Did you know that eating fish on Christmas Eve is a long-standing tradition in many parts of the world? Rooted in religious customs, especially the practice of abstaining from meat and rich foods before major celebrations, this ritual has evolved…
Happy holidays, everyone! As you enjoy the festive season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the highlights from this past year here at Dr. Kara Fitzgerald. One of the biggest was certainly our virtual Functional…
Can Mitopure®, and its active ingredient Urolithin A, support an aging immune system? As we recognize immune aging as a primary driver of age-related disease, this question has taken on new clinical importance. The newly published MitoImmune study in Nature…
An excellent colleague of mine recently had an unpleasant experience when she discovered that every single citation in an article she’d generated using AI and sent over as a potential guest post appeared fine on first glance, but was completely…
As functional medicine practitioners, we know that nutrition and lifestyle are among the most powerful levers for preventing and reversing all chronic disease, from cardiovascular disease and hypertension to cancer and type 2 diabetes. Yet we also see firsthand how…
Despite a dramatic rise in antidepressant use in the United States since 1988, the number of Americans suffering from depression has not decreased. This leaves clinicians with a stark reality: more medication, without improvement. This reality raises the central question…
This cranberry sauce strikes the perfect balance of tart and sweet, and it’s far more versatile than just a turkey companion. Try it with pork or beef, spread it on toast instead of jam, swirl it into your morning yogurt…
In this practitioner spotlight, Dr. Darisa Espinal, naturopathic physician at Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s New Frontiers Functional Medicine Clinic, shares her journey into functional medicine, the types of patients she supports, and how she integrates longevity medicine and root-cause care to…
These energy bites are a seed extravaganza! Infused with anti-inflammatory turmeric and fragrant lemon zest, they offer a punchy flavor while delivering healthy fats, fiber, and a whole host of longevity-boosting epinutrients (see below). Naturally sweetened and rich in antioxidants,…
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating, chronic joint disease affecting about 33 million adults in the United States. As the aging population grows and obesity rates climb, this number is expected to surge. By 2030, nearly 67 million Americans will be…
Let’s be honest, the term “longevity medicine” has gotten a bit of a reputation lately. For many of us in functional medicine, it can feel like the exclusive domain of elite biohackers or billionaires chasing the next shiny object. I…
This weekend, my daughter and my mom spent an afternoon in the kitchen, testing and perfecting these Golden Hour Pistachio-Almond Cookies. They started with a classic pistachio-almond cookie recipe and made a few tweaks to fit our lifestyle. We cut…
With thanks to Romilly Hodges, CNS, for her contributions to this article. I’m not here to fan the flames of controversy, but I do believe in asking smart, systems-oriented questions—especially when we’re talking about chemicals that may be added to…
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Kirsten FitzGerald*, DNP, FNP-BC, has joined the clinical team at the New Frontiers Functional Medicine Clinic. With a strong background in functional and integrative medicine, Dr. Kirsten brings a thoughtful, science-backed approach to…
I was blown away to learn that bitter melon, a primary component of the Okinawan diet and a common ingredient in many East Asian recipes, contains approximately 964 mg polyphenols in each gram of ripe fruit. I think bitter melon…
Recent peer-reviewed research on the Younger You program reveals that: The Younger You program can increase your intake of beneficial, phytonutrient-dense foods more than other diet programs studied for their beneficial effects on bio age (like the Mediterranean diet).
Urolithin A is rapidly becoming a go-to longevity nutrient, and with good reason. Backed by 15 years of research and 11 human clinical trials, it is one of the most extensively studied compounds for healthy aging.
There’s a red flag I’ve learned to pay close attention to in clinical practice—and it’s not just elevated homocysteine or a sluggish DUTCH test. It’s when a new patient mentions they live on or near a golf course.
Prompted by the increase in exposure to wildfire smoke, researchers at the University of New Mexico put together this graphical representation of how environmental toxins are known to affect the hallmarks of aging.
When I was a kid at lunch, while my friends were eating those heavenly-looking ultraprocessed Twinkies and Ringdings and making dough balls with their white bread, I ate home-made yogurt or nutbutter sandwiches on a very dense, whole grain bread;…
Dr. Fitzgerald is an internationally-recognized expert clinician, as well as nationally-bestselling author, who is actively engaged in clinical research on epigenetics and longevity using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her research and practice.
She has published two clinical studies on the potential bioage-reversing effects of an 8-week DNA methylation-supportive diet and lifestyle in middle-aged men and women in the journal Aging. She continues to lead the conversation around interventions for healthy aging and their extensive potential in improving individual and population level disease burdens, while also providing evidence-based and practical advice that cuts through the hype.
Dr. Fitzgerald is on faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), is an IFM Certified Practitioner, and lectures globally on functional medicine, longevity, and epigenetics to practitioners and consumers.
She maintains an award-nominated podcast series ranked in the top 1% of global podcasts by Listen Score, New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, and an active blog and Clinic Immersion webinar series through her website, www.drkarafitzgerald.com.
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