The Lab Report

As technology evolves, so too does our understanding of the gut microbiome. Until now, we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. Metagenomics offers us the ability to assess the complete microbiome as well as its potential function. This is the technology that powers Genova’s new Microbiomix stool profile and we’ve partnered with Microba Life Sciences – a world leader in microbiome metagenomic analy...

If you’ve never heard Dr. Jill Carnahan tell her personal story, you’re about to hear an inspiring and powerful episode. In the face of recurrent and unexpected illness, Dr. Jill never gave up. She continues to find resilience through functional medicine, science, and faith. With that, Dr. Jill uses all of the knowledge and wisdom she’s gained along the way to help patients all over the world.   I...

The Thanksgiving holiday is more than just family, friends, food, and football. It is an opportunity to be reminded of the importance of gratitude. Although being thankful seems like just a nice moral platitude, gratitude interventions are shown to have surprisingly important clinical implications for our health.   On today’s episode, we talk Thanksgiving ‘fun facts,’ gratitude interventions, and...

Esther Blum is the industry expert when it comes to empowering women during the menopausal transition and beyond. As an integrative dietician, she’s helped thousands of women master menopause through nutrition, hormones, lifestyle, and self-advocacy. Her approach works and her client results speak for themselves. In today’s episode, Esther Blum offers her “Meno-Laws” - practical tips for peri- and...

As a colorectal surgeon, Dr. Brian Jerby has spent years dealing with the end-stages of GI diseases such as Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. He now focuses on getting to the root causes for preventing surgical intervention and mitigating long-term medication use. As a functional medicine certified practitioner, Dr. Jerby employs personalized tools to treat these patients such as nutrition,...

In functional and precision medicine, we know the importance of a healthy microbiome as it relates to overall health and wellness. Translating this into clinical practice is an art. Rachel Martin, a functional medicine nurse practitioner, specializes in gut health but through a different lens. Her approach to teaching and healing offers a fresh perspective with profound ramifications. What if we f...

Our bodies contain an inner clock that helps to regulate hormones and biochemistry. This clock is referred to as the circadian rhythm. The fine timing of this biological rhythm requires signaling from light. With the change in seasons, many of us feel the systemic effects of less daylight in various ways, one of which is altered mood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that...

With the advent of the Human Microbiome Project and advancing technologies in whole-genome sequencing, the critical role of the gastrointestinal microbiome becomes clearer and clearer. We know the microbiome helps extract nutrients from the diet, creates important systemic metabolites, communicates with our skin and brain, and so much more. That being said, one such bacteria continues to stand out...

Bacteria are everywhere in the environment. Although we understand there is a delicate balance of bacteria in our bodies which keep us healthy, many don’t grasp the complexity of how bacterial populations interact, adapt, and survive. They form structures called ‘biofilms’ which have become a hot topic in functional medicine as it relates to treating resistant or recurrent infections. In today’s e...

If you’ve seen the Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma,” you’ll recognize today’s guest. Dr. Anna Lembke is an addiction specialist from Stanford University, a New York Times best-selling author, and was featured on that Netflix special. Addiction takes many forms – not only alcohol and illicit drugs, but also social media, exercise, shopping, and workaholism. But, where’s the line between hab...

The commensal bacteria in the gut microbiome are responsible for so many important functions. Their influence is far-reaching as it relates to overall health. Research shows us that the more diverse that community of bacteria is, the more beneficial it is to systemic health. But what does diversity mean and how do we measure it? There are many calculations used when it comes to diversity of the mi...

In the evolving landscape of microbiome research, we are beginning to see that our gut microbiome has more control over our health than we ever knew. Genova’s Microbiomix profile uses the newest technology of whole genome sequencing which adds another layer of understanding. We now see that the microbiome is one of our most important health indicators. We know that commensal bacteria produce many...

The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating metabolism and is sometimes referred to as the ‘thermostat’ of our bodies. Even minor abnormalities in thyroid function can have far-reaching effects for every organ system. Thyroid diseases are prevalent worldwide and thyroid hormone replacement therapy is common. But many don’t realize that there are basic dietary nutrients that can have a huge imp...

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) has become a hot topic in functional medicine. Mast cells are an integral part of the body’s immune system. They can be found in areas of exposure such as mucosal membranes, the lining of the GI tract, skin, and airways. Mast cells are responsible for storing important chemical mediators like histamine and others which help to instigate allergic responses. Mast...

Dr. Dominic D’Agostino is a well-known leading researcher who studies nutritional strategies and metabolic-based therapies in neurological disorders, seizures, cancer, and metabolic wellness. He also happens to be a preeminent voice and proponent of the ketogenic diet. Ketosis is your body’s ability to burn fat for fuel when carbohydrates are not readily available – producing ketones. No longer th...

Taylor Dukes is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with a very unique voice in functional medicine. Her practice is comprised of so many different kinds of patients. She specializes in family medicine, fertility, peri- and postnatal care, but also treats many high-performance athletes and celebrities. One of Taylor’s many passions is the role of the microbiome in systemic health – which a...

If there’s one thing we’ve all come to appreciate during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the importance of a healthy immune system. The immune system is a complex network of various cells, proteins, and organs that work together to help your body recognize and mitigate potential invaders, as well as recognize and protect itself. Metabolic health, proper nutrition, a healthy microbiome, and intact gut...

Summer brings tons of outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and backyard barbeques. It also brings bugs and insects. Likely you’ve encountered your fair share of bug bites, but one bite you don’t want to ignore is a tick bite! Because ticks are visually easy to miss, tick bites can go unnoticed too. Ticks can transmit organisms into your systemic circulation resulting in acute and chronic sympt...

Many of us start the day with a hot cup of coffee. It’s not only a delicious beverage, but coffee is also part of our collective social fabric. Some drink it mainly for the caffeine and stimulating effect without realizing some of the important health benefits to coffee. However, like all things, moderation is the key. Too much caffeine leaves many people feeling jittery and anxious and at times,...

Of all the herbal and homeopathic natural therapies available, Arnica has become the most recognized in popular culture and the conventional medicine landscape. Many swear by its ability to reduce swelling, bruising, and inflammation. It can be found in over-the-counter gels, creams, and sometimes tinctures. Literature and outcome studies using Arnica cream are sparse, yet anecdotally there have b...

In general, we often think about the commensal bacteria as being beneficial to your health. Did you know that the bacteria in the gut microbiome can also contribute to systemic inflammation and disease? There is molecule called lipopolysaccharide (LPS) within the outer membrane of all gram-negative bacteria. LPS can be readily taken up into circulation where it acts as an inflammatory trigger (end...

Many patients are not able to tolerate milk and dairy products due to GI symptoms such as bloating or diarrhea. In functional medicine, an elimination diet or food antibody testing can help uncover if the casein in cow’s milk might be at the root of these symptoms. Patients often turn to milk alternatives such as plant and nut ‘milk’ to avoid the difficulties with cow’s mil...

Foods come in and out of favor all the time. Eggs are good for you… no wait, they are bad… nope, good again – let’s not even discuss butter! There are many disease correlations related to specific foods and literature continues to evolve. One such focus is on red meat and its correlation to cardiovascular disease.  But why? Is all red meat bad? Can you eat red meat a...

Many clinicians in functional medicine advocate diet and lifestyle‐first approaches to optimizing health. Though in spite of best efforts there is often still a need for nutraceutical supplements - and targeted supplementation can be a game-changer in some cases. However, the issue of compliance and ‘pill fatigue' becomes a real challenge when patients are overwhelmed with 5-10 supplements a...

Dr. Kyle Gillett has a unique approach to patient care using his six pillars of health: exercise, diet, sleep, stress, sunshine, and spirit. His expertise and teaching style are highly regarded in the integrative and functional medicine industry.  Dr. Gillet continues to make a name for himself in national media by forwarding the concepts of personalized medicine. Although he is an expert in...