Medical concept with doctor, stethoscope and heart

Going Beyond Cholesterol Testing to Enhance Heart Health

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Cardiovascular conditions are one of the most common disorders of modern times. Testing for cholesterol as a potential modifiable risk factor for heart disease is a common part of many functional medicine providers’ clinical practices. Recently, at Rupa Health we wrote about the latest innovations in cholesterol testing such as measuring ApoB-containing lipoproteins and genetic differences in intracellular cholesterol production or gut absorption. In this article we will go beyond cholesterol to discuss the other critical tests for heart health.

Epinutrients – The Secret Ingredient That Makes Food Your Medicine

Functional Medicine for Consumers, Functional Medicine for Professionals, Research, News & Ideas3 Comments

Have you heard about epinutrients? Surprisingly, they’re barely mentioned in research papers and yet they are potent epigenetic regulators (i.e. they control how our genes are expressed). And I think it’s time to shine some light on these longevity superstars. But first, have you ever wondered why food has such powerful effects on our health…

DNA strands

6 Surprising Reasons to Test for the MTHFR Mutation

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Many of you know about methylation and how problems with this process are linked to heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autoimmune disease, and autism. But did you know that methylation problems may also be involved in other more surprising areas of your health? In this article, we’ll dive into those other lesser-known consequences of faulty methylation and what you can do about it. But first, a refresher course on what methylation is and how the MTHFR mutation is involved in methylation problems.

Vials of blood in blood tests for Celiac Disease

Best Tests and Treatments for Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

Functional Medicine for Professionals1 Comment

Are your patients complaining of bloating, abdominal pain, brain fog, or fatigue? Perhaps you run a stool test and find that after treating the abnormal results, the patient’s symptoms continue. Or perhaps you have treated your patient many times for dysbiosis only to have it return again and again. At this point, it’s wise to consider that your patient may be reacting to a common dietary component such as wheat.

close-up of Microscope lens, science tools microscope in laboratory

Four Critical Reasons to Use Food Sensitivity Testing

Functional Medicine for Professionals2 Comments

Often food sensitivity testing is ordered simply due to patient demand for this service. However, the fact of the matter is that food sensitivity testing has a great deal of usefulness in clinical practice. Functional medicine practitioners have used it effectively to unearth the root cause of health problems, pinpoint the reasons behind what exacerbates a given health concern, and even determine which dietary supplements can do more harm than good.

bacteria shown in small intestine

SIBO – How to Avoid the Recovery Trap and Unlock Healing

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Digestive complaints are common and can significantly impact quality of life. Not only that but they can also often be dismissed by conventional medical thinking or swept into the bucket of irritable bowel syndrome without much relief offered. In functional medicine, restoring gut health and balance is right at the core of what we do.…

Stressed woman at work

Harnessing the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis to Improve the Stress Response

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New understandings of the intricate connections between gut and brain are revolutionizing medicine’s approach to mood, brain function and digestion, giving our “gut-wrenching experiences” or our “gut-feelings” a lot more meaning than they already have. The emerging evidence in this area is providing new tools to influence both gut and brain health.