Understanding Functional Medicine

A primary focus of Allopathy (Traditional) medicine is to diagnose and “label” diseases. There are over 12,000 diseases and they are categorized according to a person’s test results and symptoms. They focus on the “what.” Functional Medicine looks at the “why.” Why did this happen in the first place? Some typical causes of Dis-Ease are toxins, allergens, infections, malnutrition and stress. 

Functional Medicine doesn’t treat just one symptom. It’s approach addresses everything, because everything about us is connected. Just like the mind, body and spirit of a person. All the things that we see as separate diseases are all connected by the same underlying mechanisms. We need to look for these patterns in our own personal data. Surveys show 81% of Americans take at least one medication a day. Meds are not the only solution. For example, before starting on a long-term regimen of antidepressants, consider the following. Depression is a diagnosis or “label.” What is the root cause of your depression? Could it be a combination of complex causes? Here are some examples of root causes behind common ailments that we often opt to medicate, without deeper consideration: 

Do you have a sensitivity to Gluten which can fuel Autoimmune Disease and lead to Thyroid dysfunction? Explore the many Gluten-free food choices now available at your local grocery store. 

Are you taking an acid blocker for acid reflux? Acid Blockers can cause Vitamin B12 from being absorbed, leading to a Vitamin B12 deficiency and low energy. Consider dietary adjustments and stress management. 

Are you getting enough Vitamin D?  Depending on your climate and your diet, you may have a deficiency leading to low moods and muscle weakness. Supplements, proper diet and 15 minutes a day in the Sun can “keep the doctor away.” 

Do you frequently take Antibiotics? Long term use of Antibiotics can lead to inflammation in the gut which can lead to Systemic Inflammation in the brain and mind-fog. Proper hygiene, hydration, diet and regular exercise can boost your immune system and help you avoid illness, reducing the need for antibiotics. 

Do you love to eat Sushi? Mercury poisoning may become a factor in your health. Get checked for metal toxicity. There are treatments called Chelation Therapy to remedy this, before this issue fuels various medical conditions. 

Do you love sweets and consume lots of refined sugar? Insulin Resistance can lead to anxiety and depression. Organic Xylitol made from Birch trees as a substitute, not over-eating, and mini-meals throughout the day can help balance your blood sugar levels (and your energy level and mood). 

What painful memories from your past remain unresolved? These can impact judgment, stress management, and contribute to various medical conditions. Consider talk therapy or spiritual guidance to address the root cause, before physical manifestations slow you down and make you ill. 

What is your present state-of-mind right now? What stresses you? Have you looked at ways of addressing these, to come up with a plan of action and make positive changes in your life, BEFORE illness takes hold and meds are required? 

Do you play? Do you participate in positive activities that are good for your spirit and allow you to be creative and release stress. Dancing, drumming, walking are examples of things that produce “feel good” chemical reactions in the brain that are natural antidepressants and increase mental and physical energy. 

Do you surround yourself with positive people who are loving, accepting and compassionate? Energy can heal or it may “hurt”. Be mindful of your emotional environment. Avoid energy “vampires” and think positive thoughts to avoid negative repercussions. 

Do you have a pet? There have been studies that show people who own pets have happier and healthier lives. Re-focusing the attention on a pet or loved one, can help you regain perspective on yourself and the world around you. 

Do you spend outdoors breathing in fresh air and connecting with nature? Do you live where there is pollution? Connecting regularly to the Earth can be both rejuvenating and healing, on a mind, body and spirit level. 

Before you take medications and settle for being labeled with a disease, step back and look at the “why” did this happen and consider the Functional Medicine mindset. As a Health and Wellness Coach, I fully support and follow the Functional Medicine approach that everything about the person must be looked at and the “whole person” must be treated for true, long-term healing to occur.

The Importance of Intuition in Life, Work and Total Wellness

As a Wellness Coach, when teaming with my clients, I actively listen, collect data, use my intellect and often most importantly pay attention to my gut instinct or intuition. Intuition is a potent inner wisdom that goes beyond the linear mind. I use my intuitive abilities to complement hard science and my medical background to develop a wellness treatment plan best suited to that particular client. By exercising this blend, I can offer my clients the best of both worlds. Why is intuition so important? Who really believes this stuff? In recent years, the worth of intuition has been recognized more and more in general business and leadership. The Harvard Business Review indicates that nearly half of corporate executives now rely on instinct instead of just facts and figures to run their companies. Forbes magazine calls intuition “the golden gut.” Luminaries from Conrad Hilton to Bill Gates to Oprah have declared it essential for success. In fact, Donald Trump has stated “I’ve built a multibillion-dollar empire by using my intuition.” Intuition is our universal legacy, a language that everyone can learn. I often teach my clients how to listen to what their gut tells them. Never underestimate the power of your intuition. Take time out to slow down and listen to your inner voice. Exercise, spiritual practice, Yoga , and meditation are great ways to develop your intuition. Often times the answers you seek are already there, hidden just behind the noise of daily life.

Jack LaLanne: Farewell My Superhero

Many kids look up to a Superhero. I’d like to take a moment and pay tribute to a man who laid out the foundation for health and wellness and still is a personal superhero hero to me. I can remember as a little girl watching black and white exercise shows, wide-eyed in amazement, seeing this 5’6″ man perform all types of exercises and stunts using a dining room chair. He was lean yet powerful, friendly, confident and kind. Intuitively, I knew I wanted to be like him. He wore no fancy costume, his powers involved making wellness his permanent lifestyle by choice and being self-disciplined. He rescued others by inspiring and teaching them. Mission accomplished Jack. Fitness icon Jack Lalanne a man who pushed Americans to pump iron, eat better and lose weight for more than 70 years, has died. He was 96. The “godfather of fitness” died of respiratory failure from pneumonia in his Morro Bay California home several weeks ago, his long time agent Rick Hersh told The Associated Press. LaLanne underwent a successful heart valve surgery two years ago and bounced back as strong and active as ever. LaLanne started watching how he lived at the age of 15. Born Francois Henri LaLanne in San Francisco (his parents were French immigrants), he felt the effects of sugar and bleached flour in his diet. After hearing a health lecture, he devoted his life to following a diet of raw, unprocessed foods. His dietary routine: two meals a day and no snacks. He was also known for his extreme fitness stunts. The body-building fanatic churned out 1,000 push-ups in 23 minutes on the television show “You Asked for it” at age 43, in 1957. LaLanne was a fitness pioneer. He focused on weight-training at a time when the idea of pumping iron was not so acceptable, especially for women. “You have to understand that it was absolutely forbidden in those days for athletes to use weights. It just wasn’t done. We had athletes who used to sneak into the studio to work out,” he once said. “Athletic trainers believed bulking up would slow athletes down and women were supposed to look curvy and feminine, not athletic and toned. Back then, women weren’t supposed to use weights. I guess I was a pioneer,” LaLanne said. He became a household name after he launched a televised exercise program in the 1950s that aired until the 1970s. He would forever after be known for his dedication to healthy living and his signature one-piece belted workout suit. “This is a nation of tired people,” he said, in an effort to encourage people to exercise. “Everyone is suffering from that chroinc disease that I like to call pooped-out-itis. Inactivity is a killer,” LaLanne once said. “The only way you can hurt the body is not use it and I never think about my age, never. I could be 20, I could be 100. I never think about it, I’m just me,” LaLanne said in 1990. At age 60, noted The New York Times he swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf while pulling a 1,000-pound boat – and while handcuffed. At 70, shackled again, he pulled 70 people in 70 boats 1½ miles through Long Beach Harbor. As for keeping body and soul together, “It’s got to start with young kids,” LaLanne told PEOPLE magazine. When discussing young people going through emotional and physical problems, he said “They need to develop pride and discipline and watch what they put into their bodies,” or as he put it: the right fuel in the machine. As he liked to say, “I can’t die. It would ruin my image.” LaLanne opened the nation’s first modern health club in California’s Oakland, in 1936, and it featured exercise equipment, a juice bar and health food store. Eventually this developed into a 100-strong Jack LaLanne gym chain across the country. He would also market a highly successful juicer. Check out: www.powerjuicer.com. His syndicated The Jack LaLanne Show, which opened with his performing jumping jacks under the credits in his signature belted jumpsuits, debuted in daytime in 1959 and ran for 34 years, solidifying his reputation. After more than 3,000 shows, LaLanne, who owned all rights, repackaged the program and leased it to ESPN Classic. LaLanne is survived by his wife and workout partner Elaine, his two sons Dan and Jon, and a daughter, Yvonne. “I have not only lost my husband and a great American icon, but the best friend and most loving partner anyone could ever hope for,” Elaine LaLanne said in a statement. The two had been married for 51 years. Rest in peace my Legend & Superhero. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to making a difference. You did and will continue to for generations to come. You have impacted this world in such a positive way, you have no idea.

Hormone Management for Women

Our body’s hormone balance is very delicate. Throughout our lives, our hormone levels increase and decrease. They even fluctuate at different times of the day and night. Too much or too little, at any point in time, can dramatically affect our overall quality of life. Proper levels are important for our daily coping, productivity, and long-term emotional, mental, and bodily health. Some individuals may be perimenopausal and menopausal, and not even know it. Individualized Hormone Replacement Therapy* or HRT is something you may benefit from. I recognize that HRT should not be “one size fits all” and that every person has a unique blueprint that is just right for them. I know that people may become overwhelmed when learning about HRT and confused about what to do next to improve their situation. I can personally relate to these challenges myself. Can you? Are you interested in learning more about HRT and other approaches to hormone management?