Not Enough People are Talking About This...

This could change everything 🔥

Not enough healthcare practitioners talk about the benefits of brain health (or do anything to support their patients in this area!).

Just remember it’s up to your brain to trigger hormone cascades that influence energy, sleep, and stress.

There are also areas of your brain that control hunger cues, metabolism, and digestion.

When it comes to health and healing, it’s almost never enough to only address the outward issues.

We have to look deeper to see how everything is connected.

Ready to prioritize your BRAIN HEALTH? 🔗 Follow the link in our bio to get started! 🧠

Feel Like Your Metabolism is Broken? Open Up!

👋 Pause the scroll and take a minute with me here if you are trying to get answers to what you feel like is a broken metabolism!

While a lot of factors play into metabolic health, research shows that one important factor is GUT health.

Here’s how:

1️⃣ Energy Absorption

Gut microbes produce short-chain fatty acids (SFCAs), which are generally beneficial but when produced in excess can provide extra energy (like calories) absorbed from the gut.

2️⃣ Appetite

Gut microbes regulate gut hormone levels, like peptide YY and GLP-1, which communicate with the brain and affect appetite and fullness.

3️⃣ Fat Storage

Some gut microbes increase the absorption of glucose (sugar) from the intestines and promote fat deposition in the liver.

4️⃣ Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of metabolic dysfunction and can be driven by inflammation in the gut.

You don’t actually have to know all of this to heal (that’s my job). Point is—when we heal the gut, it makes it easier to heal the metabolism too.

Follow along to learn more about how gut health impacts your body!

Reference

Liu BN, Liu XT, Liang ZH, Wang JH. Gut microbiota in obesity. World J Gastroenterol. 2021;27(25):3837-3850. [link]

Food Sensitivities: Then What?!?

💥 Let’s figure out why!

If you’re dealing with food sensitivities, this post is for you.

Did you know there might be fixable issues that are driving food sensitivities or making them worse?

That’s right:

Research 📚 has linked food sensitivities to changes in:

👉 Gut Microbiome

👉 Intestinal Permeability (“Leaky Gut”)

👉 Gut inflammation

So…

Gut support makes a lot of sense.

Keep following along if you want to learn more about how I can help with a root-cause approach to health 🙌

References

Caminero A, Meisel M, Jabri B, Verdu EF. Mechanisms by which gut microorganisms influence food sensitivities. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;16(1):7-18. [link]

Ohtsuka Y. Food intolerance and mucosal inflammation. Pediatr Int. 2015;57(1):22-29. [link]

Ventura MT, Polimeno L, Amoruso AC, et al. Intestinal permeability in patients with adverse reactions to food. Dig Liver Dis. 2006;38(10):732-736. [link]

3 Must-Have Supplements for Energy 💊💊

✨Top 3 Supplements to Optimize Energy ✨

When clients come to me feeling tired and fatigued, I never just give a supplement and call it done. ⭐Be sure to read my recent post on getting to the root cause⭐

But it’s such a common question I get from people who want more energy and clarity throughout the day that I thought I’d share some of my favorite supplements:

1️⃣ CoQ10

Coenzyme Q10 is required for energy production at the cellular level. Some of the foods highest in CoQ10 are organ meats and fatty fish, so supplements might be helpful if you don’t eat these foods.

2️⃣ Reishi

Reishi and other medicinal mushrooms are adaptogens, meaning they support the body’s energy production and resilience to stress. Reishi can be taken as pills or as a powder mixed into coffee or tea.

3️⃣ B Complex

Vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B12 are needed for many different enzyme systems to work—particularly those involved in energy metabolism.

Also remember—not all supplements are created equal! Some have fillers, additives, and artificial colors. Others use cheaper and lower quality forms. It’s best to purchase from manufacturers you know you can trust.

⚡ 5 Natural Energy Boosts ⚡

✨5 Anytime Energy Boosters✨

Caffeine and sugar are not the only ways to get a quick jolt of energy. Here are 5 BETTER ways to give yourself a natural pick-me-up:

1️⃣ Move

Movement is one of the best ways to get your circulation going and energy up! Walk around the block, do jumping jacks, or simply stand up for a few minutes and shake out your limbs.

2️⃣ Breathe

Your cells need oxygen to generate energy! Sometimes we hold our breath without even knowing it, so if you’re feeling drained, pause to take a few deep energizing breaths.

3️⃣ Cold Water Splash

If you have access to a sink (and are not wearing makeup), splashing cold water on your face can give you a quick burst of energy.

4️⃣ Hydrate

Your cells also need water to function at their best and generate energy. Being just 2% hydrated can impair your ability to concentrate and focus. Keep water on hand all day, and take some big gulps if starting to drag.

5️⃣ Eat a Snack

Blood sugar swings can be a big cause of fatigue. Rather than get to the point of craving a sweet snack, stay ahead of your energy by eating balanced, whole-food meals.

These may be “quick fix” energy boosts, but if you make them a part of your routine, you could start to feel calmer, happier, and more energized every day.

And remember—getting to the root cause of tiredness and fatigue can take some detective work. That’s what we do in functional medicine.

Reference

Adan A. Cognitive performance and dehydration. J Am Coll Nutr. 2012;31(2):71-78. [link]