Functional Medicine

It turns out you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Not only that, but it’s good for your brain. Remember those piano lessons you took as a kid? Memorizing verb conjugations in Spanish? Volunteering at a food pantry? Believe it or not, revisiting some of those long-lost interests or finding similar ones later in life can actually rewire your brain to become healthier and prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Think about a time when you felt angry, anxious, or stressed. Maybe you had a big exam, an argument with a loved one, or a jarring emotional situation. It’s likely that your heart started to race, your breathing became quick and shallow, and you felt yourself start to tremble. Your muscles tensed up. Maybe you even felt dizzy or nauseous.

Have you ever wondered how your body processes the chemicals found in the air, on your food, and in products in your home? What happens when you are exposed to excessive amounts of these chemicals? In our modern, industrialized society, toxins are constantly surrounding you and creating an increased burden on your body’s natural detoxification pathways. You may notice these effects in your body over time with signs like decreased energy, brain fog, sluggish digestion, skin rashes, headaches, and other potential symptoms.

Whether you’re looking to lose weight, tone up, or just get in shape, every fitness plan should feature five elements: aerobic training, strength training, core training, balance training, and stretching. Learn about the importance of each of these elements and how you can start incorporating these into your own routine.

The holidays are in full swing, which means celebrations, gatherings, time with loved ones, and… cold and flu season. With various illnesses going around and more time spent in groups, it’s more important than ever to build up a strong immune system that will carry you through the viral season and remain healthy and thriving.

With Thanksgiving around the corner and the rest of the holiday season not too far behind, gratitude seems an obvious topic to come to mind. You may think of gratitude as a simple gesture of expressing thanks. But really, gratitude blossoms far beyond this gesture, starting within and extending out to connect us with other humans and the world around us.

Ladies: you’ve probably heard all about the hot flashes, mood swings, and physical changes that are all part of the inevitable process of menopause. Maybe you’ve even started experiencing some of these things. If you have, you’re certainly not alone. One of the most common changes women notice during this time is weight gain or redistribution, particularly around the middle. Though it can be a frustrating time for your mind and body, it doesn’t have to dictate your quality of life beyond menopause.

Irregular cycles, painful cramps, heavy periods, severe acne, mood swings… any of these symptoms ring a bell? It’s possible that hormone imbalances are at play. Imbalances between male and female sex hormones can range in severity and symptoms, with the more severe cases resulting in conditions like endometriosis or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).

EMDR is having its moment in the mental health space. Though not a new treatment, it has gained much traction in recent years as more and more people have embraced it and attained impressive results.

Meet the “jack of all trades” of your body: the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a bit of a hot topic in the health and wellness sphere right now — and for good reason. It affects or is directly involved in dozens of physiological processes that influence how you feel on a day-to-day basis — from digestion to breathing to the stress response. So, what exactly is the vagus nerve and how does it function?