FAQs
Welcome to our FAQs page, your trusted resource for quick and clear answers to common questions related to our health services. We are dedicated to providing you with the best possible experience when it comes to your health and well-being. That’s why we have compiled a comprehensive list of FAQs to address your inquiries about our services, ensuring you have the information you need to make informed decisions about your health.
Whether you are a new visitor exploring our health services or a long-time patient seeking information, our FAQs are designed to offer straightforward solutions. If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for here, our compassionate and knowledgeable support team is ready to assist you personally. We are committed to making your healthcare journey as seamless as possible, and our FAQs page is just one way we are here to support you.
Blood Testing
Do I need to make an appointment with Dr. Williams to order blood tests?
No appointment needed. Order custom profiles or individual tests on your own.
Will Dr. Williams interpret my results?
No. Dr. Williams will not view or interpret results that you order on your own. Contact his office if you want to make an appointment to review your blood testing results or discuss a health concern.
Is it difficult to find a lab draw station?
Not at all. Your tests are performed by Quest Diagnostics, one of the largest medical reference laboratories in the US. Find the closed blood draw center and schedule an appointment online.
Are there other ways to get my blood drawn?
Yes. You can have a private phlebotomist come to your home or workplace to draw your blood and send it to Quest. Type Blood Draws At Home into your search engine and choose a service that works best for you.
Rejuvenate Your Thymus Gland
What is the thymus gland’s function?
The thymus gland makes and trains T-cells (the “T” stands for thymus). Before birth, the thymus gland is fully functional but atrophies afterward until it’s no longer helpful to the body. T cells help against cancer and viral infections and counter some allergies.
Is there a relationship between the thymus gland and longevity?
By age 50, tissue of the thymus gland is almost entirely gone, with only about 15 percent remaining, but T cells continue in the body. You might live longer and healthier if your thymus gland was vigorous when you were young and helped your body develop immunologically strong T cells. The shrunken thymus still produces some immune cells plus specialized hormones that may have a moderate role in longevity.
Can you make the thymus gland healthier?
As a middle-aged and older adult, you can support T cell function and keep your remaining thymus tissue from complete atrophy by taking zinc 15-30 mg daily. Fasting and calorie restriction helps slow thymic involution and retards aging. Besides thymosin, the thymus gland secrets other substances necessary for health and immunity that slow aging.
How can you stimulate the thymus gland?
You can’t realistically boost or stimulate an adult thymus gland to regenerate itself. You can support T cell immunity, however, indirectly benefitting your body’s ability to resist cancer and viral infections. I recommend spleen and thymus extract injections as the most efficient way to support immunity and slow aging. These are medical-grade products harvested from specially raised beef, pig, and/or sheep in Europe or Argentina. Oral thymus supplements have limited value but are available from organically-raised animals farmed in New Zealand or Argentina
Can the thymus gland grow back?
The thymus gland doesn’t grow back if it’s surgically removed. And it doesn’t restore itself to full functioning in adults. However, you can support T cell function with oral thymus extract.
What is the best thymus extract?
I use several forms of thymus extract to support T cells in my practice. These are my standard choices.
– T CELL FORMULA from Ecological Formulas
– THYMUS 300 mg from Priority One
– THYMUS (from sheep) Allergy Research
Gallbladder Flush
Can I safely do a gallbladder flush if I have large gallstones?
Most of the time, you can safely do a gallbladder flush. But you should not do a gallbladder flush if you have a large stone or many very small stones. Gall stones less than 5 mm can pass through the bile duct. Stones between 5-7 mm are moderate in size and should not be forced to pass with a gallbladder flush. You should not do a gallbladder flush if you have stones larger than 7 mm.
For comparison, some have gallstones up to 25 mm, like a golf ball. It’s only common sense not to force large gallstones to pass. An abdominal ultrasound is necessary to determine the size of your gallstones.
For comparison, some have gallstones up to 25 mm, like a golf ball. It’s only common sense not to force large gallstones to pass. An abdominal ultrasound is necessary to determine the size of your gallstones.
Can I shrink gallstones if they’re too large?
Yes, breaking up and shrinking gallstones is possible, but it takes time. You may need months, or even a year or longer, to reduce the size of a stone. Generic ursodiol USP (brand-name Actigall) is a prescription drug that helps dissolve cholesterol gallstones. Natural ways to shrink stones include apple cider vinegar. However, many of my patients have tried this approach but without success. But there are other health benefits to daily ingesting small amounts of apple cider vinegar, but don’t count on it for shrinking gallstones.
Another natural remedy for gallstones is d-limonene found in lemon peel essential oils. It also has breast cancer preventive effects. The traditional Chinese herbal formula Li Dan Pian helps reduce gallbladder inflammation. My advice is not to rush into a gallbladder flush. Take a few months to improve gallbladder health. Drink water with lemon peel. Improve your liver health. And get an ultrasound so you know the size and how many gallstones you have.
Another natural remedy for gallstones is d-limonene found in lemon peel essential oils. It also has breast cancer preventive effects. The traditional Chinese herbal formula Li Dan Pian helps reduce gallbladder inflammation. My advice is not to rush into a gallbladder flush. Take a few months to improve gallbladder health. Drink water with lemon peel. Improve your liver health. And get an ultrasound so you know the size and how many gallstones you have.
Are gallstones more common in women?
Women are three times more likely to develop gallstones than men. In the general population, 10-15% develop gallstones. And 20% of women form gallstones by 60 years of age. The risk of developing stones increases with multiple pregnancies, being overweight, and due to rapid weight loss. The reason women are more affected by gallstones lies in hormone differences. Cholesterol makes up about 80% of a gallstone’s composition.
Estrogen alters bile acid composition by increasing the amount of cholesterol relative to bile in the gallbladder. Estrogen replacement therapy during menopause also increases the risk of gallstones.
Estrogen alters bile acid composition by increasing the amount of cholesterol relative to bile in the gallbladder. Estrogen replacement therapy during menopause also increases the risk of gallstones.
Functional Medicine
What Is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is a personalized approach to diagnosing and treating disease utilizing diet, exercise, lifestyle, and nutritional supplements as the main treatments. Functional medicine is also called evidence-based natural healthcare and root cause healthcare.
Does functional medicine use blood testing?
Functional medicine uses the same blood tests as conventional doctors order, and also tests for heavy metals like mercury and checks for chronic infections like Lyme disease and Epstein Barr Virus. Functional medicine doctors may also assess gut microbiome biodiversity and your body’s immune function status.
Is functional medicine useful for healthy aging?
Chronic diseases add up during aging. Older people have trouble metabolizing drugs, so they build up adverse effects besides having more prescriptions. Functional medicine minimizes chemical drugs and promotes robust aging with diet, exercise, and supplements.
Is functional medicine effective?
Yes. Functional medicine is very effective in the hands of a skilled, well-trained, and experienced practitioner.
Can you do functional medicine healthcare on your own?
You can do many of the basics independently, like daily exercise, getting restorative sleep, eating a healthy diet, and taking a foundational supplement stack.
Vitamin B12
Is too much B12 toxic?
In the short term, no. But it’s possible low-grade toxicity could develop over time.
Can you get too much vitamin B12?
Yes, your B12 levels can go too high when using high-efficiency forms of B12.
Is B12 testing necessary?
Absolutely. You need to know that what you’re taking orally or by injection is working, and if you’re getting too much.
Hashimoto’s Disease
Is there a root cause for Hashimoto’s?
There’s no single cause for Hashimoto’s. However, radiation exposure from X-rays, excess environmental levels, and too much iodine are known causes —and all increase inflammation. But if there was a cause for Hashimoto’s, it is likely due to chronic inflammation triggering autoimmunity attacking the thyroid gland.
Does Hashimoto’s originate in the gut?
Improving your gut microbiome will benefit your overall health, but Hashimoto’s and the intestinal microenvironment have no known direct link. However, removing inflammatory and highly allergic foods like gluten can help you better manage Hashimoto’s symptoms. And low thyroid function, like with Hashimoto’s, decreases gut motility increasing your chance of being constipated. This viscous gut-thyroid cycle requires careful dietary management, drinking enough water, supporting your gut with enough fiber, and taking probiotic supplements.
How do I know for sure if I have Hashimoto’s?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder. Your immune system is malfunctioning due to various causes, including stress, environmental triggers, or a stealth viral infection. Its symptoms are like hypothyroidism with profound fatigue, hard to get going in the morning, easy to gain weight and hard to lose weight, constipation, and thinning hair. Hashimoto’s has become more common, so if you have the main symptoms, get a comprehensive blood test to screen for hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxin (T4) and free T4, total liothyronine (T3) and free T3, Thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (Toba), thyroid receptor autoantibodies (Traub), and thyroglobulin autoantibodies (Tag). This battery of tests will define the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s and differentiate it from Grave’s disease. For primary screening, I order TSH, free T3, free T4, and TPOAb.
How to test for Hashimoto’s
A profile of blood tests and an ultrasound scan of your thyroid gland is the only sure way to know if you have Hashimoto’s.
Is there a Hashimoto’s disease blood test?
There is not a single one-time Hashimoto’s disease test. A profile of blood test and an ultrasound scan of your thyroid gland is the only sure way to know if you have Hashimoto’s.
Taurine
Is taurine an essential nutrient?
Technically, taurine is not an essential amino acid but is considered conditional, i.e., necessary, for health. Humans synthesize taurine from the amino acids cysteine and methionine found in meat and seafood. Vegetarian and vegan diets are deficient in taurine and cysteine. Limiting food intake, as in weight loss diets, may also result in low taurine.
What is the daily requirement for taurine?
There’s no recommended daily allowance. You must eat a minimum of taurine-containing foods daily to maintain your tissue level of taurine. The foods highest in taurine include shellfish, tuna, tilapia, turkey, chicken, and beef. Seaweed has some taurine. You can get enough taurine from a balanced diet that includes these foods. The typical American diet provides 123–178 mg of taurine daily. A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet — which includes both dairy products and eggs — provides only around 17 mg of taurine daily. A vegan diet has almost no taurine.
How do I know if I’m taurine deficient?
Test for taurine and other amino acids in the plasma by a blood test. Quest Diagnostics offers a comprehensive plasma amino acid analysis—order tests without a doctor’s prescription. You don’t have to be deficient in taurine to benefit from adding it to your supplement plan.
Can you take too much taurine?
Taurine is safe. The FDA has not classified taurine as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) but agrees with independent studies of its safety. You need high dosages of up to 4,000 mg daily for optimal health. There are no side effects at this amount. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stated in its 2012 guidelines that 6,000 mg daily is safe.
Does taurine help chronic fatigue?
ME/CFS is a complex condition characterized by unrelenting fatigue. Fatigue is also common in post-viral conditions like Long COVID. You need extra taurine if you have ME/CFS or Long COVID.
Can taurine improve mitochondrial function?
Taurine helps intracellular calcium homeostasis to improve energy production. Taurine supplementation supports mitochondria health.
Does taurine help metabolic syndrome?
Those with metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes benefit from taking taurine. It helps lower triglycerides and improves insulin resistance.
How much taurine do I need?
Take 500-1000 mg daily to support wellness. All vegans and vegetarians should take a taurine supplement. Treating chronic fatigue, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and chronic cardiovascular disease requires doses of up to 4,000 mg daily. Use professional-grade taurine supplements.
Can you take taurine on an empty stomach?
Yes. Absorption is better on an empty stomach. But since taurine is a nutrient occurring in foods, I recommend taking it with meals.
When is the best time to take Taurine?
Take taurine two or three times a day. A healthy daily amount is 3000 mg; that’s 1000 mg three times a day. A safe upper limit is 6000 mg per day.
Can I use taurine for weight loss?
Taurine helps improve metabolism, helps manage type II diabetes, and can assist in weight loss.
Which is the best way to take Taurine?
Some like to mix taurine powder in energy smoothies, but it has a bitter taste, so I recommend taking capsules. Taurine foods? (feel free to change this question, those two words should go together in that order) Since taurine is found in meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products, vegetarians and vegans may develop taurine deficiency. However, your body makes some of its own taurine.
How long does taurine stay in your system?
Taurine is easily absorbed over 1-2 hours after ingestion. After 4 hours, only about 50% of taurine remains, which is why is better to take it in divided doses about 4-5 hours apart. Taurine is used in energy drinks, but it does so much more for the body. Taurine is a safe supplement with no known interactions with foods.