– Institute of Functional Medicine
HOURS OF OPERATIONS
Monday8:00am-7:00pm
Tuesday8:00am-7:00pm
Wednesday8:00am-5:00pm
Thursday8:00am-5:00pm
Friday8:00am-5:00pm
Phone M-F8:30am-4:30pm
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“My name is Kim Carson and I am a Radio/TV/Internet personality and I started on the Age Management of West Michigan 10 week Integrative Medical Weight Management Program December 1st, 2014. My dream was to lose 50 or 60 pounds. I was cautiously optimistic because this wasn’t my first attempt at losing weight. I’ve battled it for a lifetime. When I started on the program I was taking 3 painkillers, 2 Musinex, 2 Zyrtec allergy pills a day because my body ached all over and my allergies were out of control. Five days into the first week on the program and it felt like some of the pain had lifted and enough so that I didn’t take my pills that morning but brought them along to work just in case. I’ve never looked back. I remember asking my coach Aaron one day “Do you mean to tell me if I just eat this way I’ll continue to lose weight?” I couldn’t believe it could be this simple. But it was. Seven and a half months later, 115 pounds lighter and I’ve never felt better. Some people tell me I’ve never looked better either and that I have a healthy glow. I’ve maintained the weight loss now for close to two years and I’ve never been able to do that before. I am so grateful that I found Age Management of West Michigan and I consider it an answer to a prayer. So many other aspects of my quality of life have improved. I want this for everyone.”
-Kim Carson
“I have hovered around 300 pounds for 20+ years with very little success, and it seemed that I was always on a diet. I have lost approximately 80 lb with the program over 20 weeks. This or any program is not “easy,” but it is not difficult to stay on track. I look forward to continued success in weight, strength, and overall health. Medications are a thing of the past. With the weight loss I was able to come off all my medications for cholesterol, blood pressure, and arthritis. Sleep is improved and I always have energy! If you are tired of being tired, then try the Age Management Program.”
-Steven A.
“Coming in to Age Management’s “Integrative Medical Weight Management Program” in Oct, I was living an unhealthy lifestyle: overweight (310 pounds), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea / snoring, water retention (calves and feet), no energy, no exercise. With the help of Aaron, Jena, and this program, I have completely changed my life! They taught me the importance of cleansing our body of toxins, how and what foods to eat, and the importance of exercise. At the end of the program I had lost 75 lbs., 11 inches off my waist, meds have been eliminated, sleep apnea/snoring are gone, calves/feet are back to normal, and my energy level has increased immensely! In the following 4 months I have lost an additional 30 lbs. on my own, following what I was taught from the program. Now almost 2 years later I have maintained the 105 lb weight loss by following what this program has taught me. I can’t thank Aaron and Jena enough for their support, encouragement, and for helping me through my problem areas. Even though this was not always an easy journey, this program was easy to follow, and gave me a guideline for the rest of my life. This is now my “Lifestyle”!! I have and will always recommend this program!!”
-Ross A
“Through participation in the Age Management Integrative Medical Weight Management Program I have lost close to 80 lb in the last 6 months. I have gone from a size 20-22 to a size 8-10. The success I had with the program and the way my body looks now far surpassed any expectations I had. Aaron’s knowledge of nutrition, supplementation and training were the perfect combination of success for me. It was so motivating to see how quickly my body changed. I have tried so many diets and ‘plans’ before and nothing was able to get my body to work as efficiently to burn the fat off as this program. I love the holistic approach and clean eating and how it has completely reset my body. I don’t have unhealthy cravings, I am able to understand signals of true hunger and when I need to stop eating. This is something no other program has ever done for my body. It was so overwhelming to think that I had to lose close to 100 lb. There was something about my weekly appointments and the encouraging staff that made it so much more manageable, time seemed to fly by and each week I gained energy and confidence. I was skeptical at first about keeping with the diet etc., but I told myself that I made the investment in my health and it was only a few months you can do ANYTHING for a few months right? It has definitely paid off! I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone!!”
-Katie Roper
“Through participation in the Age Management Integrative Medical Weight Management Program I lost 100 lb! I started at the beginning of January 2012 at 282 lb I was fed up with how I felt and looked and needed to do something. I heard a commercial on the radio and looked up the website. I went in for the free consultation and Aaron explained it all to me. I went in hoping to lose 20 to 30 lb to jump start my diet. I was pleasantly surprised how well and fast the weight came off. It is not an easy quick fix, you have to do the work, but you learn the right way/things to eat and now 6 months later I have lost 100 lb! It worked so much better than I could have imagined. It was well worth it.”
-Theresa Dykema
HDIVC is used as an integral part of Age Management’s Integrative Oncology Program. Thanks to the work of Linus Pauling, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been recognized as one of the best antioxidants and nutrients available to combat numerous health problems. The main limiting factor with Vitamin C has been the poor oral absorption abilities of the body that limit usage of 2 to 3 g daily before adverse effects with the GI system. Through intravenous administration, levels can be administered 100x higher than through oral administration. At higher levels vitamin C acts as a pro-oxidant which is rapidly absorbed by cancer cells and has been shown to have a highly toxic effect promoting apoptosis (cell death). HDIVC is used alone, or in conjunction with chemotherapy and radiation as an effective cancer treatment protocol. HDIVC dosages: 25g / 50g / 75g / 100g.
A Myers Cocktail IV with a higher dosage of IV Vitamin C to maximize immune system function. Maximum oral absorption of Vitamin C is around 2 g daily, but through IV infusion, levels can be absorbed at a significantly higher level to promote a therapeutic effect. Vitamin C, if used at proper dose, is documented as one of the best antiviral agents available to kill viral infections, bacteria, and cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner.
Glutathione (GSH) is one of the most important and powerful antioxidants in the body that counteracts the effects of toxins and free radicals that weaken the immune system and accelerate the aging process. Some call it the closest thing to “the fountain of youth.” It is primarily made in the liver, but as we age levels fall dramatically. Many factors decrease Glutathione like viruses, toxins, poor nutrition, stress, illness, heavy metals, chemical exposure, surgery, acetaminophen use, sun damage, protein deficiency, weight loss, cancer, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Oral absorption of GSH is very poor, so the only effective way to increase GSH levels dramatically is through IV infusion.
Used effectively to treat symptoms associated with:
Glutathoine prevents free-radical damage to cellular DNA with the capacity to decrease mutation and cancer initiation. GSH has powerful immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory and detoxification properties. It is able to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in malignant cells. Glutathione can regenerate other potent antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin C. It has strong ability to protect organs and tissues against the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation and has been shown to reverse resistance to chemotherapy.
There are thousands of references in the medical literature regarding glutathione. Many studies describe the benefits of GSH in cancer therapy, neurodegenerative brain disease (like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease) cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and many other conditions. Free radical formation plays an important role in the development and progression of many of these disorders.
Glutathione is used regularly in combination with Myers IV’s and Phosphatidylcholine as an integral part in many of the IV nutrition therapys.
The Myers Cocktail IV is a popular vitamin and mineral therapy developed by Johns Hopkins University physician John Meyer MD in the 1970’s. The Myers Cocktail is a combination of B-vitamins, Vitamin C, and Magnesium that strengthens the immune system to treat and prevent a wide variety of symptoms.
Who can benefit from Myers Cocktail IV?
Phosphatidylcholine (PTC) is a phospholipid that is a primary component that gives strength and flexibility to every cell membrane in the body. PTC has shown to have a positive effect on brain, liver, intestinal, and cardiovascular health resulting in effective treatment for Autism / Autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson’s, MS, ALS, Fibromyalgia, Hepatitis, Arteriosclerosis, and Mood disorders.
Cardiovascular health
Cardiovascular benefits
Liver benefits
Brain benefits
Intestinal benefits
Migraine and headache support
MIC Injection Cost: $20
Ingredients: Methionine / Inositol / Choline (25/50/50 mg/ml)
Benefits:
Benefits of Nutrient Injections
Intramuscular injections bypass the digestive system to ensure 100 percent absorption of key amino acids, vitamins, and mineral nutrients in therapeutic dosages.
Methionine
Methionine is an essential amino acid that acts as a lipotropic agent which: assists in the breakdown of fats within the liver; helps to lower cholesterol thereby preventing excess fat buildup in the liver and throughout your body’s circulatory system; is helpful in preventing and relieving fatigue; and is useful in some cases of allergies by virtue of its ability to reduce histamine release.
One of the sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine is important to many bodily functions and must be directly consumed through supplementation of methionine-containing proteins. Foods which contain high levels of methionine include cheese, eggs, fish, meats, spinach, potatoes, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, and select other plant seeds. However, by injecting methionine into your muscles you can rapidly achieve high concentrations which many researchers and physicians believe results in more effective mobilization and elimination of abnormal fatty deposits. Other reported benefits of methionine include improvement of: liver disease; skin tone and elasticity; nails; hair; and cardiovascular and muscular functions through its role in the production of creatine. It has also been used to treat premature ejaculation, chronic depression, pancreatitis, Parkinson’s disease, and AIDS myelopathy. More specifically, clinical research has clearly demonstrated methionine’s ability to …strongly improve the alcohol-induced histological changes I the liver. Triglyderide content of the liver was found to decrease in a dose-dependent manner with increasing methionine ingestion.
Inositol
Inositol is a B-vitamin that promotes: the health of cell structures and nerve synapses; aids in the metabolism of fats; helps reduce blood cholesterol; and participates in the action of serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to control mood and appetite.
Also known as myo-inositol, inositol is involved in many biological processes, including the breakdown of fats, the reduction of serum cholesterol, serotonin activity modulation, gene expression, and insulin signal transduction. It is not considered a vitamin because your body is unable to synthesize it. However, it has been shown to be helpful for the treatment of depression, panic disorder, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and fatty liver. It is also important for optimal brain function.
Inositol deficiency may manifest as symptoms of constipation, high cholesterol, vision problems, and hair loss. Although it is naturally found in certain foods such as nuts, beans, grains, cantaloupe melons, and oranges, it is more effective in breaking down fat when given as an intramuscular injection.
Choline
Food sources of Choline include peanuts, soybeans, wheat, chicken, fish, beef, cauliflower, eggs, and lettuce. Choline helps support the liver in its processing and excretion of chemical waste products. Moreover, it is required for the transport and metabolism of fats and cholesterol, which is important for the healthy support of the endocrine, cardiovascular, and hepatic systems.
Studies have shown that choline can promote liver health by maintaining cholesterol homeostasis; induces glucose and insulin intolerance; involved in the synthesis of carnitine, cell membrane phospholipids, and the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine; major source for methyl groups via its metabolite trimethylclycine (betaine) that participates in S-adenosylmethionine synthesis pathways. Choline has also been shown to specifically aid withmemory, and to support the maintenance of a healthy nervous system.
Contraindications: People with the following conditions should not use MIC injections:
Recommended Dosing:
1 ml IM injection / 1 to 2 times weekly
Vitamin B-12 Injection Cost: $20
Ingredients: Methylcobalamin 1mg/ml
Benefits:
Benefits of Nutrient Injections
Intramuscular injections bypass the digestive system to ensure 100 percent absorption of key amino acids, vitamins, and mineral nutrients in therapeutic dosages.
Methylcobalamin
Methylcobalamin, or vitamin B12, is a B-vitamin. It is found in a variety of foods such as fish, shellfish, meats, and dairy products. Although methylcobalamin and vitamin B12 are terms used interchangeably, vitamin B12 is also available as hydroxocobalamin, a less commonly prescribed drug product (see Hydroxocobalamin monograph), and methylcobalamin. Methylcobalamin is used to treat pernicious anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency, as well as to determine vitamin B12 absorption in the Schilling test. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin found in the foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy products. Deficiency in healthy individuals is rare; the elderly, strict vegetarians (i.e., vegan), and patients with malabsorption problems are more likely to become deficient. If vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated with a vitamin B12 supplement, then anemia, intestinal problems, and irreversible nerve damage may occur.
The most chemically complex of all the vitamins, methylcobalamin is a water-soluble, organometallic compound with a trivalent cobalt ion bound inside a corrin ring which, although similar to the porphyrin ring found in heme, chlorophyll, and cytochrome, has two of the pyrrole rings directly bonded. The central metal ion is Co (cobalt). Methylcobalamin cannot be made by plants or by animals; the only type of organisms that have the enzymes required for the synthesis of methylcobalamin are bacteria and archaea. Higher plants do not concentrate methylcobalamin from the soil, making them a poor source of the substance as compared with animal tissues.
Mechanism of Action: Vitamin B12 is used in the body in two forms, methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosyl cobalamin. The enzyme methionine synthase needs methylcobalamin as a cofactor. This enzyme is involved in the conversion of the amino acid homocysteine into methionine which is, in turn, required for DNA methylation. The other form, 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin, is a cofactor needed by the enzyme that converts L-methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA. This conversion is an important step in the extraction of energy from proteins and fats. Furthermore, succinyl CoA is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen in red blood cells.
Vitamin B12, or methylcobalamin, is essential to growth, cell reproduction, hematopoiesis, and nucleoprotein and myelin synthesis. Cells characterized by rapid division (epithelial cells, bone marrow, myeloid cells) appear to have the greatest requirement for methylcobalamin. Vitamin B12 can be converted to coenzyme B12 in tissues; in this form it is essential for conversion of methylmalonate to succinate and synthesis of methionine from homocysteine (a reaction which also requires folate). In the absence of coenzyme B12, tetrahydrofolate cannot be regenerated from its inactive storage form, 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate, resulting in functional folate deficiency. Vitamin B12 also may be involved in maintaining sulfhydryl (SH) groups in the reduced form required by many SH-activated enzyme systems. Through these reactions, vitamin B12 is associated with fat and carbohydrate metabolism and protein synthesis. Vitamin B12 deficiency results in megaloblastic anemia, GI lesions, and neurologic damage (which begins with an inability to produce myelin and is followed by gradual degeneration of the axon and nerve head). Vitamin B12 requires an intrinsic factor-mediated active transport for absorption, therefore, lack of or inhibition of intrinsic factor results in pernicious anemia.
Contraindications:
Recommended dosing:
1 ml IM injection / 1 to 2 times weekly
Vitamin D Injection Cost: $40
Ingredients: Vitamin D3 100,000 iu/ml
Benefits
Benefits of Nutrient Injections
Intramuscular injections bypass the digestive system to ensure 100 percent absorption of key amino acids, vitamins, and mineral nutrients in therapeutic dosages.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is both a nutrient we eat and a hormone our bodies make. Few foods are naturally rich in vitamin D, so the biggest dietary sources of vitamin D are fortified foods and vitamin supplements. Good sources include dairy products and breakfast cereals (both of which are fortified with vitamin D), and fatty fish such as salmon and tuna.
The body also manufactures vitamin D from cholesterol, through a process triggered by the action of sunlight on skin, hence its nickname, “the sunshine vitamin.” Yet some people do not make enough vitamin D from the sun, among them, people who have a darker skin tone, who are overweight, who are older, and who cover up when they are in the sun.
Vitamin D is responsible for appropriate calcium and phosphate balance and is required for normal bone growth and mineralization. Patient specific dosing can be determined by measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] serum concentrations, which represent all sources of vitamin D (e.g., sunlight and dietary or from supplements).
Contraindications: People with the following condtions should not use vitamin D injections:
Recommended Dosing:
3ml IM injection (300,000iu) / 1 time monthly
*Check blood work to monitor levels. Discontinue use once desired levels are reached
Coenzyme Q10 Injection Cost: $20
Ingredients: Ubiquinone 20mg/ml
Benefits:
Benefits of Nutrient Injections
Intramuscular injections bypass the digestive system to ensure 100% absorption of key amino acids, vitamins, and mineral nutrients in therapeutic dosages.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone and ubidecarenone, is an endogenously synthesized vitamin-like compound that is involved in a variety of cellular processes. It is a fat-soluble antioxidant and a member of the quinone family with a structural similarity to vitamin K. Coenzyme Q10 was first isolated from bovine hearts at the University of Wisconsin in 1957; it is found naturally in small amounts in foods, particularly meat and seafood. Endogenous levels of CoQ10 decline with age. In addition, endogenous deficiencies of CoQ10 have been noted in patients with heart failure, cardiomyopathies, cancer, and some neurological diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease). The use of coenzyme Q10 has been postulated to be of benefit in a variety of disorders; it is possible that a pre-existing state of CoQ10 deficiency may be necessary to observe any clinical benefit from supplementation. CoQ10 has been studied as an athletic performance enhancer, adjunctive treatment for cardiovascular diseases, acute myocardial infarction, adjuvant treatment for metastatic breast cancer, prophylaxis of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy, familial cerebellar ataxia, periodontal disease, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, and mitochondrial disorders. Most of these uses are based on speculative data or limited, uncontrolled clinical trials. No firm conclusion can be made in regard to the efficacy of CoQ10 in these conditions, although the controlled data suggest that CoQ10 does not offer benefit to patients with heart failure. The use of CoQ10 for mitochondrial disorders will need controlled trials to support clinical efficacy.
Contraindications:
Recommended Dosing
1 ml IM injection / 1 to 2 times weekly
BCAA Injection Cost: $20
Purpose: The BCAA (Branch Chain Amino Acids) injection helps support muscle growth, increase muscle recovery, reduce exercise induced muscle soreness, and promote fat burning.
Ingredients: Isoleucine / L-Leucine / L-Valine (15/10/40mg/ml)
Benefits
Benefits of Nutrient Injections
Intramuscular injections bypass the digestive system to ensure 100 percent absorption of key amino acids, vitamins, and mineral nutrients in therapeutic dosages.
What are Branch Chain Amino Acids:
Isoleucine, Leucine, and Valine are the three essential amino acids that make up the BCAAs. These are called Branch Chain Amino Acids because their molecular structure which is branched.
While all other amino acids are broken down in the liver; BCAA are metabolized primarily in lean body mass tissue. Because of this, they could help improve exercise performance and also reduce the rate of lean body mass break down.
BCAA supplementation may promote lean body mass protein synthesis and also increase lean body mass in individuals who consume a low protein diet. In one study, leucine and valine were found to cause a significant suppression in body weight loss in mice with cachexia (body-wasting). Both of these BCAA caused a significant increase in muscle tissue, through an increase in protein synthesis and a decrease in degradation.
BCAA supplementation may also be effective in preventing fatigue in athletes and physically active people by halting a decline in serum BCAA levels which can occur during physical exertion. A decline in serum BCAA levels typically causes the influx of tryptophan into the brain, which is followed by increased serotonin production – which may result in fatigue.
The amino acid leucine plays a critical role in the synthesis of muscle protein. Isoleucine plays a vital role by inducing cells to store more glycogen. Valine functions synergistically with the other two BCAA, to encourage normal growth, repair bodily tissues, regulate blood sugar levels, and supply the body with energy. Valine also stimulates the central nervous system and is required for healthy mental function.
Isoleucine: Isoleucine is the BCAA best known for its role in increasing endurance, helping to repair lean tissue, and encouraging blood clotting at the site of injury. This BCAA has been shown to provide potential benefit for athletes because its primary role in the body is to increase energy and help recovery from strenuous physical activity.
Leucine: Leucine works with the BCAA isoleucine and valine to help repair lean mass, regulate blood sugar, and maintain the body’s energy levels. L-leucine has also shown to temporarily increase the production of growth hormone.
Leucine is also an effective BCAA for preventing lean body mass loss because it is metabolized to glucose more quickly than either isoleucine or valine. Increased available glucose inhibits the body having to break down lean body mass for energy during intense exertion.
Leucine is also involved in healing processes in bones, skin, and lean body mass tissue after traumatic injury. Because of this leucine is often administered in nutritional support for people recovering from surgery.
Valine: Valine may help in removing excess nitrogen from the liver and in transporting nitrogen to other tissues in the body as required. Valine has also been studied as an adjunctive nutritional support in people with liver and gallbladder disease caused by alcoholism or drug abuse. Valine has also been studied for reversing alcohol-related brain damage.
Contraindications: People with following conditions should not use BCAA injections:
Recommended dosing
1ml IM injection / 1 to 3 times weekly
