Uric Acid –A Common Denominator for Dementia, High Blood Pressure, High Blood Sugar, and Weight Gain

by Mila McManus, MD

Did you know that high uric acid levels play a central role in increasing our blood sugar, blood pressure, and body fat?

It is fairly common knowledge that high levels of uric acid in the human body can cause Gout, a sudden arthritis which attacks joints causing significant pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in joints. It usually affects one joint at a time, typically a big toe or knee. Did you know that high uric acid levels play a central role in increasing blood sugar, blood pressure, and body fat? In fact, elevated uric acid levels are now being considered as a diagnostic criterion for metabolic syndrome. It’s possible to have high uric acid levels without any obvious symptoms…until the wheels fall off the cart!

Elevated uric acid levels lead to endothelial dysfunction (think of tight/stiff arteries rather than relaxed and dilated blood vessels), increased oxidative stress, microvascular damage, reduction in nitric oxide bioavailability in the endothelial lining, and contributes to cognitive decline as it directly and indirectly damages blood vessels of the brain. Endothelial cells are the main type of cell in the lining of blood vessels, lymph vessels, and the heart. Consequently, elevated uric acid levels negatively impact health in the cardiovascular, blood circulatory, metabolic, and lymphatic systems, as well as joints.

From a dietary standpoint, the best way to prevent elevated uric acid is to eat and drink a clean, whole food diet while maintaining stable blood sugar. Most importantly is to avoid excessive fructose from fruits, all high fructose corn sugar/syrup, as well as other high fructose sweeteners such as honey and agave nectar. High fructose corn sugar is found in fast food, breakfast cereal, bread, and baked goods, sweetened dairy products, candy, canned fruit and soups, and soft drinks as well as salad dressings, ketchup, and energy drinks. Grapes, watermelon, and dried fruits like cranberries, raisins, apricots, and apples are also intensified forms of fructose.

To have your uric acid levels checked, discuss dietary adjustments, or explore ways to manage gout and other health issues related to high uric acid levels, schedule an appointment with one of our healthcare practitioners or nutritionist on staff.

If you want to take a deeper dive into learning about uric acid, I recommend reading Dr. Perlmutter’s book called Drop Acid (also available on Audible).

Reference: OrthoMolecular – Uric Acid, practitioner informational sheet/UAX-Pro. Permission granted 1/16/2023, NH.

By Admin|2023-02-01T09:04:40-05:00February 1st, 2023|Articles, General|

Sitting is the New Smoking!

by Mila McManus, MD

You may be old enough to remember when it was common to have smoking sections on planes and in restaurants, and when smoking was allowed just about everywhere. Once the physical dangers were recognized, our nation finally launched a huge campaign against smoking and this was successful with greatly reducing the number of smokers today. Now there is a new health problem that has taken it’s place.

“The combination of both sitting more than six hours a day and being less physically active was associated with a 94 percent increase in all causes of premature death rates in women and a 48 percent increase in men, compared with those who reported sitting less than three hours a day and being most active.” Tony Robbins

Exercise and movement continue to be a key pillar for good health and disease prevention. Walk more than you stand, stand more than you sit, sit more than you recline. Every step counts. Consider a standing work station. Set a timer when sitting to remind yourself to get up and move every 45 minutes to an hour. Monitor your steps with an app on your cell phone. Keep moving!

Reference:

Robbins, T. (2022) Life Force. New York: Simon & Schuster,326.

By Admin|2023-01-16T11:27:15-05:00January 18th, 2023|Articles, General|

Rapamycin: A True Anti-Aging Drug

by Mila McManus, MD

Rapamycin, also known as Sirolimus A True Anti-Aging Drug

Rapamycin, also known as Sirolimus, is a prescription drug derived from a bacteria found in the ground decades ago in the Easter Islands. Though a drug, it is a natural product with a 30 year history and a very high safety record. There are over 50,000 PubMed journal articles about rapamycin published since 1975.

Originally Rapamycin was used at high doses to prevent kidney transplant rejection by suppressing the immune system. It is also recognized to have antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties and is used in both oncology and cardiology. Oncologist have found Rapamycin to slow solid tumor growth and also effective for a type of lymphoma. Cardiologists use Rapamycin in stints to open up arteries in the heart, thus cutting down on inflammation.

This is the kind of prescription drug profile that interests functional medicine professionals. A long history with very high safety standards, this natural product is not only helpful with transplants, cancer, and cardiovascular concerns, but at low doses, is also proving to be an effective anti-aging drug.

Here’s how Rapamycin works:

The human body has an enzyme that is in our cells known as mTOR. It is the key to our cellular activity and our aging process. The mTOR enzyme drives the growth and aging in our cells. When we eat, we stimulate the mTOR pathway which is great for a 5 year old but as adults we do not need the same high level of mTOR activity. An active mTOR pathway drives the aging process and when always active, it also increases the inflammatory pathways which leads to diseases like cardiovascular, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, just to name a few.

Alternatively, when the mTOR is modulated, and slowed down, the process of autophagy occurs. The human body needs both mTOR and autophagy processes and they happen alternately, i.e., when one is stimulated the other is modulated or halted. Autophagy is an important cleansing process needed in the body where we recycle things and clean out debris that is clogging things up. In the standard American diet and culture, we tend to eat too much and/or too frequently, thus driving a chronic, overactive mTOR pathway driving growth and cellular activity toward aging. The good news is, Rapamycin, binds to the mTOR enzyme, slowing down its activity, and inducing autophagy. Autophagy is a repair process and needs to occur to restore youthfulness, detoxification, and healing.

Autophagy is stimulated by intermittent fasting, Rapamycin imitates fasting.

Other Benefits of Autophagy:

Enhance and modulate immune function
Reducing inflammation
Clean up debris and remove it from the body
Enhance cellular repair and healing
Increase longevity and lifespan.
Protect against tumor growth

Patients who have used Rapamycin for anti-aging report increased energy levels, a more positive outlook, and reduced need for pain medication due to fewer aches and pains.

If you are over 50, you may want to discuss Rapamycin with your medical provider to see if it is right for you.

Resources:

https://www.hotzehwc.com/blog/dr-donald-ellsworth-on-the-benefits-of-rapamycin-aka-sirolimus/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41419-019-1822-8

By Admin|2022-10-20T10:02:57-05:00October 20th, 2022|Articles, General|

Vitamin D

Why It Should Be Dosed By Your Healthcare Provider Only (not by you)

by Mila McManus, MD

Vitamin D is essential for good health. It has anti-depressant effects, enhances immune function, has anti-cancer effects,

Vitamin D is essential for good health. This fat soluble vitamin has anti-depressant effects, increases calcium absorption in the GI tract, enhances immune function, has anti-cancer effects, and is anti-inflammatory.

There are very few rich dietary sources which are egg yolks, fatty fish, and fortified milk. The best and cheapest source is sunlight on arms, face, and legs several days a week for 5 to 15 minutes and without wearing sunscreen.

While deficiency is common, many people are taking far too much. Fat soluble vitamins, such as D, store up in the body, unlike most vitamins that are cleared from the body quickly if unneeded. As a result, Vitamin D should be monitored regularly by your medical provider to ensure the correct dose for you. The optimal dose may vary by age, season, health status, weight, and other variables. Vitamin D can also have some drug interactions and contraindications with certain diseases, another reason why working with your medical provider to maintain appropriate levels is important.

Symptoms[1] of excess Vitamin D include excess calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) which can cause nausea, vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. This toxicity can progress to bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium kidney stones.

It is also essential that there be synchronization of Vitamin D with other vitamins such as calcium and vitamin K to ensure proper balance and absorption. For example, vitamin D, K, and calcium are a triad that work together synergistically and need to be balanced properly for optimal bone health and osteoporosis prevention. Excess calcium can lead to arterial and cardiovascular issues.

A common mistake people make is taking extra calcium or vitamin D without accounting for the amounts already in other vitamin supplements such as multi-vitamins and vitamin packed protein drinks.

We emphasize that everyone is different when it comes to vitamin D supplementation. Lifestyle, diet, age, health status, and one’s supplementation regimen must all be considered in order to properly manage vitamin D levels. This needs to be routinely checked once or twice a year for most people. Those who spend time outdoors may not need much supplementation, while an elderly individual who rarely gets out and has poorer absorption from the gut would have different requirements. Very dark skinned individuals are less able to get vitamin D from the sun.

While a normal reference range for blood levels of vitamin D is between 30-100, we broadly aim for 70-80, however this may not be right for everyone and could cause ill effects for some individuals. It can be dosed in a variety of forms including oral pills and liquids, injections, and can be dosed daily versus weekly. Your medical provider can also be helpful with determining which protocol is right for you.

With Vitamin D, it is wisest not to guess or be your own doctor. Consult with your medical provider for the best approach for you.

Reference:

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-d-toxicity/faq-20058108#:~:text=The%20main%20consequence%20of%20vitamin,the%20formation%20of%20calcium%20stones.

By Admin|2022-11-01T10:00:16-05:00October 12th, 2022|Articles, General|

Science and Research

by Mila McManus, MD

We can search for anything on the world wide web these days. We can access thousands of people on Facebook and blogs who have an opinion. Information is abundant. The question is, are you gullible enough to believe it is all true? Do you consider the source? Do you question its accuracy?

Our patients often learn of supplements, energy and health products, therapies, and other modalities for health and healing from a favorite blog spot, a friend, or just from an internet search. Moreover, it’s common for people to believe that phrases such as “research suggests” or “this study suggests” mean the information presented must be true.

Reasonable science must take into account several factors and questions. Unless you are part of the lab carrying out the experiment and have direct access to the primary data, everything you believe scientifically is based on someone else’s testimony or authority. In other words, you’re trusting that someone else did the work correctly and honestly and presented it as hard-enough science. Hard science comes about by repeatability; if many other scientists, paid by different and neutral funding sources, can repeat the research with the same result, then the science firms up to be more trustworthy. Think of all the claims that are made that we just believe because a scientist or manufacturer said it. Sadly, it is extremely common for research to be funded by an organization which already knows the result it wants, and that is the result the scientist will generate in the final report. If the research had an unexpected bad outcome, it’ll be swept under the rug, and new research will be done until the wanted answer is found. Many manufacturers use popular and trending words to convince you of their promise when no research has been done at all! Both of these points have certainly been proven true!

We must ask good questions and seek more information than one scientist or study offers. We cannot believe everything we read and see. It is also critically important to know funding sources as well as the interests of the scientists themselves. We need to look for hard science that has proven itself true through repeatability, diverse funding, tried and true evaluation, and some degree of historical experience. Also noteworthy is that funding is hard to come by when what’s being studied cannot be trademarked, patented, or protected. Anything that occurs in nature cannot be patented. This means that vitamins and naturally occurring components of plants, e.g., don’t draw much funding. We must, therefore, somewhat rely on our own experiences and the historical experiences of many others, or hopeful funding by consumer interest groups or organizations whose aim it is to protect us from large corporate shams. (e.g., EWG.org, cleanlabelproject.org).

At The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness, we work hard to ensure that our procedures, therapies, supplements, and food recommendations are proven, tried and true solutions. We come to the table with deep experience with these understandings and ask questions, research carefully, sift through the data, and work hard to carry out responsible science for you. We also know that every individual is unique, and what is effective for one individual may be ineffective for another.

You should feel confident that our medical team with over 70+ combined years of medical experience can protect you from an inadequate study or google search conclusion. We hope you will yield to that knowledge and trust it – far more than blogs, social media, or google searches.

By Admin|2022-10-04T12:53:02-05:00October 5th, 2022|Articles, General|

Witch Hazel:

A Good Staple for Everyone’s Medicine Cabinet

by Mila McManus, MD

Witch Hazel is a native North American shrub that has powerful medicinal properties and a wide variety of uses. The leaves and bark are used to make teas, ointments, and astringent.

It is widely known for its ability to ease inflammation, soothe sensitive skin, and gently cleanse without removing essential moisture. It contains gallic acid and tannins, both of which are anti-inflammatory compounds. It also contains antioxidants which neutralize free radicals and is believed to have anti-viral effects. Safe for the sensitive, it is hypo-allergenic and gentle to the skin.

Some Benefits and Uses of Witch Hazel include:

Topical application to sensitive, inflamed, irritated, or broken skin helps to reduce redness and inflammation.
A natural remedy to provide relief from the discomfort and pain of hemorrhoids.
Fights acne by reducing inflammation, cleansing, and closing pores. It may prevent acne-causing bacteria from infecting the skin.
For those with irritations in the scalp, it can be applied to the scalp before shampooing, to relieve the symptoms caused by dandruff, dryness, psoriasis, eczema, and general tenderness or itching.

Sources:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-witch-hazel-90061

https://healthline.com/nutrition/witch-hazel-benefits-uses#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

By Admin|2022-11-01T09:56:38-05:00September 28th, 2022|Articles, General|

Inflammation: Fighting the Elephant in the Room

By Mila McManus, MD

Inflammation[1] lies at the root of most disease pathways, pain, and other symptoms. Reducing inflammation is mission critical to feeling better and avoiding many lifestyle diseases of our day.

The biggest contributor to inflammation is your diet![2] All foods fall on a sliding scale from wonderfully anti-inflammatory to painfully inflammatory. While the goal is to eat a balanced diet, some of which will be slightly inflammatory, most of what we eat should focus on anti-inflammatory and neutral foods.

Ranked for their extraordinarily powerful anti-inflammatory effects, nutrient density, antioxidant-richness, detoxifying ability, and gut-health promoting effects, here are the top 15 of the most anti-inflammatory foods.[3]

First – Berries – Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, and Raspberries

Second – Tomatoes

Third – Mushrooms

Fourth – Broccoli

Fifth – Bell Peppers

Sixth – Sweet Potatoes

Seventh – Onions

Eighth – Apples, Cherries, Oranges

Ninth- Avocado

Tenth – Dark Leafy Greens (the best are collards and spinach, but anything dark green is great)

Eleventh – Black Beans

Twelfth – Lentils

Thirteenth – Chickpeas

Fourteenth – Gluten Free Oats, Millet, Buckwheat

Fifteenth – Macadamia Nuts, Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Hemp, and Pumpkin Seeds

Seventy five to eight five percent of our diet is best chosen from the anti-inflammatory and neutral categories. While some meats, dairy, eggs, and alcohol are generally inflammatory, eaten in moderation with anti-inflammatory choices provides a well-balanced, healthy diet.

Need more help? Call our office to schedule an appointment with our nutritionist, Nancy Mehlert, MS.

[1] Inflammation displays in the body as anything that is painful, swollen, red, raw, bloody, or irritated. It applies to all aches and pains, digestive discomfort, painful joints, headaches, skin irritations and rashes, mucous membranes that are chronically producing mucus in the stool or nasal passages.

[2] On the scale, nothing is worse than deep fried combinations of wheat flour, damaged oil, and sugar. This translates directly into donuts and French fries. All fast food falls to this extreme because of the sugar, gluten, and trans-fatty acids in them. Also included in the extremely inflammatory list are candy, cookies, ice cream, and sugary beverages. And lastly, most people are unaware that bread is one of the most highly processed fake foods.

[3] Goodness Lover Pty Ltd. The Inflammation Solution: Top 29 gut Healing & Inflammation – Fighting Foods, 2022.

By Admin|2022-07-12T07:39:47-05:00July 13th, 2022|Articles, General|

Top Seafood Picks

By Mila McManus, MD

There’s trouble with seafood. Our oceans are not as pristine as they used to be. Some of the largest contributors to ocean pollution include:

Runoff when heavy rainstorms draw road oils and pollutants from the ground into rivers and oceans.
Manufacturing plants in some areas of the world release toxic waste into the water, including mercury.
Oil spills from ships.
Plastic bags, cups, bottles, and other items thrown out and carried by the wind which fail to decompose.

Another issue is how the seafood is harvested. Because of demand, many species are over-fished. Because of cost, many are harvested in destructive ways which end up harming the ocean ecosystem and threatening fish populations.

With all this in mind, here is a list of seafood with the lowest mercury content, highest Omega 3 content, and least threatened:

Shrimp
Oysters
Mussels
Sardines
Salmon from New Zealand, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska
Freshwater Trout
Pollock
Atlantic Mackerel
Anchovies
Herring
Shad
Butterfish
Crab

There are other great options low in mercury and sustainably harvested, though not as recognized for their Omega 3 content including:

Scallops
Catfish
Clams
Crayfish
Rockfish from Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington
Squid from California
Tilapia from Canada, Ecuador, Peru, and US
Skipjack Tuna from Pacific waters

If you don’t see your favorite on the list, then it is very high in mercury, and/or unsustainably caught, and/or the species population is threatened.

Eat Well, Be Well.

References:

https://www.texasdisposal.com/blog/ocean-pollution-causes-effects-and-prevention/

SeafoodWatch.org, Consumer Guide to Sustainable Seafood

Center For Science in the Public Interest, Seafood Recommendation Guide for pregnant, breast feeding and young children with lower mercury and increased Omega 3’s. www.cspinet.org

By Admin|2022-06-13T07:20:54-05:00June 15th, 2022|Articles, General|

Is Monkeypox Next?

by Mila McManus, MD

Whether it’s Monkeypox, COVID, or flu and cold season, it is always a good reminder to our patients and friends that we should always be engaged in ensuring our immune function is operating optimally.

What is Monkeypox and what do we know about it?

Unlike COVID, Monkeypox has been well studied and occurred in America in 2003 and is endemic to Western and Central Africa. While the CDC believes we will see more cases popping up in the United States in the coming days and weeks, it is not novel, and there are antiviral treatments for it.
This virus is a rare disease closely related to smallpox, and according to the CDC, the small pox vaccine is 85% protective against it. Positive testing for Orthopox, the family of viruses that includes Monekypox and smallpox, is used for diagnosis. Monkeypox is unrelated to Chickenpox.
Monkeypox is also not as easily transmitted as COVID, colds, and flu. It is largely transmitted through close, skin-to-skin contact, and is transferred by body fluids, virus sores, and respiratory droplets of people with lesions in their mouths and throats due to infection. Shared bedding and clothing with intimate partners is a possible method of transmission. Most recent cases around the world have been identified within the gay and bisexual communities.
There are two strains. One out of Central Africa and another out of West Africa that is less severe. So far, the several confirmed cases in the US have been the less severe strain. Also, the positive diagnoses have been found in individuals who are recently returned from international travel. A pandemic is highly unlikely.
Traditional primary care physicians are the best source for diagnosis and treatment.

What are the symptoms for Monkeypox?

Starts with flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, and achy muscles.
Swollen lymph nodes are also common.
After 1-3 days, a rash usually develops on the face, then can spread to the rest of the body.
Flat, circular lesions in different parts of the body that eventually turn into bumps filled with a clear fluid develop.
These bumps eventually become crusty and fall off.
Recovery usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.

Helpful Immune Boosters to Fight off Viral Infections

Daily Maintenance:

Multivitamin
Vitamin D3
Quality Probiotic
Vitamin C

Additional Support:

Tri-Immune Injections with Glutathione, Zinc, and Vitamin C
Viracid
WholeMune™
Quercetin
Zinc 25-50mg daily

Finally, a healthy lifestyle including quality rest, stress reduction practices, exercise, avoiding sugar, handwashing, sunshine, and laughter are invaluable ways to support immune function.

For preventative support, we are happy to assist you in putting together an individual protection plan. Schedule an appointment with one of our medical providers to discuss the ideal plan for you.

References:

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20220524/what-to-know-monkeypox-us-cases

By Admin|2022-10-28T11:53:38-05:00June 1st, 2022|Articles, General|

Fermented Food Fakes

By Mila McManus, MD

The Food Industry is quick to pick up on rising trends and then capitalize on them, but not always in honest ways. That’s why it is so hard to trust package labeling. The latest one I’ve observed is with the word “Fermented”.

Fermented foods, if properly fermented and packaged, are full of the living bacteria found in your gut. We usually refer to them as probiotics. That’s why fermented foods are so healthy because they help you to maintain a healthy gut!

Fermented foods are LIVING foods. The beneficial bacteria are eating and multiplying, and that process should be ongoing when you eat them. Live ferments need to be refrigerated. So if you find something in the store that is non-refrigerated and it says it is fermented, well, its dead now. This means you have lost the key benefit of the food. The ingredient labels should be cabbage (or other vegetable), water, and salt. A spice would be ok too. It should never have preservatives, sugar, or vinegar added, and should never say “pasteurized”. If it’s pasteurized, it’s been heating to extreme which kills the bacteria and defeats the purpose. The most common packaging for living ferments is glass jars or vented pouches found only in a refrigerated section of the store. If it is in a can or jar on the veggie aisle, it is dead, highly heated, and potentially contaminated by the can itself. It may be edible but don’t expect it to help your microbiome or be deeply nutritious.

Did you know these two Fermented Food Fun Facts ?

A study has shown that eating fermented foods appears to have lowered COVID mortality rates as much as 35.4% in countries where fermented foods are traditionally consumed.[i]
Fermented foods may help to relieve depression and anxiety.[ii]

Here is a link to our Fermented Salsa recipe to enjoy this summer!

[i] https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200708/Study-links-fermented-vegetable-consumption-to-low-COVID-19-mortality.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0caH0-UyS-dyOeGpeqRyY4y3ELgB6pKUJON8rksxJ86VwJn-v9g-hv23o

[ii] https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/bmjnph/early/2020/06/09/bmjnph-2019-000053.full.pdf

By Admin|2022-05-24T08:46:55-05:00May 25th, 2022|Articles, General|