsley, cilantro, lemon, apples, beets, and dark leafy greens. (See our Green Juice recipe of the month in this issue!)

#3 Stay hydrated with clean, filtered water

#4 Avoid dairy (clogs lymphatic movement)

#5 Avoid processed, fake, manufactured and sugary food

By Mila McManus MD|2020-04-12T09:35:46-06:00April 14th, 2020|General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

Urgent Care Virtual Appointments

Under normal circumstances, patient/physician relationships cannot be established via telephone (i.e., must be established in person). Due to the COVID-19 chaos, the Texas Medical Board is temporarily allowing new patients to be established via phone. (This is true for both urgent care as well as routine appointments). It is still required that we practice medicine within our state boundaries, though, so we are currently offering appointments only to individuals inside the Texas borders.

Here are some details regarding Urgent Care Appointments available at The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness:

Consultations are $199
If you’ve never been a patient at our facility, or if it’s been more than 3 years since your last appointment, some paperwork is required for each appointment which will be emailed via Adobe Echosign. Electronic signatures will be required and paperwork must be submitted prior to your consultation.
We can accommodate age 2 years and up
Upon request, we can provide you with a receipt/superbill which you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
You CAN use FSA and HSA funds for these appointments.
Issues that are typically handled via telemedicine that are considered an urgent care matter include, but are not limited to, for example, headache, cold/flu symptoms, sore throat, allergies, asthma, suspected sinus infection, suspected bladder infection, gastrointestinal complaints (such as heartburn, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation), urgent need for a medication refill (see exclusions below), rash (email photos to dchavez@TWIHW.com prior to consult), low grade fever, skin infection, cat/dog bite, suspected eye infection (send photos to dchavez@TWIHW.com prior to consult), suspected ear infection, dizziness, and acute/new onset muscular or joint pain.
If you feel strongly that your condition will require blood work or imaging studies, stitches, or possible treatment for stroke or heart attack, please go directly to the ER.
The medications that we will prescribe generally include drug classes such as antibiotics, antihistamines, medications for symptom relief of pain and gastrointestinal complaints, and short term prescriptions for maintenance medications for those who are traveling or are in transition to a new healthcare provider. We will not prescribe lifestyle medications (e.g., Viagra, Cialis, appetite suppressants) or any controlled substances. Click here for a list of controlled substances.
Please note that the consultation fee is for administrative duties, the professional opinion of the provider, and services rendered. Therefore, the fee shall be paid in advance of appointment, and even if the provider refers you to the Emergency Department for further or escalated evaluation.
Call (281) 298-6742 to schedule. Click HERE for office hours.
Once you are established as a patient, keep in mind that you’ll also have access to some of our services, such as ONDAMED, InfraRed sauna, IV nutritional therapies, vitamin injections, allergy testing, and more.

By Mila McManus MD|2022-06-28T11:05:52-06:00March 30th, 2020|General|

SOT (Supportive Oglionucleotide Therapy) For Lyme and Other Infections

By Mila McManus MD

RGCC lab has facilities globally and offers cutting edge testing and integrative therapies for infections and cancers.

SOT (Supportive Oglionucleotide Therapy) is a treatment that effectively silences the genes that are expressed in microbes’ genomes that are allowing them to survive. Your chromosomes contain genes which consist of strings of nucleotides. These nucleotides are ‘read’ by RNA. The RNA is then translated into proteins and this is how genes are expressed. SOT is called ‘anti-sense’ which means it creates a string of nucleotides which bind to the RNA, rendering it ineffective, and therefore it cannot be translated into proteins. By silencing genes that are critical for the microbes’ survival, the microbes will die. SOT will kill the microbes without harming the body; however, as with any other therapy used to treat infections, herxheimer reactions can occur. This is also known as ‘die-off’ or ‘healing crisis’. We have a protocol in place for patients to follow that will mitigate the incidence and severity of herxheimer symptoms. SOT is administered intravenously every 4 to 6 months as needed and remains active in the body for 24-28 weeks. Most people require 1 to 2 SOT infusions per microbe. Furthermore, if a person has Borrelia and co-infections, treating the most active infection may allow the body’s immune system to recover enough to handle the other infections on its own.

RGCC offers a highly sensitive PCR test for Lyme and other infections. With these results, a patient will know what infections are present, as well as which ones are most active/prevalent. The lab then uses these results to make the SOT, and it is very specific to each microbe. The PCR test must be repeated prior to each SOT because microbes often mutate and the SOT’s target gene may change. Once your blood is drawn at our office and shipped to the lab in Greece, results typically take 3 to 4 weeks. And once SOT is ordered, it will be custom made and arrive at our office in another 3 to 4 weeks.

For Price List, click here.

For a list of the bacteria and viruses for which SOT can be made, click here.

If you’d like more information, call our office (281-298-6742) to schedule an appointment.

By Mila McManus MD|2022-10-10T17:03:09-06:00March 30th, 2020|General|

About Mila McManus MD

Edited from Ashely McCrary, www.healthylittlepeach.com

Nancy Mehlert, MS

By Mila McManus M.D.

By Nancy Mehlert, MS