Vaughan Vitality Wellness Dr. Kristi Vaughan DC

12/10/2025

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR THYROID

Your thyroid plays a central role in regulating your hormones and your hormones influence nearly everything about how you feel and function.

When the thyroid becomes imbalanced or stressed, it can trigger a wide range of symptoms, including depression, persistent fatigue, PMS, unexplained muscle and joint pain, IBS, heart issues, and autoimmune conditions.

This small, butterfly-shaped gland has a powerful impact on many of your body’s systems. That’s why it’s so important to understand what it does, why it sometimes falters, and most importantly, how to support it.

Common Signs Your Thyroid May Be Struggling.
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Unexplained weight gain
• Facial puffiness
• Muscle weakness
• High cholesterol levels
• Muscle aches
• Thinning hair
• Depression
• Difficulty with memory or concentration

Your thyroid may be functioning in overdrive (hyperthyroidism) or slowing down (hypothyroidism)—and both can create significant symptoms.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. We’re here to help you restore balance and get your thyroid functioning as it should.
Call us at (714) 434-9355 or visit vaughanvitality.com to schedule your appointment.

12/08/2025

How Mindset Influences Physical Reactions to Food

1. The Gut–Brain Connection (The Second Brain)

Your gut contains its own network of nerves called the enteric nervous system, which communicates directly with your brain. This system doesn’t just help digest food—it also responds to your emotional state. That’s why it’s often referred to as the second brain.

2. How Thoughts and Emotions Trigger Physical Gut Sensations

When you experience emotions, your brain sends signals to your digestive system. This can cause very real physical sensations, such as:
• Stress → nausea, stomach tightness, or loss of appetite
• Excitement → butterflies
• Worry → cramping or digestive changes
• Anger → tightening or churning
• Sadness → slowed digestion or heaviness

These reactions happen because emotions activate the autonomic nervous system, which controls gut movement, enzyme release, and blood flow.

3. Why Mindset Can Influence How You React to Food

Your perception of food can change how your body processes it. For example:
• If you feel anxious about eating something (This might upset my stomach), your gut may tighten or react more sensitively.
• If you feel relaxed or positive, digestion can become smoother and more efficient.
• If you associate certain foods with fear, guilt, or past bad experiences, your body may respond with discomfort even if the food itself is harmless.

This is not in your head, it’s a real physiological response driven by the gut–brain connection.

4. Hormones and Chemicals Involved

Mindset influences gut reactions through several chemical messengers:
• Cortisol (stress hormone) can slow digestion or cause nausea.
• Adrenaline increases gut sensitivity and motility, causing urgency or discomfort.
• Serotonin, which is mostly produced in the gut, affects mood and bowel movement.

These chemicals shift depending on your emotional state, which then alters how your gut feels and functions.

5. The Bigger Picture

This mind–gut relationship shows that your emotional environment is just as important as the food you eat. Your body isn’t only digesting meals, it’s also digesting experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

When your mindset is calm, safe, and positive, your gut tends to follow.
When your mindset is tense, fearful, or overwhelmed, your gut often mirrors that.

https://www.vaughanvitality.com/

12/04/2025

Understanding the Benefits of Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback serves as a valuable tool for enhancing the self-regulation capabilities of the nervous system. It is applicable for individuals of all ages, addressing a diverse array of concerns. Many individuals who seek neurofeedback training have experienced theirbrains becoming entrenched in inflexible response patterns.

Through neurofeedback, we can assist the brain in achieving greater flexibility and efficiency. This adaptability equips patients to better confront future challenges.

During a neurofeedback session, patients gain real-time insights into their brain activity, fostering a sense of empowerment in the process of change. This interactive experience enables users to actively participate in their own development and transformation.

If you're curious about the potential benefits of neurofeedback, feel free to contact our office at
☎️ (714) 344-9355 for more information.

12/04/2025

Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland, can lead to a variety of symptoms due to hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

Common symptoms include:
1. Fatigue: Persistent tiredness or lack of energy.
2. Weight Gain: Unexplained increases in weight.
3. Cold Intolerance: Increased sensitivity to cold temperatures.
4. Dry Skin and Hair: Skin may become dry, and hair may become brittle or fall out.
5. Constipation: Difficulty with bowel movements.
6. Muscle Weakness: General weakness or aches in muscles.
7. Joint Pain and Stiffness: Discomfort in joints, often accompanied by stiffness.
8. Depression: Mood changes, including feelings of sadness.
9. Cognitive Changes: Memory issues, difficulty concentrating.
10. Goiter: Enlargement of the thyroid gland, which may cause discomfort in the neck.

Symptoms can vary significantly among individuals. If you suspect you have Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, it's important to consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and management.

If you suspect that you might be dealing with the challenges of an Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Schedule a consultation at (714) 434-9355 or visit www.vaughanvitality.com for more information. Understanding your health is a crucial step toward effective management and healing.

12/02/2025

Understanding Autoimmune Diseases:

Autoimmune diseases represent a unique category of health conditions where the immune system, typically a robust defender against infections, mistakenly attacks the body's own cells. Rather than safeguarding the host, the immune system appears to misinterpret parts of the body as harmful invaders, compromising its primary role of protection.

In a well-functioning immune system, there is a clear distinction between foreign pathogens and the body’s own cells. However, in individuals with autoimmune disorders, this differentiation falters, leading to misguided attacks on healthy tissues. Consequently, these diseases can manifest in various forms, ranging from mild to life-threatening.

Research indicates that autoimmune diseases can be influenced by various factors, with gender being a significant one. women are approximately twice as likely as men to develop these conditions. This heightened risk underscores the need for awareness and proactive healthcare measures.

If you suspect that you might be dealing with the challenges of an autoimmune disease, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Schedule a consultation at (714) 434-9355 or visit (http://www.vaughanvitality.com) for more information. Understanding your health is a crucial step toward effective management and healing.

11/27/2025

"True success in life is not measured by how much you make, but by how of a difference you make.

I’m thrilled to share another wonderful review from one of my patients, Mary Aguilar. Thank you, Mary, for placing your trust in me and for sharing your inspiring journey. Today, we celebrate your recovery and wish you ongoing health and happiness as you embrace this new chapter of your life. I am incredibly proud of you and excited for all that lies ahead!”

★★★★★

11/25/2025

Signs and Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause affects every woman differently. You may notice changes gradually often irregular periods first and other symptoms can follow.

Common signs include:
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness or discomfort during in*******se
- Hot flashes
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood changes (irritability, anxiety, or low mood)
- Weight gain and a slower metabolism
- Thinning hair and dry skin
- Loss of breast fullness

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, schedule an appointment at www.vaughanvitality.com or call (714) 434-9355.

11/24/2025

How Functional Medicine Understands Celiac Disease and Gluten Related Disorders

Celiac disease is a complex autoimmune condition that affects far more than digestion. It can influence hormones, metabolism, neurological function, inflammation, and nutrient absorption. At Vaughan Vitality Wellness, many patients come in with long-term symptoms such as fatigue, bloating, abdominal discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, anemia, weight gain or weight loss resistance, brain fog, insomnia, anxiety, depression, stubborn inflammation, or hormonal fluctuations. These symptoms often overlap with gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity, or allergy to gluten, and functional medicine helps patients understand the differences between these three conditions. Celiac disease causes immune-driven damage to the small intestine, while gluten intolerance and gluten sensitivity can still cause significant damage and symptoms even without autoimmune injury. Although, continued ingesting of gluten can turn on autoimmune. Because the gut affects thyroid function, insulin resistance, menopause symptoms, stress response, cognition, and energy levels, we take a whole-body approach to identifying whether gluten is playing a role in someone’s health concerns.

READ MORE 👇🏻

https://www.vaughanvitality.com/functional-medicine-for-celiac-disease-and-or-gluten-sensitivity/

11/21/2025

Many people want to live a healthy life but only a few people are actually taking action to change their way of living. I picked the best quotes about life that only people who want to kickstart their healthy lifestyle will appreciate and love to read. 🙌🏻
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11/19/2025

Enhance the lives of your loved ones by gifting them a Vaughan Vitality Wellness gift certificate! Perfect for those seeking Functional Medicine, Applied Kinesiology, Brain Healing Options, and support for Chemical & Environmental Toxicities, and more. This certificate opens the door to a variety of wellness services they will truly appreciate. Share your personal health success stories to inspire them to prioritize their well-being.

Call us today at (714) 434-9355 to secure this thoughtful gift! 🎁🔥

11/17/2025

Why Integrative Medicine Uses VCS Testing to Understand Chronic Symptoms

Many patients come to Vaughan Vitality Wellness with symptoms that seem unrelated at first glance: fatigue, brain fog, headaches, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, unexplained weight changes, sleep disruption, chronic sinus issues, or worsening hormone imbalance. They often say, “All my labs look normal, but I still don’t feel like myself.” This is where VCS testing, or Visual Contrast Sensitivity testing, plays a valuable role. Unlike a typical vision exam, VCS testing evaluates how well the brain can distinguish subtle differences in shades of gray. This ability is often impaired when inflammation affects the visual processing pathways, particularly in conditions involving mold exposure, chronic inflammatory response syndrome, Lyme-related illness, biotoxin accumulation, metabolic dysfunction, or neuroinflammation. Because integrative medicine looks for root causes, VCS testing becomes a simple, affordable, and noninvasive tool that helps clinicians identify when deeper inflammatory or neurological processes are affecting a patient’s overall health.

READ MORE 👇🏻

https://www.vaughanvitality.com/vcs-testing-explained-what-this-vision-test-shows-about-your-brain-and-inflammation/

11/12/2025

Live~Laugh ~Love! Happy Wednesday!