Roland Functional Medicine

01/26/2022

If you’re struggling with low energy, brain fog, or you’ve noticed that you’re not as mentally sharp as you once were, give this a listen.

‎Show The Hey Taylor Podcast, Ep 007 — Increase Your Energy + Clear Out Brain Fog with Dr. Jake Roland & Dr. Natalie Underberg - Jan 24, 2022

12/25/2020

Merry Christmas from The Roland’s! 🎄🎄🎄

We are so thankful for all of you and our wonderful patients who have made us feel so blessed. We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy this holiday season.

12/20/2020

Could you have SIBO?!

Have you ever felt so bloated that you couldn’t button your pants?
Do you wake up with a flat stomach but go to bed feeling like you’re 6 months pregnant?

Even if you’re not experiencing bloating to this extreme, any amount of bloating is not normal. Bloating is a sign of digestive dysfunction and inflammation that is likely being caused by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which occurs when there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.

Here are some signs and symptoms of SIBO:

-Gas
-Bloating (with or without consumption of food)
-Constipation, diarrhea or both.
-A diagnosis of IBS or IBD (up to 84% of people with IBS have SIBO 😱)

Now the big question is what causes SIBO? Just as there are many symptoms of SIBO there are also many causes.

SIBO can be caused by:
-Stress
-High carb intake
-Medications that disrupt microbial balance in the gut such as antibiotics, antacids, steroids, etc.
-Low stomach acid

Now if you think you may have SIBO, here’s what you can do:
-Try a Low FODMAP diet- if symptoms improve with this diet alone, SIBO is likely causing your problems.

Next- it’s important that you work with a practitioner who is familiar with these stubborn digestive issues. Schedule a free discovery call with me today at rolandfunctionalmedicine.com so that we can help you address the cause of your symptoms so that you can get real long lasting results.

12/18/2020

Check out this podcast which features our lead practitioner, Dr. Jake Roland, who spoke on the Role functional medicine can play in mental health.

If you’ve ever suffered with mental health or know someone who has, give this a listen!!!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mental-health-insights/id1471204253 =mentalhealthinsights.podbean.com%2Fd3b2cace-2e55-37be-810d-8d75ef2b8705

‎Mental Health · 2020

12/14/2020

We couldn’t agree more. Acid reflux is a SYMPTOM of a deeper rooted issue. We help patients find the root cause of their acid reflex every day in our practice. This is one of the most common conditions we see.

If you have struggled with acid reflux, set up
A FREE call with Dr. Jake to get to the root cause of your symptoms.
Rolandfunctionalmedicine.com/book

I sat down with Dr. Todd LePine on The Doctor’s Farmacy to discuss the Functional Medicine approach to treating heartburn and reflux. Together they discuss how to find the real causes of reflux and heartburn, get rid of them, and use the right foods, nutrients, and lifestyle therapies to heal the problem.⁣
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Listen here: https://bit.ly/3fqzw71

12/10/2020

Are you tired all of the time? Do you struggle with anxiety or depression? What about brain fog?

If so, have you considered the possibility that your gut could be the root cause of these symptoms?

Decades ago, researchers discovered a two-way channel of communication between the gut and the brain that is known as the gut-brain axis. This connection has been studied extensively and the brain is more intimately connected with our gut than we ever thought possible.

So how does the gut cause brain symptoms? The short answer is, INFLAMMATION.

When your gut is inflamed, it can cause inflammation throughout your entire body. Especially your brain.

Fatigue and brain fog can occur when inflammation from the gut crosses the blood brain barrier leading to brain inflammation.

Depression and anxiety can also be the result of decreased levels of “happy mood” chemicals caused by brain inflammation that originated in the gut.

Does this sound like you? If you have been struggling with issues mentioned above, schedule a FREE call with Dr. Jake to learn more.
Rolandfunctionalmedicine.com/book

12/02/2020

What’s really causing your constipation…

Constipation may be the most common gut symptom I see in my practice, especially among my female patients. My patients often say that their gut just feels “super full, heavy, or full of bricks.” And when I examine their abdomen, it sometimes feels like there may be bricks in there! When you get backed up, the toxins, microbes, and excess hormones in your waste can re-enter circulation and cause fatigue, mental sluggishness, hormone imbalances, skin issues, and much more. Many patients tell me that they only have 2 or 3 bowel movements per week and that it’s not a big deal because that’s “normal” for them. That may be common, but it is most certainly not normal. Everyone should be having at least one bowel movement per day!

Constipation is always a symptom of something else, and finding the root cause is essential to transforming your health. Here are the most common causes of constipation that I see in my practice.

Hypothyroidism- an underactive thyroid
IMO- intestinal methanogen overgrowth
Diet- inadequate fiber intake
Dehydration- insufficient water intake
Candida- fungal overgrowth in the gut
Pancreatic insufficiency- pancreas unable to produce digestive enzymes
IBS- irritable bowel syndrome can also be a symptom of something else
Travel- disrupts your routine
Mood disorders- stress, anxiety, and depression
- Some medications
- Iron supplementation

With more than 70% of the adult population in the United States suffering from digestive symptoms and diseases, it’s more important now than ever to know how your digestive symptoms can be caused by poor diet, underlying organ dysfunction, and microbial imbalances.

If constipation is something you have been suffering with, schedule a FREE call with me. Let’s get to the bottom of it.

~Good health starts in the gut~

Rolandfunctionalmedicine.com/book

11/24/2020

Did you know that toxic mold is mentioned in the Bible?

Mold toxicity is often referred to as the “Original Environmental Illness”. This is because the Old Testament book of Leviticus 14: 33-45, which is believed to have been written by a man named Moses, gives detailed instructions on how to remediate a building that has been infested with toxic mold. This passage also speaks of the dangers to the inhabitants of the building as well as the village as a whole.

Verse 35 states that if something is found in the home that appears to be mold, that the owner of the home must then go and tell the priest. Verse 36, the priest then orders the home to be emptied so he can examine the home more closely so that he can confirm the presence of toxic mold and determine the severity of the situation.

Verses 40 to 45 detail the remediation process itself. For example, these six verses mention the scraping of the contaminated plaster off of the walls and off of stones that line the inside of the house. They also state that the contaminated building materials must be taken outside of the village to an unclean place. If the remediation process fails, and the mold comes back, the priest will order the house to be completely taken down and the materials disposed of outside of the village.

Does this surprise you? Have you or someone you know, been affected by toxic mold?

If you suspect you have mold and you live in the St. Louis area we suggest having your home inspected by the company Fungus-A-Mungus. You can also schedule a free call with Dr. Jake to see if toxic mold in your home could be making you sick.

Rolandfunctionalmedicine.com/book

11/24/2020

Are you getting your steps in each day?

The average American walks an average of 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day. This equates to around 1.5 to 2 miles. Walking is a form of exercise that is available to most and can be done almost anywhere. The best part is that it doesn’t require any special equipment or an expensive gym membership.

Walking regularly has been shown to reduce your risk for developing serious but preventable health conditions.

Such as:
-Obesity
-Diabetes
-High blood pressure
-Heart disease
-Depression

The best place to start is to measure the current amount of steps you get in each day to get a baseline.

Ways to track your steps:

-Cell phone- most smart phones have a built-in step calculator.

-Wearable technology- such as a Fitbit or smart watch.

-Step calculator- You can also purchase a standard step calculator on Amazon.

Here are some easy ways to get more steps in:

-Park farther away from the entrance.

-Walk your dog regularly.

-Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

How many steps should you be getting?
A reasonable goal for most people is between 5000 and 10,000 steps per day. Try to add a few hundred steps to your baseline measurement per day until you reach your 5,000 to 10,000 step goal.

How many steps do you get in each day?

11/22/2020

When it comes to thyroid disease, there are several ways the thyroid can malfunction. Many people confuse HYPERthyroidism with HYPOthyroidism.

HYPOthyroidism refers to an underactive thyroid gland, one that can not make enough hormones for the body to function optimally.

HYPERthyroidism is just the opposite. As its name suggests, hyperthyroidism occurs when your body makes too much of the thyroid hormones.

Do you or anyone you know experience either condition?

Book a FREE 15-minute virtual discovery call with Dr. Jake Roland at https://intakeq.com/booking/gsnmm0 to find out if functional medicine is right for you!

11/21/2020

The thyroid gland plays many roles in our health and has been studied extensively for decades. From regulating body weight to body temperature, the thyroid gland and its hormones are responsible for several essential functions. Did you know that every cell in the body has thyroid hormone receptors?! This means that thyroid hormone is involved in every physiological process that occurs in the human body. This known fact helps to illuminate just how important thyroid health is.

When thyroid hormone production is out of balance, severe conditions and symptoms can result. Understanding how your thyroid functions is an essential aspect of maintaining optimal health. If you want the latest on thyroid health, make sure to follow me on my Roland Functional Medicine page and my Instagram !

Book a FREE 15-minute virtual discovery call with Dr. Jake Roland at https://intakeq.com/booking/gsnmm0 to find out if functional medicine is right for you!

11/19/2020

Do you suffer from low energy, poor mood, and trouble losing weight? If so, you may have an underactive thyroid. Take the quiz to see if your thyroid needs a checkup.

Take the quiz to find out whether you could have symptoms of hypothyroidism.

11/12/2020

Could your Gut be causing your thyroid symptoms?!

Did you know that your gut health could be the underlying cause of your thyroid symptoms?! There is a strong connection between your thyroid and your gut that unfortunately is often overlooked in mainstream healthcare. Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that is the metabolic engine of your body. The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that act as an accelerator for our metabolism.
Without adequate thyroid hormone, the metabolism slows down, leading to problems with:

- Energy production
- Digestive function
- Weight
- Body temperature
- What are the signs of Thyroid dysfunction?
- Fatigue and brain fog
- Poor health of hair, skin, and nails
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Cold intolerance

How does this connect to the gut you may ask??

According to research, thyroid function improves when you treat gut conditions.
Here are a few examples:

1) In patients with SIBO, aka small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, the two most common co-existing health conditions were hypothyroidism and synthetic thyroid hormone medication. SIBO patients were more likely to have impaired thyroid function than healthy controls.

2) Patients with low stomach acid require higher doses of levothyroxine.

3) In patients with H. pylori infection, 21% of patients needed to reduce their thyroid medication dose after eradication of H. pylori.

The evidence clearly suggest that if you have a thyroid diagnosis, focusing on restoring your gut health as a means to improving your symptoms is a reasonable place to start.

If you are someone who struggles with thyroid or gut symptoms and you’re ready to transform your health and so you can feel normal again, schedule a free discovery call today so we can talk about what the path to feeling normal again looks like for you.
I’m looking forward to it. And remember, Good health starts in the Gut.

Rolandfunctionalmedicine.com/book



References:
PMID: 28223728
PMID: 29374417
PMID: 16641395
PMID: 21435090

11/09/2020

Hi everyone!

This is for all you out who have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, prescribed medication such as Levothyroxine or Synthroid, and are still experiencing a worsening of your thyroid symptoms.

As you know, Hypothyroidism is the medical term for an underactive thyroid, where the thyroid is not able to produce enough thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is sort of an accelerator for our metabolism and when thyroid hormone levels are too low we can experience:

-Weight gain
-Fatigue and brain fog
-Cold hands and feet
-Hair loss
-Dry skin
-Loss of lateral ⅓ of the eyebrow
-Depression and anxiety
-Infertility
-Hand tremors
-Body aches

Now if you’ve been prescribed thyroid medication but don’t feel any better or feel worse, it could be that you’re not absorbing your thyroid medication.

Studies show that some gut conditions can impair the absorption of standard thyroid medication. These conditions include:

- H. pylori infections
- Food sensitivities (dairy and gluten)
- Low stomach acid

So what is the bottom line? The bottom line is that your ability to absorb your thyroid medication is dependent upon the health of your gut. Some of my patients don’t even need their thyroid medication any more once we improve their gut health. If you’re struggling with thyroid symptoms and are ready to transform your health, your gut is the best place to start.

Schedule a free discovery call with me and I’ll help you get to the Root cause of your symptoms so that you can feel normal again!
RolandFunctionalMedicine.com/book

- Dr. Jake

11/06/2020

The reason for my gut first approach.....

My practice is filled with many people who were where I once was, sick with no answers and desperately searching for a solution. While in my office, these people told me their stories, and what they told me was disturbing. They told me how they searched the internet furiously for answers to their health problems hoping to find something that would provide them with relief. The internet contains an endless sea of medical information that chronically ill people usually drown in.

Online, there are so many options and opinions concerning potential diagnoses and treatments. This often leads to months or even years of self-diagnosing and treating many conditions that you “may” or “may not” even have. People waste tons of their time and money only to be disappointed and sometimes feeling worse. Time and time again, people in this situation fall prey to flashy marketing designed to look like science to sell you a healthcare product.

To make matters worse, health care practitioners take advantage of sick and desperate people out there. These practitioners look at health care as a business instead of a healing profession. Patients who are chronically ill will sign up for costly and elaborate treatment plans that they don’t even understand in hopes of feeling better. As a doctor, who was once a patient in this situation, I find this appalling. After reading countless hours of research and treating many patients with chronic illnesses, I realized that the key to helping the vast majority of these patients was addressing their gut health first.

Taking a gut first approach is not only supported by research, but I have seen many patients with constellations of symptoms that seemed unrelated to the gut completely disappear after restoring their gut health. I take a gut first approach in my office because it allows me to deliver evidence-based and cost-effective care to my patients. Starting with the gut first won’t always fix everything, but it’s a great place to start.

If you think this approach might work for you, or if you have questions, schedule a free discovery call with me to discuss it in more detail.
Rolandfunctionalmedicine.com/book

-Dr. Jake

11/05/2020

Here are some great tips for improving your posture from True Roots!

Here are a few tips on how to improve your posture while sitting at a desk!

10/29/2020

Did you know that researchers refer to the Gut as the Second Brain?

This is because our gastrointestinal system has a nervous system all its own. It is embedded entirely in the walls of our gastrointestinal tract beginning in the esophagus and extending all the way to the a**s.

There are approximately 100 million neurons, aka nerve cells, in the enteric nervous system. Nearly matching the number of neurons in the spinal cord!

The enteric nervous system can literally operate as an independent entity without input from the brain, although they are in constant communication with each other. This communication is channeled through the 10th cranial nerve, the Vagus nerve, forming what’s called the Gut-brain axis. Researchers have also uncovered that 90% of the communication that occurs along this neural highway is from our Gut to our Brain, not the other way around!

Historically we’ve thought of the Brain as a control center that runs the show. However, we now know that our Gut has much more of an influence on how we think and feel than we ever thought possible. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, is quoted as saying “all disease begins in the Gut”, and we’re finding this to be more true every day. This is why optimizing our Gut health must be a top priority.

Good health starts in the Gut.

Dr.Jake

P.s.- if you feel like you have gut issues that are unresolved, schedule a FREE call with Dr. Jake to get to the ROOT cause.
RolandFunctionalMedicine.com/book

10/20/2020

How does stress 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 affect our immune system?

Our immune system is arguably the most important system in the human body. It is constantly and silently protecting us from illness and disease. Stress has been shown to suppress the immune system making us susceptible to threats both internally and those in the environment. Some experts say that stress is responsible for as much as 90% of all diseases to include heart disease and cancer.

How does this happen?

Our brain and immune system are constantly talking to each other and during times of longstanding stress the brain triggers the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol has been shown to not only weaken the immune system but also increases the rate of infection and tissue damage. Because the effects of stress can have devastating consequences it vitally important that we make managing our stress levels a top priority.

One of the most powerful tools we have to combat stress is meditation. Study after study has shown that meditation is extremely effective at lowering stress levels. If you’re new to meditation, I recommend downloading the Headspace meditation app. Adding as little as 5 minutes of meditation to your daily routine can make a significant impact on your health.

If you feel like stress has taken a toll on your body and you need more 1:1 help feel free to schedule a free discovery call with me.
Rolandfunctionalmedicine.com/book

- Dr. Jake