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10 Tips for Teaching Children Healthy Food Habits

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

As our children struggle with an increasingly large number of health issues such as skin rashes, poor concentration, inability to sleep, constipation, hyperactivity, tummy aches, and obesity, just to name a few, it is difficult to ignore the fact that most restaurant food, packaged food and fast food are filled with damaged oils and proteins, sugar, and harmful additives. We want to encourage families to get together at the dinner table to eat a simple, real food meal more often to ensure good nourishment and also because it creates security, stress reduction, relationship strength and emotional confidence for our children and families as a whole.

Tip ONE: Begin early and involve children in selection and preparation of vegetables, fruit, and meat. The ability to choose, smell, touch, and prepare foods will help to increase participation in trying new foods. As age allows, engage them in setting the table, washing, cutting, measuring quantities, and otherwise helping to prepare the meal and clean up afterward. Even “play” activities with food can help a child become familiar with a new food. An art activity like creating a face on an apple with kale for hair, grapes or blueberries for eyes, thinly sliced bell pepper or carrot to form a smile, can increase a child’s confidence with new foods. If your kids are older, sign up for a cooking class together.

Tip TWO: As soon as you begin reading to your child, include nutrition-oriented books. Include nutrition topics in DVD’s for older children such as Food Matters, or Food, Inc. Conduct experiments with food such as buying a Happy Meal and leaving it on the kitchen counter for observation to see what happens to it. Book suggestions for youngsters include Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman, Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert, Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks, and Why Should I Eat Well by Claire Llewellyn.

Tip THREE: Try new foods together. Insist on tasting everything and you do the same. Teach tasting with an 8-10 chew rule – take a bite, chew 8 times, then the choice is theirs to spit it out or swallow it. Children need to touch, smell, and experience new foods often before eating it. It can take as many as 10-20 introductions of a new food to develop a taste for it. Be patient and persistent, continuing to put it on the plate. Try preparing it different ways. (Yes! Hide it if you can.) If you don’t have success after 20 introductions, don’t give up entirely. Take it out of the rotation for a couple months and reintroduce it again later. Remember, taste buds are growing and changing along with children’s brains and bodies.

Tip FOUR: Ignore protests or requests during mealtime for routine favorites or something different. We recommend that everyone in the family is served and expected to eat the same food. This prepares children for many aspects of life where we don’t always get our favorites or our way. If children can be taught to eat what is served they will try new foods and become less finicky. Don’t feel guilty about allowing a child to be a little hungry because they refused to eat what was served. Sometimes missing a favorite treat or being hungry at bedtime is a strong motivator for changed behavior at the dinner table. Snacks or after dinner treats, even healthy ones such as fruit, nuts or 60% dark chocolate chips should not be offered unless a child has eaten a reasonable amount of the dinner served.

Tip FIVE: Bring kids to the table hungry. Introducing new foods is best done when the child is hungry and the options are limited. Do this by preventing excessive snacking and permission-only access to food in the kitchen. Help your children identify the sensation of true hunger versus eating for other reasons. Encourage play and outdoor activity wherever possible. Hungry kids will come to the table ready to try new foods, eat what is served and eat good portions for growing minds and bodies.

Tip SIX: Limit beverages at mealtime. Keep children focused on food. Too much liquid of any kind can fill a child up and prevent them from eating much. Excessive fluid also dilutes stomach acid needed to aid in quality digestion. Use small 3-4 ounce glasses and don’t allow refills. If children are hungry between meals, suggest water, since hunger is often a sign of thirst.

Tip SEVEN: Make dinner a technology-free and toy-free zone for everyone. No television, cell phones, toys or other activities. This increases a focus on eating, chewing well and healthy conversation. If phones ring or ping, do not leave the table to answer them. This shows your children that eating together as a family is a high priority where nothing else is more important. Check out www.dinnertimeapp.com for a way to get kids to shut down technology at the appropriate times.

Tip EIGHT: It may not be realistic to eat at home every night but try to establish one or two nights that are “sacred” where everyone agrees that dinner will be at home together and no activities will take precedence. Engage teens in dinner preparation responsibility one day a week. Boys and girls need to know how to plan and cook a meal for successful adult lives.

Tip NINE: Create fun, healthy discussion for mealtime. Pose a question everyone can answer. For example, “What was the best part of your day and why?” or “What are you thankful for today and why? “ Need more ideas? Check out http://childhood101.com/2012/03/family-time-meal-time-conversation-starters/ .

Tip TEN: Teach your children to understand that sugar, specifically sweets such as candy, cakes, ice cream, cookies, cokes, fruit juices, power drinks, donuts and other similar foods are highly destructive to the optimal functioning of the human body and highly correlated with most disease and illness. . The more you can limit or eliminate them, the better for everyone. Instead, offer a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods for snacks and meals. Avoid using sweets or any food as a reward or soother. This teaches your children to become adults who reward or sooth themselves with food. Be very aware that, while socially acceptable and legal, sugar is at least as, if not more addictive than, cocaine, alcohol and tobacco. Fresh fruit, nuts and seeds are ideal replacements for sweets.

For more ideas, help with the substitutions and sugar-busting methods, contact me today at 281-298-6742 for a nutrition consultation.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/05/02/is-sugar-toxic.aspx
http://www.naturalnews.com/042209_sugar_addictive_substances_cigarettes.html

By Mila McManus MD|2015-06-22T15:28:44-06:00June 22nd, 2015|Articles, General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

His quality of life is so much better…

His quality of life is so much better...

My son, CJD, now 13 years old, has had a remarkable improvement in his health through the yeast cleanse, sub-lingual allergy drops (A-drops), and supplements that you prescribed. Before coming to you, he suffered with severe allergies, asthma, eczema and constipation. As a baby and a young child, he was so sick and seemed to get worse with age and more traditional medical treatments. After 3 weeks of the yeast cleanse, the scabs and wounds, from scratching his skin until he would bleed from the eczema, completely disappeared and have not returned. He has not missed but one or two days of school due to illness this past school year, and his allergic reactions are fewer and not as severe as before the cleanse and the A-drops. His quality of life is so much better thanks to the treatment plan recommended by you.

Many thanks,

Laurie D.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-06-22T15:09:36-06:00June 22nd, 2015|Testimonials|

Women and Heart Disease

by Dyvette Warren, PA-C

Why is heart disease the leading cause of death in women? Why are women and men being diagnosed with coronary artery disease at younger ages than ever before? Why has heart disease become so prevalent in the last 100 years?

All women face the threat of heart disease. Becoming aware of the symptoms and risks unique to women, as well as eating a healthy diet, free of processed foods and toxins, and exercising regularly, can help protect you.

Coronary artery disease is caused by plaque forming in the lining of the arterial walls. This plaque is deposited along the arterial walls and can eventually rupture and block blood flow to a part of the heart resulting in tissue death. This is called a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Inflammation plays a key role in arterial plaque formation.

If I have plaque in the arteries of my heart, what symptoms do I look for?

The most common heart attack symptoms in women are pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest; however, it’s not always severe and is often dismissed. Women are more likely than men to have atypical symptoms that may seem unrelated to a heart issue, such as:

Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort
Shortness of breath with or without chest pain
Right arm pain, left arm pain
Upper or mid back pain
Diabetics often present with fatigue and elevated blood sugar without chest pain
Nausea or vomiting
Sweating
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Unusual fatigue
Women’s symptoms may occur more often at rest or while sleeping
Emotional stress may also trigger heart attack symptoms

A 42 year old neighbor knocked on my door 5 years ago and said, “Something is wrong”. After a normal cardiac stress test several weeks before, medications for cholesterol and hypertension were prescribed by the cardiologist. This 42 year old mother of 2 young children had a standard and thorough evaluation with her primary care provider and cardiologist. She was advised to follow up in 6 months or sooner if symptoms worsen.

I knew from my training and experience that when a patient experiences feelings of “impending doom”, a thorough investigation should follow. After careful questioning, she reported only slightly elevated cholesterol and blood pressure diagnosed by her primary care provider. The reason for the knock at my door and the visit to the cardiologist was the chest pain that occurred at rest, in the middle of the night, while sleeping, that would awaken her.

The next step would be to check her lungs and coronary arteries, so I ordered a coronary angiogram (a CT scan that looks inside and around the arteries of the heart). This test included a good view of the lungs as well. Shortly after the procedure was completed, a radiologist contacted me and advised immediate cardiac evaluation for severe plaque in two major coronary arteries. This information meant that a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or death could imminent. I contacted the patient’s cardiologist to explain the severity of the situation and advised that he meet this patient at the hospital right away. The patient received coronary artery bypass surgery the next morning! The patient has implemented life style changes that will decrease the risk of worsening cardiovascular disease and is living a full and productive life with her family.

What are the risk factors for the development of heart disease in women?

Diabetes, insulin resistance, and elevated blood glucose levels without a diagnosis of diabetes, significantly increases the risk of heart disease in women more than men.
Metabolic syndrome – a combination of fat around the abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high triglycerides.
Emotional stress and depression affect women’s hearts more than men’s. Depression makes it difficult to maintain a healthy life style and follow recommendations. Depressive symptoms must be addressed.
Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than in men.
Exposure to toxins, which trigger inflammation in the body.
Lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for heart disease, and as a group, women tend to be less active than men.
Low levels of estrogen after menopause pose a significant risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease in the smaller blood vessels.
Pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes can increase a woman’s long-term risk of developing heart disease in both the mother and in her children.

Where do the toxins come from that get into my blood stream?

Manmade chemicals from personal care products, toothpaste, shampoos, bubble baths, shower gels, makeup, perfumes, deodorants and lotions can be quite toxic. House hold cleaning supplies, detergents, prescription drugs and over the counter medications, smoking tobacco, industrial pollution, pesticides, contaminated water, processed foods, flavorings and additives, hydrogenated, partially-hydrogenated or trans fats all contribute to our toxic load.

Abnormalities in intestinal flora, nutritional deficiencies, and lack of sun exposure all contribute to toxic buildup as well. The body tries to fix and protect the vessels from toxins by using white blood cells to capture or trap the toxins. Atherosclerotic plaque begins to form in the lining of the vessels which narrows blood flow to vital organs. Coronary artery diseases cause 1/3 of all deaths in the western world annually.

Is cholesterol good or bad?

Cholesterol is vital to the healthy function of your body. Cholesterol is needed for the synthesis of many hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, DHEA, progesterone, and cortisol. Together with sun exposure, cholesterol is required to produce vitamin D, and deficiency in vitamin D increases risk of cancers and other ailments. Cholesterol is an essential element of all cell membranes, where it provides structural support and may even serve as a protective antioxidant. It is essential for conducting nervous impulses. If elevated cholesterol levels are the cause of coronary artery disease, why do so many people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol and so many people with high cholesterol live into their 90s? Please read more about cholesterol and statin drugs here.

What can I do to decrease my risk of a heart attack?

Try to find natural, non-toxic alternatives to any products you use that are on the market.
Avoid processed/packaged foods.
Keep blood glucose (sugar) controlled.
Eat organic whole foods.
Start exercising.
Lose weight if you are overweight.
Never smoke or quit now if you do.
Limit alcohol intake.
Get screened for heart disease.
Manage stress.
Treat Depression.

What are the tests that I should have done that will let me know if I am at risk for heart disease?

Clinical indicators for testing include an inflammatory checklist to asses overall inflammation. . Further testing is warranted if you answer yes to any of the following:

Digestive disorders
Bone and joint pain
Skin conditions
Poor health of teeth and gums
Metabolic syndrome/diabetes
Endocrine/hormone issues
High blood pressure
Chronic pain
Sleep issues
Chronic Fatigue
Chronic infection(s)
Autoimmune disease

We are now able to test 5 elements related to heart disease. The Coronary Artery Disease Inflammation Profile focuses on five key elements of cardiovascular health: sympathetic drive, antioxidant defense, immune activity, endothelial function, (and cholesterol?-the controversy continues!). It not only assesses sympathetic function and oxidation, but also provides an extensive view of inflammation to allow for more targeted and personalized interventions.

1. Sympathetic drive: Low sympathetic drive is inversely related to control of inflammatory cytokine levels, and the underlying cause of sleep disorders and depression. Testing includes norepinephrine, serotonin, glycine, taurine, and glutamate levels.

a. Must have norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine controlled.

b. Serotonin has a vasodilator effect that increases blood flow and decreases blood pressure. Lower levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

c. If norepinephrine is very low OR very high, this suggests severe endothelial inflammation.

2. Oxidation: Oxidative stress in humans can cause cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, heart failure, chronic fatigue, infection, disorders related to the skin, and other health problems. This test is for risk and vulnerability, looking at levels of harmful oxidized cholesterol, ApoB and ApoA1 ratio, and DOPAC, the oxidized form of dopamine. These levels help to identify whether free radicals are affecting the nervous system and catecholamine function.

3. Inflammation: Testing Myeloperoxidase, C-reactive protein, and cytokines. These levels help to stratify risk of heart disease as well.

4. Endothelial function: Mechanical measurement and biomarker measurement to test endothelial dysfunction. The endothelium is the largest organ in the body, made up of cells that line every blood vessel.

5. Plaque rupture/Plaque accumulation: testing cytokines. This is the first cardiac assessment to show improvement in as little as 2 to 4 weeks; no more waiting 3 to 6 months to assess effectiveness of therapy.

I recommend that you make an appointment with one of our providers if you are experiencing symptoms or have risks that are discussed in this article, if you have a family history of coronary artery disease, blood clots, or stroke, if you have had heart surgery, bypass or stents placed in your heart or extremities. We will determine the testing needed to fit your profile that will help to determine your future risk of a heart attack.

Other tests that may be recommended to assess risk include heart scan with calcium scoring, EKG, stress tests, nutrient testing, heavy metal testing, sleep study, psychological assessments, and ultrasounds of the heart, carotid arteries, extremities, and/or aorta.

Coronary artery disease is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in women and will continue to gain importance as a woman’s life expectancy increases. Important differences in presentation, risk factors, investigation, and treatment of women exist and should be recognized. There is plenty you can do to prevent and treat coronary artery disease. Start by committing to a healthy lifestyle.

Resources:

By Mila McManus MD|2015-06-03T06:53:08-06:00June 3rd, 2015|Articles, General|

Three Nutrition Tips to Avoid a Broken Heart

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

If you have not already read our lead article about Women and Heart Disease, I strongly encourage you to do so because it will explain the reasons for our nutrition recommendations. In our nutrition article today, I am going to get right to the heart of the matter (if you will pardon the expression) regarding nutritional lifestyle changes you can make that your heart will love. Please don’t let this underestimate the value of other lifestyle changes including exercise, the quality of your sleep, how you cope with stress, and the health of your relationships, because all of these things are equally important matters of the heart! We can’t exercise our way out of a bad diet or sleep away our worries. Balance and integration is essential for whole-hearted living and optimal health.

The overall nutrition strategy for the heart is to reduce oxidation, reduce inflammation, and detoxify. It is exactly these strategies we recommend for a healthy diet for life! The human body is wired and designed for a diet rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory foods and plenty of fiber that helps to cleanse and detoxify us. So what are the priorities?

1) A diet rich in vegetables (raw, cooked, juiced or fermented) is mission critical to good health and avoiding heart disease. There is no better food to stamp out oxidation and stop inflammation in its tracks! See if you can get 3-4 cups or more a day. This is the food that should take up most of the space on our plates at every meal.

2) For any matter of ill health or disease, including the heart, it is imperative that all processed and fast foods, especially refined carbohydrates (breads, cereals, wraps, pastries, cakes, cookies etc.), damaged oils/fats (margarine, canola, soybean, corn, cottonseed) and sugar be removed from the diet. When we eat food our body is not naturally wired to eat, we make it mad and confused! It really does not know what the heck it is supposed to do with soybean oil or canola oil-based salad dressing or an FD & C Color dye or nitrate or a load of sugar from any source, including an organic fruit smoothie or a couple of slices of multi grain bread. Foods that have been factory processed, highly milled, heated, treated, colored, preserved, texturized or defatted are no longer food but man-made products. The heart knows it! These products not only cannot be used as nutrition for your cells but they also interrupt processes, rob the body of essential minerals and vitamins, block and clog pathways, get stored as belly fat, increase harmful cholesterols, and elevate triglycerides. An important note about natural sources of sugar including fruit, honey, maple sugar, agave nectar, coconut date or palm tree sugars, turbinado and cane sugar, just to name a few. . sugar is sugar and sugar is an inflammatory, acidic, and destructive food no matter how organic or natural. When we talk about how our body is wired, early man consumed very little sugar in any form. Remember, fruit is seasonal and in some climates non-existent. Bee hives were rare and pretty impenetrable without some pain. Many fruits are very high in fructose which must be processed through the liver, generating a great deal of uric acid which leads to gout and heart disease.[i] Most berries are a safe choice in moderation.

3) Lose the fear of eating healthy, undamaged, natural fats including the incorrectly accused saturated fat! The human body requires the right fats to function optimally. Over the last 60 years, dietary fat intake recommendations have been grossly underestimated at 10% of total daily calories and damaged vegetables oils were recommended as the ideal choice. Simultaneously we were guided to remove all saturated and animal fats. These three errors have played a significant and contributing role to health problems today, including sugar addiction, carbohydrate cravings, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, hormone imbalances and much more. For most people, a healthy range of fat intake is between 40-70% of total caloric intake IF the choices are healthy! Healthy fats are fuel for the heart, resources for production of most of our hormones, enzymes and many neurotransmitters, and an essential component of every cell in the human body. Cholesterol is the building block for hormone production in the body and more than half of the brain is made of cholesterol![ii] Healthy fats also contain potent and powerful antioxidants. Healthy fats must be chosen carefully and examples include:

Avocado
Butter – organic ideally and from pasture raised or grass fed cows, raw if possible
Eggs – from pasture raised chickens fed grass and insects
Coconut meats and expeller pressed, organic coconut oil (a saturated fat)
Unheated, organic nut oils such as macadamia nut or walnut oil
Organic, cold pressed olive oil and olives
Raw nuts especially pecans, macadamia nuts, walnuts, and almonds as well as seeds such as chia, hemp, sesame and pumpkin
Grass fed/pasture raised meats
Small wild caught oily fish such as sardines & anchovies
Wild, Pacific salmon

So when it comes to matters of the heart, grandma was right when she told us to eat our vegetables, mother nature has proven wiser than the food manufacturing industry when it comes to your health, and yes, go ahead and eat a little more (healthy) fat! Still confused? Schedule your nutrition consult today!

[i] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/27/gout-uric-acid.aspx

[ii]http://info.spectracell.com/Portals/81015/docs/Dr%20Sinatra%20newsletter%200808HHN_final.pdf

By Mila McManus MD|2015-06-03T06:24:48-06:00June 1st, 2015|Articles, General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

Supplement of the Month: TPP Protease

by Transformational Enzymes

This powerful protease enzyme blend is designed to be used between meals and is formulated to absorb easily through the intestinal wall, working systemically in the immune system and circulatory system, unlike digestive proteases which are taken with meals to help digest proteins. Once in the blood stream, these proteases are picked up by white blood cells, which are a first responder to oxidative stress and inflammation, in the human body. When the white blood cells arrive at the site of oxidative stress and inflammation, the proteases are released where they act to break down unwanted and invasive proteins such as excess fibrin, one of the culprits in plaque development. Proteases also can break down obstructive blood clots, promoting healthy blood flow. In this way, these systemic proteolytic enzymes operate throughout the body to act as antioxidants, immune system regulators and anti-inflammatories. TPP Protease is recommended for patients with cancers, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, diabetes, kidney disorders such as renal insufficiency, eczema, psoriasis, asthma, emphysema, and any other inflammatory condition.

Consult your medical provider to find out if TPP Protease would be a wise choice for you and to determine correct dosing.

Resource: https://www.transformationenzymes.com/

*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|2015-05-19T15:30:34-06:00May 19th, 2015|Articles, General|

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Serves 4

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
• ½ cup fresh or frozen onions, sliced
• 1 cup fresh celery, sliced
• 2 Tbsp butter or coconut oil

1. Rinse and remove the green leaves and stems from the cauliflower.
2. Cut the cauliflower into pieces and use a food processor to shred to rice consistency. This can be used with the blade by pulsing to desired texture. Or if you have a shredding blade, this too will work well.
3. Slice the mushrooms, dice the celery and onion and set aside.
4. Melt the butter or coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
5. Add all of the ingredients and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring often to avoid burning. Serve.

Be creative and add veggies you like such as peas, zucchini, bell pepper, carrot, scallions, green beans, sugar snap peas. The versions are limitless. Chop in leftover chicken, shrimp, pork, veal, lamb or beef. Spice it up with curry or fresh cilantro.

From Paleo Slow Cooking by Chrissy Gower, Victory Belt Publishing, Las Vegas, 2012

By Mila McManus MD|2015-05-19T11:49:39-06:00May 19th, 2015|Articles, General, Recipes|

Grain Free Banana Bread

bread

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
• 3 tbsp coconut palm sugar
• ¼ cup Thai Kitchen Organic Full Fat Coconut Milk (canned)
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 ¼ cups almond flour
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Using a large bowl and a small side bowl, separate egg yolks into the large bowl from egg whites into the smaller side bowl.

3. Add to the egg yolks, banana, coconut palm sugar, coconut milk and vanilla. Combine together.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the baking soda, almond flour, sea salt and cinnamon, tossing together using a fork.

5. Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl with moist ingredients and stir until well incorporated.

6. Using a wire whisk, beat the egg whites until foaming, then fold into the batter until fairly well combined.

7. Butter a loaf pan and pour in the batter. Bake for 35-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Recommend a 1.25-1.5 qt loaf pan for a high loaf. Larger loaf pans will yield a flatter loaf.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-04-24T10:45:10-06:00April 24th, 2015|Articles, Recipes|

Think of magnesium as the relaxation mineral.

Anything that is tight, irritable, crampy, and stiff — whether it is a body part or even a mood — is a sign of magnesium deficiency.

This critical mineral is actually responsible for over 300 enzyme reactions and is found in all of your tissues — but mainly in your bones, muscles, and brain. You must have it for your cells to make energy, for many different chemical pumps to work, to stabilize membranes, and to help muscles relax.

Much of modern life conspires to help us lose what little magnesium we do get in our diet. Magnesium levels are decreased by excess alcohol, salt, coffee, phosphoric acid in colas, profuse sweating, prolonged or intense stress, chronic diarrhea, excessive menstruation, diuretics (water pills), antibiotics and other drugs, and some intestinal parasites. In fact, in one study in Kosovo, people under chronic war stress lost large amounts of magnesium in their urine.

Food high in magnesium: Kelp, wheat bran, wheat germ, almonds, cashews, buckwheat, brazil nuts, dulse, filberts, millet, pecans, walnuts, rye, tofu, soy beans, brown rice, figs, dates, collard greens, shrimp, avocado, parsley, beans, barley, dandelion greens, and garlic

The RDA (the minimum amount needed) is about 300 mg a day. Most of us get far less than 200 mg.
Some may need much more depending on their condition.
Most people benefit from 400 to 1,000 mg a day.
The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate, taurate, or aspartate, although magnesium bound to Kreb cycle chelates (malate, succinate, fumarate) are also good.
One potential side effect is diarrhea, which can be avoided if you switch to magnesium glycinate or a topical form.
Taking a hot bath with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) is a good way to absorb and get much needed magnesium.

People with kidney disease or severe heart disease should take magnesium only under a doctor’s supervision.

The above is taken from: http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/20/magnesium-the-most-powerful-relaxation-mineral-available/#close

By Mila McManus MD|2015-04-23T12:40:49-06:00April 23rd, 2015|Articles, General|

Let’s Talk Tea

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

When I was a girl, tea was a beverage reserved for very refined people, often of British origin, to be had late in the afternoon. I hated it when my mom told me we had to go to someone’s house for tea. It was not my idea of fun because it usually meant putting on nicer clothes and good behavior. Today, it has become a very popular drink and it is one of my favorites! While the tea section at the grocery store contains all kinds of herbal infusions and botanicals, by definition, “tea” must come from the Camellia sinensis plant. All tea, whether white, green, oolong, black or pu’erh comes from this same plant.

As we address anxiety in this newsletter, I want to immediately point out that the ideal tea to promote calm and health is Chinese and Japanese Green Teas from the Camellia sinensis plant. Organic varieties are recommended and these teas contain a rich amount of theanine, an amino acid that produces a relaxed, yet alert state of calm when consumed. So if calm is what you want, green tea is your go to option. Several brand names to check out include The Republic of Tea Organic Double Green Matcha Tea, The Tea Spot, Arbor Teas, and Rishi Tea. These companies all offer a wide variety of Chinese and Japanese green teas that are organic, calming, antioxidant rich and very satisfying.

Now for those of you interested in learning a little more about teas, or getting a good dose of caffeine, here’s the rest of the story…..

Once the tender leaf has been plucked from the Camellia sinensis plant, a process of drying, withering, rolling and heat treatment takes place to make the various types of tea.

White Teas are picked as young buds enclosed in very young leaves and are the least processed and also release the least amount of caffeine of all teas (10-15 milligrams per 8 ounce cup). Their flavor is very delicate and sometimes difficult to detect.

Green tea leaves are plucked and ideal for brewing on the same day. Green tea leaves are not allowed to oxidize which helps to retain a very low caffeine content 25-35 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounce cup), a dark natural green color, theanine, tannins, vitamin C, Chlorophyll and minerals.

Oolong teas are semi-oxidized. The leaves are withered, rolled and then partially oxidized and then fired in a pan to stop oxidation. Sometimes they are smoked to impart flavor to the tea as well. Caffeine on first steeping is 30-50 milligrams per 8 ounce cup but dramatically reduces if the same leaves are steeped a second or third time.

Black teas are fully oxidized and very popular in the western world for the caffeine punch ranging from 40-60 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounce cup. These leaves are withered, rolled and crushed, which activates the oxidation process. Then they are oven fired to stop oxidation.

Pu’erh teas are first fermented with a semi-fermented green tea, followed by a secondary fermentation for six months where the tea is kept in a warm, humid environment allowing beneficial bacteria and fungal microflora to flourish. It is an ideal health drink and is has been suggested to improve digestion, increase saliva production, dispel the effects of alcohol and refresh the mind. These teas are very dark. It too has a caffeine punch of 60-70 miligrams of caffeine per 8 ounce cup.

All teas from the camellia sinensis plant have essential oils that provide the flavor and aroma of teas. They are rich in antioxidants and also offer small amounts of vitamins, minerals and amino acids including the rare L theanine molecule found in only three foods, two of which are teas listed here. Teas also have enzymes and the methylxanthines which are the alkaloid family that includes caffeine.

So whether you want to kick things up a bit or calm them down, enjoy a cup of tea, and by all means, relax and come as you are.

Sources:

http://www.arborteas.com/pages/tea-health-benefits.html

www.livestrong.com/Foods Rich in Theanine, 8/19/2010

By Mila McManus MD|2015-04-13T11:44:10-06:00April 13th, 2015|Articles, General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

Supplement of the Month: Stress Support Complex

By Complementrary Prescriptions

Stress Support Complex offers a unique blend of nature’s best plant root extracts, along with two important calming amino acids to promote relaxation and help alleviate occasional sleeplessness.

Ashwagandha root extract is one of the most powerful herbs used in Ayurvedic healing and has been used since ancient times. It functions as an adaptogen helping the body to modulate stress responses or a changing environment. Ashwagandha helps the body cope with external stresses such as toxins in the environment as well as internal stresses such as anxiety and insomnia.

Valerian root extract is an herbal remedy commonly used for insomnia and restlessness and is believed to function by sedating the brain and nervous system.

GABA, or Gamma-Amino Butyric acid, is a neurotransmitter that inhibits nerve transmission to the brain, thus calming nervous activity.

L-Theanine is an amino acid found primarily in green tea and, to a lesser extent in black tea and mushrooms, which increases levels of dopamine and GABA in the brain creating a state of wakeful relaxation and stress relief.

Ask your medical practitioner if Stress Support Complex would be a wise choice for you.

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

By Mila McManus MD|2015-04-14T15:33:50-06:00April 13th, 2015|Articles, General|

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