“The diet was challenging, but after only a few days she started to feel better.”

The diet was challenging, but after only a few days she started to feel better.

Testimonial From M.K.

At the age of 11 my daughter was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. We found a great occupational therapist who helped with many symptoms, but she was adamant that there were underlying gut issues that needed to be addressed. We tried several diets on our own, but nothing seemed to work. Meanwhile, my daughter’s anxiety worsened as she tried to eat healthier. She found it so hard to concentrate and her schoolwork suffered and she became “out of character” moody. I began to realize I could not help her on my own, and that is when I enrolled her in the Teen Wellness Program at The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness. The diet was challenging, but after only a few days she started to feel better. After her blood work was completed we discovered she had a lot of food allergies, a few vitamin deficiencies, MTHFR mutations, and the infamous “leaky gut” syndrome. She was given an individualized vitamin protocol and continued to get better throughout her treatment. It has been one month since her yeast cleanse, and I can honestly say my daughter is happy again and her anxiety is much less. She is excited to see her long hair is stronger and breaking less and her acne is beginning to clear up. She is able to focus more and it shows in her schoolwork, which she insists is much easier now. She is more energetic and is much more relaxed overall. These are such dramatic and obvious changes that there is no mistaking that it is the result of following this program. I would tell any parent with a teen with anxiety, ADD, or SPD to try this program. Thank you Dr. McManus and all of your staff for listening to our concerns, treating my daughter as an individual, and providing us with empowering information about my daughter’s health so she can now achieve wellness!

By Mila McManus MD|2017-02-21T14:24:13-06:00April 29th, 2016|Testimonials|

Paleo Herbed Crackers

Adapted from Quick & Easy Paleo Comfort Foods, Author: Julie Mayfield, published 2013

Makes 2 to 3 dozen

2 cups of Almond Flour
4 teaspoons of olive oil
1 large egg
¼ teaspoon sea salt
1-2 Tablespoons minced dried herbs
Suggestions: Rosemary, oregano, thyme, dill, basil, or tarragon

1.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.   Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.
3.   Roll out the dough in between 2 pieces of parchment paper until it is about ¼ inch thick or as desired.
4.   Remove the top piece of parchment paper only and use a knife or pizza wheel to cut the dough into about 1 inch size rectangle or square shapes of your choice. No need to separate the dough pieces as they will nicely break away after baking.
5.   Transfer the parchment paper with the dough shapes to a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan and bake for 10-15 minutes watching carefully to prevent burning. Remove them from the oven when golden brown and cool before breaking them into individual crackers.

Notes: TWIHW Yeast Free diet approved. Will keep in an airtight container for a few days. Dough could also be used as a pizza crust.

Note from Dr. McManus-I’ve made a couple of batches so far and thought 2 TBS rosemary was better than 1 TBS. I also added some fresh minced garlic, and cracked a little salt on top before placing in the oven. They were very well received by all!

By Mila McManus MD|2016-04-29T15:28:59-06:00April 29th, 2016|Recipes|

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on Coconut Oil and Olive Oil

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

We often emphasize how important it is to choose healthy oils and we describe them as “undamaged”. Typically, once man begins to extract oil from its source, the goal is to find the fastest, cheapest way to extract the oil from the source, maximizing the amount of oil extracted, then treating the oil to make it look, smell and taste good, and last as long as possible. All of this is accomplished by using high temperatures, extensive refining and chemicals. Unfortunately, not only are the health benefits of the oils lost in this processing, but can actually cause harm. Here’s the scoop you need to know about two of the most important oils we recommend for everyday use, coconut oil and olive oil.

In the coconut industry, conventional coconut is dried in a wood-fueled kiln or in the sun over a period of several days. The result is called copra and it is packed tightly into burlap type sacks that hold the meat of about 400-500 coconuts. These bags are then moved through a very slow, time consuming transport to a large, industrial oil mill, usually in Europe or Asia. As a result of unhygienic drying methods, humid tropical conditions, bulk shipping and long distances with lengthy delays, the copra develops mold on it. These molds can also result in carcinogenic aflatoxin contamination. The oil extraction begins using large-scale, high pressure, energy intensive equipment and chemicals such as hexane to remove the mold from the copra. The result is a very low quality, damaged coconut oil with little to no available health benefits. This is why we emphasize organic, non-GMO, expeller pressed or raw and unrefined coconut oil so that you can benefit from the undamaged oil.

In the olive oil industry, a similar process occurs. Heat and chemicals are used to extract every last bit of oil from the olives, and these chemicals degrade the final product. To make matters worse, you may have recently seen the CBS News show 60 Minutes which exposed the hazardous chemicals and mislabeling of olive oil coming out of the Mediterranean. According to Italian authorities, as much as 80% of the olive oil investigated uncovered fraudulent labeling and false documentation. In one investigation of 10 tons of colored table olives, the coloring agent added was a prohibited and dangerous copper chlorophyllin complex also known as E141. “Made in Italy” claims were fraudulent and other illicit substances were found in production areas. Pesticides, mineral oil hydrocarbons, plasticizers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and styrene were also found in the oils. For these reasons, we HIGHLY recommend First Cold Pressed, Organic, Non-GMO verified oils from small family owned farms, and more recently, from California.

Healthy undamaged oils are essential for good health but unfortunately highly processed and damaged oils are dangerous to your health, contributing to inflammation and disease. Be sure to make good choices when purchasing your oils.

References:

http://olivecenter.ucdavis.edu/research/files/report041211finalreduced.pdf

http://www.kokonutpacific.com.au/production/CopraKP.php

By Mila McManus MD|2016-04-29T15:24:12-06:00April 29th, 2016|Articles, General|

Coconut Oil

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

If you haven’t incorporated coconut oil into your lifestyle, it is time! From every standpoint, nutritional or supplemental, it is a wise and healthful choice for the whole family. It should be one of the primary cooking oils used in your kitchen every day. While you are at it, add it to your personal hygiene and first aid kit too. According to Mary Enig, Ph.D., the nation’s leading expert on fats and oils: Coconut oil has a unique role in the diet as an important physiologically functional food which offers health and nutritional benefits. We recommend the real thing rather than a coconut oil pill. We don’t recommend broccoli pills either. Eat the real thing.

What’s unique about it?

Unlike most vegetable and seed oils, coconut oil is nature’s richest source of medium-chain fatty acids (rather than a long-chain fatty acid). This quality makes coconut oil much more capable of permeating cell membranes easily, and much more easily digested.
Medium chain fatty acids, such as coconut oil, go directly to the liver where they are immediately converted to energy rather than being stored as fat.
Medium chain fatty acids are also able to stimulate metabolism which can support weigh loss. One way it does this is by stimulating the activity of the thyroid.
Coconut oil also has anti-microbial action due to the lauric acid it contains. Lauri acid is also found in mother’s breast milk. Lauric acid fights dangerous micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria, yeasts, parasites and molds.
Coconut flour and coconut oil are considered gluten free and hypoallergenic, unlike most nuts and flours.

How do I know what to buy?

As with most oils, it is very possible and likely that cheaper versions will be manufactured, refined and chemically treated. These will not yield the health benefits desired. Look for these key words and phrases on the jar to ensure the highest quality:
USDA Certified Organic
Non-GMO
Raw, unrefined, cold or expeller pressed
If the container does no more than to say it is “pure”, even if it is organic, it is likely coconut oil made from copra, a dried, old and moldy coconut that must be refined, bleached and deodorized using chemical processing with chemicals such as hexane.
We recommend Tropical Traditions, Fresh Shores, Dr. Bronners, Nature’s Way to name a few. We carry Tropical Traditions at our facility for your convenience.

How do I use it?

In our world of internet information, and to save space, I will suggest that you explore internet resources because frankly, coconut oil has too many uses to list here. But know this:
If you eat, you need coconut oil: It is a perfect oil for stir fry, baking, and sautéing literally anything from eggs and veggies to meat. Toss a tablespoon into your morning smoothie and add to your cup of coffee! Then season your cast iron skillet with it.
If you bathe and groom your body, you need coconut oil: From makeup remover, to lotion or deodorant, hair conditioner and toothpaste, solving diaper rash or jock itch, coconut oil is an outstanding choice for personal body care.
If you have a medicine cabinet, you need coconut oil: Antimicrobial action protects scrapes and burns, soothes away baby rash, psoriasis or eczema, works as a lubricant for anal or vaginal use without disturbing normal flora and so much more.
If you have a home, you can even explore polishing furniture and leather with it (look for good instructions and test a small hidden area first).

The uses are many, the benefits are countless. Go coco-nuts!

By Mila McManus MD|2016-04-29T09:15:52-06:00April 29th, 2016|Articles, General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

Employee of the Month-Kayla Crowell

Kayla Crowell is one of our administrative assistants. As anyone knows, a whole lot of stuff lands on the desk of an administrative assistant. She came to us in 2013, departed for a short time to be closer to her kids and ensure their care and now she’s back and we are all very thankful for so many reasons. One of them is the nature of that administrative role and Kayla can handle it; all the duties, all the pressure, changes in direction, constant interruptions and just one more request for something to be done. She is strong and assertive with an uncanny ability to learn quickly, multi-task and complete significant volumes of work consistently. Everyone knows that if you hand off something to Kayla, it will get done. She’s often one step ahead of the rest of us, anticipating and taking action before anyone else thinks of it. This dependability and work ethic is so greatly admired by the entire TWIHW team. And then there’s the fun side of Kayla. She has a colorful and passionate personality with a great sense of humor. She makes us laugh constantly and can always find a positive side to every situation. If she is not busy with her jobs or children, you may find her riding a dirt bike or playing volleyball. We know she can dance and she is great with celebrity impersonations. This woman is just plain fun to be with.

By Mila McManus MD|2016-04-29T09:09:03-06:00April 29th, 2016|General|

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on Coconut Oil and Olive Oil

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

We often emphasize how important it is to choose healthy oils and we describe them as “undamaged”. Typically, once man begins to extract oil from its source, the goal is to find the fastest, cheapest way to extract the oil from the source, maximizing the amount of oil extracted, then treating the oil to make it look, smell and taste good, and last as long as possible. All of this is accomplished by using high temperatures, extensive refining and chemicals. Unfortunately, not only are the health benefits of the oils lost in this processing, but can actually cause harm. Here’s the scoop you need to know about two of the most important oils we recommend for everyday use, coconut oil and olive oil.

Copra

In the coconut industry, conventional coconut is dried in a wood-fueled kiln or in the sun over a period of several days. The result is called copra and it is packed tightly into burlap type sacks that hold the meat of about 400-500 coconuts. These bags are then moved through a very slow, time consuming transport to a large, industrial oil mill, usually in Europe or Asia. As a result of unhygienic drying methods, humid tropical conditions, bulk shipping and long distances with lengthy delays, the copra develops mold on it. These molds can also result in carcinogenic aflatoxin contamination. The oil extraction begins using large-scale, high pressure, energy intensive equipment and chemicals such as hexane to remove the mold from the copra. The result is a very low quality, damaged coconut oil with little to no available health benefits. This is why we emphasize organic, non-GMO, expeller pressed or raw and unrefined coconut oil so that you can benefit from the undamaged oil.

In the olive oil industry, a similar process occurs. Heat and chemicals are used to extract every last bit of oil from the olives, and these chemicals degrade the final product. To make matters worse, you may have recently seen the CBS News show 60 Minutes which exposed the hazardous chemicals and mislabeling of olive oil coming out of the Mediterranean. According to Italian authorities, as much as 80% of the olive oil investigated uncovered fraudulent labeling and false documentation. In one investigation of 10 tons of colored table olives, the coloring agent added was a prohibited and dangerous copper chlorophyllin complex also known as E141. “Made in Italy” claims were fraudulent and other illicit substances were found in production areas. Pesticides, mineral oil hydrocarbons, plasticizers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and styrene were also found in the oils. For these reasons, we HIGHLY recommend First Cold Pressed, Organic, Non-GMO verified oils from small family owned farms, and more recently, from California.

Healthy undamaged oils are essential for good health but unfortunately highly processed and damaged oils are dangerous to your health, contributing to inflammation and disease. Be sure to make good choices when purchasing your oils.

References:

http://olivecenter.ucdavis.edu/research/files/report041211finalreduced.pdf

http://www.kokonutpacific.com.au/production/CopraKP.php

By Mila McManus MD|2016-04-29T09:04:00-06:00April 29th, 2016|Articles, General|

The treatments I received over the course of just 2 weeks has changed my life…

Dr. McManus,

I’m certain when you considered purchasing the PEMF device that you were certain it could help your patients with various conditions, but were you prepared for not just helping but changing lives? The treatments I received over the course of just 2 weeks has changed my life from one of constant pain and sleepless nights to 98% pain free and sleeping soundly! I have had tendonitis in my left elbow and numbness in two of my fingers with 70% nerve conduction loss for over a year. I am a medical professional, so I have tried months of NSAIDS, 30 days of continuous steroids and 3 steroid injections to try to relieve the pain to no avail. I finally had surgery in July and it did not work. I had another surgery this past December, but it left my left elbow with hyper-sensitivity due to the relocation of the nerve. I could not touch the inside of my left elbow, nor even have the sheets rub against it at night because it would cause severe pain. I decided to try your PEMF therapy but was completely skeptical that such a device would do ANYTHING, but what was there to lose. Well, to my amazement, after the first treatment, I could actually touch the area around my scar. I couldn’t believe the machine had worked. Now, after 2 weeks of treatment, I can not only touch the skin around the incision, but I can touch the incision and rub the scar to release adhesions. I can wear my long sleeves without any pain. Better yet, I can sleep!! I want to thank you for thinking outside the box and doing your research to stay on top of what is out there to better the lives of your patients. You and your staff have made such a difference in the quality of my life. I will forever be grateful because I had just made up my mind I would live in discomfort forever and then you introduced me to ONDAMED. I am recommending this treatment to all my friends who have a variety of issues, not just pain. Additionally, on more than one occasion, the machine indicated I was having issues elsewhere before I ever mentioned anything to you that I was in fact having issues in that particular area. This treatment works and it works well! Again, thank you for staying vigilant.

SH

By Mila McManus MD|2016-03-28T11:09:59-06:00March 28th, 2016|General|

Salmon Cakes with Caper Sauce

Serves 2

Cakes:

6 ounces raw salmon, skin removed and diced into small cubes
1 egg
⅓ cup ground walnuts
½ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tsp dill weed
¼ tsp sea salt
Pinch of cayenne

Sauce:

3 tbsp grass-fed butter
1 tsp capers
1 tbsp lemon juice
sea salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine salmon, egg, ground walnuts, parsley, dill weed, sea salt and cayenne together in a bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to several hours. Form into 2 patties.

2. Preheat oven to broil. Place salmon patties on a lightly greased baking dish and broil for 5-7 minutes on each side.

3. While salmon is broiling, melt butter and combine with capers, lemon juice and sea salt to taste.

4. Top salmon patties with melted butter-lemon-caper sauce and serve.

By Mila McManus MD|2016-03-28T10:05:10-06:00March 25th, 2016|General, Recipes|

Employee of The Month

Renee Long has been a member of the staff here at TWIHW as a Medical Assistant since 2011. With over 30 years of experience helping women with nutrition and eating disorders, and her years of service here working closely with the medical team and our patients, it is no surprise that Renee has a wealth of knowledge. Because Renee is a very compassionate care giver, her patients trust her, request her and look to her for guidance and instruction. Behind the scenes her co-workers consider her an in house mom often seeking her out for her nurturing style or simply because she’s a great friend and listener with an infectious laugh. She has a huge heart for people and furry critters and she is always ready to jump in for a rescue if she sees one having a tough time. She likes a good challenge, a good problem to solve, and with an amazing drive and passion she will persist to resolution. She’s a loving wife, a dedicated mom, and an adoring grandmother who enjoys RVing, cooking, and helping others.

By Mila McManus MD|2016-03-28T10:06:02-06:00March 25th, 2016|Articles, General|

Brain Builders and Brain Drainers

By Mila McManus MD and Nancy Mehlert MS

The human brain is home to more than 100 billion nerve cells that serve as the central command center for the human body. Neuroscientists have confirmed that we do have the ability to make new brain cells, a process called neurogenesis. Learning new things, having sex, and engaging in aerobic activities all increase neurogenesis, whereas stress and poor sleep decrease it. Not surprisingly, scientists have also discovered that nutrition plays a very significant role in the ability to make new brain cells. This means we can be very intentional about taking care of our brain to promote new cell growth thus improving memory, mood and a keeping a sharp mind as we age.

Brain Drainers

Keep carbohydrates in check, avoiding boxed, packaged and processed foods, especially grains and pastas as well as gluten, and sugar. All of these convert rapidly to sugar, a highly destructive substance to the brain. Read Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter.
Avoid alcohol. It’s a depressant, it’s inflammatory, and inhibits neurogenesis of the region of the brain involved with memory.
Avoid foods high in Omega 6 which are inflammatory fatty acids. This includes natural and processed oils from corn, soybean, cottonseed, canola, grapeseed, safflower and sunflower.
Toxins-we are exposed to toxins 24/7. Every time we drink, eat, take a breath or shower, we are absorbing toxins. We don’t all detoxify at the same rate. Consider genetic testing that will help determine how well you detoxify. Also consider heavy metal testing. Aluminum, for example, increases acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter involved with memory. Learn more about toxin “blocks and tackles” here.
Prescription drugs (and well, illicit drugs, too, of course). Statin drugs commonly prescribed for high cholesterol are among the worst offenders. You can also read our series on the dangers of other commonly prescribed drugs, such as antihistamines.
Electrosmog-this is the invisible electromagnetic radiation emitted from products such as cell phones, cordless phones, wi-fi, baby monitors, and cell phone towers. While the dangers of electrosmog are still controversial, we believe this is a real threat. Studies have shown, for example, that electrosmog emitted from mobile phones increases blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability. The BBB protects our brains from toxins, for example, so if the permeability is increased, consider the flood gates to be open!
Infection-it’s gross to think about, but we all have a LOT of microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast, parasites) taking up residence in our bodies, including our brain. Lyme disease, for example, is very difficult to diagnose accurately with blood tests, and is known to have a link to brain diseases such as MS, ALS, and Alzheimers. Candida, a form of yeast, produces over 100 neurotoxins.
And, as mentioned above, stress and poor sleep

Brain Builders

Consider Cognitive assessments to quantify cognition. See a quantitative and objective measure of your cognitive health to help complement any existing subjective assessment methods you’re using as part of your care.
Consider Intermittent Fasting, a scheduled pattern of eating which includes fasting, with normal eating restricted to a small 6-8 hour window of time each day. Calorie restriction promotes neurogenesis.
Seek out foods and supplements high in Omega 3 fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory and make up 15 to 20% of your cerebral cortex. Good food sources include wild Pacific/Alaskan salmon and sardines, egg yolks from pasture raised chickens, chia seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds, organic extra virgin olive oil and grass fed beef.
Your brain loves flavonoids – a very powerful antioxidant essential in the brain’s constant war against oxidation. Great sources of flavonoids include blueberries, dark chocolate, curcumin (found in the spice, curry), kale, citrus fruits and Brussels sprouts just to name a few.
Improve your gut health. Research has revealed that the health of your brain is largely dictated by the blend of microbes in your gastrointestinal tract.
Optimize your hormones with a functional medicine specialist. Slow thyroid function, for example, clearly causes slow brain function.
Boost oxygen! Improving circulation to the brain will provide more oxygen to the brain, thus facilitating brain function. Consider ONDAMED, gingko biloba, and Neo40 to help achieve this.
Magnesium L-Threonate
And, as mentioned above, learning new things, having sex, and engaging in aerobic activities.

Call us at 281-298-6742 and let us help you improve your brain function.

https://www.ted.com/talks/sandrine_thuret_you_can_grow_new_brain_cells_here_s_how?language=en

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/11/05/fish-oil-benefits.aspx

Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter

https://ccst.us/projects/smart/documents/082009_Nittby_Increased_Permeability.pdf

By Mila McManus MD|2018-09-12T12:38:27-06:00March 25th, 2016|Articles, General|

About Mila McManus MD

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

Call us at 281-298-6742 and let us help you improve your brain function.