Supplement of the Month: Methylselenocysteine

A Supplement that Addresses Thyroid Problems and More

Methylselenocysteine is a more active form of selenium which functions primarily as a component of the antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione peroxidase activity, which requires selenium for activity, facilitates the recycling of vitamins C and E, in optimizing the performance of the antioxidant system. Low levels of selenium have been linked to a higher risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases, and other conditions associated with free radical damage, including aging and cataract formation. Selenium is also essential for healthy cell-mediated immune function, stimulating immune properties of lymphocytes. Selenium is also needed for the activation of thyroid hormones.

Chronic low selenium intake is associated with an increased risk for heart disease, cancer and depressed immune function. Selenium appears to provide protection against heart disease and stroke. Selenium supplementation (100 ugm/day) increases the ratio of HDL to LDL and inhibits platelet aggregation. Selenium and glutathione peroxidase activity are low in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, psoriasis and most inflammatory conditions. This is related to the increased synthesis of proinflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Immune system function is enhanced by selenium, by contributing to higher natural killer cell (NKC) activity. Natural killer cells have the ability to destroy cancer cells and bacterial and viral agents. Heavy metal toxicity symptoms may be alleviated by selenium, acting as an antagonist. Selenium deficiency may also contribute to male infertility.

Selenium is safe at the level generally used for supplementation (100-200 mcg/day). However, taking more than 750 mcg of selenium per day may cause toxicity Reactions such as loss of fingernails, skin rash, and neurological aberrations. In the presence of iodine deficiency goiter, selenium supplementation has been reported to exacerbate low thyroid function. Selenium is available in several different forms. Studies indicate that inorganic salts like sodium selenite are less effectively absorbed and not as biologically active as organic forms of selenium, such as selenomethionine or high-selenium content yeast. Righest sources of dietary selenium are found in:

Wheat Germ
Bran
Brazil Nuts
Red Swiss Chard
Whole Wheat Bread
Oats
Brown Rice
Turnips

The adult RDA for selenium is 50ug/day.

Information obtained by Spectracell Laboratories.

By Mila McManus MD|2014-04-14T15:42:38-05:00March 4th, 2013|Articles|

Osso Bucco Slow Cooker Meal

This Osso Bucco recipe offers families a great way to prepare a healthy meal without sacrificing a lot of time in the kitchen.
Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 Veal Shank Steaks
1 large can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
1 can white Cannellini Beans
1 large yellow onion chopped
½ cup dry white wine
½ – ¾ cup beef broth
2 tablespoons Bragg Organic 24 Spice Sprinkle or similar
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons pepper

Rinse and drain beans. Peel and chop onion. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours and serve. Be aware that the bones in the veal shanks may fall away from the meat during cooking, so look for them when you serve up the meal. We don’t recommend the removal of the bones prior to cooking because they add important nutrients to the stew. Serve with horseradish, spicy mustard or organic ketchup.

By Mila McManus MD|2014-07-31T12:04:54-05:00February 21st, 2013|Recipes|

Minerals Matter

Over the course of my own journey and relationship with food, I have found that one source of motivation for me is understanding why it is important for me to try a new food. For me, motivation can be found in the facts, the science and the intricacies of what I cannot see. Kale is a good example. It became increasingly apparent to me that it is one of the healthiest foods we can be eating, but upon examination at the grocery store, I struggled visually, emotionally, to get excited about it. But the more I understood the massive antioxidant and cleansing power of kale, and the fiber content, the harder I worked at buying it, preparing it different ways and finding ways to make it a delicious part of my dietary path. As a result of this process, I really like kale! So as we feature Selenium this month, I want to use this opportunity to take a closer look at minerals, what they are, why you need them and where they are found in your food. I hope greater understanding motivates you to expand the variety in your whole food choices to optimize your intake of valuable minerals.

Minerals naturally occur in rock and stone formations. When rock and stone are slowly broken down into tiny fragments by erosion from wind, rain, water and sun, the end result is dust and sand that make what we call soil. From the soil grow numerous grasses and plants. We also plant our herbs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and grains in this soil. Mineral rich soil will yield mineral rich plants. Likewise, animals that graze on mineral rich plants will also yield mineral rich meat and milk. The body demands larger quantities of the minerals calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus but equally important and necessary in much smaller amounts are selenium, boron, chromium, copper, germanium, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, silicon, sulfur, vanadium and zinc.

We must consume minerals. Every living cell in the planet depends on minerals to work properly and maintain shape, including all the cells that make our own bodies. That is, after all, what you are…trillions of tiny cells clumped together to make up blood, organs, bones, muscle, skin and all the rest. Minerals are essential for:

Proper composition of all body fluids such as blood and the water that makes up as much as 70% of the body
Making blood and bones
Proper nerve function
Regulating muscle tone
Working in partnership with vitamins to produce energy, growth and healing
Proper utilization of vitamins in the body

Minerals work best in combination together with each other and with vitamins and this is how they occur in nature – together. So eating organic foods from rich, well cared for soils will provide the magical blend of minerals and vitamins that work in unison to provide your body with optimal health. Likewise, soil that is overworked and depleted of valuable minerals will not offer mineral rich foods.

By Mila McManus MD|2013-03-04T17:59:19-05:00February 21st, 2013|NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback, also referred to as EEG Biofeedback, is a non-invasive, pain-free computer-based technique which retrains the brain to produce brainwave patterns that are beneficial to better functioning. Our brains are 2% chemical and 98% electrical. That means that 100% of medications are only addressing 2% of our brain function. The electrical part produces different types of brainwaves (i.e., alpha, beta, theta, delta) and are distributed all throughout our brain. If our brainwave distribution becomes out of balance (much like our hormones), symptoms may result such as anxiety, depression, lack of energy, foggy thinking, etc.

When the electrical system (brainwaves) is modulated through neurofeedback, the brain becomes more flexible, calming the brain and helping the client to have better control of his or her emotions, feelings and thoughts.

During a session, sensors are placed on the head in specific locations to monitor the brainwave activity, much like the electrical activity you see when having an EKG. This activity is displayed onto the therapist’s computer monitor. On a separate screen, the client plays a video game that is generated using his or her brainwave activity. Each time a healthy brainwave is achieved, the client is rewarded via graphics and auditory sound. As healthier brainwaves are achieved, a healthier state of mind (e.g., focused, relaxed, less anxiety) is learned. Unlike medication, once the training stops, the results are enduring.

Neurofeedback is a safe, long-lasting, drug-free alternative to treating ADD/ADHD, anxiety, sleep disorders, panic attacks, learning disorders, foggy thinking, stress, obsessive thoughts, compulsions, depression, migraines, and other conditions. The overall goal is to help the client manage his or her symptoms and improve his or her performance in whatever area of life s/he desires such as school, work, or relaxation.

For more information regarding neurofeedback, go to www.springhill4counseling.com

By Mila McManus MD|2013-03-04T17:39:46-05:00February 13th, 2013|Articles|

No Sex Drive?

Article by Mila McManus MD

Many factors affect one’s sex drive, including:
• Testosterone deficiency (male or female)
• Progesterone or Estrogen deficiency
• Stress/Fatigue/Depression
• Certain medications (e.g., anti-depressants)
• Birth control pills
• Poor Self-image (e.g., due to weight gain)
• Strained relationship
• Painful intercourse (e.g., due to vaginal dryness)
Low libido is often dismissed by doctors, but it is a serious concern for many people. It can strain relationships, leading to stress, which everyone knows will adversely affect the body. Stress, over time, negatively affects your immune system, which in turn will predispose you to all types of disease. If low libido is affecting your relationship, please read on.
HORMONES: More often than not, improving one’s sex drive requires addressing several causative factors simultaneously. It may take several months to tackle all of them, but it can be done. First, you should be evaluated for the need for supplementation /replacement with hormones. Moreover, when I say hormones, I’m talking about the use of bio-identical hormones, not synthetic ones. In our practice, we’ve found that blood tests for diagnosing hormone deficiencies are rarely helpful. Normal reference ranges for hormone levels are large and can often be misleading. I find it to be much more useful to evaluate one’s symptoms in determining hormonal imbalances and deficiencies. Click here to test yourself for hormonal imbalance and deficiency.

If you take an ANTI-DEPRESSANT, it’ll be important for you to address the underlying causes of your depression, so that you’ll have a chance to successfully wean off your antidepressant. Antidepressants are used to mask the symptoms of depression, but aren’t going to cure your problem. Hormonal deficiency is a very common cause of depression. Many of our patients have successfully weaned from their antidepressants after being on our wellness program for only a short period of time.

POOR SELF-IMAGE: If you feel your libido is down because of a poor self-image, then consider doing something about it. If you’ve gained weight and haven’t been able to lose it on your own, seek help. We offer several programs at TWIHW to help you reach your goals. You should also consider being evaluated for hormonal imbalance, as this could be working against you.

STRAINED RELATIONSHIP—There’s not enough progesterone or testosterone on Earth to make up for a bad relationship. Consider counseling. I’ve seen it make a huge difference in the lives of many people. Maybe you are harboring some subconscious resentment towards your mate and you don’t even realize you’re being passive aggressive.

PAINFUL intercourse will certainly affect one’s desire. If you suffer with vaginal dryness, there are treatments. If you suffer with vulvodynia/vaginismus (if you don’t know what these words mean, then you probably don’t have these conditions, or at least you haven’t been diagnosed with them yet), there are treatments for these as well. Biofeedback may help.

STRESS and FATIGUE are common contributing factors to low libido. You must take time for yourself. Take a day off, get a babysitter, plan a date with your mate. If life is dragging you down, your problems run much deeper than libido. Addressing the fatigue is certainly a good place to start. Discussing the causes of, and treatments for, fatigue is beyond the scope of this article, so please visit our website for more information.

OTHER ways to enhance sex drive include various herbal blends you can find on the internet (e.g. Maca root), certain foods (e.g.chocolate), and novelty (e.g. hotel getaway).

By Mila McManus MD|2013-02-18T17:42:30-05:00February 12th, 2013|Articles|

Organic Labeling of Food

Organic Labeling of Food

Food labeling in general is very chaotic and unreliable which can make a trip to the grocery store very frustrating and complicated. You may not be aware, but the FDA accepts no responsibility of ensuring that food in a package and the promises on the package are in fact truthful and accurate. It is a well-known fact that a package can say Blueberry Muffins without a single, real blueberry in it. A package can be called “quinoa pasta” when more than half of the ingredients in the package are actually corn. And a product can be marked organic, but you may be surprised to find out that may mean that only some of the ingredients in the product are organic.

When it comes to organic, the ONLY good assurance of organic food quality is found in the USDA Organic seal. This circular, green and white seal is the most reliable organic true certification and it requires the strictest standards of any organic label. Any farm, wild crop harvesting or handling operation that wants to sell an agricultural product as organically produced and bear the USDA Organic symbol must meet the standards set by the USDA’s National Organic Program. These standards apply to raw, fresh products as well as processed products that contain organic agricultural ingredients.

So what does a product have to be to qualify for the USDA Organic seal?

A product must be grown and processed using organic farming methods, which recycle resources and promote biodiversity.
Crops must be grown without the use of bioengineered (genetically modified) genes, synthetic pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers or sewage sludge-based fertilizers.
Products cannot be irradiated, or contain preservatives or flavor enhancing chemicals.
Products cannot contain traces of heavy metals or other contaminants in excess of tolerances set by the FDA.
Livestock must have access to the outdoors and not be given antibiotics or growth hormones.

Be aware that many foods that are labeled “organic” and do not bear the USDA Organic symbol have been produced in large factory farms which have not adhered to the strict standards required by the National Organic Program.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/04/organic-labels-are-not-always-honest.aspx

By Mila McManus MD|2013-02-18T17:11:31-05:00February 11th, 2013|NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

Dairy Free & Gluten Free Muffins Recipe!

There is no longer any reason to skip breakfast! Running short on time? Here is a dairy free and gluten free muffins recipe to help you stay on track with your nutritional goals during those days when you just don’t seem to have the time!

Ingredients:

– 1/4 Cup Almond Flour
– 1 Egg
– 1 Tsp Coconut Oil
– 1/2-1 Tsp Cinnamon
– 1/8-1/4 Tsp Baking Powder
– Pinch of salt
– 2-3 Xylitol Packets
– Filler of choice (Some examples might be: 10 blueberries or 1/4 cup chopped ham & 1 tsp goat cheese. If you choose a more savory filler like ham, you can leave out the cinnamon.)

Mix all ingredients into a coffee mug, microwave* for 75 seconds and enjoy!

*Though we do not usually condone microwaves, we are realistic and would much rather you have this healthy recipe at hand than have to run through the quickest drive through on your way to work or children’s school!

By Mila McManus MD|2014-07-31T12:09:36-05:00February 11th, 2013|Recipes|

Cleaning VS Building and Repair

Welcome to 2013! Have you considered your goals for this year? Education? Lose Weight? Find a Partner? Get a Job? Volunteer?

Did you know that your body has several goals in mind? Is it surprising after the holidays that your body wants a good CLEANING on the inside? And what about REPAIRING all the damage done from lack of sleep, stress, poor diet and injuries? Finally, part of staying alive and aging gracefully is rebuilding. Your body replaces and rebuilds in many ways, for example, our skin is replaced about every 35 days.

So coming from your nutritionist, it is no surprise to have me say that what you eat will provide the primary tools for your body to do what it needs to do this year. That is because our food is what will allow your body to accomplish the goals of CLEANING, REPAIRING and REBUILDING. So which foods do which jobs?

Plant foods, especially and primarily vegetables and fruits do the work of cleansing the body. While they do contain many vitamins and minerals, plant fibers are difficult for the human body to break down and digest and it is this very quality that allows these foods to serve as an inner brillo pad, scrubbing and removing accumulated toxins and refuse from the body. This is one of the reasons most people feel very good initially after a cleansing, detoxifying vegetable focused diet because of the cleansing effect. It energizes, cleans and lifts the body. For the same reason, very few succeed with vegetarian or vegan diets because there are no significant building and repairing nutrients in a diet made up only of plant foods. Eventually, the body is unable to repair or build and symptoms reflect it.

It is important to understand that your body needs more than just cleaning. It also routinely needs to BUILD and REPAIR. Vegetables and fruits cannot offer the nutrients needed to build and repair. Only protein and fat can be used to build and repair which includes making new cells, new hormones and new enzymes, for example. Your ability to heal the body, stay youthful in appearance, have beautiful skin, restore muscle or bone and have a strong immune system will require high quality animal proteins and healthy, natural, undamaged fats to accomplish these functions.

Using this information, you can see that there are times in life where cleansing and detoxification would warrant a diet focused on vegetables while reducing protein and fats temporarily to allow the body to cleanse. Our Total Body Cleanse is an example of an approach to cleansing in a safe and effective manner. When we have injury or illness (the need to repair) or are working to build muscle for athletic endeavors and stay healthy during normal daily activities and stresses, it is essential that the diet include a balance of animal protein, undamaged natural fats and good carbohydrates in the form of vegetables and fruits. Our recommendations toward a cave man or paleo type of dietary path will provide exactly this. Eat Well and Live Well in the New Year!

By Mila McManus MD|2013-01-14T21:56:13-05:00January 7th, 2013|NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

Adrenal Fatigue

The Importance of Cortisol When Addressing Adrenal Fatigue

When thinking about adrenal fatigue, let’s start at the beginning with your adrenal glands. The adrenal glands produce many hormones, including cortisol. Cortisol modulates your immune system, protects your body during times of emotional or physical stress, and sustains your blood sugar and blood pressure. You would die very quickly without cortisol. Cortisol production varies depending on the body’s demand for it. When you catch a cold, cortisol production will increase to stimulate your immune system and fight that infection. Similarly, when you are under severe emotional stress, your body will demand more cortisol to cope with the effects of that stress. Cortisol is also an anti-inflammatory hormone, your natural Advil, if you will.

Adrenal fatigue usually occurs when a person is constantly demanding high amounts of cortisol from their adrenal glands due to chronic stress, chronic pain, allergies and other illness. Your adrenal glands aren’t made to produce at high capacity for long periods of time, so when your body is constantly demanding cortisol, your adrenal glands will eventually burn out. Other factors that compound the issue include sleep deprivation, untreated sleep apnea, food allergies and sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies and toxic overload (such as with artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, preservatives, pesticides and pharmaceutical drugs). When adrenal fatigue sets in, the adrenal glands might produce, let’s say, half as much as your body is demanding, which leads to a vicious cycle because they can’t give you what you need to fight whatever you’re fighting, so the problems get worse, and then you need even more cortisol. When you have adrenal fatigue, it takes longer to recover from illnesses and you might also have low blood sugar episodes (symptoms include headaches, shakiness, lethargy, sweating, dizziness, behavior changes), and even low blood pressure symptoms such as light- headedness upon standing. Moreover, aches and pains may develop out of nowhere. Allergies and asthma may worsen.

Cortisol in the Media
Cortisol gets a bad wrap in the media and in the “traditional” medical community. You may have heard that stress increases cortisol levels and that cortisol increases belly fat. Based on this theory, supplements have been created to block the production of cortisol. (A side note-the companies advertising these supplements have been sued for unsubstantiated claims). While it IS true that stress increases cortisol levels, it is because your body is demanding it. If you were producing too much cortisol when your body was NOT demanding it, you WOULD develop all of the problems associated with steroids, such as weight gain, fluid retention, diabetes, high blood pressure, acne, bone loss and immune suppression. Too much of any hormone is just as bad for the body as a deficiency in any hormone.

Challenge of Adrenal Fatigue Not Showing Up on Blood Tests
Adrenal fatigue is not easily diagnosed because it usually will not show up on a blood test until it reaches the extreme form known as Addison’s disease. Adrenal fatigue is more of a relative deficiency of cortisol. I diagnose adrenal fatigue based on a person’s symptoms, as well as based on his or her history (e.g., current medical problems, stressors). Because of the method for establishing normal reference ranges for lab tests, I know that the majority of my patients’ cortisol levels will be within normal range.

Treatment of Adrenal Fatigue
Treating adrenal fatigue involves supporting your adrenal glands with certain nutrients and also sometimes with low (i.e. physiologic) doses of adrenal hormones cortisol and DHEA, as well as removing the factors contributing to their demise. This involves dietary changes, vitamins, removing yeast from your body, learning to manage stress, balancing hormones, exercise, treating chronic pain and getting adequate sleep. It would be very difficult to completely recover normal adrenal function without addressing all of these at once. Most traditional doctors in the managed care model of medicine treat one symptom/health problem at a time, usually by masking your symptoms with prescription drugs.

Click here to test yourself for adrenal fatigue, and if you feel that this common, and hugely underdiagnosed health problem is something you might be suffering with, call 281-298-6742 and speak to a wellness consultant today or we can contact you by clicking here. We also encourage you to watch a short video with Dr. McManus about adrenal fatigue, too.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-10-08T09:50:41-05:00December 11th, 2012|Articles|

An Old Tradition Needed Today

Chicken soup has been a well-known folk remedy for the common cold and many of us recall our grandmothers and mothers preparing and providing it when we were small children with a cold or flu bug. So was grandma right in her thinking? She most certainly was! Here at The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness we are interested in getting everyone back to good old homemade meat broths and stocks. The reason lies in the fact that meat broths contain a large number of extremely nourishing nutrients in a very bio-available form. And it is no surprise that our grocery store stocks and broths are just not the same thing because industry food processing damages the broth and adds unnecessary and often harmful additives. Home-made broths contain many important minerals, amino acids and vitamins that are very soothing and healing to the digestive tract and the broths provide the essential building blocks for the rapidly growing cells of the gut lining. Broth is also very anti-inflammatory and aids in digestion for this reason. All of this supports a healthy gut, which is mission critical to overall health and wellness.

Broths made from any animal source including fish, chicken, goose, duck, venison, beef, pork or turkey, using bones, marrow, cartilage, joints and giblets are all ideal. If you have a stock pot or a Crockpot, you are ready to make stock! And please, let me urge you NOT to remove the fat content from the stock. We need this saturated animal fat for the healing process and immune function as well. Did you know that most saturated animal fats including beef, pork and lamb fat are actually only about 50% saturated fat while the remainder are mono and polyunsaturated fats? If you do remove it, then I hope you are planning to cook with it!

So as we shift into our coldest months, be thinking about homemade vegetable beef soup or chicken soup or a hearty nine-bean and ham soup and start out with stock made from scratch (see today’s recipe for instructions). Eat Well. Be Well

Reference: Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD. 2012

By Mila McManus MD|2012-12-19T15:59:34-05:00December 11th, 2012|NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

About Mila McManus MD