As the days grow shorter and the chill of late fall sets in, adjusting our daily routines can make a world of difference for both energy and mood.

Here are three tips to stay energized, active, and nourished during this time of year.

You don’t have to follow a strict cleanse to support detoxification in your body.

Everyday detoxification can benefit anyone for sustained health. The steps may seem simple, but when combined, they can have a powerful effect on overall health and well-being.

Most people don’t realize that our bodies are busy processing and eliminating toxins all day, every day. We feel healthy when our detox pathways are keeping pace with those toxins and are not overburdened.

How do you know if you have healthy detoxification? Start with these five signs…

In May 2022, I was diagnosed with an early-stage breast cancer, detected by a routine screening mammogram. I chose to undergo a skin-sparing double mastectomy with reconstruction in late June 2022 and spent the summer recovering. Fortunately, the cancer was caught very early, and I was given an excellent prognosis without chemotherapy.

Every chronic disease in the world today can be linked back to this same thing. Chronic Inflammation. Learn about the multitude of symptoms and conditions linked to inflammation, as well as the primary root causes driving chronic inflammation.

Foods can have a powerful effect on your mood - both good and bad. Some people grab foods they *think* make them feel good (ice cream anyone?) but end up feeling worse once the sugar rush wears off. Next time, think about reaching for science-backed foods to improve your mood and supplements for natural mood support.

I have been practicing in Northern Michigan for over 20 years, and year after year, I see two waves of seasonal mood changes in my patients and friends: November and February.

Many begin to feel the symptoms of seasonal mood changes in November when the days become darker and shorter. Fatigue and lack of motivation are common complaints in November when we are digging out our light boxes and preparing for the winter ahead.

In my Integrative & Functional Medical practice, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to diet and nutritional supplement recommendations. Patients come to me following a variety of diet plans - everything from vegan to keto. I also prescribe a variety of food plans for my patients, and I customize nutraceutical supplement recommendations for each individual. To do this - I tend to dig deep with laboratory data to answer the question: Is your current diet and supplement plan meeting your nutritional needs?

Do new year’s resolutions work? Many research studies suggest they do not. So what if, instead of a new year’s resolution, this year, you set a new year’s intention? Because even though there is value in setting specific goals and resolutions, there is also value in zooming out to bring clarity on what matters to you most. That’s the power of intentions.

More than ⅓ of adults in the US don’t get enough sleep, and it could be bad for the waistline. New research from Mayo Clinic shows that a lack of sleep combined with free access to food leads to higher calorie consumption and increased belly fat.

Whether it’s seasonal sneezing or a year-round runny nose, it’s possible that your home could be making allergies worse! When it comes to improving our health, it’s easy to forget about the importance of our surroundings. Even if nobody in your family struggles with allergies, taking these steps can improve your odds of staying allergy-free!

Seasonal allergies happen when the immune system reacts to a substance that should otherwise be harmless. It’s like an immune response gone rogue. What happens next is the release of histamine—a tiny chemical messenger released from mast cells that leads to a cascade of inflammation. Histamine is at the center of seasonal allergies and causes most of the irritating symptoms.

The snow is melting, the temperatures are rising, and most of us are excited to start spending more time outdoors. For many, however, this transition to spring and summer weather also brings the unwanted symptoms of seasonal allergies, such as: Sneezing, itchy or Runny Nose, Itchy or Watery Eyes, Headache, Dry Cough, Fatigue and “Brain Fog”

Every cell in your body contains magnesium and needs it to function. Magnesium often serves as a cofactor — a helper molecule — and is involved in more than 600 biochemical reactions in your body happening at any given moment.

Do you ever feel like you just aren’t a healthy person or can never become one? It might be guided by some set of beliefs that has formed over the years—completely beyond your control. I like to call it your mindset.

Mycotoxin Illness is not something I learned about in medical school and something that I was initially hesitant to explore with patients. Yet as is often the case when you have a medical practice like mine, you tend to see patients with multiple symptoms who have consulted with multiple providers and have not been given an explanation, diagnosis, or clear treatment plan.

Mycotoxin Illness is not something I learned about in medical school. In fact, even in my early years of practicing Integrative and Functional Medicine, I was reluctant to explore the concept of Mycotoxin Illness with my patients. Similar to conditions like Lyme disease (which I also now treat frequently), Mycotoxin Illness seemed “taboo” and dismissed by traditional Western Medicine. Yet as is often the case when you have a medical practice like mine, you tend to see patients with multiple symptoms who have consulted with multiple providers and have not been given an explanation, diagnosis, or clear treatment plan.

Are you tired of feeling sluggish and foggy only to be told that your thyroid tests “look normal”? You are not alone! Thyroid health is one of the most common reasons why patients seek my care - and for good reason! Optimal thyroid function is an essential component of your health and well-being, as thyroid hormones play a major role in regulating many bodily functions.