Being a mother is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life—I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It can also be exhausting, overwhelming, and, at times, thankless. There have been days when my energy felt completely drained, and it took me years to understand what was really going on and why it kept happening.

We get a lot of questions from people considering functional medicine. One of the most common questions we get is: Why don’t you take insurance?

In this post, we’ll break down why we don’t participate with insurance and how this choice ultimately benefits our patient’s health and healing journey, allowing us to keep doing what we do best!

Dr. Libby Weaver coined the term Rushing Woman’s Syndrome in her book of the same title to describe the modern, fast paced woman – constantly moving, constantly doing, constantly feeling like there’s never enough time. Read more to identify if you (or someone you know) is a Rushing Woman, and what to do about it.

Stress is unavoidable. In small doses, it’s beneficial, helping us adapt, grow, and build resilience. But in today’s world, stress isn’t just an occasional challenge – it’s a near-constant state. 

But stress, left unchecked, doesn’t just exist in our minds. It lives in our bodies. And if we don’t pay attention, our bodies force us to pay attention.

Self-care isn’t just about taking a break or indulging in a spa day (though if that’s your thing, go for it!). It’s about fueling ourselves to meet life’s demands with clarity, strength, and joy on a regular basis! How can we chase big goals if our energy is inconsistent and our health is sidelined? Learn more about true self-care and how it boosts productivity & vitality.

For years, I’ve been curious about trying a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Not because I’m diabetic, but because I wanted to better understand my body and how food, exercise, and daily habits affect my blood sugar.

In this post, I’ll break down what a CGM is, how it works, and the surprising benefits of using one as a non-diabetic. Plus, I’ll share my personal experience and tips for choosing the right CGM for you.

High–protein diets have long been recommended for athletes and those trying to build muscle, but more recently, we’ve more widely recognized that protein plays a vital role in our overall health and longevity, especially as we age.

In recent years, gut health has taken center stage in health discussions. Not that long ago antibiotics were often deemed harmless, with little concern for their broader effects on our bodies.

We are beginning to understand the hidden cost—how antibiotics can disrupt our microbiome and affect our overall health. While antibiotics definitely serve a powerful role in treating infections, their use can significantly alter our gut’s delicate balance.

In my house, fall represents the return of schedules, planning, and productivity. So, I have the house to myself again for most of the workday. This also means I’m shifting from the unstructured, relaxed vibes of summer to following a regular schedule, building a solid routine, and focusing on my goals.

But if I’m not careful, the routine I will create may not support my health goals. So spending some time being intentional about what I want to build in really helps. 

By definition, menopause is the absence of a period for 12 months or more. For anyone nearing menopause, you know it’s not as simple as it sounds. Perimenopause can begin in our 30s, and with it comes a whole host of symptoms. As our ovaries stop producing estrogen and natural hormone levels decline, the symptoms start to present themselves.

The transition can last up to 10 years, leaving much of our midlife impacted by these changes. The average age of menopause is 51, but the process is unique for everyone. 

Weight loss is a common concern for many of us, especially as we age. Our bodies change, hormones shift, and muscle mass decreases, making it harder to shed those extra pounds. With the increasing availability of products like Ozempic, Wegovy, and others, weight loss has become an even hotter topic. However, many people still struggle with stubborn weight gain, finding it more frustrating than ever.

Even with healthy eating habits, they’re gaining weight instead of losing it!

Many of us have jobs requiring us to live a rather sedentary lifestyle, attached to our computers, with little time outdoors. Yet tons of scientific evidence shows a connection to nature (even just a houseplant) has incredible effects on our health!

We are going to discuss the benefits of maintaining a connection with nature, what a nature deficit is, and how we can strengthen our connection with nature.

Receiving a new diagnosis is overwhelming. On the one hand, we may experience relief because we have finally found the “answer”. Yet on the other hand, there can be so much sadness and anxiety around a new diagnosis.

While medication may be helpful, there is always something more that you can do as well. We will explore your options and how to navigate a new diagnosis.

Have you ever gone to the doctor feeling “off” in some way, only to receive “normal” lab results and be sent on your way? Maybe it’s unexplained weight gain, chronic fatigue, or recurring skin problems. You’re sure something must be wrong! 

But instead of receiving answers, you’re rushed through the 10-minute appointment with some generic suggestions like “eat healthy”, “exercise more”, or simply “keep up the good work!”. 

When you put something in your mouth, are you thinking about how it gets from point A to point B? 

Today, we'll explore the journey of food from the top down, aiming to understand each digestive organ and its vital role. The main goal of digestion: Breaking down large, insoluble food molecules into smaller, water-soluble ones for absorption into the bloodstream and eventual energy production. In other words, turning food into energy. 

Let’s talk hormones - those tiny chemical messengers that have such a huge impact on how we feel. Small but mighty, our hormones are like a complicated mystery to unpack, especially for women. 

For women of reproductive years, our hormone levels fluctuate daily. They are influenced by a whole host of factors (more on that to come) and have a big impact on how we feel. When there’s an issue with our hormones, the downstream effects can be significant. 

Do you ever feel like you’re on a hamster wheel, and to keep up, you have to go so fast that there’s no chance to slow down and think? You just have to keep going or you will fall flat on your face.

This could mean you’re stuck in survival mode. Today we’re covering the Cortisol test and what it means for our overall health.

This year, let's aim to avoid the frantic gobbling and instead, take a more mindful approach. You deserve to experience gratitude, and peace, and enjoy quality time with your loved ones. To help you achieve this, here are some tips to have a more mindful Thanksgiving and holiday season…

Let’s face it, every single day we are exposed to germs. There is no getting around that and that is how things are supposed to be. These small exposures help to strengthen our immune system to be ready for bigger things. Can we find a way to co-exist with these bugs without getting sick? That’s the goal.

Embarking on the path of functional medicine has been a transformative journey. It’s been a journey that has not only changed the course of my career but also had a profound impact on my own well-being. Join me as I recount the pivotal moments that led me from a conventional family medicine practice to the world of functional medicine—a shift that has filled my life with meaning and purpose.