The Institute for Functional Medicine recently published their recommendations (for physicians and their patients) for maintaining optimal health in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This post contains a summary of their advice and links to additional resources.
Read moreBuilding a Health and Wellness Library
Over the years, I’ve built a comprehensive library of integrative and functional medicine resources that have helped me, my family and many others take a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Some of these books have a long-standing reputation in natural health circles and others provide groundbreaking functional medicine approaches to reversing serious health conditions like Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. While still others address the “big” questions such as how to achieve fulfillment/happiness or live to be 100 years old.
Below are some of my favorite Health and Wellness books grouped by subject matter.
Read moreManaging Anxiety in the Face of COVID-19
We are currently experiencing a tsunami of events that appear to threaten everything we hold dear – our lives and those of our loved ones, our jobs and everything they provide for us and our savings and retirement funds. Meanwhile we are trying to hold it together – especially if we have children – as we navigate this crisis.
One of the biggest challenges can be staying calm and taking appropriate action as the situation evolves. Doing so isn’t just practical, it’s also important for your overall health. We need the “fight or flight” response that says “run!” when there is a short-term crisis. But if there is sustained activation of this response for long periods of time, it can suppress or disrupt all of the body’s systems – from your immune system to your digestion, hormone balance, and cognitive function. This is NOT what you want when being healthy and thinking clearly is paramount. We may be in this for the long haul, so this post contains strategies for taking care of your mind, body and spirit through these uncertain times.
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Establishing Healthy Habits That Stick!
Want to adopt healthy habits that last a lifetime? Start by envisioning the life you want to have and determine what might need to change to make your vision a reality.
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that a recent poll indicated that over half of New Year’s resolutions are health related. The top health resolutions are to exercise more/get in shape, lose weight, eat healthier, increase self-care and live life to the fullest.
Unfortunately, New Year’s Resolutions are notoriously short lived. We hope to change all that with a few tips and strategies health coaches use to help clients reach their health and wellness goals.
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Supporting Your Immune System Naturally
A strong immune system is your body’s defense against infections and disease.
Support your immune system naturally with these science-backed tips for optimal immune health.
Read moreFunctional Labs: Micronutrient Testing
One of the hallmarks of Functional Medicine (FM), and why its in such high demand, is its ability to discover the root cause of symptoms and dysfunction. One of the tools that FM practitioners use to pinpoint the source (or sources) of your symptoms is functional lab tests. And while mainstream medicine utilizes functional testing—it’s often limited or outdated technology that barely scratches the surface of what’s possible.
Take nutrient status for example, are you getting adequate amounts of the nutrients you need to stay healthy and function optimally?
There’s actually a really good chance you’re not. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) there is a high prevalence of inadequate intakes of several specific micronutrients in the US population—even with supplementation.
Read moreImperfect Produce: Good for You and Planet
Imperfect Produce is on a mission to eliminate food waste and create a better food system. They are accomplishing this mission by identifying “cracks” in the system that have a potential for food waste. Then they recapture and deliver these foods to consumers and food pantries. Customers save about 30% versus grocery store prices. But there is much more to this story.
Read moreNourished Festival Caters to Specialty Diets: Allergy-free, Keto, Paleo, Plant-based
The Nourished Festivals are a hot ticket for anyone living a gluten-free, allergen-friendly or specialty diet lifestyle. Traveling to ten cities per year, Nourished Festivals allow attendees to sample and purchase new products, meet brand ambassadors, receive coupons, and attend educational classes.
Read moreAre Racing Thoughts or Low Moods Ruining Your Sleep?
Don’t let racing thoughts or anxiety keep you up at night. This simple breathing technique is so effective, many people are sound asleep in a matter of minutes.
Read moreWhat Does a Healthy Diet Look like?
If you could take the best research on human nutrition, disease prevention and longevity and use it to formulate the optimal, healthy diet, you would have the Institute for Functional Medicine’s Core Food Plan (CFP). The plan is based on current studies that demonstrate what foods we should eat in order to live long, healthy lives. And, it has the flexibility to be customized for vegetarians, vegans or those with food restrictions.
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