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Past, Present, and Future of “Biological Aging” with Dr. Fitzgerald
Team DrKF sat down with Dr. Fitzgerald to pose some questions about the “state of the state” of longevity research, current controversies and future directions, and where she sees her…
Why Skin Health is the Ultimate Test of Longevity
When 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…
Ultra-Processed Foods Spell Disaster for Longevity
Of course we always say “shop the perimeter” of your grocery store, and skip buying anything with industrial ingredients you wouldn’t normally find in your kitchen. Avoid added sugars, colors,…
Spermidine & other polyamines: Important players in longevity? Yes… with a few caveats
As the name implies, spermidine was first characterized in sperm, and while there is a high concentration present in semen (and it appears important for fertility), it’s everywhere- in all…
Beyond Beauty: Targeting Skin Longevity with Urolithin A
In the pursuit of wellness and longevity, skin health often mirrors the body’s internal state, serving as a visible testament to our overall well-being. Yet, traditional approaches to skincare have…
Gluten-Free Yeast-Free Quick Bread
This quick gluten-free, yeast-free bread recipe requires very little effort and is a pleasantly tasty surprise. Plus it’s main ingredient – sunflower seeds – are a Younger You longevity superfood.…
Ten Need-to-Know Factors That Influence Nutrient Status
Our patients and website readers are always asking whether they should be taking supplements, including what type, and at what dose. Often missed in the information put out by Dr.…
Holiday Stress – What’s in Your FxMed Toolbox?
We’ve made it successfully through the Thanksgiving rush. But do you or your patients need a set-and-refresh to make it through the rest of the holidays? The holidays are supposed…
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Healthy Methylation for a Younger You
What is Biological Aging and What Does it Have to do with Methylation?
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.
Winter Squash Soup
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…
Chicken Liver & Rosemary Pâté
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!
Methylation and Bone Health
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.
Counteracting the Negative Effects of too Much Homocysteine
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.
Methylation Trail Mix
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…
A Beet-Beef Burger and Salad for Methylation Support
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…
Methylation – What’s All the Fuss?
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…
Clinic Cases
COVID case brief using a Functional approach
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…
Eosinophilic Esophagitis in a 16yo Female: A Case Report
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…
From Bedridden to Back-at-the-Office: Working With a Functional Nutritionist
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…
23-Month-Old Female with Regressive Autism
A normally developing child developed regressive autism at 18 months. The child lost the ability to speak, make eye contact, and to interact socially.
Why Work with a Functional Nutritionist?
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,…
On the PCOS, Cardiometabolic Continuum: A Case Report
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…
Leaning on Dietary “Anti-Nutrients” for Treatment of Iron Overload: A Case In-Progress Brief
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: One Woman’s Inspiring Journey to Wellness
Recovering from Morbid Obesity, Depression and Metabolic Syndrome using Functional Medicine
Pin-Point Precision Personalized Nutrition: A Tale of Two Very Different Weight Loss Success Stories
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…
The Rash That Wouldn’t Quit
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…
Gut Health
5 Steps to Boost Your Immune Resilience This Winter Season
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…
Soy Reduces Dementia Risk But Only if you Have the Right Gut Bacteria
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…
New Diagnostic Test Suggests Chronic Lyme Disease Associated with Altered Gut Microbiome
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%…
The Nuances of Leaky Gut as a Contributor to Chronic Illness
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…
How Gut Health Impacts Cardiometabolic Disease
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…
Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s Research & News Round Up
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.
Immune Toning Coconut Curry
A good curry is such a great comfort food…but it can also be medicine for your immune system.
Episode 52: The History and Future of Promoting Gut Health from International Expert, Dr. Jason Hawrelak
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…
Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s Research & News September 2018
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.
Nutrition Physical Exam: Tongue & Nails Suggest Gut Health
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.…
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth & Gluten Sensitivity Often Found in Interstitial Cystitis Patients
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…
We Are What Our Gut Bugs Eat
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…
Cesium: Coming to a fish near you?
“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…
Immune Health
Allergies – Why Our Approach to Hygiene has Been so Wrong
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…
A Functional Approach to Asthma and Allergic Sinusitis
[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…
Oral Allergy Syndrome: What It Is + 6 Ways To Improve It
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…
6 Tips for Fighting Seasonal Allergies Naturally
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.…
Age-Specific Phenotypic Expression of Food Allergies
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…
Got Migraines? Then you’ve got food reactions….
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.
Detox and Toxins
The Best Indoor Air Purifying Machines… and Plants!
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…
Environmental Toxins and Cognitive Decline: 6 Steps to Reduce Your Risk
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…
What Are Phthalates and Do They Affect Your Health Part 1
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…
How to Test for Lead at Home
Dr. Kara Fitzgerald discusses a quick, cheap method for detecting lead on the surface area of household items. Check it out!
PCBs-A Case Report Suggests We Can Reduce Burden Despite Their Years-Long Half-Life
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…
The BPA Problem and What To Do About It
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…
Lead and Homocysteine Levels in a Series of Individuals Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease
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…
Cooking and Gardening
Our Team’s Favorite Kitchen Tools
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…
Is it Safe to Use Flax Oil to Season Cast Iron Pans?
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…
The Safest Cookware Choices for You and Your Family
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..
Safe Soil for Your Home-Grown Veggies
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…
Gardening Tips for An Easy Allergy Fix!
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…
More How-To's
Essential Advice for Choosing Dietary Supplements
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…
Vaccination Prep for Children – What to Know
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…
How to Reduce the Risk of Tick and Mosquito-Borne Illnesses and Still Enjoy the Great Outdoors
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…
Traveling on an Elimination Diet – How to Keep Your Sanity!
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…
Your Complete Guide to Hydration
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…
Diet Sleuthing: Navigating A Successful Dairy Elimination and Challenge
Do your kids have frequent ear infections, eczema or colitis? In many cases, these can be related to dietary triggers, called “food sensitivities.” Dairy…
Kicking the Sugar Habit
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…