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Acute illnesses like seasonal colds carry a heavy socioeconomic burden and impact livelihood in many ways, taking a great toll on society including children, families, and the medical community. This…
Midlife is an extremely active time epigenetically. Pro-inflammatory genes tend to become hypomethylated and get ramped up, tumor-suppressor genes can become progressively more silenced, genes that code for antioxidant and…
Weight gain is one of the most frequently seen complaints during perimenopause and menopause. In this blog we will explore why that is and how the female body changes during…
This is a quick and simple way to get in a large amount of your epinutrient-rich foods for the day and is my go-to breakfast and lunch combo. You can…
In my first year of naturopathic medical school, stuck right in the middle of the standard basic science classes, was a class on hydrotherapy- evidence of how fundamental the use…
Last month, I was awarded the Rosalind Franklin Society Special Award in Science for my research on using a diet and lifestyle program to favorably change DNA methylation and reverse…
Dr. Kara Fitzgerald Mushrooms 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…
Eggs are one of those controversial foods that we were warned against for almost half a century. However, recent years have seen both the American Heart Association and Dietary Guidelines…
Biological age is the gradual accumulation of damage and loss of function of our cells, tissues, and organs. This damage is what turns into disease.
Yes, you can eat your methylation nutrients! This delicious burger is rich in methylation amino acids (methionine, cysteine, taurine), as well as B vitamins, betaine, choline and zinc, cofactors for…
A good pâté can stand on its own when surrounded by soft-boiled farm-fresh eggs, steamed asparagus spears, raw cauliflower and colorful beets, and steamed Brussels sprouts!
Bone is not a static entity in our body. Our body is continually actively forming bone, as well as breaking it down—a process called bone remodeling.
Beyond methylation support, what can we do to mitigate the effects of too much homocysteine? While you’re working on bringing an elevated homocysteine down.
We love pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds for their rich minerals, B vitamins and essential fatty acids. They also make a delicious snack, especially in a methylation trail mix recipe…
Yes, you can eat your methylation nutrients! This delicious burger is rich in methylation amino acids (methionine, cysteine, taurine), as well as B vitamins, betaine, choline and zinc, cofactors for…
If you or anyone you know has a history of heart disease, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, diabetes, insomnia or autism, these are just some of the conditions that have been…
From DrKF – What’s especially interesting in this case is the less common symptom of oral ulcerations, responded well to frequent saline/iodine gargles. We are seeing several cases like this…
Allie was 16 years old when she first presented in my office with episodic abdominal pain in the lower right quadrant, onset 6 weeks prior, ranging from 2 to 10…
Not all nutritionists practice in the same way. Yes, we all absolutely care about nutrients. And most of us care about food as medicine (!). But if you’re a nutritionist…
A normally developing child developed regressive autism at 18 months. The child lost the ability to speak, make eye contact, and to interact socially.
Working with a functional nutritionist can help you be most effective at implementing your nutritional treatment plan, avoiding common pitfalls, and optimizing your health outcomes. With your own personal nutritionist,…
Joelle, a bubbly 25-year-old woman, arrived at the office exasperated, she had seen numerous clinicians, but was still struggling. She suspected PCOS, based on her signs and symptoms, including irregular…
Often vilified, the so-called “anti-nutrients” like oxalates, phytates and tannins can be strategically employed in the diet to inhibit iron and toxic metal absorption and successfully lower ferritin in iron…
Recovering from Morbid Obesity, Depression and Metabolic Syndrome using Functional Medicine
Last week I ran a nutrient intake analysis (NIA) on a couple of patients of the clinic; let’s call them Ava and Paige. In both these cases, weight loss is…
Clinicians, 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…
A huge part of our immune resilience comes down to the inputs we give our immune system – the food we eat and the lifestyle choices we make. These choices…
Dementia risk may be reduced by consuming dietary soy, at least in those who have the right kind of gut microbes to produce a compound called equol from its soy-derived…
Over 800,000 Americans suffer from chronic Lyme disease and experience associated symptoms such as malaise, neurological disorders, cardiac complications, and arthritis. Lyme disease is often treated with antibiotics, however 10-20%…
Reviewed by Romilly Hodges (October 2020) Leaky gut is often written and talked about as a black and white concept: Either you have it or you don’t. And if you…
As research on gut barrier function and gut microbes (aka the gut “microbiota”) expands, more is realized about the interconnectedness of the human body. One of the surprising areas is…
The newsletters I am most likely to open and read (ie actually click on to access the full text) are those from science sites that feature new research.
A good curry is such a great comfort food…but it can also be medicine for your immune system.
I’m thrilled to sit down and discuss all things GI with this amazing scientist, researcher and physician, Dr. Jason Hawrelak. Dr. Hawrelak has devoted his entire life to probiotics and…
The newsletters I am most likely to open and read (ie actually click on to access the full text) are those from science sites that feature new research.
Two of the most useful — and often overlooked — components of the nutrition physical exam are the tongue and fingernails. Together, abnormal findings can often be sourced to gut.…
Commentary from Jessica Drummond (podcast on Chronic Pelvic Pain): When working with interstitial cystitis (IC) clients, this study shifted my thinking from simply applying “the IC diet” as a strategy…
A 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…
“The fact that many fish [in the ocean around Fukushima, Japan] are just as contaminated today with cesium 134 and cesium 137 as they were more than one year ago…
What if we said that our understanding of what clean and dirty needs to be turned upside down? What could that possibly have to do with allergic diseases? Our Nutrition…
[Additionally, (and off topic) but an important point none-the-less, I am very concerned about the chronic use of antihistamines in my allergic patients…
Do you ever get a tingling, itchy, or scratchy tongue or throat after eating certain raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, or seeds? You aren’t alone. In fact, there’s actually a term…
It’s that time of year again. Pollen season in the North East hits full swing, so much so that I can see the layer of yellow dust coating our car.…
We in functional medicine have long been aware that children can start out with a clearly identified food allergy. As the child ages, the primary allergic symptoms fade and some…
I was recently reviewing a patient case involving migraine headaches. Let’s call her Sabrina. I was in our “cloud” e-file looking for another patient’s chart, and accidentally clicked on hers.
Surprisingly, indoor air can often be more polluted than outdoor air. Particles from home heating and cooling systems, tobacco smoke, off-gassing from furniture and building materials, and mold spores can…
This article is part of an ongoing series, where we cover different causes, testing methods, and treatment protocols for Cognitive Decline. Learn more here. Did you miss our presentation? Webinar: Detoxification…
You may have heard the term before, maybe have had some concerns about how it might affect your health. Like BPA, phthalates have been getting more and more exposure in…
Dr. Kara Fitzgerald discusses a quick, cheap method for detecting lead on the surface area of household items. Check it out!
A patient was in my office the other day explaining that she’s gotten rid of all her plastic cookware, purchased new pots and pans and wooden cooking utensils. “I am…
As I’m sure many of you are well aware, BPA (bisphenol A) is a known endocrine disrupter, altering hormone-related activity even at low levels of exposure. Studies have linked BPA…
I recently saw a patient who had been diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2000 when she was just 39. Her history was compelling in that everyone in her…
If you’re looking for a great gift idea for your loved ones, check out this round up of our team’s favorite kitchen tools (see how many times we can say…
Flax oils can oxidize at seasoning temperatures, but does the polymerization process make that concern redundant? Read on to find out, and share your thoughts in the comments below. Be…
Not all cookware is considered safe by Functional Medicine standards. Read on to find out which products can leach toxins into your food (and should be..
When we moved from our tiny New York City apartment out to the ‘burbs’ some nine years ago now, I rubbed my hands with glee. No longer was I constrained…
Obviously, the plants around us make pollen- the bane of the seasonal allergy sufferer’s existence. But did you know that because of our planting habits in the US we’ve drastically…
Supplement quality is a hugely important issue. There have been many instances of supplements not containing what they claim to, containing contaminants they are not supposed to (including ones that…
Parents often reach out to us with questions on vaccination, particularly around how best to prepare for them. Our goal in this article is to arm you with strategies you…
Our Clinical Development Program for Functional Medicine Practitioners recently enjoyed the benefit of two excellent guest lecturers on the topic of tick-borne diseases – Dr. Tom Sult and Mary-Beth Charno…
But what about our myriad dietary requirements – serious snag or ‘s-no problem? Read on to find out! Learn why an Elimination Diet is a fundamental…
Phew, summer is hot! Proper hydration is ALWAYS important, but even more so when the weather heats up or when we’re doing aerobic exercise. Read on…
Do your kids have frequent ear infections, eczema or colitis? In many cases, these can be related to dietary triggers, called “food sensitivities.” Dairy…
Why it be so hard to give up sugar? Hmmm, could it be something to do with how pervasive and immediately-available sugar-laden foods are in our society?! Certainly this is…