Stress Affecting Your Health?

Most doctors don’t ask about stress.

Because they don’t have any way to “treat” it.

While we also don’t “treat” stress as a disease, we have a deep functional medicine toolkit to help your body become more resilient to stress.

If you suspect stress might be affecting your health—but aren’t sure where to start—here are some questions you could ask your practitioner👇

(Hint: you’ll get more helpful answers from a holistically minded practitioner 😉)

1️⃣ Do I need stress hormone testing?

Stress can disrupt cortisol and DHEA, leaving you feeling wired but tired, exhausted, or constantly on edge. Testing these hormones can show if you need extra support.

2️⃣ Could stress be affecting my gut?

The gut-brain connection is a two-way street. Stress can disrupt digestion, and poor gut health can make you less resilient to stress. Functional testing can uncover whether your gut needs targeted support.

3️⃣ What nutrients do I need when I’m stressed?

Stress burns through key nutrients like magnesium, B vitamins, and vitamin C, which can lead to brain fog, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. A practitioner trained in nutrition can help you figure out what your body needs.

4️⃣ Could stress be affecting my hormones?

Stress hormones interact with other hormonal systems and can worsen issues like PMS, cycle changes, mood swings, and blood sugar swings. A practitioner trained in functional medicine can help make sense of the bigger picture.

The point is:

Stress is not an isolated experience.

It affects your whole body.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive approach that looks at the WHOLE person, that’s what we do.

Schedule your first visit with Dr. Cantrell to begin your journey to wellness! 🌿

Myths You May Have Heard About Stress

Myths & Facts about Stress 👇

📍Myth 1: You just have to shift your mindset.

Stress is not just in your head—it’s in your body and nervous system. While mindset shifts can help, they will only stick if your body feels safe. Stress resilience comes with nourishing foods, breathwork, movement, and deep rest.

📍Myth 2: Intense exercise helps burn off stress.

Movement is amazing for releasing stress—just don’t overdo it. Intense workouts can worsen exhaustion from stress, especially if you’re already running on empty.

📍Myth 3: Coffee helps you power through stress.

Not everyone handles caffeine the same way. Too much can overstimulate your stress response and lead to burnout. If you’re relying on coffee to push through exhaustion, your body may be asking for real rest instead.

📍Myth 4: If you’re not anxious, you’re not stressed.

Stress can show up in all kinds of sneaky ways: things like low energy, brain fog, trouble concentrating, headaches, or digestive upset. Your mind is not necessarily the first place you’ll feel it.

📍Myth 5: Stress is always bad.

Stress is never fun, but it can be a driving force for personal growth and a motivation to take action on things you may otherwise ignore. Stressing that stress is bad will only make it worse.

🤔 Did you know that April is Stress Awareness Month?

Watch my posts for more on ways functional medicine can address stress.

And let me know in the comments:

Which of these myths have you been sucked into? ⤵️

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🫚💛 Golden Milk Recipe 💛🫚

It’s National Nutrition Month, and I’m going deep into the benefits of whole-food nutrition and phytonutrients.

One of the most overlooked health foods? SPICES.

Spices are highly concentrated in antioxidants and phytonutrients that support everything from a healthy inflammatory response to immune function, energy, and mood.

Golden milk is a delicious way to warm up while getting the unique benefits of these healing spices.

It’s simple to make and easy to customize:

1️⃣ Warm 1 cup of milk (or your favorite milk alternative) in a saucepan over low heat.

2️⃣ Stir in 1 teaspoon of honey, maple syrup, or your preferred sweetener (optional) and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

3️⃣ Add your choice of warming spices: cinnamon (½ tsp), ginger (¼ tsp), turmeric (¼ tsp), and/or cayenne pepper (dash).

4️⃣ Whisk everything together until smooth and steamy, then pour into your favorite mug.

You’ll get a concentrated dose of phytonutrients from spices that support healthy circulation and quell inflammation.

Have you tried golden milk before?

Let me know your favorite add-ins or variations in the comments ⤵️

#elementsnatmed #drelizabethcantrell #drelizabethcantrellnd #naturopath #naturopathic #naturalmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #functionalmedicine #foodismedicine #foodasmedicine #antioxidants #antiinflammatory #colga #columbusga

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!

#elementsnatmed #hearthealth #heartfactsforwomen #cardiachealth #heartmonth #colga #naturalmedicine