Inspired Wellness, PLLC

03/24/2026

Your muscles clear glucose in two different ways after a meal.
Most people only use one.

When you sit after eating, glucose disposal depends almost entirely on insulin signaling from the pancreas. That pathway works, but it has limited capacity, which is why post-meal glucose spikes are higher and longer.

When you move after eating, even lightly, a second pathway turns on in parallel.

Muscle contraction independently activates glucose transporters (GLUT4), allowing glucose to enter muscle without waiting for insulin. The result is faster clearance, lower peaks, and less strain on the pancreas.

What’s happening under the hood:
• Muscle contraction triggers GLUT4 translocation
• Glucose enters muscle directly
• Blood glucose falls more quickly
• Insulin demand is reduced, not replaced

This isn’t about burning calories or “earning” food. It’s about using the physiology you already have. Walking after meals doesn’t override insulin. It adds another clearance pathway.

That’s why timing matters.

03/18/2026

Lately we hear a lot about the importance of maintaining muscle mass as we age. The typical advice focuses on eating enough protein and engaging in strength training. Those are essential pieces of the puzzle. However, emerging research suggests another factor may also matter: cellular hydration.

A recent study found that better cellular hydration and electrolyte balance were associated with greater muscle strength and improved physical function in older adults.

Healthy aging may therefore depend not only on building muscle, but also on how well our cells maintain fluid and mineral balance. This is one reason why hydration throughout the day matters. After a night of sleep, when the body has gone many hours without fluid intake and has been relatively inactive, rehydrating in the morning may help support cellular function before becoming more physically active.

03/17/2026

🌿 Spring Creative Lab Series at Inspired Wellness 🎨

This spring I’m offering a few small workshops at Inspired Wellness that combine science, creativity, and nervous system health. These are relaxed, in-person gatherings designed to be thoughtful, practical, and a little different from the usual health talk.

Three of the events are no cost community workshops, and one paid event that is a longer Art Is Medicine session for those who want a deeper creative experience.

✨ April 5 – Aromatherapy & the Nervous System (No Cost)
Learn how scent communicates directly with the emotional brain and experience a guided aromatherapy session while we talk about stress, memory, and regulation.

✨ May 2 – The Biology of Trauma Book Club (No Cost)
A physician-led discussion of the book, The Biology of Trauma by Dr. Aimie Apigian. We’ll talk about how chronic stress affects the body, the nervous system, and long-term health. Reading is required for a more robust interaction.

✨ May 3 – Art Is Medicine Workshop ($75)
A longer, small-group creative workshop exploring the connection between painting, emotion, and the nervous system. This is a deeper, hands-on experience with guided exercises and reflection. Space is limited for this one.

✨ June 7 – Horizons: Watercolor Meditation (No Cost)
A quiet watercolor session focused on soft horizon painting, relaxed focus, and calming the nervous system. No art experience needed.

All events are held at Inspired Wellness in Oak Harbor.
Group size is small so the atmosphere stays comfortable.

You can see dates and sign up here:
👉 https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=23138527

Hope to see some familiar faces this spring.

03/15/2026

**Announcing a New Service at Inspired Wellness – The Inspired Veteran**

Many of my clients know that in addition to my work in functional medicine, I also perform Veteran disability examinations as an independent contractor for several organizations.

As a Veteran myself, I also know that some situations call for a more detailed medical record review or additional documentation. For that reason, I have created **The Inspired Veteran**, a program offered through my private practice at Inspired Wellness.

This service provides physician-led, independent medical documentation for Veterans who request a private review of their medical records, including evaluation of severity, progression, functional impact, and completion of DBQs when appropriate. These services are separate from my contractor work, are not affiliated with the VA or any VA vendor, and are performed at the request of the Veteran for a private fee.

My goal is simple — to provide honest, thorough, and respectful medical evaluations for fellow Veterans.

If you would like more information, please email:
👉 info@inspiredwellnesspllc.org

02/23/2026

You finally sit down. But instead of relief - there’s anxiety. Your thoughts race. You want to fidget or just get up and be productive.

Resting can cause anxiety because it can make us feel what we’ve buried.
If we learned early on that being productive was the way to stay safe as a child - it can cause anxiety.

At the end of the day - having a hard time relaxing is a pattern of stored trauma in the body.

Anybody here recognize that pattern in themselves?

02/23/2026

02/23/2026

B12 + Folate + B6: are the methylation triad 🧬🫀🧠

When one is low, the entire pathway can bottleneck.

These three B-vitamins work as a tightly linked system that drives one-carbon metabolism, the biochemical process behind DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, neurotransmitter balance, and homocysteine regulation.

That’s why B12, folate, and B6 are often discussed together, not as isolated nutrients, but as a functional triad supporting cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic health.

Why this combo matters
• Supports healthy homocysteine metabolism (a cardiovascular risk marker)
• Required for DNA synthesis and repair
• Supports red blood cell formation (distinct from iron)
• Plays a key role in nerve function and energy metabolism

RDAs vs real-world needs ⚖️

RDAs are designed to prevent overt deficiency in the general population, not necessarily to optimize function in people with:
• Elevated homocysteine
• Malabsorption issues
• Increased demand (pregnancy, aging, stress)
• Certain dietary patterns (low animal foods, restricted diets)

As a result, some individuals require supplemental doses above the RDA, under appropriate guidance.

Practical protocol:
Baseline intake (RDA level):
• Vitamin B12: 2.4 mcg/day
• Folate: 400 mcg DFE/day (600 mcg DFE during pregnancy)
• Vitamin B6: 1.3–1.7 mg/day

Common supplemental ranges used clinically (not required for everyone):
• B12: 25–500 mcg/day (higher doses often used for deficiency or absorption issues)
• Folate (B9): 400–800 mcg DFE/day
• B6: 5–25 mg/day

⚠️ Important considerations
• High folate intake can mask a B12 deficiency, especially in older adults
• B6 has an established upper limit. Chronic megadoses may not be appropriate
• These vitamins work best together, not in isolation

Who may benefit most
• Individuals with elevated homocysteine
• Older adults or those with reduced B12 absorption
• Pregnancy and pre-conception (folate is critical)
• People with fatigue, anemia, or confirmed deficiencies

02/23/2026

02/22/2026

✨ Did you know many women spend years trying to figure out perimenopause without the right support? I’m proud to be listed in the Perry Academy Perimenopause Directory — a trusted resource connecting women with clinicians who truly understand this stage of life. 📌

Whether you’re dealing with hot flashes, sleep issues, anxiety, or hormonal changes that just don’t make sense — there are answers and personalized care options.
Learn more + connect: 🔗 https://www.perimenopausedirectory.com/certified-providers-details?recordId=rec1wdUbrkdmMVLEk

02/18/2026

Women need to tend to their gut health even more as they approach menopause and after it in the postmenopausal period of their lives. Menopause-related estrogen decline reshapes the gut microbiome, reducing beneficial bacteria and increasing inflammation, intestinal permeability, and the risk of metabolic syndrome.

What's the takeaway? Personalized dietary patterns rich in fiber, polyphenols, and healthy fats, such as Mediterranean or plant-forward approaches, can help restore microbial balance and support metabolic health in postmenopausal women.

02/16/2026

02/16/2026

Your thoughts, mood, energy, motivation, sleep, and focus all depend on chemical signals moving between brain cells.

These are neurotransmitters. Each one plays a distinct role in how the brain regulates behavior, physiology, and perception.

Acetylcholine
Movement, memory, learning, attention

Dopamine
Motivation, reward processing, goal-directed behavior

Serotonin
Mood stability, appetite, sleep regulation

Norepinephrine
Alertness, attention, stress response

GABA
Primary inhibitory signal that reduces neural excitability and promotes calm

Glutamate
Primary excitatory signal essential for learning and memory

Histamine
Wakefulness and immune signaling

Glycine
Motor control and nervous system regulation

Endorphins
Pain modulation and natural reward

Substance P
Pain transmission and inflammatory signaling

Epinephrine
Fight-or-flight activation

Adenosine
Sleep pressure and neural recovery (antagonized by caffeine)

The broader point is simple: brain function is not just electrical. It is chemical communication in constant balance.

When neurotransmitter signaling is well regulated, it supports mood stability, cognitive performance, stress resilience, sleep quality, and motivation.
When signaling becomes dysregulated, functional symptoms often appear before structural disease.
Neurotransmitters are the language of the nervous system.