The Lab Report

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...

Many functional and integrative clinicians practice medicine through the construct of finding the root cause of chronic complaints and disease management. What if there was a framework in place to help clinicians navigate a focus on health optimization? Dr. Scott Sherr has the answer. Along with Dr. Ted Achacoso, he founded Health Optimization Medicine and Practice (HOMe/HOPe), a non-profit educat...

Many clinicians who are new to functional medicine have a difficult time translating these concepts into their clinical practices. That transition from conventional to personalized medicine can feel overwhelming - but the Lifestyle Matrix Resource Center has the answers! Josiah Bartz oversees this company and is dedicated to helping healthcare professionals implement lifestyle-based therapies in t...

In functional medicine, we dig deeper to find the root cause of illness and strive to find personalized strategies to optimize health. However, sometimes even that falls short. Dr. Jade Teta has spent over 20 years treating patients, teaching, and writing about health and wellness. He blends biochemistry and philosophy in a way that inspires us to find our true purpose. In so doing, we can all lea...

The metabolic health crisis continues to grow. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this became even more obvious as it relates to patients’ poor outcomes and lack of resiliency. Dr. Taylor Sittler is the Head of Research at Levels Health, an industry leader in continuous glucose monitoring. His work at Levels aims to help people take control of their diet and lifestyle to improve metaboli...

Dr. Sheila Dean is one of the nation’s premier integrative nutritionists. She is a co-founder of the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy and has practiced functional medicine for two decades. Her insight has not only changed the lives of many patients, but her teaching and mentoring has inspired and empowered a new generation of nutrition specialists and health professionals. In tod...

Your smartphone weather app likely includes insight into the “Air Quality Index”. But what does it mean and why should you care? We don’t often stop to take into consideration the quality of the air we breathe. Environmental toxins are everywhere – food, water, soil, and yes, air. Not only can toxins in the air directly affect your lungs, but there are also long-term system...

Burning extra calories doesn’t have to mean hardcore exercise. Your body uses energy all day long just breathing, digesting food, toe-tapping, and standing. This basic movement is called ‘non-exercise activity thermogenesis’ and at the end of the day can add up to tremendous energy expenditure. But just how much? Can we maximize it for long-term weight management? Are we eating e...

We can all agree that chocolate is delicious. Is it possible that it’s also healthy for us? How many of us stop to consider that it comes from a tree? What is it about that tree and its seeds that can benefit our health? With all that sugar, is chocolate good or bad for us?   Today we discuss where chocolate comes from, the difference between white/dark/milk chocolate, and some int...

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 ket...

Dr. Jaclyn Chasse-Smeaton is an international teacher and lecturer who is considered a preeminent expert in integrative and functional medicine approaches to infertility. As a naturopathic physician, she has helped hundreds and hundreds of couples conceive- even in cases that seemed hopeless - through her private practice and mentorship programs. In today’s episode, Dr. Smeaton outlines her...

Dr. Pam Smith is one of the most revered teachers and mentors in integrative medicine. After years of practicing emergency medicine, then decades as an Anti-Aging/Metabolic Medicine specialist, Dr. Smith is a go-to resource for many new clinicians. She’s written several books on a variety of precision medicine topics though is widely known for her work in hormone balance and bioidentical hor...

Inflammation is your body’s way of protecting itself from infection, injury, or other insults. Chemical signaling molecules called ‘eicosanoids’ are responsible for creating pain, heat, swelling, and redness. Eicosanoids are made from fatty acids, or dietary fats. We’ve all heard of fish oil and omega-3s being important when it comes to lowering inflammation. But why? In to...

Dr. Christian Jenski is a conventionally trained emergency room physician who has made the huge leap to functional and precision medicine. Many of you will remember him from a prior episode where we discussed the clinical application of functional medicine testing and he offered his real-world examples and testimonials showcasing the power of root-cause medicine. Due to overwhelming feedback from...

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 on 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 ca...

Any clinician who enters the medical profession understands that a large part of the training is learning the lingo and essentially a new language. Even those who have been in practice for quite some time know that new fields of study emerge, and new terms can be borne out of that. Sometimes the medical jargon can get confusing even though what is being discussed is not new. In today’s episo...

We tend to lean on traditions during the holiday season. As they are handed down through the generations, their origins are often forgotten. Not only do traditions offer comfort and help to unify us, but many also have important health benefits. Today we have some fun with the origins of several holiday traditions and weave in their clinical significance. Make sure to stay tuned for a special Geno...

Cellular respiration is the process of converting our food into energy to fuel the body. It involves many biochemical reactions to create a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - our main energy source. When it comes to ATP production, many of us think about the Krebs Cycle not realizing it is only part of the story. The Electron Transport Chain bears the brunt of the work to keep our cell...

The pancreas is an organ that functions as a gland in the endocrine system by secreting hormones into circulation that help with regulating glucose. However, it also plays an integral role as part of the digestive tract by secreting enzymes to help digest our food. When the digestive functions of the pancreas start to decline what results is Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency or EPI. In addition to...

Thanksgiving is a time to be mindful and reflect on our many blessings. During the holiday, many of us enjoy dinner with family and friends without stopping to consider the nutritional aspects of traditional dishes. Today, we discuss the important biochemical and nutritional benefits of Thanksgiving dinner items. We also talk about dealing with the stress of the holidays and the many reasons we ar...

The one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when it comes to diet and nutrition. What works for some may not be right for all. Diet movements like intermittent fasting, the ketogenic diet, and veganism are becoming increasingly popular and widely adopted. Laura Ligos is a registered dietitian and nutritionist who created a platform called “The Sassy Dietitian” which gives people...