Wellness Within Integrative Medical Clinic

02/27/2025

Vitamin K2 plays a crucial role in directing calcium to bones and away from arteries.
If your vitamin D doesn't contain K2, switch it to one that does. Vitamin D3/K2 emulsion is the most highly absorbable form that I've seen clinically.
*Always buy supplements from a good clean source that has been 3rd party tested.

02/13/2025

My sister gave me this sourdough recipe. It is super easy and I’m addicted! I promised a few people I’d share the recipe and make a video so here it is!
I make a loaf every night before bed. Granted, I give most of the bread away but making bread is weirdly satisfying and makes me happy. I don’t get it 🤷‍♀️😆🥖
No, my bread isn’t fancy but it’s healthy, tastes good and my family absolutely loves it 🥰

12/31/2024

ACID REFLUX/ GERD:

How's it typically treated? With Prilosec/Omeprazole. (see at the end how it is treated without pharmaceuticals)
How long are you supposed to take this medication? No longer than 14 days in a 4 month period.
How long do patients typically take this medication? For years, decades!
What's the problem with that 🤷?
Here are the reasons Prilosec long-term is so bad...

Our bodies need sufficient stomach acid for multiple reasons. Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor that shuts down your stomach acid production by 80-90%. Listed below is what can go wrong with such a small of an amount of stomach acid...

Increased Risk of Infections: PPIs suppress stomach acid, which can create an environment favorable for the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. This increased risk of infection includes pneumonia, Clostridium difficile infection, and urinary tract infections.
Nutrient Deficiencies: PPIs can interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients, such as vitamin B12, iron, and magnesium. This can lead to deficiencies and related health problems.
Bone Fractures: Long-term PPI use has been associated with an increased risk of bone fractures, particularly hip and spine fractures. This is thought to be due to the reduced absorption of calcium and vitamin D.
Kidney Problems: In rare cases, long-term PPI use can damage the kidneys. This risk is higher in individuals with pre-existing kidney disease or those taking high doses of Prilosec.
Magnesium Deficiency: PPIs can deplete magnesium levels in the body, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, muscle cramps, and irregular heartbeat.
Other Potential Side Effects: Other potential long-term side effects of Prilosec include:
Increased risk of gastric cancer (although this risk is considered low), Liver problems, Diarrhea, Headache, and Dizziness.
It's important to note that the risk of these side effects varies depending on the individual and the duration of treatment.

How do ND's treat Acid Reflux?
It would be too exhaustive to list all the ways this is treated but here is a very simplified and common example of how this is treated...
In a lot of reflux cases, patients AREN'T PRODUCING ENOUGH stomach acid. Stomach acid triggers the lower esophageal sphincter to close. Most of us are stressed when we eat and this in turn, lowers our stomach acid secretion so taking a digestive enzyme containing betaine HCL or apple cider vinegar with a similar pH as stomach acid with meals may be the trick until the patient can implement digestive hygiene habits- eating while calm and not while stressed or in a rush, etc. Very rarely are patients producing too much acid.

12/31/2024

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mourjaro-

* Please read this if you're considering GLP-1 agonists for weight loss......
Doctors are handing this stuff out like candy. A family member of mine went to see her P*P that saw a 5.5 HA1-c level on her labs and said you're borderline pre-diabetic and prescribed it to her...what a joke. You should be aware of the side-effects before taking these potentially dangerous drugs! I personally had a patient that was on Ozempic for 6 months. I palpated her thyroid and found lumps. She went in for an ultrasound and biopsy and sure enough, she has thyroid cancer. Was it from Ozempic? Not sure but it IS a BLACK BOX WARNING and a risk you take when you use these weight loss drugs.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) can have a number of side effects, including:
Loss of appetite.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.

Other side effects can include:
Dizziness.
Mild tachycardia (increased heart rate).
Infections.
Headaches.
Indigestion (upset stomach).

Severe side effects can include:
Pancreatitis.
**Medullary thyroid cancer.
Acute (sudden) kidney injury.
Worsening diabetes-related retinopathy.

People taking GLP-1 RAs have a 4.22 times higher risk of developing a bowel obstruction than those taking other medications.

***Diet, exercise and intermittent fasting--- > ZERO side-effects and better health overall!!! Do what's hard. It builds character.

12/31/2024

12/31/2024

TESTOSTERONE -

Men, if you are thinking about taking testosterone (TRT), know the risks...
- TRT can thicken the blood leading to STROKE, blood clots, heart attack, high blood pressure, etc.
- TRT can aromatize into ESTROGEN and cause gynecomastia (man b***s- which can be irreversible), fat around the abdominal area, mood swings, etc.
- TRT can cause infertility by decreasing s***m count.
- TRT can lead to testicular atrophy and if your te**es shrink in size, you may become dependent on TRT for the rest of your life. Something to think about if you want to have children as being on it can decrease your s***m count and make cause infertility.
- TRT can increase the risk of prostate cancer.
-etc, etc

*if you do decide to take testosterone, see a doctor that knows how to properly dose it and that monitors you closely

03/01/2024

Today's topic: Depression & MTHFR
Over half of the population has a variant of the MTHFR polymorphism. I personally have an MTHFR gene variation and until I found out about the treatment with high quality, sustained release, methylated B vitamins, my mood was VERY different. My B vitamin is my "happy pill" and if I don't take it daily, my energy and mood plummets. It's good to work with a doctor that looks for and can identify the root cause of depression. There may be an easy fix, without side effects, just like there was for me :)

Other conditions that have been proposed to be associated with MTHFR include:

anxiety
cardiovascular and thromboembolic diseases (specifically blood clots, stroke, embolism, and heart attacks)
bipolar disorder
schizophrenia
colon cancer
chronic pain and fatigue
nerve pain
migraine
recurrent miscarriages in women of child-bearing age
pregnancies with neural tube defects, like spina bifida

*MTHFR can be identified through a blood test. Just know that it's not always covered by insurance.

03/01/2024

Todays topic: THYROID HEALTH 🤓

Did you know your thyroid requires certain nutrients (that most people are deficient in) to produce adequate thyroid hormone?
These deficiencies are a big reason why hypothyroidism is so rampant in our country.
You need tyrosine, iodine, selenium, Vit C and B2 to synergistically work together to produce sufficient T3 & T4.

What also contributes to iodine deficiency?
-Chemicals that interfere with absorption of iodine include fluoride (toothpaste and tap water), chlorine (in tap water, swimming pools and hot tubs), and bromide (in grain, energy drinks, water, and swimming pools and hot tubs). These chemicals compete with iodine for the same receptor site and basically block the absorption.
* if you swim in chlorine pools, use fluoridated toothpaste and drink unfiltered water, you’re most likely deficient in iodine and could have hypothyroid symptoms.