Tag Archives: health

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 14 Issue 48

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Holidays and Connection

The Christmas and winter holiday season is a unique time to sit back reflect on the past year. To behold the timeless beauty of life. The shared time offers us an opportunity to pause and connect with those who matter or should matter most in our lives. I love the bathroom plaque that says at the end of life it won’t matter what you owned or what you knew, but rather the impact you had in a child’s life. Fortunately, for us, the holidays bring a chance to foster authentic human connections. To actually sit in conspiracy together. These moments are more than just traditions, they are essential for our emotional, mental, and even physical health. In the hustle of modern existence, where schedules dominate and technology often mediates relationships, we are losing this skill set, especially for the younger generations, making it more important to stay focused now.

Let us define human connection: Human connection is the act or feeling of being seen, heard, cared for and valued by another person or group. It is a most primary need for humans starting in infancy when a child needs a mother’s touch and milk. It arises from the countless meaningful interactions that foster mutual understanding, trust, empathy, and shared emotional experiences that ultimately lead to a child’s feeling of safety. The critical time period to establish attachment and connection is the first 2 to 3 years of life. Plus a section of literature review and a recipe of the week.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 14 Issue 47

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Sulfurophane and health – It is clear now that SFN stands out as a powerhouse phytochemical with profound effects on human health through the pathway of nurclear factor erythroid related 2 (NRF2). It is found abundantly in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, broccolini, kale, and brussels sprouts. SFN is a bioactive compound with impressive clinical potential for preventing chronic disease and optimizing cellular health, especially in oxidant impaired/overloaded states. At its core, SFN is a sulfur-rich molecule derived from glucoraphanin, a glucosinolate precursor. The transformation occurs when the enzyme myrosinase, released during the chopping or chewing of cruciferous vegetables, catalyzes the reaction. Interestingly, this enzymatic activation can also be achieved via gut microbiota when raw vegetables are absent from the diet, emphasizing the remarkable adaptability of our biology to source essential nutrients as needed for survival. (Ali et. al. 2023)

Nrf2 is a master regulator of cellular defense, orchestrating the production of detoxification enzymes, antioxidants, and other cytoprotective proteins. By activating Nrf2, sulforaphane enhances the body’s resilience to oxidative stress, a key contributor to aging, inflammation, and the development of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Studies reveal that sulforaphane also induces Phase II detoxification enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase, which play a vital role in neutralizing and excreting harmful toxins.

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 14 Issue 46

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Lymphatics – Refresher

Lymphatics – a plumbing system that follows the circulatory system throughout the body including the brain where it is called the glymphatics. The function of these passively moving tubes is to transport fats around the body, clear cellular debris returning it to the liver and spleen, move fluid in and out of tissue to maintain fluid balance, transport and help immune cells function. By transporting fats , lymph is involved in vitamin movement to tissues and cells for Vitamins A, D, E, K. These are critical functions of metabolism, immunity and detoxification that when disrupted lead to chronic diseases of aging including edema, hypertension, autoimmunity and cardiovascular disease.

“Traditionally considered a passive route for transport of fluid, immune cells, and lipoproteins, lymphatics are now known to be active players in major physiological and pathophysiological processes. Until recently, lymphatic vessel dysfunction was mainly associated with primary and secondary lymphedema. Unexpectedly, however, lymphatic vascular defects have been uncovered in conditions such as obesity, cardiovas- cular disease, inflammation, hypertension, atherosclerosis, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma and various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.” (Oliver et. al. 2021)…and a discussion on chemicals in school food.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #83 – Ana Maria Temple, MD

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Dr. Ana-Maria Temple, MD, is an integrative pediatrician known for her whole child approach to children’s health. She studied medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine before pursuing pediatric residency training at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. In 2017, Dr. Temple further specialized by completing a fellowship in Functional Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She combines conventional medicine with functional and lifestyle-based strategies to address common childhood conditions such as eczema, asthma, and allergies. Dr. Temple has a particular focus on helping families reduce dependence on medications by making sustainable health and wellness changes.

With decades of clinical experience, Dr. Temple has been a vocal advocate for preventive care, emphasizing nutrition, environmental changes, and integrative treatments. She is the author of the two bestselling books Healthy Kids in an Unhealthy World and Ending the Eczema Epidemic. Additionally, Dr. Temple is a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, sharing her expertise on holistic pediatric care through various platforms. Today, we focus on her approach to eczema and children’s health.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #82 – Megan Lyons, DCN, MBA

Megan Lyons, is a distinguished expert in personalized nutrition and wellness, with over a decade of experience in the field. As the founder of The Lyons’ Share Wellness, she has dedicated more than 14,000 hours to one-on-one nutrition consulting, assisting clients with diverse goals such as weight loss, overcoming emotional eating, managing thyroid dysfunction, and reversing prediabetes and cholesterol issues.

Her academic credentials are extensive:

  • Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition from the University of Western States
  • Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition from Hawthorn University
  • Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
  • Undergraduate degree from Harvard University

Megan is double board-certified as a Clinical and Holistic Nutritionist, and she is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

In 2016, she authored the Amazon Top 10 bestseller, Start Here: 7 Easy, Diet-Free Steps to Achieve Your Ultimate Health and Happiness. Additionally, she hosts the popular podcast Wellness Your Way, where she shares actionable and motivational health information with thousands of listeners each week.

Our goal today is to highlight the realities of women’s health, hormones and breastfeeding.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

The Lyons Share

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Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 38

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Section I

Are Smart Phones a benefit or a curse for the teenager in school? This is becoming a huge topic this past year or so. Logic would seem to dictate that this is a curse more than a benefit, but what does the data and expert opinion show?

The Scientific American article “Do Phone Bans Help Students Perform Better in School?” examines the growing trend of banning smartphones in schools to enhance student performance and well-being. Numerous U.S. cities, including New York and Los Angeles, have recently implemented or are considering bans on phones in classrooms. Schools use tools like the Yondr pouch, which locks phones away during school hours, to enforce these bans. These measures are popular with educators and parents, with 60% of likely voters in New York State supporting such restrictions. Charlotte Schools has this policy: “In accordance with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Student Code of Conduct, personal technology devices, including cell phones must remain off and put away during school hours. Violations will result in confiscation of the personal technology device. The district is not responsible (monetary value or replacement) for theft, loss or damage to personal technology or other electronic devices brought onto CMS property.” (CMS) My informal poll has a higher number of parents interested in phone ban restrictions in North Carolina….plus a section on teen anxiety.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 37

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Upcoming Podcast and Current Book Review.

For all parents who love the content of this newsletter, I have a book for you to enjoy. It is a comprehensive look at parenting a child in modern times through the struggles of food, technology, stress and life in general.

My good friend Elisa Song is a Stanford, NYU and UCSF trained pediatrician and lover of children. In her recently published book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids, she offers a comprehensive and integrative approach to pediatric health that will resonate deeply with today’s parents who seek to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare and modern life. Dr. Song’s dual expertise as a pediatrician and a mother is evident in her compassionate and practical guidance. Much like the work of our mentor Sandy Newmark, her book is relatable but more importantly scientifically grounded.

At the heart of Dr. Song’s philosophy is the idea that optimal health for children is not just the absence of disease but a state of overall well-being or optimal health, including: physical, emotional, and mental states. She emphasizes the importance of nutrition, advocating for whole, unprocessed foods while addressing the impacts of common allergens/intolerances, sugar, and artificial additives on children’s health. Her dietary recommendations are backed by a solid understanding of how nutrition influences immunity, inflammation, behavior, long-term development and ultimately chronic disease.

Plus, a discussion on cancer, autoimmunity in children post Covid…

Enjoy,

Dr. M

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