We are finally here! The thick of summer - this is what we dream about all year long!

This time of year we are often packing our days with activities and extending our nights longer than the rest of the year. It can be difficult to maintain healthy habits! One of the best ways to stay on track? Focus on PROTEIN.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a serious women’s health issue—affecting more women than men and even leading to increased procedures like hysterectomy or ovarian surgery.

Are you fighting a sluggish metabolism? The types of FATS you consume may be to blame, and a new study proves it. What you need to know is there are 2 driving forces behind an aging metabolism: Insulin Resistance and Chronic Inflammation. And also that we have loads of ways to reverse these things!

Digestive enzymes are the superheroes behind our digestive process. They are specialized proteins that break down complex food molecules into smaller, more manageable components that our bodies can absorb and utilize effectively.

There are many points in the digestive process where enzymes are released and activated.

In my 20+ years of practicing medicine, I have often found stress levels in my patients to be higher in May - especially for those with school-aged children. The problem with letting all that stress get to you is that higher levels of stress hormones can really MESS with your other hormones! The Stress-Hormone connection is REAL - and it’s a vicious cycle. As I often discuss with my patients, hormones “dance” with one another. When one set of hormones becomes imbalanced - this is likely to wreak havoc on other hormones.

Selenium doesn’t often get the limelight, but it should! Selenium is a trace mineral that incorporates into body proteins (called selenoproteins) that play a role in immune function, thyroid hormones, reproductive health, and more.

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. Your thyroid gland is part of your hormone system (also referred to as your endocrine system). The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and is located inside your neck over your windpipe.

If you have followed my blogs or social media for any period of time, you will already know that I am obsessed with Vitamin C. I take a Vitamin C supplement every day and use a Vitamin C serum on my skin. Vitamin C is AMAZING, and the reality is that we could not survive without it.

Nearly every chronic disease in the world today can be linked back to this same thing. Chronic Inflammation. We need our bodies to mount an inflammatory response to fight off infections or heal from injuries, but we don’t want to be stuck in a never-ending inflammatory cycle.

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.

Nearly every chronic disease in the world today can be linked back to this same thing. Chronic Inflammation. 3 out of 5 people worldwide die because of chronic inflammatory diseases, and the World Health Organization ranks these diseases as the greatest threat to human health.

In November, I presented data showing the benefits of walking in the woods on your brain health. Now, in Northern Michigan, where I am based, the ground is covered in snow. Should I still go out for a walk if it’s snowy? Yes!

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?

Are you having trouble getting into an exercise routine? Do you find yourself making excuses and/or skipping exercise because you feel like you don’t have time for an hour-long workout? Maybe you should start with “baby steps”, as a new study in the European Heart Journal found that even a little exercise can go a long way.

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.

We all know that too much sugar (of any kind) is bad for our health, but there are natural sweeteners that are less problematic than just plain cane sugar. Let’s break down what you need to know about four natural sweeteners you may have seen in ingredient lists.

When your lifestyle is at odds with your internal body clock (your circadian rhythm), it can cause everything from fatigue to insomnia, anxiety, depression, weight gain, and more. Whether or not you’ve disrupted your circadian rhythm yet or not, anybody can begin TODAY to live in better alignment with their circadian rhythms.

Daily rhythms keep your body ticking like a clock. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of body processes that follow a 24-hour clock: Hormones, Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Immune Function, Detoxification, and Digestion. That’s right—nearly every body process has a daily cycle—it’s called the circadian rhythm