News and Advice From Functional Medicine RDN Nancy Lark

A healthy immune response is important for protection against infection and to speed up recovery if we get ill.

Obviously, everyone is working to gain an understanding of the physiologic changes with Covid-19, but what is becoming evident is that what is dangerous about the virus is not necessarily the virus itself, but the affect it has on the immune system.

A University of Nebraska study took Chicken Soup to the laboratory to study if it really helps protect against cold and flu.

Any time of the year is the perfect time to zap your sugar addiction and cravings. Cutting out refined sugars and focusing on whole foods to help reset your insulin function and reduce your cravings begins by becoming aware of how much added sugar is in your diet.

The addictive nature of sugar and the effects on our physiology create a perfect storm for creating an obesity epidemic. What’s becoming clear, though, is that it just may not be all your fault!

Hippocrates once said, “All health comes from the gut” and we understand more today than ever just how true that statement is. There are many things that can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut. One of the most common and powerful disruptors of a healthy microbiome - antibiotics. What many people don't know is that the disruption of the gut microbiome by antibiotics can trigger mood disruption. In a 2015 study looking at multiple types of antibiotics, it was found that even one dose of any of the antibiotic groups was associated with a higher risk of depression, while recurrent antibiotic use increased the participants risk factors even more.

Most people don't realize that the stress response triggers a cascade of physiological actions in the body that can shut down stomach function and create digestive upset! There are ways to counter the effects of Holiday Stress this season - read on!

A newly published study in JAMA, Oct. 25, 2019, reports the functional medicine model of care demonstrated greater and longer lasting improvements in patients health quality of life parameters vs. patients in a conventional care model!

In my practice I work with patients to optimize gut health as a means of optimizing their health. Patients come to me with a plethora of symptoms such as brain fog, digestive issues, skin rashes such as eczema, low energy, muscle pain and fatigue, weight gain, cardiovascular issues like increased cholesterol and atherosclerosis, food allergies and sensitivities, immune system issues and autoimmune disease and more. Most everything begins in the gut whether they realize it or not. Gut imbalance creates inflammation and inflammation sets up increase in fat storage; the excess fat then creates more inflammation and a cascade of health issues over time!

The Human Microbiome Project has shown that the intestinal microbiome has communication networks with other organ systems including the gut-brain, gut-liver, gut-adipose axes, and it plays a critical role in our health, brain function, body weight and fat maintenance. Nature, 2012.

We know that lack of sleep increases the hunger hormone Grhelin and decreases Leptin, (which is the hormone that tells you to stop storing fat), triggering refined carbohydrate cravings. But did you know that what you eat can itself modify your circadian rhythm, triggering changes in sleep and eating patterns as well?

Substituting positive thoughts for negative thoughts helps us reinterpret our situation

Staying mindful with your food can move you from a place of deprivation to celebration!

Mindset shifting is key to making your health journey an amazing awakening!!

Creating SMART GOALS takes the angst out of lifestyle change and supercharges your success!

Did you know you have two brains? One in your head, another in your gut, and the health of your gut can result in many "non-gut" symptoms!

Do you know there are specific areas in the world that boast of the longest living populations? Follow their lead to super charge your health and your life!

What to do to avoid catching the cold or flu, and some things you can take to help kick it more quickly!

Jump into spring and jumpstart your health with a few easy nutrition tips!

Functional Medicine, and its science-based approach to helping the body heal itself naturally, is finally being recognized. Although touted as a "new" field of medicine, it has really been in the works for over 30 years!

Why is mother's milk so healthy for the baby? Not only does the composition of the milk change from week to week to best suit the needs of the baby, we have known that breastfed babies have better immune function and protection in later life than bottle fed babies.

New Years Resolutions nearly always include a goal of weight loss. And this year will be no different in that sense. What is different in the last few years is that we now know that weight loss is not just calories in = calories out anymore!

Ever wish you could fit in your appointment sipping on your morning coffee in the comfort of your own home, or at work during your lunch hour break? Forget about drive time and traffic, or about fighting the weather!