Breathing: Is it Part of Your Lifestyle?

by Mila McManus, MD

Our breath has enormous, life-giving power. The quality of our lives depends on the quality of our breathing.

Breathing has enormous, life-giving power and perhaps we take it for granted or don’t think about it much. But the quality of our lives depends on the quality of our breathing.

We cannot think about health and wellness without thinking intentionally about our breathing. The way we breathe directly impacts our emotional and physical states. When you are stressed, you may have noticed that you barely breathe at all. During an anxiety attack or moment of panic, our breathing can become rapid, causing hyperventilation. Adam Hadhazy suggests in “Fear Factor: Dopamine May Fuel Your Dread, Too.”[1], that we can even become addicted to our anxiety as a result of the dopamine secreted to cope with the anxiety. Dopamine is made in the brain and secreted into the blood stream as part of the brain’s reward system.

How we breathe affects our mood, energy, mental clarity, and calmness. That’s an old and well known concept. Originating from India thousands of years ago, yoga has taught the importance of how we breathe. Biblical teachings from Jewish tradition include our breath and life coming from God and giving understanding and thus calmness, meaning being still and having no anxiety.[2] In many languages, dialects, and religions, breath is synonymously used for spirit, soul, life, and life energy.[3]

Here are several simple techniques[4] that you can easily incorporate into your lifestyle to increase your health, mental clarity, spirit, and soul.

The Navy SEAL Way – To calm the nervous system, mind, and emotions, Navy SEALs are taught to inhale for a four count through the nose and exhale to a count of four through the mouth. They also teach an 8/8 pattern, slowing down breathing to an inhalation lasting 8 seconds and then exhaling for 8 seconds.

While You Walk – Take a minute to do this “segmented” 4/4 pattern while you walk. Inhale for four seconds, then hold that breath for four seconds, then exhale for four seconds, then hold your breath again for four seconds before inhaling again. This rhythmically synchronizes your breath and your steps.

Oxygenation for Detoxification – this method promotes elimination of toxins and stimulates the lymph system while enhancing energy, state of mind, and sense of well-being. The pattern or ratio is 1:4:2. For example, an 8:32:16 ratio is to inhale for eight seconds, hold your breath for thirty-two seconds and exhale for sixteen seconds. Determine your ratio depending on your natural capacity and comfort. You could do 6:24:12 or whatever ratio works for you.

Teaching yourself and your children (or grandchildren, students, patients, clients, friends) these techniques can be a great way to improve quality of life and cope with daily stressors.

Make it part of your lifestyle. Breathe well, Live well.

[1] Adam Hadhazy, “Fear Factor: Dopamine May Fuel Dread, Too,” Scientific American, July 14,2008, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fear-factor-dopamine/.

[2] Job 32:8

[3] https://manabreathwork.com/history-of-breathwork

[4] Tony Robbins, (2022). Life force: How new breakthroughs in precision medicine can transform the quality of your life & those you love.(12,292-293)

By Mila McManus MD|2023-01-10T13:02:00-06:00January 11th, 2023|General|

by Mila McManus, MD

Researchers are looking for volunteers, age 5 and above, in the United States and Europe to test a potential Lyme vaccine.

According to the Associated Press, researchers are looking for volunteers, age 5 and above, in the United States and Europe to test a potential Lyme vaccine made by Pfizer and French Biotech Valneva. It aims to target six Lyme strains by attacking an “outer surface protein” of the Lyme bacterium called OspA that is present in the tick’s gut. It is estimated that a tick feeds on a person for about 36 hours before the bacteria from the tick spreads to the victim. (this time delay is controversial, though, as many believe that microbes from ticks can be transmitted much earlier) That delay gives time for antibodies the tick ingests from the vaccinated person’s blood to attack the germs right at the source. According to Dr. Gary Wormser, a Lyme expert at New York Medical College who is not involved in the new research, most vaccines work after a person is exposed to the germ. This new Lyme vaccine, however, works a step earlier by preventing the transmission of infection in the first place.

This is not the first vaccine for Lyme. In 2002, the first Lyme vaccine for humans was pulled off the market for lack of demand. Made by GlaxoSmithKline, it was controversial with about a 75% effectiveness rating and unsubstantiated reports of joint-related side effects. It had also not been tested for safety with children. Since then, people have had to rely on toxic bug spray and careful physical examination.

Lyme disease, the tick-born illness, is a rapidly growing problem as cases rise and warm weather helps ticks to expand their territory. Black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks, carry Lyme-causing bacteria and are present in Texas. The infection initially causes fatigue, fever, and joint pain. Sometimes, but not always, the first sign is a red, round bull’s eye rash. Early antibiotic treatment is crucial, but it can be hard to tell if you have been bitten by a tick because the sneakiest ticks are in the nymph stage of growth and are the size of a pin head. Untreated Lyme can cause severe arthritis, damaged heart and nervous system. Symptoms can linger even after treatment. Moreover, ticks carry numerous disease-causing microbes, not just Borrelia bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

Lyme disease, both acute and chronic, is more rampant than ever, and the incidence has been grossly under-estimated by the CDC. Obviously if Big Pharma is interested in a vaccine, the disease is a big enough problem to warrant solutions. We will be watching to see how this story evolves and if a vaccine gets FDA-approved.

We have a number of therapies and approaches to strengthen the immune system and support the body’s natural immune defenses to manage and reduce the symptoms caused by Lyme disease.

For more information regarding symptoms, testing, and treatment, contact one of our Wellness Consultants by calling 281-298-6742.

Ref:

https://apnews.com/article/science-health-ticks-73fab8e29f3e2243c2db5bc33b3265e1

By Mila McManus MD|2022-12-14T09:32:47-06:00December 15th, 2022|General|

by Mila McManus, MD

Omega 6 fats are very prevalent in the Standard American Diet (SAD), and it is easy to consume too many.

Often people are puzzled why their LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol remain high, which is normally accompanied by inflammation. One reason could be an excess intake of linoleic acid, an Omega 6 fatty acid. We need this in small quantities for good health, but in excess, it drives inflammation. Omega 6 fatty acids are very prevalent in the Standard American Diet (SAD), and it is extremely easy to consume too many. Balancing Omega 6 fats with anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fats is also part of the health equation. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to obtain adequate sources of Omega 3 fats. As a result, it takes an intentional effort to limit intake of Omega 6 fats while intentionally consuming Omega 3s in order to reduce inflammation in the human body. In both cases, quality also matters!

We often talk about main sources of Omega 6s which are highly inflammatory. They include canola, soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, safflower, and corn oil – all found in processed and packaged foods, salad dressings, fast foods, and restaurant foods. In addition, meat from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) has high amounts of Omega 6 fatty acids. This includes most of the beef, pork, chicken, and eggs in grocery stores and restaurants. Animals such as these are fed genetically modified corn and soy in feedlots, and thus are higher in Omega 6s. Alternatively, when animals eat their normal instinctual diet, such as grass, insects, and scavenged food from nature, there is an increase in Omega 3 fats and a significant decrease in Omega 6 fats.

Another important consideration is to evaluate your seed and nut sources. Below is a chart showing the percentage of Omega 6 linoleic acid that is found in various nut and seed sources. Moreover, many of these nuts and seeds are found in protein powders, food bars, oils, and flours. Many of the higher Omega 6 nut and seed sources still offer considerable nutritional value, so the idea here is not to completely avoid them, but to rotate and moderate your intake. Also note that peanuts and cashews aren’t really nuts. They are legumes! So even though, e.g., cashews are listed as ‘non-inflammatory’ with respect to omega 6, they are high in lectins, which for some people, poses major health issues.

Eating real whole food from optimal sources really matters to overall health and longevity. One good example is 100% grass-fed and finished beef and lamb or pasture raised chicken that eats insects and grass.. When eating their instinctual diet, these meats (and eggs) have benefits such as helping with weight loss, improving immune function, regulating blood sugar levels, boosting cardiovascular health, and promoting proper growth and development.

Tips:

When you consume linoleic acid, choose organic, non-GMO whole food sources including grass-fed beef, chicken, and eggs.
Avoid processed and CAFO meats, potato chips and other junk and processed foods, and store-bought salad dressings.
Increase Omega 3 non-inflammatory oils by eating wild-caught Alaskan Salmon, cod liver oil, herring, anchovies, and sardines or supplement with a high quality, carefully chosen Omega 3.
Rotate nuts and seeds and avoid making the higher inflammatory nuts and seeds your routine “go to” choices. Instead, enjoy the rotation of macadamia, hazelnut, cashew, and pistachio nuts, keeping in mind every source from nut butters to protein bars.

References:

Axe, Josh, (2018, September 6). Linoleic acid helps improve brain, heart, skin, bone and reproductive health. www.draxe.com.

Levy, Jillian, (2022, March 14). 16 Omega-3 foods your body needs now. www.draxe.com

Mercola, Joseph, (2022, September 9). Ultra-processed food – The worst choice for planet and health. www.mercola.com

By Mila McManus MD|2022-12-04T11:00:27-06:00December 7th, 2022|General|

So Be Prepared, Not Surprised

By Mila McManus, MD

Public Health experts are already seeing significant COVID, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) kicking up.

As we move into the cold and flu season, take precautions now to protect yourself and your family from infections. Public Health experts from the American Medical Association are already seeing significant COVID, influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) kicking up and going around.

Be proactive! That means focusing on all of the key pillars of your health:

A whole food diet and good hydration – maintaining balanced blood sugar is important
Exercise
Keep your gut healthy – easy on the alcohol, sugar, wheat, and pain relievers, while taking your probiotic and drinking some bone broth.
Get quality rest and sleep
Avoid toxins and support detoxification – see gut health above and step into the IR sauna too!
Manage stress – take time for quiet meditation and/or deep breathing
Make use of appropriate supplementation – see below

For most, a healthy diet still cannot provide adequate nutrition for a strong immune system because of poor food quality, daily stressors, and the toxicity of our world. Especially in light of COVID, flu, and RSV season converging, I recommend a daily minimum of vitamin D3, a multivitamin, and a quality probiotic. For those with compromised immune systems, or who are living and working in higher exposure areas, or traveling, a selection from the following supplements would be wise additions:

Quercetin
Melatonin
Viracid™
Wholemune™
Vitamin C
Nebulizer Treatments with Vitamin C/DSMO/Magnesium or Glutathione (and other options to discuss with one of our healthcare providers)
Tri-Immune Vitamin Injections (available at our office). These contain vitamin C, zinc, and glutathione
Immune Booster IV
Zinc
Silverbiotics Silver Sol™

All of these options along with common sense measures such as thorough hand washing and avoiding crowds will help to make your holiday season and winter a healthy experience. If you are unsure about which supplements would be best for you, do not hesitate to consult with our medical providers for a customized plan that’s right for you.

Please also remember that we offer phone and Zoom routine appointments as well as urgent care appointments.

Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

References:

https://woodlandswellnessmd.com/silver-biotics-2.html/

MorningRounds@ama.custombriefings.com, October 24, 2022.

By Mila McManus MD|2022-11-10T07:56:30-06:00November 10th, 2022|General|

by Nancy Mehlert, MS

Last week, I drove by an Arby’s fast food chain where the sign read “Try Arby’s New Wagyu Burger”. It made me laugh because of a book I read by Larry Olmsted[1] called Real Food, Fake Food (2017). The chance that Arby’s would be selling a truly Wagyu burger is zero. But I’m sure many people are attracted to the fancy reputation of Wagyu. They fall for it. Pay the higher price, unaware that the beef is really no better or different than the standard Arby’s sandwich.

Kobe and Wagyu are names for Japanese beef. Wagyu means “Japanese cattle” and refers to four main Japanese breeds, one of which is Kobe. Either way, true Kobe beef requires a pure lineage of Tajima-gyu breed cattle that must be born in Hyogo, Japan, raised only on the local Hyogo grasses, water, and terrain. There are only about 3000 head of certified Kobe beef cattle in the world, and they live in Japan. That’s nowhere near enough cattle to serve the Arby’s food chain much less other restaurants around the world. This is a very exclusive, very limited supply beef. With rare exception, Kobe, or Wagyu on the menu in America is a scam used to charge you more because you expect to pay for its reputation. At its best, it is a very successful marketing ploy, and at its worst, a pure scam.

Our government allows vendors to use these types of labels and names without proof of authenticity. The vendor steels the reputation of these unique Japanese cattle, and puts the name on their often very ordinary, or even cheap beef.

So be aware. Most labeling is oriented toward charging you more and/or getting you to purchase by using key words you believe are good, i.e. that it is somehow better or healthier. The primary goal is profitability through volume sales and repeat business. However, what a label says may not be true at all. Words such as natural, cold pressed, fermented, aged, healthy, local, grass fed, and farm fresh are popular right now, but you should take no assurance that they mean what you think they do! All of them can be used on anything. There are no regulations which validate or verify their truthfulness.

Honestly, it is often hard to know the truth when it comes to food and personal care products. I find it often revealing and helpful to check webpages, read mission statements, see who the leaders are, and see if they explain their processes and ingredients. Who owns the company and who are the shareholders? Sometimes I will submit a question or call to see if anyone will communicate or talk to me personally about their product. People with nothing to hide who have pride in their product are happy to communicate! It is also noteworthy that many small, honest companies who are successful are often bought out by larger companies. These companies then reduce the quality for greater profits. That’s worth paying attention to as well.

Here’s one of Larry Olmstead’s articles about how this stuff works if you are interested in learning more.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/04/13/foods-biggest-scam-part-2-domestic-kobe-and-wagyu-beef

Be wise, Not fooled, Eat Well

[1] Mr. Olmsted is a Senior Contributor at Forbes magazine. He specializes in Travel, Food, and Leisure. Because of his investigative nature, he began to suspect some false statements made about foods on American restaurant menus. So he began investigating laws, traveling to the source of many foods such as true Japanese beef, and learning about the true meaning of brands and names. What he found were a myriad lies, scams, twists, and misleading uses, especially here in America. You can read more about his findings about seafood, olive oil, cheese, beef, and more in his engaging read, Real Food, Fake Food.

By Mila McManus MD|2022-10-28T07:44:31-06:00November 2nd, 2022|General|

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 Mila McManus MD|2022-10-20T10:02:57-06:00October 20th, 2022|Articles, General|

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 Mila McManus MD|2022-11-01T10:00:16-06:00October 12th, 2022|Articles, General|

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 Mila McManus MD|2022-10-04T12:53:02-06:00October 5th, 2022|Articles, General|

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 Mila McManus MD|2022-11-01T09:56:38-06:00September 28th, 2022|Articles, General|

By Mila McManus, MD

One might expect that in the most remote places in the world, the rainwater would be pure and safe to drink. But according to Ian Cousins, professor at the Department of Environmental Science at Stockholm University, rainwater everywhere around the world is unsafe to drink! According to his team’s research, PFAS are ubiquitous and continually cycle back through the atmosphere[1]. In other words, PFAS do not biodegrade. These toxic industrial waste pollutants released into our environment decades ago, now persist today all over the world because they continue to be cycled back to the atmosphere from the surface environment.

PFAS is the acronym for perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances that have similar chemical structures that have earned the nickname “forever chemicals.” Some levels of harmful PFAS in the atmosphere are not declining notably despite their phase out by the major manufacturer, 3M, already two decades ago. Cousin’s team found them even in such remote locations as Antarctica and on the Tibetan plateau.

Scientific evidence continues to mount, demonstrating that the widespread occurrence of PFAS in the environment correlates with adverse effects on human health and ecology[2]. They have been associated with a wide range of health issues including cancer, learning and behavior problems in children, infertility and pregnancy complications, elevated cholesterol levels, and immune malfunction. They have also been found in animals, plant life, bodies of water, the air, and in human blood.

The study concludes that, due to the global spread of PFAS, the environmental quality guidelines to protect human health have been far exceeded. The planetary boundary has already been exceeded.

Studies such as these remind us of the importance of controlling as many health variables as we can, since there are many, such as PFAS, which contaminate our world and cannot be escaped.

[1] Environ. Sci. Technol. 2022, 56, 16, 11172–11179, Publication Date:August 2, 2022.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c02765

[2] Kurwadkar S, Dane J, Kanel SR, Nadagouda MN, Cawdrey RW, Ambade B, Struckhoff GC, Wilkin R. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution. Sci Total Environ. 2022 Feb 25;809:151003. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151003. Epub 2021 Oct 22. PMID: 34695467.

By Mila McManus MD|2022-09-21T13:07:23-06:00September 22nd, 2022|General|

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