Bloomberg Chiropractic Center & Fortify I.V.

04/10/2026

Anemia

04/08/2026

Vitamin B12 & Folate: The Overlooked Cause of Fatigue and Brain Fog
When Energy Drops, Think Beyond Iron
Most people associate anemia with iron deficiency. But in clinical practice, one of the most commonly missed causes of fatigue is low vitamin B12 or folate. These nutrients are essential for red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and brain/nerve function. Without them, your body may still produce blood cells—but they are large, inefficient, and short-lived, leading to poor oxygen delivery and low energy.
What Makes B12/Folate Anemia Different?
Unlike iron deficiency anemia (which produces small red blood cells), B12 and folate deficiencies cause macrocytic anemia (large red blood cells) These cells carry oxygen poorly, break down faster, and contribute to fatigue even when iron levels are normal.
Symptoms Patients Often Miss
This is where it gets interesting—and often overlooked. Neurological symptoms can appear before anemia is even detected in labs. Many patients don’t present with “classic anemia.” Instead, they report:
Persistent fatigue
Brain fog or memory issues
Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
Mood changes or irritability
Balance issues or dizziness
Pale or slightly yellow skin
Why Do Deficiencies Occur?
1. Poor Absorption (Most Common Cause)
Vitamin B12 absorption is a multi-step process that requires adequate stomach acid, intrinsic factor (produced in the stomach), and a healthy small intestine. Disruptions in this process include:
Aging (declining stomach acid)
Acid-blocking medications
Metformin
Gut inflammation or dysbiosis

2. Dietary Factors
Vegan or vegetarian diets (low B12 intake)
Poor overall nutrition
Excess alcohol use
Chronic illness
Inflammation
Stress
Aging
The Folate–B12 Connection
These nutrients work together closely. Here’s the important nuance: Folate can mask a B12 deficiency in lab work, but it does not protect the nervous system. That means a patient may appear “normal” in labs while neurological damage is still progressing.
Testing: Looking Beyond “Normal”
Many patients are told their B12 is “within range”—but still have symptoms.
Key Markers to Evaluate
Serum B12
Folate
Homocysteine (often elevated when deficient)
Methylmalonic acid (MMA) – more specific for B12

Functional Insight
B12 levels under ~400 can still be symptomatic
Elevated homocysteine suggests impaired methylation

Treatment: A Functional Approach
Step 1: Address Absorption
Support stomach acid
Improve gut health
Review medications
Step 2: Replenish Nutrients
Vitamin B12:
Oral (methylcobalamin or hydroxocobalamin)
Sublingual
Intramuscular injections (especially effective for faster results)

Folate: Methylfolate (preferred in many cases)

Step 3: Support Methylation
Vitamin B6
Riboflavin (B2)
Magnesium
This is often where patients notice improvements in:
Energy
Mental clarity
Mood

A Clinical Insight
“If you’re tired, foggy, or dealing with tingling—and your labs say you’re ‘fine’—you might not be fine.” B12 deficiency is one of the few conditions where early signs are subtle, but long term consequences can be significant.
Who Should Be Tested?
Adults over age 50
Patients on acid blockers or Metformin
Vegetarians or vegans
Patients with fatigue and brain fog
Individuals with numbness or neuropathy
Those with digestive issues

Final Thought: This Is About More Than Anemia
Vitamin B12 and folate are not just about blood counts. These nutrients are central to brain health, nerve integrity, energy production, and long-term cognitive protection. When addressed properly, patients often say: “I feel like myself again.”

Call to Action
If you’re experiencing fatigue, brain fog, or nerve-related symptoms, it may be time to look beyond standard lab interpretations. At Bloomberg Chiropractic Center and Fortify IV, we focus on identifying and correcting the root causes of nutrient deficiencies. Give our office a call at 618-783-2424 with questions or to schedule your functional medicine consultation.

04/06/2026

04/01/2026

Iron Deficiency Anemia: The Hidden Drain on Your Energy
If you’ve been feeling tired… and not just “end of the day” tired, but bone-deep fatigue, there’s a good chance your body is trying to tell you something. One of the most common—and most overlooked—causes? Iron deficiency anemia. Let’s break it down in a way that actually makes sense.
What Is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Think of your red blood cells as delivery trucks. Their job is to carry oxygen to every tissue in your body. Iron is the key component that allows those trucks to function. Without enough iron:
You make fewer red blood cells
The ones you make are weaker
Oxygen delivery drops
And when oxygen drops… energy drops.
Common Symptoms (That Patients Often Ignore)
Iron deficiency doesn’t always show up dramatically—it creeps in. Watch for:
Fatigue and low stamina
Brain fog or poor focus
Shortness of breath with mild activity
Cold hands and feet
Headaches
Hair thinning or brittle nails
Dizziness when standing
In kids: irritability, poor attention, or delayed development
In women: heavy menstrual cycles often play a major role
Why Does Iron Deficiency Happen?
This is where functional medicine shines—we ask why, not just what.
1. Blood Loss (Most Common)
Heavy menstrual cycles
GI bleeding (ulcers, polyps, colon issues)
Frequent blood donation
2. Poor Absorption
Even if intake is adequate, absorption may not be. Causes include:
Low stomach acid
Gut inflammation
Conditions like celiac disease
Chronic antacid use
3. Increased Demand
Pregnancy
Growth in children/teens
Athletes

4. Low Dietary Intake
Vegetarian/vegan diets (without proper planning)
Poor overall nutrition
How Do We Test for It?
A simple “iron level” is not enough. A proper evaluation includes:
Ferritin (iron storage)
Serum iron
TIBC (total iron binding capacity)
Transferrin saturation
CBC (hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV)
Key insight:
Ferritin is often the earliest marker to drop. Optimal functional range (not just “normal”):
Ferritin often performs best around 50–100 ng/mL in many patients

A Functional Medicine Approach to Treatment
Here’s where we go beyond “just take iron.”
Step 1: Identify the Cause
Is it blood loss?
Gut absorption?
Inflammation?

If you don’t fix the cause… it keeps coming back.
Step 2: Rebuild Iron Stores
Nutrition First
Focus on:
Red meat (best absorbed form—heme iron)
Liver (if tolerated)
Spinach, lentils, pumpkin seeds (non-heme iron)
Pair with vitamin C to enhance absorption.

Step 3: Smart Supplementation
Not all iron is created equal.
Better tolerated forms:
Iron bisglycinate
Heme iron supplements

Avoid taking iron with:
Calcium
Coffee/tea

These block absorption.
Step 4: Support the Gut
If the gut isn’t working, iron won’t absorb.
Consider:
Digestive support (HCl, enzymes if appropriate)
Addressing inflammation
Healing the intestinal lining

Step 5: Advanced Options (When Needed)
For more significant cases:
IV iron therapy (fast repletion)
Targeted protocols through functional testing

A Clinical Pearl
“I tell patients this all the time— If your body were a fireplace, iron is the oxygen feeding the flame. You can have all the wood in the world…but without oxygen, the fire burns low.”
When Should You Get Checked?
Consider testing if you have:
Persistent fatigue
Heavy cycles
Digestive issues
History of anemia
Unexplained hair loss or brain fog
Final Thoughts
Iron deficiency anemia is common—but it’s not “normal.” And more importantly…It’s fixable when you take the time to understand the root cause.

03/25/2026

Kids, Sports, and Chiropractic Care
Supporting Young Athletes the Smart Way
Youth sports are a gift. They build confidence, teamwork, resilience, and discipline. Whether it’s soccer, baseball, volleyball, wrestling, dance, or football — sports teach lessons that last a lifetime. But here’s what many parents don’t realize:
Young athletes are not just “smaller adults.” Their bodies are still growing. Their growth plates are open. Their nervous systems are wiring. And repetitive sports stress can affect how they move, recover, and perform. That’s where chiropractic care fits in.
The Reality of Youth Sports Today
Today’s kids:
Specialize earlier
Train harder
Play year-round
Practice multiple times per week
Spend hours in games and tournaments

Add in school sitting, screen time, and heavy backpacks — and you have a growing body under constant mechanical stress. Most injuries in youth sports are not major collisions. They’re repetitive strain injuries. And those begin subtly.
Growth Plates + Repetition = Stress
Children grow in spurts. During rapid growth phases:
Muscles tighten
Coordination changes
Balance shifts
Tendons are stressed
Movement patterns temporarily decline

If you layer repetitive throwing, jumping, sprinting, or tumbling on top of that — the risk of strain increases.
Common youth complaints we see:
Heel pain (Sever’s)
Knee pain (Osgood-Schlatter)
Shoulder tightness in throwers
Low back soreness
Headaches
Hamstring strains

These aren’t “weak kids.” They’re growing kids under load.
The Nervous System and Athletic Performance
The spine protects the spinal cord. The spinal cord coordinates movement, muscle timing, and joint stability. If spinal joints become restricted:
Muscle firing patterns can change
Stability can decrease
Compensation patterns develop
Injury risk increases

Chiropractic care focuses on restoring healthy motion and improving communication between the brain and body. Better motion = better coordination. Better coordination = better performance and fewer injuries.
It’s Not Just About Pain
Parents often wait until their child is hurting. But performance and injury prevention start before pain shows up. When movement is restricted, the body compensates. Compensation works — until it doesn’t. Chiropractic care supports:
Proper joint mechanics
Balanced muscle tone
Postural alignment
Recovery between practices
Improved body awareness

It’s proactive, not reactive.

Concussions and Headaches
Even in non-contact sports, falls happen. Neck alignment and mobility influence how forces are absorbed. Healthy cervical motion supports:
Balance
Head positioning
Recovery
Reduced tension headaches
Chiropractic care does not replace medical concussion care — but it can support structural recovery once cleared.
Recovery Matters
Kids don’t always recover as quickly as parents assume — especially during growth spurts.
Recovery includes:
Proper hydration
Adequate protein intake
Sleep quality
Nervous system balance
Mobility work
When kids train hard but don’t recover well, inflammation accumulates. That’s when nagging injuries appear.
What a Pediatric Sports Visit Looks Like
At Bloomberg Chiropractic Center, we evaluate:
Posture
Movement patterns
Hip and shoulder symmetry
Spinal mobility
Core stability
Balance
Adjustments are:
Age-appropriate
Gentle
Specific
Focused on restoring motion
We also educate kids on posture, warm-up strategies, and recovery basics. It’s a partnership.
Signs Your Young Athlete May Need Evaluation
Recurrent “tightness” in the same area
Growing pains that don’t resolve
Declining performance
Frequent headaches
Uneven shoulders or hips
Complaints of fatigue
Repeated minor injuries
Sometimes the body whispers before it shouts.

Building Resilient Athletes
Youth sports should build strength — not chronic injury patterns. When we support:
Structure
Mobility
Nervous system communication
Recovery habits
Kids stay in the game longer and healthier. And that’s the goal.
Final Thoughts
Sports are a powerful teacher. Our job as parents and providers is to protect growing bodies while they learn those lessons. Chiropractic care isn’t about chasing pain. It’s about supporting performance, coordination, and resilience. Because strong structure supports strong function. And strong function supports confident kids!

03/18/2026

Looking for an easy way to get more fiber? Chia seeds contain 10g of fiber in 2 tbsp. Give Dr. Luke's chia seed pudding recipe a try. The flavor possibilities are endless!

03/18/2026

The Gut–Brain–Immune Connection in Kids
Why the Stomach, Mood, and Immune System Are All Talking to Each Other
If your child struggles with frequent infections, anxiety, stomach aches, eczema, or trouble focusing…
It may not be separate problems. It may be one connected system. In children, the gut, brain, and immune system are deeply intertwined. When one is stressed, the others often show symptoms. Understanding this connection helps parents move beyond symptom-chasing and toward real solutions.

The Gut: More Than Digestion
Most people think the gut just digests food.
But in children, the gut is:
A major immune organ
A communication hub to the brain
A regulator of inflammation
A key player in nutrient absorption

Nearly 70% of immune activity is influenced by what happens in the gut. And the gut communicates with the brain constantly through the vagus nerve and immune signaling molecules. When the gut is balanced, kids tend to thrive. When it’s irritated or inflamed, symptoms can show up anywhere.

The Brain: Listening to the Gut
Children often express gut imbalance through behavior. The gut produces and regulates important neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. In fact, a large portion of serotonin activity is influenced by the digestive tract.
When the gut is inflamed or imbalanced, we may see:
Anxiety
Irritability
Mood swings
Poor focus
Sleep disruption
Sometimes what looks behavioral is biological.

The Immune System: Learning and Adapting
Children’s immune systems are still learning. Early life exposures — antibiotics, processed foods, stress, lack of outdoor play — can influence the microbiome. The microbiome trains the immune system how to respond appropriately. If that training is disrupted, we may see:
Recurrent ear infections
Frequent colds
Seasonal allergies
Eczema
Food sensitivities
The immune system may become either over-reactive or under-responsive.

Common Signs of Gut–Brain–Immune Imbalance
Parents often notice patterns like:
Chronic constipation or loose stools
Recurrent antibiotic cycles
Sugar cravings and energy crashes
Dark circles under the eyes
Poor sleep
“Tired but wired” behavior
Increased anxiety after illness
These are not random. They’re clues.

What Contributes to Imbalance?
Modern childhood brings unique stressors:
High sugar and processed foods
Artificial dyes and additives
Chronic screen exposure
Inadequate protein intake
Poor sleep habits
Limited time outdoors

Each of these can influence inflammation, microbiome diversity, and nervous system regulation.
Small stressors accumulate.

Supporting the Gut–Brain–Immune Axis
The encouraging news? Children respond quickly to foundational support. Here’s where we often start:
1. Stabilize Blood Sugar
Protein at breakfast. Healthy fats. Fiber.
Balanced blood sugar reduces inflammatory swings and improves mood stability.
2. Improve Gut Diversity
Whole foods. Vegetables. Fermented foods when appropriate.
Reducing ultra-processed foods.
3. Support Sleep
Consistent bedtime. Reduced evening screens. Dark, cool room.
Deep sleep helps recalibrate both immunity and mood.
4. Encourage Movement and Outdoor Time
Movement stimulates digestion.
Sunlight influences circadian rhythm.
Outdoor play increases microbial diversity.
5. Evaluate Nutrient Gaps
Iron, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Zinc, Omega-3s — all influence immunity and brain function.
Sometimes simple corrections lead to significant change.

Why Early Support Matters
Children are adaptable.
If we support the gut–brain–immune connection early:
Immune resilience improves
Mood stabilizes
Sleep deepens
Focus strengthens
Inflammation decreases
Instead of suppressing symptoms repeatedly, we strengthen the system.

Final Thoughts for Parents
If your child has:
Frequent infections
Digestive complaints
Anxiety
Sleep disruption
Eczema or allergies
Behavioral shifts

It may not be separate issues. It may be one conversation happening between the gut, brain, and immune system. And that conversation can be supported.
At Bloomberg Chiropractic Center, we look at patterns, collaborate with families, and focus on building resilient kids from the inside out. Because strong systems raise strong children!

03/16/2026

The doctors are more than happy to review your lab results with you. They will look at current results, along with any prior testing to see if there are and trending lab results that need attention. Dr. Scott and Dr. Luke will compare any symptoms you may be experiencing with the lab values. They will help you plan a course of treatment and consider you a part of the decision making team.

03/13/2026

Allergy season is right around the corner. Keep your kiddos healthy with our natural antihistamine. We have a formula for adults as well.