The Better Prescription

Although most of us don’t like to think about it, we are all ageing. Everybody ages at a different rate; for example, you may notice your physical strength weakening while someone who is the same chronological age as you is not going through the same changes. These characteristics are what is referred to as your biological age. In today’s episode, Dr. Malhotra discusses some of the ageing biomarkers which can help explain what causes some people to age better or worse than others, and the importance of this field of study in terms of enhancing quality of life. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The main factors which differentiate functional medicine from other types of medicine.
• Everybody ages, but at different rates. 
• Criteria for ageing biomarkers, as determined by the American Federation of Ageing Research.
• Age biomarkers which have recently been discovered. 
• Epigenetic clock; the best age biomarker. 
• The challenges of finding ageing biomarkers.
• Why a combination of biomarkers and their interactions with each other should be studied further.
• An example of the many tests which are available that can tell you your biological age.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

American Federation of Aging Research

Anchor Wellness

Dr. Minni Malhotra — [email protected]

You might think that the habits you have now are the habits you will have forever, but this does not have to be the case. Although research has shown we do not break habits, we simply replace them, it is certainly possible to change life choices that no longer serve us. In today’s episode, Dr. Minni dives into some emerging research around habits and why the results from it have been so encouraging. We find out what happens in your brain when you form new habits, and Dr. Minni shares some actionable steps on how you can make changes to ensure you are living your happiest, healthiest life.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The definition of habits and the neuroscience behind how they work.
• What new research around habits has shown and why these findings are so encouraging.
• Habits are not broken; they are simply replaced with new ones.
• Why it can feel so difficult to build new habits.
• How to ensure you are set up for success when embarking on a journey to create a new habit.
• Hear about how Dr. Minni built a habit of making her bed in the morning.
• The steps you need to take to change an unproductive habit.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ann Graybiel

How the brain controls our habits

Anchor Wellness

Dr. Minni Malhotra — [email protected]

At the mention of cancer, most people’s natural reaction is a feeling of doom and gloom and even fear or denial. While cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent in modern times, a diagnosis does not have to be a death sentence. However, it requires early detection and intervention. In today’s episode, Dr. Minni shares some of the findings from her own research after her mother’s cancer diagnosis. We hear about the problem with modern treatment and detection and learn why cancer is a metabolic disorder. Rounding off, Dr. Minni offers a look at a holistic approach to tackling the disease. Tune in to hear it all!   

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why remission after cancer is sometimes an illusion.
• Almost half of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives.
• How Dr. Minni tackled her mother’s cancer diagnosis.
• What Dr. Minni found when she started researching cancer.
• Factors that contribute to cancer progression or suppression,
• If we have healthy immune systems, our bodies should be able to fight cancerous cells.
• Why cancer is a metabolic disease more than anything else.
• The problem with cancer detection technologies.
• How Dr. Minni’s COPE Methodology maps onto cancer treatment.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Email Dr. Minni Malhotra — [email protected]

The diagnostic approach taken by a functional medicine doctor is multifaceted and can often be the determining factor in what sets a patient back onto a path of wellness. In today’s episode, Dr. Minni proves the truth of this statement by telling the story of a patient of hers who had been on a keto diet but bizarrely still had very high cholesterol levels. Dr. Minni explains the process of taking a deep dive into the patient’s history, looking at many factors that could be increasing his cholesterol or promoting his insulin resistance. The bulk of today’s episode is spent detailing the many different tests that were conducted on the patient, the imbalances they revealed, and the consequences of these for the patient as far as nutrition and wellness. Ultimately what it all points toward is that the patient had a body type that could not break down fat properly, meaning the keto diet, which usually does a good job of preventing insulin-resistant diseases, was in fact a poor fit for him. Hence the main lesson from today is that that the maintenance of good health cannot take a one-size-fits-all method, and this observation is all thanks to functional medicine. Tune in and hear the full story!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A medical case involving a man who had been fasting but could not alleviate his high cholesterol.
• The approach Dr. Minni took to diagnosing the patient by looking at his history.
• Three things that have to happen for a disease to progress.
• The results of the organic acid test conducted which found high fungal overgrowth in the gut.
• How the presence of high lactic acid quantities produces inflammation.
• The many different tests that were conducted and the imbalances they revealed.
• Finding that the keto diet the patient was on was causing more harm than benefit.
• While the keto diet does well to prevent insulin-resistant diseases, it does not work for everybody.
• The many different variables that a functional medicine approach takes into consideration.
• A new diet prescription given by Dr. Minni and the wondrous effects it had.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Email Dr. Minni — [email protected]

Back pain is the sixth most expensive medical condition in the United States, with over 16 million adults reporting to experience chronic or persistent back pain. Those who suffer from back pain are more likely to use healthcare services than those without. Despite the prevalence of this condition, conventional medicine only has tools to help people to manage their pain, rather than get to the root cause and eliminate it. Chiropractic is often considered a controversial alternative medicine practice, yet it takes a holistic approach to treat pain that achieves results time and again. Dr. Dustin Etemadi is a chiropractor who specializes in non-surgical spinal decompression, and he takes a holistic approach to muscular-skeletal conditions. He treats patients of all ages and is located in Panther Creek Village in the Woodlands. In today’s episode, Dustin sheds light on the chiropractic approach to pain, and how chiropractors view the body and its interconnectivity. Much like functional medicine doctors, chiropractors understand that underneath a symptom is an underlying cause that needs to be treated. We hear about what happens when you leave problems untreated, why there is a divide between chiropractic and conventional medicine, and the danger of inflammation. Dustin stresses just how important it is to ensure your body is not inflamed so that it can do its job and heal itself. Tune in for this insightful conversation.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Pain is one of the most common complaints that patients have.
• An example of how pain can overtake your life and cause limited functionality.
• Hear why Dustin does the work that he does and some of the life experiences that led him to become a chiropractor.
• The work that chiropractors do and the holistic approach they take.
• Our bodies absorb and store all the stress we experience in our lives.
• The effects of leaving different subluxations untreated.
• Some of the reasons there is a disconnect between alternative and conventional medicine.
• A story of a patient Dustin worked with whose life he changed.
• Why Dustin thinks that inflammation is the number one killer.
• There is a difference between extending life and improving quality of life.
• How you can get hold of Dustin.
• A final recommendation from Dustin on how to deal with chronic pain.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Prestige Spinal Care
Email Dr. Minni — [email protected]

As you already know from listening to this podcast, holistic health is achieved when your body, mind, and soul are in balance. Today’s guest is Cherie Clark-Moore, an Authenticity Coach, certified yoga, tai chi, and meditation teacher, and a speaker and group facilitator. She is passionate about helping people live their most authentic lives and gain a holistic view of their mind, body, and soul, making the connection between the three in order to heal themselves naturally. Tuning in, you’ll learn more about the importance of acknowledging your emotions rather than avoiding them and how body and brain yoga differs from the more traditional yoga practices you might be used to, as well as the crucial role that mindset plays in healing yourself. Don’t miss this insightful interview with Cherie Clark-Moore!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to Cherie Clark-Moore and her interest in a holistic approach to health.
• The importance of acknowledging and recognizing your emotions, rather than avoiding them.
• The value of tuning in, building trust within yourself, and empowering yourself to heal.
• Learn more about body and brain yoga and how it’s different to traditional yoga.
• Why these body and brain exercises might seem somewhat unusual at first.
• The practice of mastering your own energy system.
• An example of how Cherie has helped a client with their mental and physical health.
• The willingness required to heal yourself in a holistic way, starting with your mindset.
• Hear about the complimentary introductory session that Cherie offers.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Cherie Clark-Moore

Cherie Clark-Moore on LinkedIn

Body & Brain Conroe

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email

The Institute for Functional Medicine

There are shelves, and sometimes even whole aisles, of health and dietary supplements in many grocery stores and health shops all across the country. It's easy to assume that because a product is on the shelf, it is safe, but supplements are not regulated in the same way medication is. In this episode, Dr. Malhotra talks about the importance of researching a supplement before incorporating it into your life. It is your responsibility to do the necessary due diligence around the effects of the ingredients you consume. We also hear about the risks that come with taking harmful supplements, and Dr. Malhotra shares how she, as a functional medicine doctor, approaches supplements with her patients. Tune in to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Health and dietary supplements are regulated in a post-market manner.
• What happened with the Purity supplements scandal.
• Resources you can use to check the ingredients of your supplements.
• Ingredients that are allowed to be in dietary supplements.
• The circumstances under which someone might need a dietary supplement.
• Some of the risks that come with taking dangerous, uncertified supplements.
• How a functional medicine doctor will approach recommending supplements.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email — [email protected]

U.S. FDA

Global DRO

Supplement 411

There is so much information out there about hormones that it is hard to know what to believe. Today, Dr. Malhotra tackles this big subject, walking us through some of the latest research around hormones and clearing up some common myths. For a long time, people believed that hormones served a sole function in the body. However, emerging work shows the interlinking and overlapping relationship between different hormones. We also hear about hormone replacement therapy, and Dr. Malhotra shares a client success story. Be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Clearing up some of the misconceptions about hormones.
• Some of the benefits of estrogen and progesterone.
• Hormones do not play one role in your body; they have multiple functions.
• What a bio-identical hormone is and the exciting developments in hormone replacement therapy.
• Risks associated with hormone replacement therapy.
• How Dr. Malhotra’s patient, Nancy, turned her life around.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email — [email protected]

Sometimes, despite eating well and exercising, we still struggle with our weight, which can often lead to other complications like diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. Today, on The Better Prescription, Dr. Minni Malhotra discusses the latest research on the complexity of obesity. She explains the recent studies on nicotinamide mononucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and their effects on glucose uptake. She also discusses the brain’s own “happy hormone” serotonin, how it’s related to FLP-7, and how this could hold the secret to better health. Tune in today to hear why diet supplements may not be the best choice to achieve weight loss, but the solution you may be looking for may already be in your own mind!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to today’s case study: a female client in her 40s, struggling to get her weight under control.
• Dr. Malhotra introduces the latest clinical trial of postmenopausal women with pre diabetes.
• What nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is and how it increases glucose uptake in the skeletal muscles.
• How a study with mice led several companies to market NMN as a dietary supplement.
• What nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is and how it could be useful to weight loss. 
• The necessity of more studies to determine if NMN has beneficial effects on the management of pre-diabetes and diabetes.
• Why diet supplements may not be the best choice to help you achieve weight loss.
• Another study reveals that serotonin, the “happy hormone,” has the potential to spur fat loss. 
• What FLP-7 is and how it is stimulated in the brain. 
• The importance of happy hormones, stress management, and lifestyle on weight loss. 
• How Dr. Malhotra practice helps patients address obesity by creating a blueprint that factors in not only nutrition and exercise, but also mind mastery.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Minni Malhotra

The Institute for Functional Medicine

We’ve often heard the expression “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” well, today on The Better Prescription, Dr. Minni Malhotra examines the scientific facts behind that saying. She explains Hormesis, the paradoxical phenomenon that occurs when the body benefits from exposure to small amounts of stressors. She discusses how exposing oneself to things like cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis can, in some cases, be helpful. She also talks about various hormones and the effects of hormone imbalances on the body. Hear about how too much exercise can be damaging to one’s health, and find out some tips on how simple stressors like cold water treatment, holding your breath, and intermittent fasting can be used to bio-hack your own longevity. Tune in for all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to hormesis. 
• How many stressors are actually required for healthy growth or homeostasis.
• The importance of exposing the body to stressors especially in early life.
• The potential benefits of cigarette smoking. 
• The benefits of THC or cannabis on neurocognitive functions. 
• Moderate alcohol consumption and its effects on mortality, cardiovascular disease and cognitive dysfunction.
• The negative effects of high-intensity exercise.
• The positive and negative effects of hormone imbalances like estrogen, progesterone, parathyroid hormone, and cortisol.
• How growth-hormones and insulin can affect your longevity. 
• The Wim Hof Method and how it helps people to benefit from hormesis. 
• How cold water treatment, holding your breath, and intermittent fasting can be used as bio-hacks to improve longevity.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra