4 Better Health

07/21/2025

Motivation Monday
You’re not lazy.
You’re not broken.
You’re not “bad at this.”

You might be tired.
You might be overwhelmed.
You might be holding fear, grief, or self-doubt.

But you’re also capable.
Worthy.
And ready to take one step forward.

Start small, with love:
– Go to bed 30 minutes earlier tonight
– Choose more nourishing protein, less processed food
– Drink water like your energy depends on it (because it does)
– Move your body — even a 5-minute walk counts
– Take 10 quiet minutes to breathe, reflect, reset
– Distance yourself from anyone who doesn’t support your healing
– Make the call. Write the list. Start the thing.
– Press play on something that fills your mind with hope and strength

✨ Ask yourself:
What’s one thing I can do today, this week, or this month to add value to my life — to feel better, live better, be better…
for ME?
For the version of me that’s ready to live 4 Better Health.

You don’t have to do it all.
You just have to begin.

07/19/2025

Missing Out on Life Because of Fatigue, Flares, or Infections? It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way.

If you’re missing out on vacations, family time, work, or income because of chronic fatigue, autoimmune flares, adrenal burnout, EBV, or Lyme — you’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep pushing through.

Vitamin C Infusions May Be the Boost Your Body Desperately Needs.

💉 Vitamin C infusions go where oral supplements can’t.
With 100% absorption directly into the bloodstream, IV vitamin C achieves blood levels 50–100x higher than oral dosing — giving your cells what they need to actually heal.

Here’s what the research and clinical experience show:
🧠 Chronic fatigue & burnout: IV vitamin C supports adrenal recovery, balances cortisol, and restores energy from the cellular level up.
🦠 EBV & Lyme: One study found significant reduction in EBV antibodies after 8–12 weeks of IV C. Patients report fewer flares, less joint pain, and improved focus.
🔥 Autoimmune flares: Vitamin C calms the immune system by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
🩸 Anemia & immune dysfunction: It boosts white and red blood cell production, improves iron utilization, and supports tissue repair.

Most people come to us after months or years of feeling dismissed — told their labs are “normal” while they’re still:
– Sleeping 10 hours and waking up exhausted
– Missing work (and losing income)
– Canceling plans with friends
– Skipping vacations or lying in bed instead of making memories

✨ You deserve better.
Our patients tell us IV vitamin C was the first thing that truly moved the needle — giving them clarity, energy, and hope again.

💰 With our monthly infusion memberships, you save money while investing in what matters most: your ability to show up for your life.

Don’t settle for survival mode.
You can heal. You can feel better. You can feel like YOU again.

Book your Infusion using this link https://www.4betterhealthmedicine.com/iv-infusions/

07/18/2025

Reposting. Mmmmmmm!!

A delicious way to use up those ripe veggies 😍 enjoy as a side or as a snack. This chopped salsa has cherry tomatoes, corn, cucumber and onion 🧅🌽

07/18/2025

Just go. Make memories. Laugh. Love. Read. Walk. Breathe the sea air. Get that vitamin D.
#

07/17/2025

The Form + Dose of Calcium Matter for Your Bones and Your Heart:

Calcium is essential—but not all supplements are created equal. If you’re using calcium for bone health, here’s info you need to know 4 Better Health:

✨Calcium supports bones, muscles, nerves, and your heartbeat. But more is not better. Most people get calcium through food—so keep supplements under 750mg/day. Too much calcium (especially in the wrong form) can build up in arteries, kidneys, or soft tissues instead of bones.

✨Calcium doesn’t work alone.
You need Magnesium (glycinate), Vitamin D3, and K2 to help shuttle calcium into your bones—not your blood vessels. Without these, calcium can elevate parathyroid hormone and worsen bone loss.

Top 6 Non-Dairy Calcium-Rich Foods (with a bonus dose of fiber):
1️⃣Chia seeds (1 oz / 2 tbsp) = 180 mg calcium + 10g fiber
2️⃣Sesame seeds (1 tbsp) = 88 mg calcium + 1.1g fiber
3️⃣Sardines (with bones) (3 oz) = 325 mg calcium
4️⃣Collard greens (cooked) (1 cup) = 265 mg calcium
5️⃣Tofu (calcium-set) (½ cup) = 250–300 mg calcium
6️⃣White beans (1 cup cooked) = 160 mg calcium + 10g fiber

Avoid calcium carbonate supplements. Yes. It’s the most common form in cheap, over-the-counter calcium supplement—but it’s poorly absorbed and constipating.

Best options:
✴️Calcium citrate or Calcium malate or phosphate.
And the best is MCHC (microcrystalline hydroxyapatite) – a whole-bone derived form that integrates directly into your bones and has excellent absorption.

Bottom line: Know your dose. Know your form. Pair calcium with the right nutrients for real bone support—and long-term health.

07/16/2025

The UTI- Estrogen–Microbiome Connection You Should Know About

Many women are surprised (and frustrated) to start experiencing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in perimenopause or postmenopause—especially if they haven’t had a UTI in decades.

It’s not random. And it’s not just “getting older.” There’s a real, biological reason behind it—a drop in estrogen and the resulting disruption of the vaginal microbiome.

Estrogen keeps the vaginal tissue thick, elastic, and acidic.
It helps maintain a strong barrier and creates an environment where protective lactobacillus species thrive. These beneficial bacteria help keep pH low, deter harmful pathogens, and support the immune response.

As estrogen declines during menopause, that protection weakens. The vaginal tissue thins, pH becomes more alkaline, and the lactobacillus population declines. This opens the door for more frequent colonization of UTI-causing bacteria, such as E. coli.
The urethra and bladder are affected too.

These tissues are estrogen-sensitive. When estrogen declines, they also become more vulnerable to irritation, inflammation, and bacterial invasion—especially after in*******se or bladder stress.

Every round of antibiotics disrupts the microbiome further. Antibiotics used to treat UTIs don’t just kill the bad bugs—they also destroy the beneficial bacteria in your gut and vaginal tract. Over time, this can lead to:
😔Reduced microbial resilience
☹️Increased susceptibility to more UTIs
😞Higher risk of intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”)
😕Long-term shifts in immune function and inflammation.

The Functional Medicine Approach:
If you’re experiencing recurrent UTIs after menopause, it’s time to address the root:
✨Restore the vaginal microbiome with targeted probiotics
✨Rebuild local tissue integrity with vaginal estrogen therapy (a safe, low-dose, localized treatment—not the same as systemic HRT)
✨Support the gut microbiome and reduce inflammation

07/12/2025

So glad you are feeling so well supported Patti! 💕

We would love to see so many others have this accountability and passionate support - if you know anyone suffering, confused, overwhelmed - please share how Functional Medicine can help. ✨

07/10/2025

Your Steroid Inhaler Might Be Helping Your Breathing—But Hurting Your Bones

If you’re using steroid inhalers daily for asthma, you may be putting your bone health at risk.
Here’s what the research shows—and how SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy) might help:

🔸 Steroid inhalers can lower bone mineral density. Long-term use of ICS (inhaled corticosteroids) is associated with increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures—especially in postmenopausal women.
➡️ Study: A 2020 meta-analysis found a significant dose-response relationship between ICS use and fracture risk. -Loke YK, Cavallazzi R, Singh S. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154(8):505-513.

🔸 Even moderate use can suppress calcium absorption and reduce osteoblast (bone-building cell) activity over time. This is highly concerning in children, teens and early 20s when we are building the most bone.

🔸 Histamine intolerance worsens asthma. Chronic histamine elevation can lead to airway reactivity, inflammation, and increased need for rescue meds.

🔸 SLIT therapy treats root causes, not just symptoms. By retraining the immune system to tolerate allergens, SLIT can reduce asthma triggers—cutting back reliance on inhalers over time.
➡️ Study: SLIT reduced asthma medication use by up to 40% in allergic asthmatics - Canonica GW, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;134(3):666-672.

🔸 Protect your lungs and your bones. Adding SLIT while optimizing vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and resistance training can safeguard your skeleton—while reducing airway inflammation at the root.

Want to learn if SLIT is right for you? We’re here to help.

’tPill

07/09/2025

Pause. Breathe. Notice the moment you’re in.
Mindfulness isn’t about emptying your mind—it’s about coming home to yourself.

A recent 30‑day study (daily 10 min mindfulness) reported 19% greater drop in depression, 12.6% less anxiety, and a 6.9% increase in wellbeing compared to controls (https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2024/08/just-ten-minutes-of-mindfulness-daily-boosts-wellbeing-and-fights-depression-study-reveals.page)

One deep breath can shift your entire day.
Start here. Start now.

07/08/2025

Wellness isn’t a destination—it’s a daily decision.
Let the second half of 2025 - the rest of the 2020’s- the rest of your life be your brightest & most comfortable chapter yet.

07/07/2025

🍫 Happy National Chocolate Day!
Yes, chocolate can be part of a healthy life… if you don’t treat it like a food group.

Here’s how to enjoy it without the sugar crash, guilt, or glucose spike:
1. Go Dark (70% or higher) – More antioxidants, less sugar. Bitterness builds character.
2. Ditch the Junk: Skip the versions with dairy, soy lecithin, dyes and unpronounceable ingredients.
3. Watch the Dose: 1–2 squares = celebration. 1–2 bars = confession.
4. Boost Your Mood: Rich in magnesium and flavonoids = brain, heart, and “don’t snap at anyone today” support.
5. Balance It Out: Pair with healthy fats or protein to avoid the spike-and-crash rollercoaster.
6. Read the Label: “Dark chocolate” with 18g of sugar per serving is just dessert in disguise. Go for lowest sugar and keep to recommended serving.
7. Savor Slowly: Let it melt in your mouth. No speed chewing. This is not a drive-thru.
8. And if you call it “self-care” while eating it in your closet… we see you. We all have our moments. Self-grace so as not to sabotage your healthy goals.

07/02/2025