menu 919-999-0831

Category: Longevity

Posted on

July’s Vitality Shield: Simple Ways to Protect your Skin and Energy

July brings longer days and outdoor fun, but it also asks more of your body’s natural defenses. Think of your skin like a battery that powers cell renewal. Strong summer sun can drain it faster through oxidative stress, the same process that speeds up visible aging and raises skin cancer risk over time.

UV rays also nudge telomeres—the protective caps on your DNA—to shorten more quickly, which can push cells toward early senescence, or “retirement,” before their time. This quietly chips away at health span, the years you stay active and vibrant.

Fireworks and other July celebrations add another layer. Sudden injuries from sparks or falls can limit movement, which in turn affects mitochondrial health and energy production inside your cells. Heat and dehydration further stress your mitochondria, making recovery slower if you already carry genetic tendencies toward inflammation.

The Good News? Small, steady choices protect both today and tomorrow. Apply broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen of SPF 30–50 daily, reapplying every two hours when outdoors—think of it as giving your skin’s battery a steady charge. Wear light, long sleeves and a wide hat during peak sun hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m.) to lower cumulative damage. For July 4 events, keep a safe distance from fireworks, stay hydrated with water every hour, and rest in shade if you feel overheated.

Support your body from within by eating colorful produce rich in antioxidants; these help your cells manage oxidative stress and encourage healthy autophagy, your built-in cleanup system. If you know your skin type or family history, schedule a yearly skin check—early detection keeps small issues from becoming bigger ones.

Personalize further by noticing how your body responds. Fairer skin or certain genetic markers may call for extra layers of protection and more frequent monitoring. These steps are low-risk, with mineral sunscreen generally safe for daily use when chosen for your skin. Track how you feel after a week or two and adjust timing or habits accordingly. By caring for your skin and energy now, you’re investing in more active, comfortable years ahead.

Everyone’s needs differ, so the best plan fits your unique story. Consider seeing one of our Physicans at Carolina Total Wellness to review your personal risks, discuss targeted options, and create a plan that supports your optimal health for years to come.

Posted on

Nutrition for Muscle Mass: Building Strength from the Inside Out

Creatine is a naturally occurring substance found in the body, primarily in muscle tissue. It plays a crucial role in providing energy for high-intensity, short-duration activities such as weightlifting, sprinting, and other explosive exercises. In recent years, creatine has gained popularity as a dietary supplement, particularly among athletes and bodybuilders. This article will discuss the benefits and risks of using creatine as a supplement.

Most adults, especially women, under-eat protein. Aim for 0.4–0.9 grams per pound of ideal body weight daily. A 150-pound adult needs about 60–90 grams per day (20–30 grams per meal). At 200 pounds, that’s 80–150 grams daily or 25–40 grams at 3–4 meals, depending on your goals.

Animal-based proteins are typically more complete and easier to digest. Choose organic, non-GMO, wild-caught fish, pasture-raised poultry, grass-fed beef, and pasture-raised eggs.

Plant-based options like lentils, hemp seeds, and quinoa can form a complete diet when combined thoughtfully. Vegetarians and vegans should eat a variety of plant proteins to meet amino acid needs.

Choose whole foods whenever possible. For protein powders, look for organic or grass-fed sources with minimal ingredients—no added sugar, colorings, gums, or “natural flavors.” Pure Paleo Bone Broth Protein, WheyCool Grass-Fed Protein, and Mikuna Chocho Plant Protein are excellent options.

Muscle synthesis is optimized when protein intake is spread evenly throughout the day—20–35 grams per meal. Start with a protein-rich breakfast to balance blood sugar, cortisol, and energy.

Before workouts, have a small snack with protein, carbs, and healthy fats—like apple slices with nut butter. After strength training, consume 20–30 grams of protein within 20–30 minutes to maximize recovery. Plan ahead so quality protein is available during this window.

Hormones and Aging

With age, hormones like growth hormone, testosterone, and estrogen decline, making muscle harder to maintain—but not impossible. Nutrients such as creatine, magnesium, vitamin D, and omega-3s support hormone sensitivity and muscle health. Resistance training naturally boosts anabolic hormones and signals the body to preserve lean tissue. Pairing consistent strength training with adequate protein amplifies results.

Your Longevity Organ

Think of muscle as your longevity organ. Supporting it means combining strength training, quality protein, restorative sleep, and stress management. Small daily choices compound over time.

Avoiding soy? Sensitive to dairy? Recovering from injury or surgery? Your protein needs will change throughout life. At your next visit, ask your CTW care team about an InBody composition scan to see where you’re starting and create a plan for your goals. Your team is here to help you build strength, resilience, and a foundation for lifelong health.

Posted on

Part II –  Low SIgA And How Do We Treat

Shane Hemphill, MD

Part II –  Low SIgA And How Do We Treat

So your functional medicine provider ordered a Comprehensive Stool Analysis and your SIgA levels are found to be low. What is your next step? The answer is going to vary from person to person, but the ultimate answer is in finding the root cause.

This may include evaluating for and removing a food sensitivity, mold sensitivity, or infection that has over time depleted the immune response.

Once we have eradicated our offending agent we need to look at ways to improve our SIgA levels.

As a general rule the first step is to use an anti-inflammatory diet such as a Mediterranean diet. This is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and fish and low in red meat and saturated fats. One can also eliminate fried foods, processed foods, sugary snacks and soda.

More specific treatments Include:

A diet rich in Polyphenols such as cacao, green tea, and grapeseed extract which have shown to increase SIgA levels.

Saccharomyces Boulardii – This probiotic yeast has been shown to raise SIgA levels while also being very effective against Clostridium Difficile and Candida Overgrowth.

Colostrum – an Immunoglobulin secreted in the early stages of breast-feeding. This has shown to stimulate SIgA levels.

Beta Glucans – This is a type of soluble fiber found naturally in a variety of food sources including oats, barley, rye, rice and mushrooms like Reishi and Shiitaki.

Bone Broth – This is made by simmering the bones and the connective tissue of animals. This forms a stock for making soups, sauces and gravies. Depending on which part you use it contains vitamins,  minerals as well as collagen and other amino acids that increase SIgA levels.

Fat Soluble Vitamins – Vitamin A is needed for the transport of SIgA over the mucosal lining. It is suggested that Vitamin A is also involved in the synthesis of other immunoglobulins and has an important influence on our humoral immune system.

Stress Management – Last but not least, Cortisol is the main stress hormone that can decrease SIgA levels. We need to look over your current stressors or perceived levels of stress and then work to reduce them. This can be done through aerobic exercise, yoga, breathing techniques, meditation as well face to face conversations with your friends, family or therapist.

Our functional medicine physicians can help you understand the root cause of low SIgA and design a treatment plan specifically for you, please call our office at 919-999-0831 to get scheduled. 

Your Partner in Health!
Shane Hemphill, MD

Posted on

Aging Gracefully

Sara Yadlowsky, FMHC

Aging is inevitable. Irrespective of our efforts to appear youthful or feel younger, aging will catch up with us eventually. However, vitality is the key to aging gracefully.

Vitality embodies an energy of involvement, appreciation, and liveliness. It represents a harmonious blend of pleasure, purpose, and significance. When we are full of these feelings, we experience a vibrant, open responsiveness.

An excellent question to ask yourself is: How vibrant am I? Vitality manifests as an ability to openly express profound emotions. It’s evident in hearty laughter, streams of tears, and a willingness to engage fully without concerning oneself with outcomes, approval, or social media “likes.”

The most vibrant individuals:

  • Seek opportunities to make a positive impact and follow through with action
  • Dedicate themselves to continuous learning from others
  • Exemplify remarkable generosity and openness
  • Embrace both laughter and tears with equal intensity
  • Share a deep connection with the spiritual realm
  • Are willing to be authentic even if it means being unpopular

This level of aliveness represents soulful fitness, which is not tied to appearing younger than our years. Soulful fitness results from a stead fast commitment to and consistent practice of the vitality-enhancing measures mentioned above.

An excellent idea is to meditate daily with the thought that this could be your last day alive, and let this awareness guide you to fully embrace and cherish each day.

Aging can be viewed as a profound opportunity to establish deeper roots and witness more abundant blossoms. We can perceive the beautiful trajectory from innocence (youth) to ambition (productive years) to wisdom (later years)as a magnificent symphony, with each phase a complete and essential component of a breathtaking unity.

Aging is not an error or shortcoming, but an invitation to embrace life more fully.

To schedule a new patient or health coaching appointment, please call our office at 919-999-0831. 

Your Partner in Health!
Sara Yadlowsky, FMHC

Posted on

Nitric Oxide: The Molecule Of Life

Didem Miraloglu, MD, MS

Nitric oxide (NO) is a remarkable molecule that plays a crucial role in various physiological processes within the human body. Discovered in the late 18th century, and its importance has been extensively studied and recognized in the fields of medicine, biology, and biochemistry. In fact in 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Robert Furchgott, LouisIgnarro, and Ferid Murad, for their discoveries of NO as a signal molecule in the vasculature and specifically in the control of blood pressure. NO is a unique signaling molecule that influences numerous cellular pathways, contributing to cardiovascular health, immune function, neurotransmission, and even cellular defense against pathogens.
The synthesis of nitric oxide is achieved through the enzymatic action of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) on L-arginine, a semi-essential amino acid found in the body. There are three isoforms of NOS: endothelial NOS(eNOS), neuronal NOS (nNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS). Each isoform is expressed in specific tissues and cells and responds to different stimuli. eNOSis predominantly present in endothelial cells, contributing to vasodilation and regulating blood flow. nNOS is found in neurons and plays a role in neuro transmission, while iNOS is induced in response to inflammation or immune challenges.

The regulation of nitric oxide production is a tightly controlled process. Various factors, including calcium ions, cofactors like tetrahydrobiopterin, and the availability of L-arginine, affect NOS activity. This precise control ensures that NO is produced when needed, preventing excessive generation and potential cellular damage.

Nitric oxide is a key player in cardiovascular health. It acts as a vasodilator, relaxing the smooth muscles in blood vessel walls, which leads to increased blood flow and improved oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues. Dysfunction in the NO pathway is associated with numerous cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. Pharmaceutical agents that enhance NO production or mimic its actions, such as nitroglycerin and sildenafil (Viagra), have become essential treatments for these conditions.

The immune system relies on nitric oxide to fight off pathogens and defend against infections. When activated by cytokines and other immune molecules, iNOS produces NO in macrophages and other immune cells. Nitric oxide acts as a potent antimicrobial agent by damaging bacterial DNA, proteins, and lipids. Furthermore, it helps regulate the immune response and plays a role in resolving inflammation after an infection has been controlled.
In the nervous system, nitric oxide is a critical neurotransmitter involved in various processes, such as learning and memory, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal communication. It modulates the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate, contributing to mood regulation and cognition.

Moreover, NO has been linked to neuroprotection by its ability to act as an antioxidant and counteract oxidative stress-induced damage. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, involve oxidative stress, and researchers are exploring the potential of NO-based therapies to mitigate neuronal damage.

Due to its diverse roles in numerous physiological processes, nitric oxide has garnered significant interest as a potential therapeutic agent. Researchers are exploring its use in various medical applications, including wound healing, erectile dysfunction, and respiratory disorders like pulmonary hypertension. Additionally, NO-based therapies are being investigated in the context of cancer treatment, where NO has shown potential to inhibit tumor growth and sensitize cancer cells to radiation and chemotherapy.

Nitric oxide, once regarded merely as an air pollutant, has emerged as a fundamental molecule essential for life and well-being. Its roles in cardiovascular health, immune function, neurotransmission, and neuroprotection highlight its significance in maintaining the body’s delicate balance.

As our understanding of this remarkable molecule deepens, we are likely to witness further advancements in medical therapies that harness the potential of nitric oxide for improving human health and well-being.

To schedule a new patient appointment, please call our office at 919-999-0831.

Your Partner In Health,
Didem Miraloglu, MD, MS
Posted on

What Is REM Sleep?

Clarissa A. Kussin, ND, FMCHC, ERYT-500

Did you know that REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is a game-changer for your overall health and well-being? Let’s dive into the incredible benefits of REM sleep and discover some tips to enhance your dreamy slumber!

Benefits of REM Sleep:

  1. Brain Restoration: REM sleep is crucial for cognitive function and memory consolidation. It’s during this phase that your brain processes information, strengthens neural connections, and helps you wake up feeling mentally refreshed.
  2. Emotional Resilience: Ever notice how a good night’s sleep improves your mood? REM sleep plays a vital role in regulating emotions, contributing to better stress management and emotional resilience.
  3. Learning and Creativity: If you’re looking to boost your creativity and enhance learning, prioritize REM sleep. It’s during this stage that your brain synthesizes information and forms connections, leading to improved problem-solving skills and creativity.
  4. Physical Restoration: While deep sleep is essential for physical restoration, REM sleep also plays a role in muscle recovery. It contributes to maintaining a healthy balance between mind and body.

Tips to Maximize REM Sleep:

  1. Consistent Sleep Schedule: Aim for a consistent sleep routine by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. This helps regulate your body’s internal clock, promoting better REM sleep. Watching the sunrise and sunset daily.
  2. Create a Relaxing Bedtime Ritual: Wind down before bed with calming activities such as reading, gentle stretching, a warm shower, diffuse lavender/spray it on your sheets, or practicing mindfulness. This signals to your body that it’s time to transition into a restful sleep.
  3. Limit Stimulants Before Bed: Minimize caffeine and screen time before bedtime. The stimulating effects can interfere with the quality of your sleep, including REM cycles. Eliminate caffeine after Noon.
  4. Optimize Sleep Environment: Ensure your bedroom is conducive to sleep – comfortable mattress and pillows, cool temperature, and minimal light and noise. I like to add red ight bulbs for evening use and transition.
  5. Stay Active During the Day: Regular physical activity can contribute to better sleep quality, including more time spent in REM sleep. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.

Prioritize your sleep, and watch the positive impact on your overall well-being!

If you’re ready to experience the transformative benefits of health coaching, reach out to us today! Our team of experienced health coaches is here to guide you on your journey to optimal health. Call 919.999.0831 to get scheduled.

Remember, investing in your health is an investment in a brighter and more fulfilling future.

To your health and happiness!

Clarissa A. Kussin, ND, FMCHC, ERYT-500

Functional Medicine

Functional medicine is a science-based health care approach to assess, prevent and treat complex chronic disease.

Answers to frequently asked questions provided by Carolina Total WellnessLearn More

Allergy Testing & Drops

After a brief allergy test, you can begin sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), or allergy drops under the tongue. No more allergy shots!

learn more about Allergy testing and drops provided by [VAR_PRACTICE_NAME]Learn More

About Your Visit

Learn how to prepare for your visit and what to expect at your initial consultation and at your follow-up visits with our office.

What to expect at your appointment with Carolina Total WellnessLearn More
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon