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Microbiome
Teenagers
Recipe of the Week
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Dr. Magryta
Go to www.salisburypediatrics.com,  if you would like to learn about Integrative Medicine or our practice

 

Issue: #7
February 2, 2015
Future Writer

Volume 5, Letter 7

February 2, 2015

The micro biome and human health is truly the new frontier of disease management. I feel like I write about this topic more than any other. The data continues to pour in and I am eating it up. 

 

While I was at the University of Arizona, one of my classmates turned out to be a ridiculously bright adult gastroenterologist from Johns Hopkins University. I had the pleasure of squeezing every last possible drop of learning from him during our time together and subsequently at conferences. 

 

This past week I have had a few fascinating cases that I would like to share with you. 

 

Both cases involved teenagers with issues related to chronic GERD (acid reflux) and Irritable bowel syndrome. After navigating multiple gastroenterologists and coming out with medicines and minimal nutritional advice, these young adults had little to no improvement. They wanted a different approach. What they wanted was someone to listen and treat the disease and not the symptoms. 

 

Fast forward to the era of personalized medicine. One of the two teens had a classic history of milk protein intolerance as an infant signaling a potential casein dairy protein sensitivity. After perfuming an immune blood analysis, we noted that she was sensitive to 3 common foods and had mineral deficiencies including zinc and iron. She followed an elimination diet for two months while taking probiotics and mineral supplements. Within 1 month she was symptom free while on her meds. By the end of month two she was symptom free while off of all medicines.

 

Case two had the same basic make up of triggers but different foods and other minerals as well. She also responded to the prescribed treatment plan with a similar time course. 

 

This pattern is now common place and points to the chronic dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract after years of unhealthy dietary immune influences. The gut micro biome is the key to healing many different diseases. These cases illustrate the immediate GI type disease resolution. Many different disease including anxiety and depression are showing great sensitivity to changes in diet and the gut bacteria. 

 

If you or your child suffer from chronic GI issues, headaches, arthritis, rashes, anxiety or depression, consider a work up and a dietary change to alleviate your disease root cause. Read the work of Dr. Alessio Fasano and the book by Dr. Mullin, The Inside Tract for more clarity on the topic. 

 

 

 

Dr. M

 

 

 

Teenagers

Difficult choices and your teenager.  (lots of requests for teen parenting ideals.) 

 

Anyone with a teenager is straddling the fence of whether to be the "Chinese tiger" mom and push an agenda or the laze faire parent who says that they will figure it out on their own.

 

I find that a mix of both to be useful. Kids want structure and rules even if they don't know it. No boundaries equates to fear and a lack of parental love. Rigid boundaries that are an attempt to control their existence is an acknowledgement of the parent that they are fearful and do not trust the child. This signal is suppressing their growth and identity. They will either follow it resentfully and be meek or break against it like a rock to everyone's dismay. Neither is a good outcome.

 

I think back to my upbringing and the scenario in our house was strict with respect to religion and family. I do not remember any other dogmatic rules. My parents even let me choose drums when I know that that was not at ALL what they would have wanted me to play. My heart wanted drums, they would have loved a pianist. Unbeknownst to me that freedom to choose was empowering and served me well in my life.

 

As my oldest begins his ascent into the tweens, I am constantly reflecting on the things that make sense in parenting. Structure, empowerment, love, goals and an emphasis on health through nutrition, spirit and exercise.

 

The reality of parenting today is obviously vastly different from my parent's time, yet some aspects still make sense. 

 

Nothing conquers a child's issues more than unconditional love and respect of who they are. When a child is suffering under the weight of identity angst, be there to listen and offer advice but do not judge their thoughts. They will know you are judging and you will lose the open channel that can help them heal. My parents were very good at letting me be me. Whatever phase I was in, they watched it go by. They gave their opinion, but they let me follow my direction. I knew that they were against certain choices, but that is where it ended.

 

Empower them to choose their path. If they find their passion, they are more likely to be successful. Guide them with options if they are stuck. Motivational interviewing works great here. What do you find exciting? What are you willing to work at to be great? Are you doing this for you?

 

House rules need to be spelled out. What are the chores and the family expectations? What are the consequences for a failure to comply? I think the LOVE AND LOGIC program works great here. Rules need to be reasonable. For example, thinking of last week's media discussion, a phone docking area in the kitchen after dinner is a reasonable rule for a family.  

 

As part of these rules, make nutrition a top shelf issue. You make nutritious meals for them to eat. If they reject it, they wait for the next meal. Snacking is lost at that time. I cannot tell you the importance of this parenting ideal. Everything that I read keeps pointing to nutrition as the keeper of health and specifically the brain's health. Unhealthy American processed food diets are the root cause of the abnormal micro biome which drives mental dysfunction at the genetic and metabolic levels. 

 

 

Dr. M
Cooking Class

Save the date!

March 19th at the Center for the Environment at Catawba College.

Time: 6:30PM.

We will be hosting a cooking demonstration. Dr. Chris Nagy and I will answer all types of questions about food, mood, the gut and human health while we cook.

We plan to make bone broth, ghee, teach pickling and maybe even kombucha. The primary goal of this lecture is to discuss gut healing foods and how to make them.

See you there!

Dr.M 
Recipe of the Week

Indian style sauce that Rocks adapted from Marcus Samuelsonn
  • Ingredients:
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 2 cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • kosher salt
Directions:

In a sauce pan add 2 tablespoons olive oil, spices, garlic, ginger and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat. Add the liquid and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Cook longer to evaporate more liquid and make a thicker sauce.

Pour over veges, quinoa or anything that you want to. 

 


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Copyright � 2010-2015 Christopher J. Magryta, MD. Readers, please note: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for advice and treatment provided by your physician or other healthcare professional and is not to be used to diagnose or treat a health issue.


 


Chris Magryta
Salisbury Pediatric Associates
Touchstone Pediatrics