Eating Well on a Budget

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

It’s not uncommon to hear new patients say “Eating real whole food sure is more expensive!” But is it really? Here is a list of ways to reassess how you spend your hard earned dollars and how to save money, eat well and live well in the New Year. Happy New Year Everyone!

First Take a Good Assessment – It’s often an eye opener when you get a good handle on what you’re truly spending on your food. Often we are only considering the grocery bill. But have you totaled up eating out in restaurants, ordering delivery, quick purchases of food or snacks, or accounted for every bottle of water, or tea or coffee you purchase on the run? You may be surprised how much all of that adds up. When you get an eye on that number you may discover you have plenty of food dollars and that it’s just a matter of how you allocate it.

Eat at Home More Often – Consider the “total cost” to your health and pocketbook when eating out. You drive there, order more food than the human body needs, eat more damaged fat, chemicals, salt, MSG and sugar than the human body needs, pay a significant mark up from grocery store retail costs, add a 15-20% tip, and then drive home again. Even a drive-through can expensive relative to grocery store purchases. For example, at the cheapest place in town, McDonalds currently sells their fake food Big Mac Meal for $5.99. So consider feeding 2 adults basically for $12.00 at McDonalds. Beyond the pure lack of nutrition and well over 100 ingredients in it, you could go to the grocery store and purchase a pound of grass fed beef, 2 sweet potatoes and a bag of fresh shredded cabbage for the same amount of money, feed 3-4 people and eat a nutritiously dense meal at home, prepared in less than 20 minutes. And in every way, you would be healthier for it.

Prepare and Pack Food & Drink for the Road – Even a bottle of water in a convenience store generally runs well over one dollar. Coffee, though once free in many places, starts at $1.00 or more. These small but frequent pit stops add up. Everyone with good health as a goal will find a good cooler with a cold freezer pack, a good coffee mug, a non-toxic water bottle, and other cost saving devices. Those investments will pay for themselves in no time. Besides, you will save time, money and gasoline by no longer waiting, idling your car in line, breathing the fumes and paying the price both in health and your pocket book. A little planning and preparation at home every week goes a long way in preserving time, money and health. When you discover all the benefits you may even have time to plant a few of your own sprouts, herbs, or vegetables. And that is a saver too!

Not Everything Needs to Be Organic – In an ideal world, with limitless funds, perhaps this would be nice but sometimes you just have to pick your battles! Organic fresh fruits and vegetables can be expensive. If you can’t find organic options in your price range, at least learn which ones are most likely heavily pesticided or genetically modified so that you can avoid those. This is especially important for staples such as apples, celery, spinach, cucumbers, bell peppers, and kale for example. Take a look at the Environmental Working Group’s recommendations at http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/ for what to avoid and what is clean. You may also find frozen organic options that are better priced than fresh. If organic meats are not available or in your price range, consider “all natural” choices where at least the antibiotics and hormones have not been given to the animal. Or check into local sources, bulk purchases online or locally which, per pound, often yield a better price than grocery store options. Consider splitting bulk orders with friends.

Shop for Price – You will find considerable price variations from store to store and online. For staple items, such as coconut oil, grass fed meats, nut flours, unprocessed sea salt, and expeller pressed oils for example, you may gain cost savings by purchasing larger quantities at online places such as Amazon.com. Costco does a fair job of carrying some healthy choices. Consider splitting the cost of membership and the food with another family who also wants to be healthier. Shop for sales, especially with items that can be kept in the freezer for storage and use later, such as meats and nut flours. Your local farmers’ markets may offer better prices on seasonal choices.

Eat for Nutrient Density – Once you add up the cost of processed snack foods, processed pre-packaged meals, desserts, junk food and drinks, you will be surprised how expensive they are and yet how hungry they leave you (and unhealthy!). When you choose to eat real whole food, dense in quality nutrition, you will discover you are satiated and satisfied, therefore needing fewer snacks or meals. Additionally, when you move from the sadly mistaken low fat, no fat, no cholesterol dietary recommendations and ensure adequate healthy fats in your diet, you will quickly discover that you need less volume. Add in high fiber vegetables, nuts and seeds and you will be full. It also reduces the need or desire to eat larger portions of meat (6-8 ounce or more). We need meat, but it is not necessary to eat it at every meal and in most cases smaller portions in the 2-5 ounce range can suffice if your diet choices are otherwise broad in variety and whole food choices. That makes a pound of meat go much further. Items such as organic beans and lentils can generally be found in the bulk section at a very reasonable price.

Avoid Expensive Gimmick Health Foods – Being well and eating well is a fast growing industry. There are plenty of people capitalizing on your interest to eat better. I’m always on the lookout for the healthiest foods we can incorporate into our diets but remain alert and skeptical. Most of the newest “super” foods are very expensive for the nutrition gained. Many new, seemingly good, choices really aren’t when you read the fine print, ingredients lists and sources. You are likely much better off focusing on a good long term eating plan that includes real, clean, whole food and plenty of variety rather than purchasing acai and goji berries or mangosteen beverages at a high price. Kombucha and Coconut Waters can be expensive and sugar laden.

Every time you cook, make extra – this is essential for those who want to eat healthier and is an easy task. Even if you aren’t a leftover fan, the reality is that if you store them immediately into travel containers, you are ready to put together a to-go lunch box the next day without extra effort. Try mixing and matching and using leftovers creatively. For example, steam beets for dinner, then use leftover beet slices to add to a salad the next day. Or use leftover broccoli, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts for a stir fry with frozen wild caught shrimp the next night. Planning seems cumbersome at first, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Practice establishes a new habit.

Making Nutrition Important – finally, everyone in the world has a certain amount of money with which to make lifestyle choices, some of us more, some of us less. Where we put our money is a reflection of what is important to us. Your food choices, planning time on your calendar, and knowledge about your food choices will all be dependent on how important these are to you. I confess, my resources are rather limited, but nutrition is very high on my list. That means I have had to forgo some other things in life so that I can stay healthy, eat right and feel good. Those sacrifices have been well worth it to me. But these are very personal decisions that only you can make for yourself. I have also learned that if I eat well, I don’t have to take as many supplements, rarely need to pay for medical expenses, over the counter drugs or prescriptions, rarely miss work, and have come face to face with how poorly I used to feel when I ate fast, processed food. I have a friend on food stamps and we have hammered out a way for her to eat healthfully on very limited resources. I believe it’s possible for almost everyone to make small, meaningful changes in their diet for better health and it doesn’t have to break the bank.

If you need help planning, practicing, or need ideas to save money and/or prepare easy meals, schedule a consultation with me in the grocery store or at our facility. Start out the New Year with intentional steps to making lifestyle changes for you and your family’s health. Practice makes eating easy, cost effective, and healthy!

By Mila McManus MD|2016-01-05T14:28:48-06:00January 5th, 2016|Articles, General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

Supplement of the month: Lithium Orotate

Lithium Orotate is a trace mineral that helps to boost and balance mood. Studies show it also helps promote mental focus and may improve memory. It is easily absorbed and is 20 times more bioactive than other lithium salts, thereby allowing the individual to take smaller amounts. When salts of lithium are ingested, the lithium ions interact with several neurotransmitters and receptors in the central nervous system, resulting in decreased norepinephrine release and increased serotonin synthesis. (Prothera®, Inc. 2015 Patient Catalog)

Additional comments about Lithium Orotate:

For most of us, when we think about lithium, we might think about high dose pharmacological uses (Lithium carbonate) for individuals suffering from bipolar disorder, or we might think about lithium batteries. It’s unlikely that it comes to mind as a nutritional supplement that may promote better health for us.

Lithium itself is not a drug but an element that is found in the earth and in the human body. It is one of the top 15 elements found in the earth.[i] It is mined from the earth and found in both salt and fresh water. It is present in all organs and tissues in the body with similar chemical properties to that of calcium, potassium and magnesium and is now considered by many integrative health practitioners to be an essential micronutrient. According to Alice R. Laule, M.D., author of the book Lithium, “lithium has important functions in the brain, including protecting brain cells from various toxins and reducing the ill effects of certain excitatory neurotransmitters which are harmful in large amounts”. Lithium has been discovered to produce profound improvement of immune function by increasing granulocytes, monocytes, natural killer T-cells and immunoglobulins, all components of our white blood cells.[ii]

The supplemental form, called lithium orotate, is the lithium salt of orotic acid. It is a mineral salt which crosses the blood-brain barrier more easily than the pharmaceutical lithium carbonate. As a result it is highly bioavailable and can be used in much lower doses with good results and no side effects. Medical doctors have used lithium orotate in doses 80-90% lower than the pharmaceutical lithium carbonate to treat clinical depression with at least 50-70% of the patients showing fair to good response.[iii]

Ward Dean, M.D., author of “The Unique Safe Mineral with Multiple Uses” states that “Lithium orotate has also been successfully used in alleviating discomfort from migraine and cluster headaches, improving low white blood cell counts, juvenile convulsive disease, alcoholism and liver disorders”. He considers lithium orotate to be extremely safe, with no known adverse side effects or drug interactions.

According to an article written by Dr. Edward Group:

Harvard Medical School has analyzed over 30 human meta-analysis studies and has determined that lithium reduces the rate and risk of suicide attempts by 80-90% in patients with major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. In fact, the overall risk of suicides was five times less among lithium-treated subjects compared with individuals not treated with lithium.
A study from Texas analyzed 27 state counties between the years of 1978-1987. It was discovered that the incidence of suicide, homicide, rape, drug abuse, and felonious acts were about 50% lower in the 27 counties with lithium-containing drinking water. The water had lithium levels ranging from 70-170 micrograms/L. Additionally, the study found a significant reduction in drug-related arrests within the same time period and locations.
Lithium has been reported to be beneficial in animal models of brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s diseases, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), spinal cord injury, and other conditions. A recent clinical trial suggests that lithium stops the progression of ALS. The stimulation of endogenous neural stem cells may explain why lithium increases brain cell density and volume in patients with bipolar disorders.

The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and this nutrient is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[i] http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/lithium.aspx

[ii] Veteran Suicide Breakthrough: Revealing the Breakthrough Mineral for Suicide Prevention, PTSD and Depression ‘They Definitely’Don’t Want You to Know About”, an e-book by Dr. Mark Millar

[iii] Veteran Suicide Breakthrough: Revealing the Breakthrough Mineral for Suicide Prevention, PTSD and Depression ‘They Definitely’Don’t Want You to Know About”, an e-book by Dr. Mark Millar

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/is-lithium-orotate-good-or-bad-for-you/

By Mila McManus MD|2015-12-29T18:33:42-06:00December 28th, 2015|Articles, General|

Jayde Steer: Employee of the Month

Jayde Steer serves as the Office Manager at TWIHW. She brings to her role 9 years of healthcare experience including patient care, office administration, and work as an EMT on an ambulance. She is also an avid roller derbyist and served in the U.S. Army Reserves. As a result, she can take the heat, the pressure and the pace of a busy office while authentically engaging in relationships with co-workers and patients. She is admired for her ability to juggle multiple duties while always remaining composed, patient and diplomatic. Never satisfied with the status quo, for herself or this practice, she has a consistent thirst, always growing in her skills, improving processes, solving problems and finding the “next thing” to master or do both personally and professionally. We all admire her humility and authentic way she encourages and listens to us and patients. She is smart and witty and you can be sure if she doesn’t know the answer (which she usually does!), she will get it. And it is impossible to omit that her nature is sweet and huggable too!

By Mila McManus MD|2015-12-28T17:51:56-06:00December 28th, 2015|Articles, General|

VegeCleanse Plus Detoxification Program

As the New Year approaches, many of you may be planning to refocus your diet, clean it up again, and help your body get on a good track for the year ahead. Most of us struggle to eat as healthfully as we would like during the holiday season and often that leads to not feeling our best or gaining a few pounds.

We are offering an affordable, formalized program to meet this specific need. Whether you just want to get back on track nutritionally and support your body’s detoxification pathways or you would also like to shed a few pounds, VegeCleanse Plus Detoxification Program is just right. Simple and easy to follow, this is a comprehensive, science-based nutritional program designed to support safe and effective detoxification.

Detoxification can be done incorrectly. It’s important to properly support the Phase 1 and Phase 2 pathways with the correct nutrients to promote healthy liver function and elimination. Detoxification should also be gentle, and VegeCleanse Plus provides all the necessary nutrients needed to support your body’s processes of detoxification in a gentle way.

Each program kit provides single serving functional food powder drink mix packets and a capsule packet containing Amino-D-Tox™ and Hydrolyzyme™. Each kit also comes with a shaker bottle and a detailed program guidebook which includes a supplement schedule, sample menus and suggested food and snack options.

Program Options

These two options are self-guided, with all of the instructions and product included in the box.

Basic 14 day detoxification program $180.25

Basic 21 day detoxification program $233.25

Nutritional Services offered in modules:

$99 per hour module or $29 per 15 min module

Custom Nutrition

Custom designed to meet the exact needs and requests of the patient.

Transitions

This module is for patients who have completed the 28-day, Health Reset Protocol and want to transition successful to a healthy diet for life by reincorporating ideal foods and limiting damaging foods.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-10-13T10:21:11-06:00November 30th, 2015|Articles, General|

No-Bake Mini Pumpkin Bites (grain and dairy free)

Author: Katja from Savory Lotus

Serves: 24 mini cups

Ingredients

FOR CRUST:
1 cup hazelnuts (preferably soaked and dehydrated for better digestion)
½ cup raw pumpkin seeds (preferably soaked and dehydrated for better digestion)
8 dates, pitted
1 TBS coconut oil
1 TBS REAL maple syrup or raw honey
2 pinches of celtic sea salt
FOR FILLING:
1 cup cooked pumpkin puree
½ cup coconut butter
2 TBS coconut oil
3 TBS REAL maple syrup or raw honey
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp cinnamon powder
¼ tsp ginger powder
⅛ tsp allspice
⅛ tsp clove powder
FOR CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE:
2 TBS coconut butter
2 TBS coconut oil
2 TBS unsweetened cocoa OR raw cacao
3 TBS REAL maple syrup or raw honey
a pinch or 2 of salt

Directions:

1. To Make the crust: Line mini muffin tins with unbleached mini paper liners. Process all crust ingredients in a food processor until well combined and resembles coarse flour. Spoon 1 and ½ tsp of mixture into each of the 24 mini cups. Use your thumb to press down mixture firmly to create a solid bottom layer for these cute little yummies. Place in freezer to harden.

2. To make filling: Melt coconut butter and coconut oil in a double boiler. Remove from heat and add the rest of filling ingredients. Mix it up really well until creamy smooth. Remove crusts from freezer and spoon about ¾ TBS of filling over your prepared crusts. Return to the freezer to harden, at least 2 hours.

3. To make chocolate drizzle: Once mini bites have hardened, gently melt coconut butter and coconut oil in a double boiler. Remove from heat and add the rest of the drizzle ingredients. Allow to cool slightly to thicken. Pour into small plastic bag, cut a TINY hole in the corner, and drizzle over treats in any fashion that you want.

4. Now it’s time to enjoy these amazing delights. Store leftovers in freezer as they are best cold.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-11-30T16:11:00-06:00November 30th, 2015|Articles, General, Recipes|

Employee of the Month

When it comes to Celeste Valle, well, what’s not to like? Our Practice Administrator and more, Celeste manages to patiently and kindly oversee all operations of TWIHW. She brings calm amidst storms while exuding grace and integrity. She is a multi-tasker extraordinaire and has a breadth of knowledge and skills that she has garnered from her time in the U.S. Army National Guard, 14 years in Healthcare Administration and her Master’s in Business Administration. She can easily transition from running a marketing campaign to resolving a computer problem to solving operational issues and make it all look easy. She possesses a charming innocence about her that is loveable yet not to be mistaken for weakness. She is strong, persistent and does not shy from difficulty. She is one of those rare people who can see the details and the big picture and put everything into perspective. We are grateful for her positive outlook, the way that she leads with a sense of humor, kindness and a selflessness that makes the rest of us feel valued and appreciated. We aren’t sure how she does it all amidst raising a busy family with 4 children, but we all know how fortunate we are to have her as our co-worker, leader, and friend.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-11-30T13:27:02-06:00November 30th, 2015|Articles, General|

Toxin Blocks and Tackles

It is football season, so as I watch the players on the field blocking and tackling I cannot help but think about how that should be our attitude toward our toxic world. We need to block our exposure to as many toxins as possible and then tackle those that have already gained entrance to our body.

Fortunately, our body does have natural detoxification pathways which, when supported nutritionally and with supplements, are designed to detoxify routinely. In fact, every time you exhale, every time you sweat or use the bathroom or blow your nose, you are witnessing your body busy at the work with waste elimination. Yeah, I know, cleaning is never a pretty topic! Some chemicals have a very short half-life and are out of the body within 24 hours, while others hang around in your body for several decades!

So what are specifics? Where should you start? Well, let’s get the game started, kick off with some ways to Block, and then some ways to Tackle!

Block – Avoiding Toxins

Buy Organic – A USDA certification ensures that produce or any ingredient has been grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones.¹ While it would be optimal to eat organic 100% of the time, this may not be realistic for most or affordable for many, but any effort you can make to increase organic choices and avoid the most toxic (e.g., an apple) is a good step toward blocking incoming toxins and supporting the body’s natural detoxification process. A good resource is www.ewg.org to determine, for example, which fruits and vegetables are most commonly genetically modified and heavily covered in pesticides and which are not so you can make wise choices.

Avoid Plastics – avoid foods and beverages packaged in plastic, especially if you plan to heat them in the package. This especially applies to drinks, including water packaged in plastic as well as plastic storage and lunch type containers used to reheat food. Most plastics made in America are made from natural gas²and are a source of many chemicals known as endocrine disrupters, substances which when taken into our body alter normal hormonal function. Every time these plastics are heated, whether in a hot car or in a microwave, they release more of the toxic chemicals. Better options include glass, ceramic dishware with lead-free glaze, stainless steel, cast iron, and food-grade silicone, all of which do not leach chemicals into your food. ³

Choose Body and Household products carefully –from toothpaste to deodorant, and household cleaners to laundry detergent, make every effort to choose clean products free of parabens, phthalates, perchloroethylene (PERC), triclosan, quarternary ammonium compounds (Quats), 2-Butoxyethanol, ammonia, chlorine, sodium hydroxide, triclocarban, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinoic acid, retinol, retinyl palmitate, aerosol sprays, SPF above 50, Oxybenzone, added insect repellant, permanent hair dyes, formaldehyde, formalin toluene, dibutyl phthalate, petroleum distillates, fragrance, BHA, boric acid, sodium borate, PEG’s, polyethylene compounds, diethyl phthalate, coal tar, hydroquinone, lead, and toluene⁴^,⁵. For a more complete list, see www.ewg.orgor shop in a health food store, or online with a reputable health oriented site. Our staff would be happy to offer name brands, stores, and website suggestions.

Filter Water – unfortunately, every year a surprising number of contaminants are found in our water supply. Many bottled and alkalized waters are tap water. There can be toxic chemical disinfection byproducts from the chlorine in water, as well as many pesticides, herbicides and pharmaceuticals found in the water supply. It is very important to choose a quality filtering system for the water you drink and if possible for the entire household for cleaning and bathing. Two good sources for information to consider when choosing filters can be found at www.mercola.com, or www.greenamerica.org.

Tackle – Helping Your Body Detoxify

Eat Real Whole Food, especially your Vegetables! -While the fats and proteins we eat help to create our cellular structure and build and repair the human body, carbohydrates, namely our plant foods are purposed to clean and detoxify the human body. Green vegetables (wheatgrass, kale, spinach, spirulina, chlorella, chard, arugula etc.), green teas, herbs, seaweed, fruits in general, lemons, oranges and limes, garlic, broccoli sprouts, mung beans, seeds, nuts and omega 3 oils from hemp, avocado, and olive oil all serve as natural detoxifiers, helping to provide antioxidants and water as well as stimulating production of enzymatic activity in the digestive tract. We are designed and wired for plant and animal food, not chemically laden, preserved and processed food product.

A Note on Two Specific Foods from Dr. McManus:

SALMON: It’s very important to distinguish the different species of salmon because Pacific (Alaskan) salmon is acceptable, whereas Atlantic (farmed) salmon is ONE OF THE MOST TOXIC FOODS YOU CAN EAT! Atlantic salmon is hearty and, therefore, easily farmed. Pacific salmon, however, is a different genus with 3 different species known as king salmon (aka Chinook), silver salmon (aka coho), and red salmon (aka sock-eye). The great majority of salmon at markets and restaurants is farmed Atlantic salmon. This is HIGHLY toxic due to the salmon being fed pesticide-laden grains. Don’t be fooled by fancy names. “Scottish Salmon” may be Atlantic salmon farmed in Scotland. “Norwegian Salmon” may be Atlantic salmon farmed in Norway.

BUTTER: Butter is ubiquitous in the diet, so I felt that this is another food to be addressed. Toxins are stored in fat cells. Butter is cow fat extracted from the cows’ milk. When you eat butter, you are eating a heavy load of toxins (e.g. pesticides sprayed on the grains they are fed). The only butter that’s fit for human consumption, in my opinion, is butter, preferably organic, that’s made from grass fed cattle. You can find this at most grocery stores. A decent brand is KerryGold. Other available brands in this area (Whole Foods, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s) or online include Organic Valley Pastured Butter, Kalona Super Natural Organic Butter, Anchor Pure New Zealand Butter, or Purity Farms Organic Ghee.

Promote and Support your Detoxification Pathways- using exercise, massage, and infra-red sauna, as well as proper hydration serves to promote sweating, elimination and mucus formation. It is important that whatever detoxification efforts are made, it is best to start with cleaning up the diet, water, living environment and avoiding toxins. When you are ill is not the best time to try a detoxification program.

For more assistance with choosing cleansing foods, juicing, and detoxification programs, call or office to schedule an appointment to design a clean diet and program that is right for you. Also see our Supplement of the Month (PaleoCleanse) for some specific detoxification programs designed to meet your needs.

¹www.organic.org/home/faq

²http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=34&t=6

³ http://mightynest.com/learn/getting-started/healthy-living-guides/12-ways-to-avoid-toxins-in-the-kitchen

⁴ https://experiencelife.com/article/8-hidden-toxins-whats-lurking-in-your-cleaning-products/

⁵ http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/top-tips-for-safer-products/

By Mila McManus MD|2015-12-02T16:26:26-06:00November 30th, 2015|Articles, Ask Dr McManus, General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

by Mila McManus MD

If you eat or breathe, you are introducing toxins into your body. It’s been almost 4 years since we addressed this in our newsletter and felt that it was a great topic to revisit.

The toxins we are ingesting and inhaling relate mostly to our diet, lifestyle, and the quality of air we breathe. Ridding our bodies of toxins requires, above all, avoidance of them. It’s much easier, more effective, and much more efficient to decrease your toxic load by avoidance than by trying to rev up detoxification with supplements, saunas, and chelation therapy (treatment for heavy metal toxicity). You can reduce your toxic load by up to 85% if you clean up your diet, don’t smoke, and purify the air in your home. A study done on non-exposed people (i.e. people not known to have been exposed to a particular toxin through their work, etc) showed an average of 91 toxins in their bodies, at least 50 of which were carcinogenic, and others that cause birth defects and/or are toxic to the nervous system, endocrine (hormone) system, and immune system. Scary, huh ?!

The Basic Toxins we carry:

DDT (a pesticide banned in 1972 that persists in the environment)-sources include fish from the great lakes, and plants grown in contaminated soil.
PCBs (eg. dioxins)-sources include fish (especially farmed salmon), butter, meat, fluorescent light fixtures, coolants and lubricants for electronic transformers.
Parabens-sources include shampoos and conditioners, moisturizers, hair care products, shave gels, cosmetics, personal lubricants, sunscreen and tanning lotions, deodorants, toothpastes, food additives, and topical and parenteral pharmaceuticals.
Phthalates -sources include adhesives, plastics, detergents, flooring, cleaning products, cosmetics, shampoos, perfumes, aerosols, paints, lotions, air fresheners, lubricants, medications, medical bags and tubing, nail polish, and false fingernails.
BPA- sources include air, dust, water, food and beverage containers, canned vegetables, toothpastes.
Solvents-sources include, oil, gas, paints, nail polish, adhesives, cleaning agents.
Chlordanes (pesticides)-have been banned for 20+ years, but are still found in contaminated soil (and therefore whatever is grown in it), and homes treated for termites.
Organophosphates (pesticides)-food crops, livestock, pet collars, grass, stored grains.
Heavy metals (e.g. mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium)-sources include fish, shrimp, cigarette smoke, amalgam dental fillings, contaminated air we breathe.
EMF – Electromagnetic Fields are a newer concern due to the dramatic increase in the use and exposure to electricity in the last 50-100 years. They are found naturally in our environment such as in lightning and in the earth’s magnetic field. The human body also uses EMFs to allow messages to flow through the body’s nervous system. Powerlines, electrical wires inside of walls, medical testing equipment such as X-rays and scanning devices, video display terminals, electrical appliances, buried electrical lines, cell phones, computers and literally anything that plugs in or recharges through electricity are examples of the explosion of the use and reliance on electricity. While no scientific data has offered definitive answers about the health risks involved in chronic exposure to EMFs, it is not unreasonable or illogical to believe that increased and chronic exposure to EMFs are potentially having a negative impact on our health and wellness. It is a form of pollution to which we are subjected every day which our ancestors did not experience.

Visit Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org to learn about environmental toxins in your community, and get news updates on politics, farming, etc, as it pertains to your health. EWG staff experts scrutinize government data, legal documents, scientific studies and their own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Their research brings to light unsettling facts about which you have a right to know.

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ is a database where you can discover what toxic chemicals are in your cosmetics, lotions, and sunscreen products.

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov is a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR serves the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances. This is an excellent database to research various toxins, including sources and health effects. You can also search on this site to find out how close you are to toxic sites, such as chemical companies, dump sites, and chemical spills, for example.

I feel that it’s also important to mention genetically modified organisms as a source of toxicity. Genetic modification, also known as biotechnology, is the alteration of the genetic makeup of organisms such as plants, animals, and bacteria. GM products include medicines, vaccines, foods and food ingredients, feeds, and fibers. Read our article about this here.

Another great resource is a book called Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things by authors Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie.

While there are many toxins that will be difficult to avoid, you can make lifestyle choices about what you eat, wear, drink and eat out of, what you put on your body or expose it to, how you keep your living and working environment clean which can all help to dramatically reduce your exposure to toxins. Take charge, become more educated and work to remove as many unnecessary toxins from your life as possible. See Nancy’s Nutrition Nugget in this month’s newsletter for more help in detoxifying and minimizing toxic exposure.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-12-02T07:00:39-06:00November 30th, 2015|Articles, General|

Methylene-Tetra-Hydro-huh?

By Dyvette Warren, PA-C

Edited by Mila McManus MD

Beginning in the womb, and throughout your life, your personal health and happiness, mental capabilities, and propensity for disease are heavily influenced by genetic as well as non-genetic factors, including DNA mutations, nutrition, exposure to microorganisms and toxins, stress, and other environmental conditions.

If you suffer with, or have a history of, migraines, depression, insomnia, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, chemical sensitivities, arthritis, pain, IBS(irritable bowel syndrome), heart disease, stroke, DVT(deep venous thrombosis, ie: blood clot), pulmonary embolism(blood clot in the lungs), side effects with hormones (e.g., birth control pills), miscarriages, autism, birth defects, failure to thrive, anemia, epilepsy, psychosis, ADD/ADHD, seizures, or take prescription medication, particularly those for cancer and autoimmune disorders, we highly recommend that you get tested for an MTHFR gene mutation. This is a piece of the healthcare puzzle that can be treated.

What does the MTHFR gene do?

MTHFR gene provides instruction for making an enzyme called methyl tetrahydrofolate reductase. This enzyme helps amino acids form proteins and influences detoxification efficiency and production of neurotransmitters. A mutated MTHFR gene produces defective enzymes that may perform only 20% – 70% as well as the non-mutated version, depending on the type of mutation.

You ability to effectively break down toxins and eliminate heavy metals, including copper, will be limited. High copper levels deplete zinc levels which can be related to ADHD, depression, headaches, acne, frequent colds, worsening thyroid function, sensitive skin, easy bruising, adrenal stress and more. High copper levels also make it difficult to raise iron levels. Supplementing with Vitamin C and Zinc can help to detoxify and reduce copper levels. Consult with your functional medicine specialist before starting supplements.

A high homocysteine level may develop with an MTHFR mutation, thereby increasing your risk for heart disease, blood clots, stroke, elevated blood pressure, dementia, psychosis, and seizures. A thorough history, along with MTHFR testing, is recommended if you have a high homocysteine level or a history of any of the above listed diseases.

With MTHFR mutation, homocysteine has a difficult time converting to glutathione, the body’s main detoxifier and antioxidant. This contributes to a buildup of toxins and heavy metals in the body.

Also with MTHFR mutation, your body will have reduced capability of converting the inactive forms of folate (folic acid) and B12(cobalamin) into active forms called methyl-folate and methyl-cobalamin.

The Journal of Molecular Psychiatry states that, “Schizophrenia-like syndromes, Bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia have all been associated with one or more of the mutations of the MTHFR gene”.

It is likely that MTHFR DNA variation may affect the response to many different medications that affect brain function. Long term use of methotrexate, for example, is associated with elevated homocysteine levels and methotrexate toxicity in patients with MTHFR mutation. We recommend knowing your MTHFR status prior to starting any type of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy neurotoxicity is highly associated with MTHFR mutation. Proper supplementation and future treatment options will need to be discussed with your functional medicine specialist and oncologist once your MTHFR status is known.

Treatment

Although you can’t change this defective gene, you can help it do its job more effectively.

Repairing your digestive system, including optimizing your gut flora (ie blend of microbes in your gut), should be the first step in improving your health.

Methyl-cobalamin and methyl-folate are additional treatment which will be used by your body for detoxing. You may need to start with a low dose to avoid detox effects such as fatigue, muscle pain, headache, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, achiness, etc. Always consult with a functional medicine specialist prior to starting therapy. Click here to read about Active B-Complex by Prothera.

Avoid toxins, including those absorbed through the skin. Look at household cleaning supplies and wear gloves when using chemicals for cleaning. Check your lotions, soaps and deodorants. Use aluminum free deodorants, and use soaps and lotions with the fewest ingredients. We are now offering Pure & Simple Bar soap at our TWIHW facility and it’s just that! You can also visit http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ which is a database where you can discover what toxic chemicals are in your cosmetics, lotions, and sunscreen products.

Eat healthfully and organic when possible, avoid processed food, don’t smoke, and limit alcohol intake. These measures will help to decrease toxins in the body and will leave the methylation cycle free for other important functions.

There are more than 40 different MTHFR mutations that can be passed down from your mother and/or father. Only two of these are known to be particularly problematic: C677T and A1298C. You might also hear the words homozygous and heterozygous when discussing MTHFR mutations. Homozygous means that you inherited a mutation from your mother AND your father and, therefore, have both copies of the defective gene. Heterozygous means that you inherited the mutation from either your mother or your father and, therefore, have only one copy of the defective gene. If you already know that you have an MTHFR gene mutation, consider having your children’s status tested.

MTHFR testing is offered several ways at our facility (prices are subject to change):

Saliva test kit that you do yourself at home and mail into the lab. This test is $125 and tests for C677T and the A1298C mutations as well as for another mutation called COMT which is also associated with mood disorders and dementia.
Add-on test at Spectracell Laboratories when ordering a nutrient analysis. The add-on price is $40 and tests for C677T and A1298C.
MTHFR can also be ordered through Quest lab who will attempt to bill your insurance; however, we’ve found that many insurance companies will not cover the test and this would result in Quest billing you, the patient, ~$400.

References:

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mthfr/

http://mthfr.net/mthfr-research/2012/01/27/

BMS Neurology, Effect of MTHFR

US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health

Genetics Home Reference, Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences

American Heart Association

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery

Holisticprimarycare.net

New England Journal of Medicine

Journal of Human Genetics

By Mila McManus MD|2017-03-01T17:36:12-06:00November 4th, 2015|Articles, General|

Employee of the Month: Kim Beale

Our employee of the month for November is Kim Beale. With the exception of Dr. McManus, Kim is our most tenured employee. More than a decade ago, Kim had an appointment with her PCP at a bustling family practice and he was not able to see her so she was put on Dr. McManus’ schedule instead. From that point on, Dr. McManus became her family’s doctor. For the previous 5 years, Kim had seen multiple doctors and been prescribed multiple drugs for various health issues. Kim had expressed to Dr. McManus on numerous occasions her distaste for the medications she was taking. Kim was basically feeling “fat, tired and depressed”. Dr. McManus tried to tell Kim about this “new approach” she was using but Kim was very resistant. Finally, Dr. McManus literally said to Kim, “Give me 6 months and if I can’t change your life, we will go our separate ways. I KNOW I can fix you”. Kim finally agreed and within just a few weeks of practicing Dr. McManus’ health and wellness approach to medicine, Kim was stunned by her results and she soon after found herself begging Dr. McManus for a job. The rest is history. Kim is still shouting this exciting news from the rooftops! Over the years, Kim’s duties and responsibilities have changed but it has always been her passionate and creative personality and her willingness to take on any task or project that promotes the practice, that have been the driving force behind her success. Compassionate, loyal and so very generous and thoughtful of others, it is not hard to see why she is so appreciated. She is a person of many interests and talents. She is a wife and a mom, a musician, a gardener, a chef, a photographer, a fashionista who can convert to outdoor camping, four-wheeling, dirt biking and motorcycling in a flash. It is this exact interest in learning, knowing and solving problems that has allowed Kim to grow with the practice and to help the practice grow. Her name, “Kim” is of English origin and means “Leader of the Warriors”. How appropriate! She leads us every day with strength, passion and gusto. She’s our Queen of all trades, our Miss TWIHW, and our trusted friend.

By Mila McManus MD|2015-10-26T15:49:06-06:00October 26th, 2015|Articles, General|

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