Savory Breakfast Bowl
A versatile dish that can easily be prepared for breakfast or lunch, featuring watercress, which contains a high amount of the bioactive chemical, phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC).
Kara Fitzgerald, ND, received her doctor of naturopathic medicine degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She completed the first Counsel on Naturopathic Medicine-accredited post-doctorate position in nutritional biochemistry and laboratory science at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory under the direction of Richard Lord, PhD. Her residency was completed at Progressive Medical Center, a large, integrative medical practice in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Fitzgerald is the lead author and editor of Case Studies in Integrative and Functional Medicine and is a contributing author to Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)’s Textbook for Functional Medicine. With the Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Fitzgerald is actively engaged in clinical research on the DNA methylome using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her practice. The first publication from the study focuses on reversal of biological aging and was published 04-12-2021 in the journal Aging. She has published a consumer book titled Younger You as well as a companion cookbook, Better Broths and Healing Tonics and has an application-based Younger You Program, based on the study.
Dr. Fitzgerald is on the faculty at IFM, is an IFM Certified Practitioner and lectures globally on functional medicine. She runs a Functional Nutrition Residency program, and maintains a podcast series, New Frontiers in Functional Medicine and an active blog on her website, www.drkarafitzgerald.com. Her clinical practice is in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
Additional publications
Nutrition’s Role in the Epigenetic Origins of Health and Disease with Judith Finlayson
Since the time of mapping out the genome in 2000, we’ve continued to connect the dots between generational experiences, particularly trauma and in utero exposures, and the development of health and disease. We’ve seen, for instance, from survivors of the Dutch Hunger Winter or the Holocaust, epigenetic changes that are passed on to future generations. My guest in this podcast, best-selling author and former journalist Judith Finlayson, discusses the fascinating history the led to our current understanding of epigenetic expression. She shares research from her book, You Are What Your Grandparents Ate: What You Need to Know About Nutrition, Experience, Epigenetics and the Origins of Chronic Disease, and dives into the dietary and lifestyle choices she prioritizes to support optimal genetic expression. Listen, learn, and leave a review/rating wherever you’re listening to New Frontiers!
Why we Choose to Practice (and Live) Functional Medicine
For all of us here at the clinic, functional medicine is a calling. It’s a desire to do better for our patients, to pursue optimal health (whatever that means for each individual), and to meaningfully address many of our society’s significant health burdens.
Unbelievable Beet Burger
Are you looking for a fresh take on the quintessential American summer favorite – the burger? This gluten and dairy-free vegetarian version accompanied by pickled red onion won’t disappoint.
Acne, the Skin Microbiome and Salicylic Acid Treatment
There has been a lot of published research lately around the role of our skin’s microbiome on overall immune health as well as the impact bacterial dysbiosis has on different diseases. The bacteria Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) — one of the most abundant strains of bacteria in most people’s facial microbiome — has long been associated with acne lesions. But, how does acne occur and how does our microbiome impact it?
The Cell Danger Response: Restoring Cellular Health with Phospholipids and Bioactive Lipids
I am always eager to learn from other clinicians about how they approach complex patients and layer various healing modalities into the therapeutic encounter. My guest today, Dr. Bruce Hoffman MD, has combined his passion in integrative medicine with psychiatry to explore cellular health to best guide his patient’s health journey. Dr. Hoffman is based in Calgary, Canada at the Hoffman Centre for Integrative Medicine and the Brain Center of Alberta. He’s an IFM-certified functional medicine practitioner, board-certified in anti-aging and regenerative medicine (Shoemaker’s mold protocol), a certified Ayurvedic practitioner (Bredesen’s ReCODE treatment), certified as a family constellation therapy specialist, (ILADS for Lyme and co-infections), and trained in Chinese medicine, to name just a few of his substantial specialties. He knows his stuff. Tune in for this thought-provoking conversation as we explore the role the psyche plays in disease and healing, including clinical pearls, interventions, and effective supplementation. Listen, share, and leave a starred rating, if you wouldn’t mind! Thanks for listening.
The Journey to “Evidence-Based” for Functional Labs
In the Functional Medicine space, we all desire to be described under the banner of “Evidence-Based.” What does that mean, and how do we get there? In this article I will attempt to address the laboratory component of this question from the perspective of a company in the middle of this ongoing journey. The value of self-critique and continual self-examination: There is a pattern I have witnessed in the Functional Medicine Lab industry that needs to be challenged from within. We develop tests, leverage them as much as we can, and then wait for competitors or critics to raise objections or questions. If those objections never come, we may be tempted to push forward without continuing to pursue both analytical and clinical validation. Continuous self-critique is critical!
Integrative Protocols: Focus on Senolytics, Cell Senescence, and the Role of Telomerase Activation
Colleagues, if you’ve been following me for any time, you’ve heard me speak frequently about aging as the top driver of chronic disease. In today’s interview, I dive into evidence-based integrative protocols to prevent and reverse the aging process. My guest, Dr. Joseph Cleaver MD, is a Fellow of the American Board of Anti-aging and Regenerative Medicine, is board-certified in internal medicine, a rheumatologist, on faculty at A4M and MMI and has authored and published a wealth of research and scholarly articles. He founded Paradigm Wellness Medical Group in Dallas and Sonoma Valley, California, AND he is Medical Director at Boutique Wellness in Winston, North Carolina. Folks, you’ll want to be ready to take notes during this interview, as Dr. Cleaver shares his personalized senolytic protocols specific to patient phenotypes. Listen, share, and leave a starred rating, if you wouldn’t mind! Thanks for listening. ~DrKF
Shiitake Vegan Pate
Adapted from Eco Parent Magazine This vegan-friendly pate packs some of our favorite epigenetic superstars into a tasty recipe that can be spread on a slice of our Life-Changing Loaf of Bread, enjoyed with your favorite crackers, or served with some sliced veggies. Here’s some of the science behind how this recipe really delivers: Shiitake…
Functional Medicine’s Role in the Pandemic Era with Amy Mack and Dr. Patrick Hanaway
This is an exciting year for us in functional medicine, with the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) celebrating its 30-year anniversary alongside its Annual International Conference (AIC) on resilience in functional medicine. My guests in this podcast, Dr. Patrick Hanaway MD and Amy Mack CEO of IFM, join me to discuss how functional medicine is addressing the triple pandemic of COVID-19, racism, and economic crisis. Dr. Hanaway is a board-certified family physician, senior advisor to Amy Mack at IFM, and a founding medical director at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. Amy Mack spent the last three decades in mission and service-oriented organizations and is now helping lead the IFM through uncomfortable territory as they not only offer evidence-based education but take action on the most pressing issues we are currently facing within our communities and healthcare. This is a powerful conversation with an important call to action, so stay tuned to learn more about the COVID-19 tools IFM has created for practitioners and patients as well as highlights on IFM’s upcoming AIC. Settle in, this is a good one and sneak peak at the exciting schedule for AIC! As always, thanks for listening, and I so appreciate any comments, reviews, and ratings wherever you listen to New Frontiers.
