Our family and the social/cultural environment in which we grew up have impacted all of us. Lots of beliefs were instilled in our young minds that we tend to carry for many years into our adulthood. Some examples are:Heart disease runs in our familyAll of the children in our family struggled in schoolYou aren’t smart …
I think all of us can understand when something is leaking and it shouldn’t be. Leaky gut is also called increased intestinal permeability.Our intestinal system is supposed to absorb nutrients from the foods we eat. If we are consuming foods that are inflammatory, they can cause a break in the normal defense of the cells …
Is this a new idea or can we go back in time to Willoughby Wade, a British physician, who coined the term “Functional Medicine”. In an article published in The Lancet on July 1, 1871, he says, “What is disease? The conclusion is that all disease is disordered function. Here, then, I say, is the …
Early in my medical career I realized that some people got well and others didn’t. The same situation but different outcomes depending on the person’s belief system. I then began noticing my own belief system, my thoughts, and the impact they had on the patients I served. I have always been a pretty positive, optimistic …
That may seem like a silly question, but the truth is that many of us are not adequately digesting proteins, fats and carbohydrates.What are some of the symptoms of maldigestion?Bloating after eatingIndigestionGreasy, foul-smelling stoolsDiarrhea after eatingHeart burnA sense of fullness after eatingExcessive belching immediately after eatingMultiple food allergies/or sensitivitiesUndigested food in stool What are some …
Principles are fundamental truths upon which a system of belief operates. Principles are not just guessing, but are based on reproducible guidelines.Functional Medicine is guided by six core principles:Biochemical Individuality: Each human being is unique at every level of being and that includes physically, mentally, emotionally and spirituallyPatient-centered rather than a disease-centered approach to treatmentSearch …
We are all affected by the stresses in life. Stress is a threat to the homeostasis in our body. The threat can be either real or perceived. And it is our response to these life stressors that impact our physiology.Excessive stress results in alterations in brain-gut interactions (“brain-gut axis”) that can lead to many GI …
Most of the people who come to our clinic for help actually have an underlying cause of their symptoms that starts in the gut. Healthy function of your gastrointestinal system is vital to improving your health.A healthy microbiome (gut bacteria) helps you digest your food, protects you from infections and keeps your immune system regulated …
Your adrenal glands secret hormones that are necessary for life. Cortisol, which is extremely important for keeping our body systems in balance, is one of these hormones. The functions of cortisol:controls the immune system and plays a role in preventing infectionsmaintains normal blood sugarregulates blood pressurea reliable indicator of the amount of stress in your …
As a practicing functional medicine physician, I always start with the basics: food. If you are suffering from: digestive issues – bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux chronic pain fatigue joint and muscle aches and pain chronic sinus congestion generally “not feeling well” An elimination of certain foods from your diet can help you begin …
Healing Unleashed