Laura Houser, MD

06/29/2024

Wow! This confirms what many have been saying for years. The study concluded that a single dose of BPA exposure altered the insulin response to glucose, which could elevate risk for type 2 diabetes.

Human cross-sectional and animal studies have shown an association of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, but no human experimental study has investigated whether BPA alters insulin/C-peptide ...

08/20/2022

Leaves of Life is an integrative wellness center that is founded upon the practices and principles of Naturopathy and Functional Medicine.

06/25/2020

Do you have any burning questions about nutrition? If so, let Olivia know over at LiveWell 365. She's looking to create content that's designed for you!

Happy Thursday! Olivia here -- looking to learn more about YOU!

What are you struggling with in the kitchen? Have you tried anything that worked? I'd love to learn more about what kind of information you'd find most helpful.

As a dietitian specializing in weight management and women's health, I have tons of knowledge about how you can make nutritional changes to impact your health. If you have any interest in learning about nutrition management for specific conditions, let me know below!

06/15/2020

Welcome, Olivia! We're so excited to offer personalized nutrition counseling at LiveWell 365.

Nutrition and lifestyle change are at the heart of functional medicine. If you've been wanting to make changes to feel better, lose weight, support a pregnancy, improve your digestion, optimize your fertility, manage a chronic condition, or simply learn how to make healthier diet choices, consider starting with Olivia! She'll work with you one-on-one to determine what your dietary needs are and how you can make nutritional changes that align with your health goals.

LIVE WELL 365 IS GROWING!

We're excited to announce that a new clinician is joining our team, welcome Olivia! She's a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and is so excited to work with you to meet your health & wellness goals.

She's a 2019 graduate from The Ohio State University with a passion for weight management, women's wellness, and integrative-functional nutrition. If you're at all interested in working one-on-one with a personal dietitian, check out the Nutrition Counseling page on our website for more details!

Olivia will be starting with clients July 1st! 😊

04/06/2020

Good afternoon! We have some exciting changes going on at LiveWell 365... we just re-launched our website! Head over, check out the new site, and read the latest blog posts 😊

There are some exciting changes coming in the upcoming months, so follow the page to stay tuned!

03/25/2020

Here is the 202 list of the fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides.

Check out EWG's Dirty Dozen list to help decide when you should splurge for organic produce – part of our annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

04/14/2019

Hi all! Please follow my new FB page, LiveWell 365. It is here that I will be sharing health and wellness coaching tips. You can also use the site to schedule a visit with one of our fantastic health coaches. Check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/livewell365llc/

LiveWell 365 is a virtual health and wellness coaching site and is based on the foundation of the Functional Medicine approach--a way of identifying and overcoming chronic disease with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

03/29/2019

This is a great post. Had to share it. EWG. org is a great way to get more information on this and find better products.

If you wouldn’t eat it, you shouldn’t put it on your skin because everything gets absorbed into your body.

While it may not be possible to avoid toxins entirely, you can definitely reduce exposure to these endocrine disruptors. It simply involves investigative work and switching to safer products.

Many makeup products carry phthalates. Phthalates wreak hormonal havoc. Studies link phthalates with cancer, birth defects and thyroid issues.

Glycolethers can also be found in cosmetics and skincare — they contain glycol ethers which can damage fertility, lead to birth defects and worsen allergies and asthma.

To steer clear of these chemicals, avoid products that contain “fragrance.” Stick with all-natural products that have only a few familiar ingredients.

Luckily, if you’re a smart shopper you can greatly reduce your exposure to these harmful toxins. Here‘s what to look for to avoid fragrance chemicals in your products:

- Avoid any product that has “fragrance”, “parfum”, or “eau de toilette” on the label.�
- Opt for items made with natural ingredients like essential oils—when in doubt, only trust ingredients you can pronounce and easily identify. Generally, the simpler the list the better.�
- Don’t trust products that don’t list all the ingredients!�
- Look for the MADE SAFE seal. Fragrance transparency is a requirement of MADE SAFE certification.�

FOR MORE INFORMATION, check out EWG’s skin deep database to see where your cosmetics rank on the toxicity scale.

03/12/2019

Another study to support the fact that everything we put into our bodies, knowingly or unknowingly, affects our babies! Consider also all the unknown chemicals that we are exposed to daily from other sources, such as home cleaning products, personal care products and food additives. It all adds up. Educate yourself and avoid all that you can. Check out EWG.org as a resource.

Smoking even one cigarette a day during pregnancy can double the chance of sudden unexpected death for your baby, according to a new study analyzing over 20 million births, including over 19,000 unexpected infant deaths.

03/07/2019

The truth is that the quality of what you eat is FAR more important than how much you eat.

There has only been one study done that showed no difference between organic and conventional produce. It was funded by the food and agriculture industry.

A 2015 study funded by the EPA found that consumers who often or always bought organic had significantly less insecticides in their urine, even though they ate 70 percent more produce than people who bought only conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.

I know this all sounds scary, but you can greatly lower your exposure to pesticides by eating organic.

If we buy in-season produce at farmers’ markets from small local growers, we probably also wind up eating healthier food and we can also use the research done by the Environmental Working Group to guide us.

You can go to EWG.org for lists on produce with the least and most pesticides and background report in its entirety.

02/23/2019

I saw several patients this week alone that had amazing resolution in various symptoms from going on a gluten free diet. The evidence is there, it is not a fad. Try it, you may be amazed!

Skin problems, depression, and headaches are all potential symptoms of gluten intolerance. Read more to find out if you’re dealing with a sensitivity.