How to Tackle Inflammation

Want to lower your cardiovascular risk?

Start by tackling inflammation.

Because even though we all hear a lot about managing blood pressure and cholesterol, in functional medicine we dig deeper for the root cause.

One of those potential causes is often a low-grade and chronic inflammation—also known as “inflamm-aging.”

🩺 Research shows that this type of inflammation can trigger the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which are responsible for heart attacks and strokes.

Aside from increased blood pressure, some other signs of chronic inflammation can be:

💥 Joint stiffness

💥 Muscle aches

💥 Skin rashes

💥 Autoimmunity

💥 Brain fog

💥 Anxiety or depression

I don’t recommend self-diagnosis (what you actually have is probably a lot less scary than what you think!).

The best way to address your health and root-causes that might put you at risk for a heart attack, stroke, or other chronic disease is to work with a qualified practitioner.

When we work with our clients, we create individualized protocols to:

✔️ Optimize your diet with anti-inflammatory foods like colorful fruits, veggies, and healthy fats

✔️ Find enjoyable daily movement

✔️ Customize supplements to save money and maximize impact

✔️ Relieve stress in ways that work best for you

✔️ Address specific risks based on your history, conditions, and labs

If any of this is resonating with you, comment “next steps!” and we’ll send you info on getting started with our practice.

❤️ You’ve got this—and we’re here to support you in optimizing your health every step of the way.

3 Nutrients Your Heart Will L🩷VE!

You’ve heard about fiber and omega-3s, but what about these hidden gems for your heart?

🩷 Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 acts like a traffic controller for calcium. It helps direct calcium to where it belongs—your bones—reducing the risk of arterial calcification.. Food sources: Fermented foods (especially natto), hard cheeses, and egg yolks.

🩷 Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Your heart works 24/7, and CoQ10 is essential for keeping it energized. It powers your heart cells and protects them from oxidative damage. It’s especially important for anyone taking statins, as these medications can lower CoQ10 levels. Food sources: Fatty fish and organ meats.

🩷 Magnesium

Known as “the great relaxer,” magnesium supports heart health by relaxing blood vessels and maintaining healthy blood pressure. Food sources: Leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate.

While you can get these nutrients from food, supplements can sometimes fill in the gaps. But supplements aren’t one-size-fits-all—they can interact with medications or other nutrients. That’s why working with a qualified practitioner is so important.

Curious about working with us to optimize your nutrition and supplements?

We look at your unique health history, risk factors, and lab results to create a supplement protocol tailored just for you.

Visit our website to schedule your initial visit with Dr. Cantrell! Let's get started!

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Your Nervous system is BEGGING for these nutrients!

A regulated nervous system is essential for sleep, mood, hormones, metabolism, gut health, and more.

But your nervous system cannot stay regulated without nutrition—and especially these 3 key nutrients:

1️⃣Magnesium

Magnesium is a cofactor needed to synthesize several neurotransmitters, including serotonin and GABA. It also has a calming effect on the nerves and muscles throughout the body. Good food sources are leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and chocolate!

2️⃣B Vitamins

Vitamin B6 supports production of serotonin, and vitamin B12 is needed to support the protective covering around nerve cells. Other B vitamins participate in energy metabolism, providing essential energy for nerve cells. Good food sources are animal products and fortified foods.

3️⃣Choline

Choline is a building block for acetylcholine—the primary chemical messenger of the parasympathetic nervous system. The most common food source of choline is egg yolks. Liver is another excellent source!

Think about the foods you eat on a daily basis, and check your supplements to see if you are fueling your nervous system.

As always, if you want more support, visit our website to schedule an appointment! 🌱

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Wired but Tired?

Ever get to the end of the day and just crash?

Or maybe you feel “wired but tired”—as if your nervous system is ramped up and yet you have nothing left to give.

The problem *might* be that you aren’t giving your nervous system any chance to rest and reset throughout the day.

I get it!

Society expects us to be going non-stop.

It’s just that our bodies (and especially our nervous systems) were not built for that.

One of the best ways to support nervous system regulation is to build in periods of intentional rest to your day.

This can look different for different people.

You might:

✨ get up from your desk every hour to stretch

✨ set reminders to close your eyes for two minutes and breathe

✨ allow 5 extra minutes on your lunch break to sit in your car and listen to music

The point is to schedule rest breaks into your day.

These breaks act like a reset button for your nervous system so that you won’t feel so fried at the end of the day.

Have you tried this? What’s your experience?

Nervous System Resilience

📣 This is important. 📣

Your nervous system is constantly responding to inputs.

Sometimes those inputs are regulating—like listening to calming music or going for a walk in nature.

Sometimes those inputs are dysregulating—like being yelled at or seeing fear-based news in your feed.

There are really 2 ways to go about regulating your nervous system:

1️⃣ One way is in the moment: When you notice you are triggered, take a moment to step away and take some deep breaths.

2️⃣ The other way is daily practice: Make it part of your routine to send signals of safety to your nervous system.

Some practices you could choose to do are:

✨ Deep breathing (this is one of the best ways to activate the vagus nerve and reset the nervous system)

✨ Mindful movement (you can shake, stretch, dance, or do anything that releases tension from the body)

✨ Intentional rest (meaning rest on purpose—not only when you’re completely exhausted)

If you commit to just ONE of these things and make it part of your routine, I promise that your nervous system will thank you.

Make sure you're following us to learn more about regulating your nervous system!

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