Calcium, Vitamin D + the Milk Myth

I recently gave a talk on childhood nutrition, specifically addressing milk intake. We know that calcium and vitamin D are critical nutrients for bone health, but is cow’s milk is the best way to get adequate amounts? It may shock you, but I don’t think that cow’s milk is a necessary (or even healthy) part of a child’s diet. My own children have never been offered milk on a regular basis, as we transitioned straight from breastfeeding to filtered water between ages 1 and 2. My holistic approach is sometimes a bit unconventional, but it’s grounded in science. While much of the research presented here is directed toward children, these principles apply to adults as well.

Why You Should Detox Before Pregnancy

As many of you know, I’m the mother of two. These blessings didn’t come without struggles. I’ve lived through pregnancy loss and other complications, which gave me the opportunity to learn more about my own health and vitality. Because of these experiences, I’m passionate about helping other women in this phase of life. If you’re thinking about conceiving, there’s a lot you can do to help with fertility, successful pregnancy outcomes, and the health of your precious babe.

How to Choose the Best Probiotic Supplement

Probiotic supplements have become very popular – and with a good reason. They modulate the immune system through a variety of mechanisms and help restore balance to the gut microflora, referred to as the microbiome. But the market is flooded with choices, and choosing the best supplement is confusing. I’ve spent years researching this as both a clinician and as a patient with gastrointestinal issues, and I’ll share below what I’ve learned about probiotics.

10 Ways to Improve Gut Health

If you’re reading this, likely you’ve already realized that gut health is a really big deal. Maybe you may suspect you have gut health issues or you may have been recently diagnosed with a digestive condition. Whatever your situation, you will benefit from learning how to care for the  trillions of organisms that make up […]

How to Heal Your Gut 101

So many of my patients struggle with underlying gut issues, whether they know it or not. Gut health is an obvious goal when someone is struggling with chronic digestive symptoms. But sometimes ‘healing the gut’ isn’t even on the radar. Many patients come to me for much more pressing concerns like hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, fertility […]

The Top 4 Postpartum Health Issues and How to Avoid Them

As a mother of three and functional medicine physician specializing in women’s health, I’ve become a fierce advocate for the expansion of postpartum health support, awareness, and education. In the United States especially, far too many women are thrust back into the demands of everyday life (while attending to the demands of a newborn) without […]

Want to boost your fertility? Here are 5 hormonal trends to watch

Whether you’re preparing for pregnancy, actively trying to conceive, or having fertility challenges, understanding your hormonal status is a huge advantage. Hormonal imbalances impact a surprising number of seemingly “healthy” women. These imbalances can cause problems with ovulation and skipped periods, and ultimately lead to fertility challenges, such as increased time to pregnancy, miscarriages, and […]

A Functional Medicine Approach to Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Hashiomoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that, over time, destroys thyroid tissue and causes hypothyroidism. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S. and affects a surprising number of people (mostly women) worldwide. Some sources say it is 10 times more common among women than men, and most […]

A Functional Medicine Doctor’s Clean Beauty Routine

Clean Beauty is an Inside Job Through my own health journey, I came to an important conclusion: clean beauty is an inside job. When my health was at its worst, I had acne, rashes, bloating, weight gain, and inflammation. The glow was gone. Getting my health back was a long process that involved healing my […]

12 Tips for Surviving the Stomach Flu from a Doctor Mom

Acute gastroenteritis is commonly known as the “stomach flu,” but it’s not actually the flu at all. The most common cause of gastroenteritis in the U.S. is norovirus. Sometimes we prescribe medications to help with the nausea, but there is no magic bullet for viral gastroenteritis. My natural approach offers comfort and speeds recovery. Here are 12 simple tips to recover from the stomach flu.

Eat These 10 Foods to Support Detoxification

Detoxification refers to your body’s ability to get rid of waste. If that is impaired, or if we are bombarded with too many toxins, we get sick. The liver is central to metabolic detoxification and dependent on adequate nutrients, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and protein. You can improve your body’s ability to detoxify by using key foods that help balance metabolic detoxification in the liver, and provide good fiber.  As an added benefit, this can help with weight loss, since resistant weight loss is often related to toxicity.

The Epidemic of Food Allergies & Sensitivities

We have en epidemic of food allergies and sensitivities in the country. When I was in second grade, my teachers doled out salted peanuts as a reward. Can you imagine? It’s now the norm that classrooms are strictly nut-free because there’s at least one child who has a dangerous, even life-threatening reaction. That’s a food allergy. But food sensitivities like gluten intolerance are also a growing concern. They are a cause of chronic disease, a sign that something in our environment has gone awry, and a problem that should be taken seriously.

Flu Season: 10 Natural Remedies You’ll Find in My Medicine Cabinet to Fight Influenza

Many of us have been hit hard with the flu. This season my daughter became very ill overnight with influenza A. I attribute her quick recovery to the many natural remedies we used at home. The rest of us stayed healthy, as well, likely in part to natural medicine. Want to know my secret weapons? Read on.

Addicted to Sugar (+ a guide to help you navigate sweeteners)

The massive intake of sugar in this country is one of the main drivers of chronic disease. Just like drug addiction, sugar causes real “food addiction” in some people, making it hard to stop. And how much is too much? In this article, I’ll explain the evidence and help you set a reasonable goal for daily sugar intake. You’ll also get access to a guide to help you make smart decisions about how much added sugar you consume on a daily basis.

How to Cook Your Way to Better Health (Even if You’re Busy!)

If you’re headed into the New Year with a plan to live healthier, start by cooking more meals at home. Home cooked meals are more nutrient dense and have fewer calories. I think that’s obvious, but a study from Johns Hopkins University published in 2015 backs it up. The study showed that home cooks consume fewer calories and less sugar. Interestingly, cooking at home was also associated with lower calorie intake when eating out.

But I get it – feeding your family home cooked meals is no easy task. Even harder when you have a J-O-B. Here’s how I do it.

My Story: How Pregnancy Struggles Helped Me Reclaim My Health

Many of us practicing functional medicine have a personal health story that brought us here. My story became most apparent after pregnancy complications and recurrent miscarriage helped me to uncover underlying health issues associated with gut infections, food sensitivities, hypothyroidism and environmental toxins. I share my very personal experience because I want people who are struggling to know that there is hope. I want my patients to know that I can relate to what they are going through much of the time. I’ve been through a lot with my health – truly this story is just the beginning – and while it was a challenge, I’m thankful for the experience because it has made me a better physician.

4 Evidence-Based Reasons I Advocate for Organic Foods

This is a 4 part series on holistic childhood nutrition. This week my focus is on the evidence behind a pesticide and GMO-free diet. A lot of people question the value of this, and challenge the idea that buying organic food is worth the extra money. I think there is enough evidence to support buying and eating organic foods.

Back To School: Non Toxic Lunch Box

It’s back-to-school time around here. As your kiddo gears up, send them with a non toxic lunch box. We’ve experimented with different products in the last year, and I’ve found my favorites that I’ll share with you here. But first, I’ll tell you why it’s important.

Why I Love Functional Medicine

What is functional medicine, and why do I love it so much? Many of you have heard me talk fervently about functional medicine. If you get me started, it’s quite obvious that I’ve found my calling in life. But a lot of you are still asking, what is functional medicine? Let me first explain my path.