Leslie Cash Lafaye, Functional Medicine Health Coach

05/22/2025

Purple is the color code for brain health 💜

06/28/2024

Spices not only provide nutrients, but they may stimulate the absorption of nutrients from foods. In this preclinical study, spices like ginger, black pepper, and red pepper increased the intestinal absorption of beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A) from carrots. Of these three, black pepper had the biggest impact. Piperine, a compound in black pepper, was also tested and found to increase its absorption to the greatest degree.

What's the takeaway? Add some spices, especially black pepper, on your cooked carrots with a little extra-virgin olive oil!

06/28/2024

05/25/2024

Vagus nerve….

03/27/2024

Did you know: Olive oil can function similarly to Ozempic? 🫒🤔

To understand how, you'll need to learn about GLP-1, a protein that's been making headlines alongside the weight-loss medication.

GLP-1 is a small protein that your gut produces to signal satiety to other parts of your body. Think of the GLP-1 receptor (the protein that GLP-1 binds to) as the natural “full” button in your brain and GLP-1 as the finger that presses the button.👇Ozempic is the synthetic version of this, making you feel full by artificially pushing that button.

The foods we eat can also trigger GLP-1—which brings us back to olive oil.

Fat-rich foods generally stimulate GLP-1 release better than carbs. A 2015 study, which looked at 12 healthy men, showed that feeding these men olive oil (with a bit of shredded carrot) was enough to induce a major spike in GLP-1 levels naturally, leading to the sensations of satiety similar to the ones Ozempic creates pharmaceutically. 🤯 While this study is admittedly small and not generalizable—for one, it didn't include any women—it suggests that there's a relationship between olive oil and the release of GLP-1, at least in some people.

But it may not be the olive oil by itself that’s responsible: Rather, certain gut bacteria break down a compound in olive oil, called oleic acid, to accomplish this. Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Gemella (a type of bacteria in the gut) breaks down oleic acid into a byproduct, or metabolite, called oleoyl serinol.
2️⃣ Oleoyl serinol stimulates the release of GLP-1 by intestinal cells.

So why does this all matter? While the cultural conversation around Ozempic has focused on weight loss, the impact of satiety isn’t just about body size and appearance. Your body and your microbes work together every day to utilize the foods you eat to help you feel full and energetic. Understanding the incredible ways in which satiety can be mediated by the microbiome can help you better understand, nourish, and power your own body.

Want to learn more? Read about how the new science of the microbiome is changing the way we think about dieting and body size: https://bit.ly/3tM2sBF

03/16/2024

Misconceptions about any profession are normal, and health coaching certainly has its fair share.

Externally, it may seem that health coaches focus primarily on weight loss, but really – it is so much more! Functional Medicine in particular is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease, with a goal of optimal wellness. This means we go beyond goal setting and accountability check-ins (though we do those, too!) to really help a client transform their lifestyle to feel better every day.

Health coaches, what are some other things you’d add to the bottom of the iceberg?

03/05/2024

Vagus.

02/20/2024

Gut-brain changes that occur after a brain injury

Adapted from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159117301551

02/11/2024

Top Sources of Vitamin C to support better immune function and overall health. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that aids the synthesis of collagen for skin health; helps to regulate blood pressure and cholesterol for heart health; keeps your muscles strong; and maintains eye health. Your body can't generate Vitamin C, so you need to consume vitamin-C-rich foods on a regular basis. It's best to consume these foods raw or cook them at low temperatures for short periods of time to maximize absorption. Get more health tips on my website.
https://www.theblendergirl.com/hints-tips/

02/09/2024

Office will be closed on
Tuesday 2-13-2024
in Observation of Mardi Gras 💜💛💚
Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy Mardi Gras Celebration 🎊

01/16/2024

Office will be closed tomorrow due to inclement weather 🥶
Stay safe, stay warm, be blessed 🙏🏼

01/13/2024