Dr. Abby Functional Medicine, Prophetstown, IL (2025)

04/02/2025

🌟 New at Our Office: Red Light Therapy! 🌟

We’re thrilled to introduce Red Light Therapy as a new offering at our office! 🙌

Red light therapy (RLT) uses specific wavelengths of light to pe*****te the skin, promoting cellular health and function. Here’s why so many people are turning to red light therapy for their wellness needs:

✨ Reduces Inflammation: Studies show that RLT can help decrease inflammation by increasing circulation and stimulating cellular repair, making it a great option for sore muscles and joints.

✨ Enhances Skin Health: Research suggests that red light can boost collagen production, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and promoting a healthy, youthful glow.

✨ Boosts Energy Production: Red light stimulates the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell), helping improve energy levels and support overall vitality.

✨ Promotes Recovery: Clinical trials have shown that RLT may speed up healing by encouraging tissue repair and reducing muscle soreness after physical activity.

✨ Supports Mood & Sleep: Some studies indicate that red light can positively impact mood and sleep by balancing the body’s natural circadian rhythms and promoting relaxation.

If you’re curious about how red light therapy could benefit you, reach out to us! We’d love to chat and share more about this innovative, non-invasive wellness option. 💡

11/28/2024

Giving Thanks 🧡

As we gather with loved ones and reflect on our lives, let’s take a moment to express gratitude for our health. 𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮? It’s the perfect time to nurture both mind and body.

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 🧡

11/16/2024

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, impacting everything from digestion to mood. An unhealthy gut can lead to a range of issues that might seem unrelated at first.

𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳:

1️⃣ 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Bloating or discomfort after meals may be due to imbalances in gut bacteria, food intolerances, or digestive enzyme deficiencies.

2️⃣ 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀: If you notice discomfort, gas, or digestive distress after consuming common foods like dairy or gluten, it may be time to assess your gut health. Food intolerances often arise when the gut lining is compromised.

3️⃣ 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀: Conditions such as eczema, acne, or rosacea may be linked to inflammation caused by an unhealthy gut microbiome and an overproduction of toxins that manifest on your skin.

4️⃣ 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲: Feeling fatigued or have low energy? An imbalanced gut may hinder nutrient absorption, leading to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals that can leave you feeling depleted and tired.

5️⃣ 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Studies show that gut dysbiosis can trigger or exacerbate autoimmune responses. A leaky gut may allow toxins to enter the bloodstream, leading to inflammation and immune system confusion.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s essential to pay attention and seek help. Understanding the state of your gut health can be a game-changer for your overall well-being.

Consider booking a consultation for a comprehensive assessment and functional testing options that can provide insights into your gut health. Together, we can develop a personalized plan to restore balance and support your journey to better health!

11/03/2024

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴, and even small lifestyle habits can either support or disrupt its function. Optimizing gut health isn't just about what you eat—it’s also about how and when you eat. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝟰 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆:

🍽️ 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆: Breaking down your food through proper chewing helps your stomach and intestines digest more efficiently. It also allows enzymes in your saliva to begin the digestion process, enhancing nutrient absorption and reducing bloating and gas.
🌿 𝗘𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Eating in a calm state activates your parasympathetic nervous system, allowing your body to fully focus on digestion. This reduces stress-related digestive issues like acid reflux and indigestion while improving nutrient absorption.
⏰ 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀: Overloading your digestive system by eating too frequently can lead to discomfort and bloating. Giving your body enough time between meals helps with nutrient absorption and stabilizes blood sugar levels, benefiting gut health.
🛑 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗘𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟯 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗱: Late-night meals can disrupt digestion, leading to acid reflux and poor sleep. Giving your body time to process food before bed promotes better sleep and supports overall gut health.

𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩?
Working with a functional medicine practitioner can help uncover the root causes of your digestive issues and create a personalized plan for long-term health. 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥!

11/02/2024

Which supplements have made the biggest impact on your health? 🌿

Whether it's boosting energy, improving digestion, or supporting overall wellness, we want to know what's working for you! 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼-𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀!

11/01/2024

Consistent late nights, spending too much time scrolling and tossing and turning throughout the night are sure fire ways to prevent a restful night's sleep. You may be waking up groggy and reaching for an extra cup of coffee to get through your day....but 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 more than you think!

Research shows that it hampers memory formation, as your brain struggles to process and store new information. Additionally, inadequate sleep prevents your body from clearing out toxic proteins like β-amyloid, which can contribute to memory issues and dementia. It also impacts cardiovascular health and weakens your immune system, increasing your risk of heart attacks and reducing your ability to fight infections.

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵. If you’re facing chronic fatigue or sleep issues, consulting a naturopathic/integrative/functional medicine practitioner can help you uncover the root causes and create a plan to improve your sleep and well-being.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘡𝘻𝘻'𝘴!

10/31/2024

Did you know that the foods you eat might be contributing to your chronic pain? It's not just about what you’re avoiding; it's also about what you're consuming. Many of us don’t realize that certain 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 in the body, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻.

Pain often results from inflammation, which is the body’s response to injury or damage. Inflammation can cause swelling and increased blood flow to affected areas, signaling pain. But what if the foods you eat are causing or worsening this inflammation?

These common inflammatory foods could be contributing to chronic pain:

🍔 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀: High in sugars, unhealthy fats, and additives, processed foods can promote inflammation and exacerbate pain. Examples include sugary snacks, fast food, and packaged meals.
🍕 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: Foods like white bread, pastries, and other refined carbs can spike your blood sugar levels, leading to increased inflammation and pain.
🍖 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀: These meats are high in saturated fats and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), both of which can promote inflammation.
🥤 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀: Sodas and other sugary beverages can cause spikes in blood sugar and increase inflammation in the body.
🥑 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝘀: Found in many fried and commercially baked goods, trans fats can trigger inflammation and worsen pain.
🍷 𝗔𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase inflammation and disrupt sleep, both of which can amplify chronic pain.

𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Have you noticed a connection between your diet and pain levels?

10/30/2024

This easy Many Veggie Soup recipe is perfect for using up whatever veggies you have on hand! 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆, 𝘃𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀.

𝘐𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
1 medium carrot, diced
1 small sweet potato, diced
1 (14.5-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano, or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or rosemary
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
4 cups vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 cup chopped green beans
1 zucchini, diced
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1½ cups chopped kale

𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and several grinds of pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes. Add the carrot and sweet potato, stir and cook 2 more minutes.
Add the canned tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for 20 minutes.
Stir in the cherry tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, chickpeas, and cover and cook 10 to 15 more minutes, until the green beans are tender.
Stir in the vinegar and the kale and cook for 5 minutes, until the kale is wilted. Season to taste and serve.

Recipe adapted from: https://www.loveandlemons.com/vegetable-soup/

10/24/2024

This copycat Starbucks 𝗣𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲 is a healthier alternative and a go-to for fall!

𝘐𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴
2 shots espresso
1 1/2 tbsp pumpkin puree
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Maple syrup to taste
1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk or milk of choice

𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴
In a mug, mix together the hot espresso with the pumpkin puree, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and maple syrup.
Steam the milk and add it to the espresso.
Top with pumpkin pie spice

Recipe adapted from: https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/healthy-vegan-pumpkin-spice-latte/

10/23/2024

🍂 Ready to boost your health this fall? Set yourself up for the 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 and strengthen your immune system throughout the month!

Here’s how you can support your immune system this fall:

- Eat immune-boosting foods rich in vitamins C, D, and zinc
- Practice stress-reduction techniques daily like meditation or yoga to calm the body and mind.
- Get quality sleep each night (7-8 hours minimum!)
- Stay hydrated with plenty of water and herbal teas. Chamomile, peppermint and green tea are excellent options.
- Incorporate regular physical activity like walking and strength training.
- Limit sugar and processed foods as these can actually deplete the immune system!

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 🤎 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦!

10/22/2024

Did you know that your 𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 and 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲 can reveal key insights about your 𝗴𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵? Often overlooked, these two parts of the body can provide important clues about nutrient absorption and digestive health.

Nail abnormalities like 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀, and changes in the appearance of your tongue, may indicate nutrient deficiencies caused by poor digestion or gut imbalances. It’s a simple but effective way to assess your internal health!

𝘉𝘺 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦.

Want to learn more about optimizing your gut health? Book a consultation with us/me today!

10/21/2024

I know that if you hear your doctor say your labs are "normal" 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘...!!

I can show you how to look at your blood labs from another perspective.

𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦:
- 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨
- 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘨

Join me for a webinar to find out how you can go Beyond the Basics to have your Mystery Bloat Revealed!

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpceyvrDsvGtHl_T4mZ1HfeemCsc3iAIVB

Dr. Abby Functional Medicine

04/02/2025

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11/01/2024

10/31/2024

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