Hypothyroidism is one of the most prevalent but under diagnosed conditions in the United States. As a result, the hypothyroid-depression connection may be missed. In addition, a conventional medicine approach typically only examines one problem or a narrow set of symptoms. Such an approach, when testing for thyroid function, often only utilizes three to four tests, and often those results are normal; many other important factors simply aren’t tested using a conventional approach. To compound the problem, many patients with symptoms of depression receive little to no examination prior to … [Read more...]
All About That Poop {{Infographic}}
Poop — we all do it, but we don't like to talk about it. Let's get this straight right away: pooping is normal and natural and necessary. In fact, not pooping indicates problems. It may be helpful to have an understanding of what's normal and what's not, thus we've put together this handy infographic for you, outlining some poop facts, different types of poops, and different colors of poops. And, bonus! We've also included some instructions on the correct way to take a poop! Yes, you read that right — there is a right way to take care of number two. In functional medicine, your poop may … [Read more...]
Gluten — Food industry darling, autoimmunity devil
Wheat and gluten sensitivities may seem like modern, hot button topics, but guess what? They aren’t actually new. Wheat and gluten reactions have been recorded as far back as ancient Rome when slaves who handled several tasks in bread baking were known to develop respiratory illnesses in association with wheat flour. What is new (or newer), however, is the form that these wheat and gluten related conditions take on today. Gluten-related illnesses have been on the rise in the United States for several decades, tracking almost directly with the rise of modern agricultural and food processing … [Read more...]
Eat this fat, not that fat — Part II: The good, the bad, and the ugly
In our last post , we talked about good fats versus bad fats and how they impact your overall health. Today we are going a bit more in depth and will talk about specific examples of each and how they may help or hurt you. Healthy fat and your diet As mentioned in our prior post, your body requires vitamins A, D, E, and K (potassium), among many other nutrients, to stay or become healthy. While there are many great sources of most of these nutrients, they aren’t easily absorbed without being paired with fat. However, that doesn’t mean you should go out and pop your vitamins with a burger … [Read more...]
Website Re-launch, a new Doctor, and Other Exciting news at Functional Longevity Institute
Whether you are new to Functional Longevity Institute or a current or returning patient, we hope you will join us as we launch a new website, introduce a new doctor, and grow as an important part of the greater Sacramento health and wellness community. Everyone at Functional Longevity Institute enjoyed the holidays, but we are now getting back to work and excited to share our skills and knowledge with you, your family, and your friends. For the year just past, we also want to say thank you. We love our community are so happy to be able to serve your needs. With that said, we have been working … [Read more...]
