Podcast cover art

Functional Interventions for Men’s Health in Aging and Prostate Cancer with Dr. Geo Espinosa

We’ve been eager to put together a podcast on men’s health – prostate cancer, low testosterone, foundational vitamin and botanical supplements, nutritional interventions – and folks, it’s finally here! There’s a wealth of GREAT pearls to bring into your own practice from this month’s interview with our guest Dr. Geo Espinosa, ND. Dr. Geo is a long-time friend, a fellow naturopathic functional medicine physician, and a (if not “the”) definitive voice in neurology and men’s health. His passion about men’s health helped him bridge the gap between conventional and naturopathic medicine. Together we discuss how to engage men in self-care, specific nutritional interventions to support men’s health, laboratory panels and optimal ranges, and some of his favorite vitamins and botanicals for his male patients.

Woman having painful stomach ache during working from home,Female suffering from abdominal pain,Period cramps,Hands squeezing belly,Stomach pain

Uterine Fibroids: Mechanisms, Treatment Challenges and the Power of Embracing a Functional Approach

Uterine 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.

Episode 69: Sponsored | Telomere Integrity: What Clinicians Need to Know with Dr. Joseph Raffaele

Sponsored |The Best Biomarker of Aging: What Clinicians Need to Know

I am particularly fascinated by new advances in testing biological age and how these biomarkers relate to disease risk. My podcast guest today is Dr. Joseph Raffaele MD, a leading expert, researcher, and clinician on the topic of biological aging and telomeres. We talked last year on New Frontiers, and I’m psyched to continue the conversation!

This time, Dr. Raffaele and I explore the various tests he uses to determine physiological age and disease risk, and go big into how senescent T cells and infections, such as cytomegalovirus, increase COVID-19 risk, particularly in a younger, seemingly healthy population. You’re going to love this enticing convo on the role of aging as it relates to disease and COVID-19 risk, and might find some great take-away clinical pearls to use in your own practice. Settle in, this is a good one, and let me know what you think by leaving a review or comment! ~DrKF

Podcast Cover Image

Dr. Mark Pimentel Presents New Perspectives on SIBO and IBS

Dr. Mark Pimentel. We all know him as the clinician/scientist who understands the varied pathogenic underpinnings of IBS/SIBO/IMO. In my recent conversation with him, we cover the definition of terms, causes, when to use a stool test. We discuss the Pimentel low fermentation diet, intervention (including botanicals), and diagnosing hydrogen sulfide (a test is coming soon, but wasn’t available at time of recording). Probiotics: any utility? Elemental diet, and so much more. Grateful to have Dr. Pimentel on the podcast, and know you will benefit from this insightful convo. Thanks for listening, please leave a review if you can! ~DrKF

Podcast cover art

Sponsored: In Pursuit of Best Practice for Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)

As a functional medicine clinician and scientist, I absolutely appreciate the deep literature dives my colleagues take. When they come up for air, there is a synthesized body of knowledge that is riveting, satisfying to listen to, trust-worthy and, most importantly, practice changing. Such was my conversation on all things menopausal hormone therapy with Dr. Doreen Saltiel, currently consulting for Precision Analytical (they’re lucky to have her). She spent the bulk of her impressive career as an interventional cardiologist (although confesses she wanted to go into OBGYN) and jumped into integrative and functional medicine after her own “ah-ha” healing journey, involving hormone replacement therapy, relatively early on in her life.

Podcast Cover Art

Episode 84: Sponsored | Dr. Victoria Albina shares clinical use of CBD for anxiety and stress in patients

New Frontiers in Functional Medicine® Podcast Sponsors Dr. Kara Fitzgerald is eternally grateful to our sponsors who, by blogging, podcasting and advertising with us, enable me and my team to devote energy and time to writing and publication. Episode 84: Sponsored | Dr. Victoria Albina shares how clinicians use CBD for anxiety and stress in…

Menopausal hormone therapy MHT inscription and pills.

In Pursuit of Best Practice: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)

I have practiced medicine for more than 30 years. Throughout, I, like most of you, always wished I had more time to read. My wish came true! This past year, I had the opportunity to roll up my sleeves, dig in, and really understand the literature. Literature on what? In addition to being a cardiovascular disease (CVD) expert, I wanted to continue my growth and development as a hormone expert. I wanted to know everything I could about hormones, hormones in health and disease, hormones in both men and women, hormone dosing, delivery systems, and monitoring, such that I could educate myself, fellow clinicians, and patients. And that is exactly what I have done.

first responder

Tactical Nutrition for First Responders

“One of our lead nutritionists, Janine Henkel, is a former first responder. This blog, written “from the heart” by Janine is for anyone on today’s front lines, including those working in healthcare and essential services through these challenging times. We appreciate you so much. It’s also for anyone who needs their brain and body to function to its highest level at a moment’s notice and, as Janine likes to say – “anyone who isn’t guaranteed a bathroom break.” Moms of young kids included (we know what you have to do!). Truth is, there is wisdom here for all of us, even those of us at home day in, day out, trying not to make too many trips to the refrigerator. Tuck in…”