Supplement of The Month- Hair and Nail Formula

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Be Sure to Get Your Bs

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Curried Shrimp Salad

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 2-4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Mila McManus MD

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

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

Some causes of Telogen Effluvium include:

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

Another cause of hair loss is called Androgenetic hair loss

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

Other causes of hair loss in women:

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

Treatment Options:

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

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

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

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

Supplement of the Month: Healthy Hair Support

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

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

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

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

Supplement of the month: Kidz Digest Chewable or Powder

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

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

My health has improved so much with their innovative treatments…

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

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

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

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

From Marti R.

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

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|

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|

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