Integrative Brain and Body

Integrative Brain and Body Integrative Brain and Body specializes in providing patients with answers to chronic health conditions The key to individualized care is proper testing!

Our goal at Integrative Brain and Body is to empowering people with knowledge to overcome chronic health concerns so they may live healthy, fulfilling lives. We respect that no two people are alike, even if they have the same condition. Because of this, we take time to get to know patients as individuals so we may deliver custom tailored care. If you do not feel “normal” your body is telling you that there is something physiologically not right! If you’ve been told your lab results are normal the root cause that is driving your condition hasn’t been addressed. To see the list of laboratory tests we offer, visit ibrainandbody.com/labs. For all the conditions we help we offer laboratory analysis, nutritional counseling, neurological rehabilitation, supplementation, chiropractic care and lifestyle modifications. Some conditions we help:
Thyroid dysfunction
Autoimmune diseases
Gut/digestive disorders
ADD/ADHD
Vertigo
For a complete list, visit http://ibrainandbody.com/who-we-help/

Your gut won’t change just because you added a probiotic or more fiber… and in some cases, that can make things worse.Th...
12/17/2025

Your gut won’t change just because you added a probiotic or more fiber… and in some cases, that can make things worse.

There’s a specific order your microbiome needs to heal, and when you follow it, symptoms start improving fast.

Swipe through to see the 3 phases I use with patients in functional medicine & neurology — and why the sequence matters more than the supplements. 👇🧠✨

Most people try to fix their gut by adding more probiotics or more fiber…but your microbiome doesn’t work that way.Your ...
12/16/2025

Most people try to fix their gut by adding more probiotics or more fiber…
but your microbiome doesn’t work that way.

Your gut is an ecosystem, and just like any garden, there’s a natural order to restoring it:

⛏️ W**d
🌱 Seed
💧 Feed

This simple sequence is one of the biggest “a-ha” moments for patients.

1️⃣ W**D

Think of this as clearing the soil.
If there’s bacterial overgrowth, yeast imbalance, or inflammation, your gut isn’t ready to receive ANY good bacteria.
This phase is about:
• Reducing overgrowths
• Supporting stomach acid + bile
• Calming irritation
• Rebalancing the environment

2️⃣ SEED

Once the terrain is cleared, you can start adding the good guys back in.
This includes:
• Targeted probiotics
• Spore-based strains
• Saccharomyces boulardii
The goal? Rebuild stability and diversity.

3️⃣ FEED

Now you nourish what you planted.
• Prebiotic fibers
• Resistant starches
• Polyphenol-rich foods
• Colorful plants
This phase strengthens the gut lining, increases short-chain fatty acids, and improves the gut-brain connection.

Why this matters

Probiotics or extra fiber can be super helpful — but only if introduced at the right time.

When you follow the correct sequence, people often see:
✔ Less bloating
✔ Better digestion
✔ Improved mood and energy
✔ Clearer skin
✔ More food tolerance
✔ Reduced inflammation

Gut healing isn’t about throwing more supplements at the problem.
It’s about restoring the ecosystem in the right order. 🌿

If you want help figuring out which phase you’re in, DM me GUT and I’ll point you in the right direction. 💬

“When you listen to yourself, everything comes naturally. It comes from inside, like a kind of will to do something.”— J...
12/14/2025

“When you listen to yourself, everything comes naturally. It comes from inside, like a kind of will to do something.”
— Jean Renoir

✨ Happy Hanukkah ✨Wishing light, joy, and peace to our friends and family who celebrate. May this season bring warmth, c...
12/14/2025

✨ Happy Hanukkah ✨
Wishing light, joy, and peace to our friends and family who celebrate. May this season bring warmth, connection, and meaningful moments. 🕎💙

Your gut does not just respond to what you eat. It also responds to how you move.Research is now showing that regular ex...
12/11/2025

Your gut does not just respond to what you eat. It also responds to how you move.

Research is now showing that regular exercise can reshape your gut microbiome in ways that support metabolism, mood, and long term health. In fact, people who train consistently for more than 8 weeks tend to see the biggest boosts in healthy gut diversity and in the production of butyrate, a short chain fatty acid that strengthens the gut lining and fuels brain health.

What is even more interesting is that exercise and diet work together. Up to 40 to 60 percent of gut differences seen in athletes can be traced back to the mix of movement, protein intake, and fiber in their routine. Movement can change gut transit time, shift intestinal pH, and influence bile acids. These changes create new opportunities for beneficial microbes to grow.

If you needed another reason to get moving today, your gut is already cheering you on. 🙌🧠💪

Studies show professional athletes have 20–25% higher gut microbiome diversity compared to sedentary people — even when ...
12/09/2025

Studies show professional athletes have 20–25% higher gut microbiome diversity compared to sedentary people — even when researchers control for diet.

Their gut bacteria are better at using amino acids, carbohydrates, and generating energy.

Translation?

Movement reshapes your microbiome in ways that support metabolism, recovery, mood, and long-term health.

You don’t need to train like an Olympian — just move consistently.

(Citations: Barton et al., 2018; Clarke et al., 2014; Petersen et al., 2017)

“The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.”— Hippocrates
12/07/2025

“The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.”
— Hippocrates

🧠💪 If You Care About Your Weight & Heart Health… You Should Care About Your GutMost people think gut health only matters...
12/06/2025

🧠💪 If You Care About Your Weight & Heart Health… You Should Care About Your Gut

Most people think gut health only matters if you have digestive symptoms.
But a major study on 363 adults shows something surprising:

👉 Gut permeability (measured by zonulin) has nothing to do with whether someone feels bloated, gassy, or has IBS symptoms.

Instead, higher zonulin, meaning the gut barrier is leaking more than it should — was linked to:

🔥 Higher waist circumference
🔥 Higher diastolic blood pressure
🔥 Higher fasting glucose
🔥 Higher risk of overweight & obesity
🔥 Higher risk of hyperlipidemia

In other words…

Your gut can be driving metabolic and cardiovascular risk even if your digestion feels “fine.”

This is why so many people struggle with weight, insulin resistance, inflammation, or stubborn belly fat without any obvious gut symptoms.

A compromised gut barrier allows inflammatory molecules to leak into circulation → increasing metabolic stress → altering insulin signaling → raising blood pressure → and expanding visceral fat.

Your gut isn’t just about digestion.
It’s a metabolic organ that directly shapes your:

❤️ Cardiovascular health
⚖️ Body composition
🩸 Blood sugar regulation
🔥 Inflammatory load
🧠 Neurological function

If you want to protect your heart, improve your metabolism, and maintain a healthy weight…

Start by protecting your gut barrier.

Want help figuring out what your gut is doing beneath the surface?
Message me “GUT” and I’ll send you our gut-brain evaluation process. 🧠💪 If You Care About Your Weight & Heart Health… You Should Care About Your Gut

Most people think gut health only matters if you have digestive symptoms.
But a major study on 363 adults shows something surprising:

👉 Gut permeability (measured by zonulin) has nothing to do with whether someone feels bloated, gassy, or has IBS symptoms.

Instead, higher zonulin — meaning the gut barrier is leaking more than it should — was linked to:

🔥 Higher waist circumference
🔥 Higher diastolic blood pressure
🔥 Higher fasting glucose
🔥 Higher risk of overweight & obesity
🔥 Higher risk of hyperlipidemia

In other words…

Your gut can be driving metabolic and cardiovascular risk even if your digestion feels “fine.”

This is why so many people struggle with weight, insulin resistance, inflammation, or stubborn belly fat without any obvious gut symptoms.

A compromised gut barrier allows inflammatory molecules to leak into circulation → increasing metabolic stress → altering insulin signaling → raising blood pressure → and expanding visceral fat.

Your gut is a metabolic organ that directly shapes your:

❤️ Cardiovascular health
⚖️ Body composition
🩸 Blood sugar regulation
🔥 Inflammatory load
🧠 Neurological function

If you want to protect your heart, improve your metabolism, and maintain a healthy weight…

Start by protecting your gut barrier.

Want help figuring out what your gut is doing beneath the surface?

Check the link in our bio to book an appointment.

You don’t need stomach pain or bloating to have a gut problem...and the way this shows up might explain stubborn weight,...
12/05/2025

You don’t need stomach pain or bloating to have a gut problem...and the way this shows up might explain stubborn weight, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.

Flip through to see why. 👉

A new study shows that the gut microbiome plays a major role in how a woman’s body handles estrogen after menopause. Whe...
12/03/2025

A new study shows that the gut microbiome plays a major role in how a woman’s body handles estrogen after menopause. When gut diversity drops it can affect belly fat, cholesterol, bone health, mood, and even memory.

Your gut and your hormones are always talking to each other. If you want better metabolic and hormonal health during menopause start by supporting your gut.

Most people think gut issues always show up with bloating, gas, or stomach pain.This is not true at all.👉 You can have a...
12/01/2025

Most people think gut issues always show up with bloating, gas, or stomach pain.
This is not true at all.

👉 You can have a gut problem even if you feel completely fine.
Research supports this.

A large study (PMID 28282855) found that a gut barrier marker called zonulin (a sign that your gut wall is more open than it should be) did not change based on stomach symptoms.
People with stomach problems did not have higher zonulin levels.

But people with poor metabolic health did.

Higher zonulin levels were linked with:
• bigger waist size
• higher blood pressure
• higher blood sugar
• higher risk of being overweight
• higher risk of obesity

This means your gut can affect your weight, your heart, and your metabolism even when your stomach feels normal.

Your gut lining controls what enters your bloodstream.
When that barrier becomes leaky, tiny food particles and toxins can slip through and start inflammation in the body.
Your metabolism can slow down.
Your blood sugar can rise.
Your body may start storing more fat in the belly.

Gut problems often show up in other areas first.
Look for signs like:
• stubborn weight
• fatigue
• brain fog
• sugar crashes
• skin issues
• mood changes

Your stomach may feel calm, but your gut might still need help.

If you want to support your metabolism, your heart, and your brain, start with your gut.

Looking for a better approach to your health? Check the link in our bio to schedule a Complimentary Appointment

Is this funny-sounding chemical really the culprit behind your Thanksgiving “food coma”? 🦃 Tryptophan is an essential am...
11/28/2025

Is this funny-sounding chemical really the culprit behind your Thanksgiving “food coma”? 🦃

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid and a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, which can influence sleep . However, the amount of tryptophan in turkey is comparable to other protein sources and is not unusually high. Therefore, that post-Thanksgiving slump is more about meal size and carbs than turkey alone. 🧠🌙🍽️

Beyond its misattributed fame for fatigue, obtaining tryptophan as a regular part of your diet can contribute to overall health by supporting neurotransmitter synthesis, mood, and immune function!

Looking to see how you can use food to support your own specific health and wellness, click the link in our bio to book a discovery link with one of our doctors!

Address

2777 Finley Road Suite 5
Downers Grove, IL
60515

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 1pm
2pm - 6:30pm
Wednesday 2pm - 6:30pm
Thursday 10am - 1pm
2pm - 6:30pm
Friday 10am - 1pm

Telephone

+16309687891

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Integrative Brain and Body posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Integrative Brain and Body:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category