There has long been confusion about how to best monitor estrogen creams and gels. We have also shared in this confusion, but fortunately, the data has now made the situation much clearer. In this blog, you will see the data that has led us to the following conclusions about monitoring transdermal estrogen:
DetailsI deeply appreciate this important topic brought to us by Dr. Michelle Barrow as she answers questions put to her by our Nutrition Programs Director, Romilly Hodges. This exchange was prompted by Dr. Barrow’s recent peer-reviewed publication – Transforming Personalized Nutrition Practice – a worthwhile read which came across Romilly’s desk earlier this year. After all, personalized nutrition is a core component of the Functional Medicine toolkit. As a profession (of both functional medicine and personalized nutrition practitioners), we need take steps to bridge the gap between currently-accepted evidence models and what is actually needed to support our practice. We need to ask the hard questions; and take the steps to build a better model. It’s something I have proposed before, and I am absolutely delighted to continue to champion. – DrKF
DetailsWhen you think about longevity tests, you might picture lipid panels and fasting blood glucose assessments. However, there’s one aspect of longevity you might not immediately consider: the health of your skin. From eczema and rosacea to premature lines and wrinkles, what’s happening on the surface is often indicative of underlying issues, including those that contribute to cardiovascular disease, dysbiosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
DetailsA patient named Barbara bounded into my office. She threw herself into a chair, and looked at me with eyes of terror, guilt and shame. I knew from her countenance that it was confession time. She launched into her story, retelling an all-too-familiar tale: She hadn’t stuck with her anti-inflammatory diet. Her food cravings, she explained, were out-of-control, and she was miserable….
DetailsGastrointestinal biofilms are an important topic, and those comprised of pathogenic microbes are getting much well-deserved attention in the integrative medical community.
DetailsUterine fibroids are a huge, underappreciated issue. They are the most common gynecological disorder, affecting nearly half of women younger than 40 years old, and far more (~80%) for those older. Frankly, I don’t think we are doing enough to help these patients. Fibroids are the leading indication for hysterectomy in the US, accounting for 39% of all hysterectomies each year, and while some are asymptomatic, symptoms include heavy and prolonged periods, difficulty with intercourse, bowel dysfunction, non-cyclic pelvic pain, low back pain, urinary frequency and urgency, and constipation. Because not all fibroids cause heavy bleeding, their impact can be missed, think: refractory constipation or incontinence. Conventional treatments include pharmacotherapy, surgical interventions, and uterine artery embolization, however, these treatments leave much to be desired. Oral contraceptives are used to manage bleeding, and even after myomectomy, fibroids often recur and 10% of women will undergo hysterectomy within 5 – 10 years.
DetailsMany people think about osteoporosis as a condition that affects post-menopausal women—one that, if those old “Got Milk?” TV commercials are to be….
DetailsDr. Fitzgerald recently asked me to write a case study with essential oils. Many practitioners are aware of essential oils’ potent antimicrobial power.
DetailsWhen a team of scientists from EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, set out to thoroughly study the health benefits of pomegranates, they discovered something truly remarkable – the power of a postbiotic nutrient, Urolithin A (UA) to promote cellular health and longevity. For the past 15 years, Urolithin A has been one of the most well-researched longevity molecules. Over 300 studies, 11 of which are clinical trials, show impressive benefits in UA’s ability to target some of the key biological hallmarks of aging. These same scientists and doctors developed the first and only clinically tested Urolithin A formulation (more on that below!)
DetailsDr. Fasano identified the intimate, essential role that the gut plays in the development of autoimmunity.
DetailsWe enact eliminations all of the time and it’s really important as clinicians that we have some experience with enacting these in our own lives.
DetailsLiving in Sandy Hook, practicing medicine in Sandy Hook, my life – and the lives of all of us here – continue to be influenced by the 12/14/12 mass shooting. The day it happened, despite not losing a child in the tragedy, I was gutted, locked in grief. I also remember thinking that it couldn’t…
DetailsThree amino acids walk into a bar….the adventures of supporting glutathione synthesis in fatty liver disease using serine & nicotinamide riboside
DetailsMushrooms are a powerful, and often underutilized, tool for health and longevity. They provide important nutrients, including those used in methylation cycles- folate, choline, and zinc for example. Their bioactive compounds also act as DNA methylation adaptogens, with the ability to influence gene expression and even potentially biological age. It’s why mushrooms feature as one…
DetailsWhen Dr. Richard Lord and our team were authoring the textbook Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine (LEIFM) in 2008, a major focus of mine was on the Elements Chapter. As I drilled down into the literature around minerals, I became enamored with each of them and their unique roles. Since I’ve been blogging,…
DetailsMother’s milk may be one of the most important panaceas of all time – a true miracle maker with research showing breast milk helps prevent blindness, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and death in premature infants. Amazing, right?
DetailsI was reading an e-newsletter on weight loss recently. They were recommending a very sexy-sounding supplement that suggested the pounds would melt away like bacon fat in a hot skillet.
DetailsIodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation worldwide and it negatively affects every stage of human development. Given the importance of this mineral and its ubiquitous presence in seafood, it’s natural to assume…
DetailsHey functional medicine clinicians, what do you think about e-cigs? A few thoughts plus a couple of case briefs.
DetailsThe gut microbiome has gotten much well-deserved attention, likewise with the emerging focus on the oral microbiome. By comparison, research and clinical attention towards the skin microbiome has been scant
DetailsClinicians, if you read anything today, read this: A case of total body contact dermatitis of unknown etiology, hives and dermatographism. Ellen found my practice after listening to a podcast I did on allergic disease with Dr. Amy Meyers for her Autoimmune Summit. It’s at times like these that I’m glad I do outreach of…
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