Supplement of The Month- Hair and Nail Formula

Hair and Nail Formula is a formulation designed to provide the nutrients healthy hair and nails require. In addition to a high dose of Biotin, it also contains N-acetyl cysteine, PABA, inositol, and Silica.

Biotin is a B vitamin and renews the follicles and roots of hair, resulting in thicker, fuller, and healthier looking hair.

N-acetyl cysteine provides antioxidant protection of the hair follicles.

PABA is a naturally-occurring compound found in many foods as a cofactor of the vitamin B-complex. It’s known for its potential to restore natural hair color and help hair grow.

Inositol is a B vitamin and is considered one of the main nutrients to spur hair growth and prevent balding.

Silica can make your hair shiny and also help prevent thinning. It can improve circulation, which increases blood flow to the scalp to encourage growth.

Resources:
bestvitaminforhairgrowth.net/biotin-for-hair-growth/
cpmedical.net
http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateBestAminoAcidsforHairloss7-11.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/028378_balding_hair_growth.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/333271-how-does-silica-help-with-thinning-hair/

By Mila McManus MD|2015-08-04T10:50:19-06:00August 4th, 2015|Articles, General|

Be Sure to Get Your Bs

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

One of the most common problems we see with our new patients is nutritional bankruptcy, with a B vitamin deficiency being common and often the cause of several symptoms. B vitamins are not stored very well in the body because they are water-soluble. While a healthy body can produce some of the B vitamins, diet and supplementation are mission critical to good health. Deficiencies can occur fairly easily as a result of dieting, fasting, or a diet of substantially refined and processed food, sugar, or alcohol. Another very common reason for B vitamin deficiencies today is an unhealthy gut. Many of our B vitamins are produced by intestinal bacteria; however, antibiotic use, processed foods, sugar, alcohol, Splenda, stress and a toxic environment have all contributed to the destruction of these favorable bacteria, resulting in vitamin B deficiencies.

B vitamins are often referred to as a complex of vitamins because they usually show up in food and nature together and in many cases need each other to perform the functions they serve in the body. The complex includes thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxal, biotin, folic acid, and B-12 (the cobalamins). B Vitamins serve the following purposes in the human body:

Like a spark plug in a car, they help to start or determine the speed of biochemical reactions in the body such as converting carbohydrates to glucose as well as metabolizing fats and proteins.
They are essential to the normal functioning of the nervous system and help to bring relaxation or energy when stressed or fatigued.
The health of our skin, hair, eyes, liver and mucosal linings are especially dependent on the B vitamins.
Proper levels of B vitamins also enhance the muscle tone of the gastrointestinal tract, allowing the bowels to function most efficiently.

Common symptoms of vitamin B deficiencies include fatigue, irritability, nervousness, depression, insomnia, loss of appetite, sore mouth or tongue, and cracks in the corners of the mouth. Deficiencies of some of the B vitamins may also impair immune function and estrogen metabolism, while deficiencies in B-12 and folic acid specifically can result in constipation, numbness in hands and feet, skin problems, acne, hair loss, early graying of hair, increased serum cholesterol and weakness of the legs.

Essential to avoiding vitamin B deficiencies, two steps must be taken. First, be sure that your gut is healthy and has optimal favorable bacteria. This is one of the reasons we focus on gut health with every patient and recommend that most patients take a quality probiotic every day and/or eat cultured foods. Second, be sure to consume a wide variety of whole foods. Some of the best sources of B Vitamins include organ meats, especially liver (ideally from a grass fed animal), nutritional yeast (ask your nutritionist how this is used and whether it is right for you), most beans, peas, lentils, dark green vegetables and dark green leafy vegetables, avocado, oats, millet, eggs, oily fish such as trout, mackerel, herring, shellfish, tuna, salmon, halibut, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, seeds, meat and poultry.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-08-05T06:39:16-06:00July 28th, 2015|Articles, General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

Curried Shrimp Salad

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 2-4

1 lb cooked wild shrimp, tails removed
½ cup frozen green peas, defrosted
¼ cup chopped green onion and/or celery
½ cup expeller pressed mayonnaise
Juice of one lemon
1 to 3 tsp Curry Powder to taste
Sea Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Avocado
1 Bag prewashed Organic Greens (Arugula, Field Greens)

1. Place shrimp in a colander and rinse in cold water. Squeeze juice from half of the lemon onto the shrimp. Dice if desired.

2. In a bowl, combine shrimp, green peas, green onion, celery, mayonnaise, curry powder, sea salt and pepper.

3. On two or four plates, divide the greens evenly.

4. Spoon out shrimp salad onto the bed of greens, dividing evenly among the plates.

5. Peel and dice the avocado, and garnish each plate with it. If desired, drizzle cold pressed olive oil on the greens.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-08-05T06:31:20-06:00July 28th, 2015|Articles, Recipes|

Employee of the Month

Every month at The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness, we celebrate one member of our awesome team. This month, we are celebrating Jolie Likens and all that she brings to this practice. She’s the first person you see when you come through our doors, yet the term “receptionist” greatly understates everything that Jolie does for us! While she is busy remembering and greeting every patient, and fulfilling every request from co-workers, bosses, vendors, delivery personnel and patients alike, she has an uncanny ability to exude a calm and kind spirit. But don’t be fooled by this quiet, gracious, gentle person.

She is a woman of strength and endurance who consistently rises above any difficult circumstance with a grace and unexpected sense of humor to be admired by all. Stick around long enough and you will see her compassionately listening to what others have to say, a generosity and willingness to help others no matter how much work she has to do, problems being identified and solved before anyone else notices, and a person whose attitude suggests every day is a really good day. Jolie has invested her free time in raising two children, Taylor and Jordan. As her youngest heads off to college this Fall, Jolie is hoping for more time to read, something she enjoys but has not had much time to enjoy. Thank you, Jolie, for being a consistent rock of calm, dependability, and joy for us all!

By Mila McManus MD|2015-07-28T23:36:15-06:00July 28th, 2015|General|

Causes of, and Treatment Options for, Hair Loss in Women

By Mila McManus MD

Losing hair has to be at the top of the list of “scariest things” for a woman. Hair growth has 3 phases: the growth phase, resting phase, and shedding phase. One of the most common causes of hair loss is stress, whether emotional or physical. This can create a vicious cycle since losing hair is so stressful!

A very common phenomenon related to hair loss is called Telogen Effluvium, where a stressor causes more hair than usual to enter the telogen (resting) phase. The shedding phase occurs when the growth phase starts again and pushes out the old ‘resting’ hairs from the follicles. During the condition of Telogen Effluvium, hair shedding may occur before the new growth starts. Telogen Effluvium typically lasts approximately 6 months, but may last 18 months or longer in some. This type of hair loss will not cause complete balding, and hair thickness usually recovers. The hair loss can start 1 to 6 months after the inciting event, with an average start time of 3 months.

Some causes of Telogen Effluvium include:

Emotional stress
Physical stress (e.g. pregnancy, febrile illness, immunizations)
Toxin exposure, especially heavy metals
Iron deficiency or iron excess
Other nutrient deficiencies, such as a low protein diet, or deficiencies in B vitamins
Excess vitamin A intake
Hormone changes such as discontinuing OCPs, menopause
Medications, such as anti-depressants, methotrexate, beta blockers, blood thinners, and NSAIDS
Thyroid dysfunction-low OR high (even if your labs are normal!)
Crash dieting
Chronic illness such as Lupus, malignancy, liver disease

Another cause of hair loss is called Androgenetic hair loss

Androgen (e.g. hormones such as testosterone and DHT found in both men and women) receptors get activated around menopause which leads to shrinking of the hair follicles and hair shedding.
Hair continues to thin with age

Other causes of hair loss in women:

PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)-due to excessive production of androgens, and imbalance of other hormones.
Over-styling with heat, chemicals, and pulling of hair into pony tails, etc.

Treatment Options:

Since causes of hair loss vary, the ideal treatment for hair loss does as well. In general, though, treatment options include:

Repletion of nutrients (consider a functional nutrient analysis that we offer at TWIHW including Spectracell FIA and Genova Metabolomix)
Some herbal/nutritional blends may be helpful. Read about Cosmedix and its ingredients.
Spironolactone (relatively benign, safe medication that was first FDA-approved as a diuretic (aka fluid pill), and was then found serendipitously to block androgens at the hair follicle. (available by prescription only)
Address hormone imbalance (test yourself for hormone imbalance here). We recommend balancing hormones using bio-identical hormones, nutritional interventions, and/or detoxification. Also keep in mind that blood tests often fail to reveal hormone imbalances and deficiencies. Labs can lie. Symptoms don’t.
Topical treatments such as Rogaine, Nioxin, and topical solutions specially formulated at compounding pharmacies (available by prescription only)
Red Light Therapy (worn as a hat on your head for specified amounts of time)
Consider testing for heavy metals (at-home urine collection test )
Exesomes (Mesenchymal Stem Cells) tiny injections into the scalp area. Read more about what they are and what to expect.
Stress management
Avoid over-styling, over-heating, and over-treating your hair

Call 281-298-6742 to talk about the right solution for you.

By Mila McManus MD|2023-11-23T05:16:56-06:00July 6th, 2015|Articles, General|

Supplement of the Month: Healthy Hair Support

Healthy Hair Support combines several ingredients, two of which are effective ingredients-saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol-that work to balance healthy DHT levels. DHT damages the hair follicle, preventing it from growing hair that reaches the surface. Balancing DHT levels enhances the growth phase of hair and supports hair strength and integrity. All six ingredients in Healthy Hair Support are known for their ability to support normal hair growth or promote the health of hair in general. In addition to DHT-balancing ingredients, the formula includes other hair-healthy nutrients such as PABA, biotin, and stinging nettle extract.

*The product information provided is for educational purposes and is not intended as either diagnosis or treatment of any disease, nor does it replace professional medical advice. (The FDA makes us say that)

*Warning: Please consult a health care professional before using these products.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-06-30T11:43:33-06:00June 30th, 2015|Articles, General|

Fibromyalgia, Insomnia, and Migraines

Praises and gratitude for Dr. McManus and her staff! I’ve been seeing them for 2-3 years now and can only rave about the outstanding job they do @ TWIHW! There’s such a Positive Energy in their facility from the moment you walk in the door – everyone’s smiling, friendly, competent AND they actually see you on time… The list goes on and on!

My health has improved so much with their innovative treatments (I’ve seen many doctors for over 20 years without similar results) – I used to have 2-3 migraines per week, and have now had only 2 in the last 7 months! In addition, my decades long insomnia issues are improving; not only have I been able to cut my sleep medication by more than half, the number of hours of good sleep has doubled (as measured by my FitBit, + finally feeling refreshed in the mornings instead of that awful fatigue).

Fibromyalgia pain has also diminished under Dr. McManus’s care & my food sensitivities continue to improve – what more can I say? I look forward to my appointments with Dr. McManus – both to see everybody (they’re like a cool family) and to share how much better I’m doing! Truly they are some of God’s helpers here on Earth – what a Blessing!!! Eternal gratitude – Thanks you guys!!!

From Marti R.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-06-22T16:58:31-06:00June 22nd, 2015|General|

Supplement of the month: Kidz Digest Chewable or Powder

Little tummies need good digestive health too! That is why we are offering Transformation Enzymes Kidz Digest Chewable or Powder digestive support. Designed to be gentle, these formulas offer effective, GI stable digestive enzymes to encourage optimal digestion of nutrients and healthy elimination for children. Kidz Digest fosters effective digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Suitable for kids 4 years or older.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-06-22T16:40:33-06:00June 22nd, 2015|Articles, General|

Almond Joy Pancakes (Gluten Free)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes

Makes 12 , 4 inch diameter pancakes

Ingredients

½ cup coconut flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
⅓ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
¼ cup sweetener of choice (I use Stevita Stevia/Erythritol Blend)
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
6 large eggs
¼ cup organic, expeller pressed coconut oil, melted
½ to 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp almond extract
¼ cup toasted, slivered almonds
2 ounces 63-80% cacao chocolate, finely chopped, or morsels
Additional coconut oil for the pan

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together coconut flour, shredded coconut, sweetener, baking powder and salt.
Stir in eggs, coconut oil, ½ cup of the almond milk, and the almond extract. Add additional almond milk as needed. Your batter should be thicker than traditional pancake batter, but not so thick that you can’t pour it and spread it around the pan. Coconut flour batters also tend to thicken up as they sit so you can add additional milk partway through.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brush with additional coconut oil. Scoop about 2 heaping tablespoons of batter onto skillet and spread into a 4 inch circle. Repeat until you can’t fit any more pancakes into skillet .
Cook until the bottom is golden brown and the top is set around the edges. You will see little bubbles start to come up in the center of the pancake, a good sign that it’s cooked enough to flip.
Flip and continue cooking until second side is golden brown. Remove from pan and keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.
Top with toasted almonds and chopped chocolate.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 2 pancakes Calories: 266, Fat: 17 g ,Carbohydrates: 17 g, Fiber: 9 g, Protein: 11 g

Idea – Leave out chocolate, and simply top with butter, chopped fruit in season such as berries or peaches or spread with a nut butter. Another topping option is to put frozen, unsweetened berries in a pan, and cook until syrupy, adding Stevia, Xylitol or Erythritol to sweeten to taste.

Author: Liz DellaCroce | The Lemon Bowl

By Mila McManus MD|2015-06-22T16:33:25-06:00June 22nd, 2015|Recipes|

My health has improved so much with their innovative treatments…

My health has improved so much with their innovative treatments...

Praises and gratitude for Dr. McManus and her staff! I’ve been seeing them for 2-3 years now and can only rave about the outstanding job they do @ TWIHW! There’s such a Positive Energy in their facility from the moment you walk in the door – everyone’s smiling, friendly, competent AND they actually see you on time… The list goes on and on!

My health has improved so much with their innovative treatments (I’ve seen many doctors for over 20 years without similar results) – I used to have 2-3 migraines per week, and have now had only 2 in the last 7 months! In addition, my decades long insomnia issues are improving; not only have I been able to cut my sleep medication by more than half, the number of hours of good sleep has doubled (as measured by my FitBit, + finally feeling refreshed in the mornings instead of that awful fatigue).

Fibromyalgia pain has also diminished under Dr. McManus’s care & my food sensitivities continue to improve – what more can I say? I look forward to my appointments with Dr. McManus – both to see everybody (they’re like a cool family) and to share how much better I’m doing! Truly they are some of God’s helpers here on Earth – what a Blessing!!! Eternal gratitude – Thanks you guys!!!

From Marti R.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-06-22T16:20:31-06:00June 22nd, 2015|Articles, Testimonials|

About Mila McManus MD

By Mila McManus MD

Call 281-298-6742 to talk about the right solution for you.