Category: - Holistic Living: Your Pathway to a Balanced Life

What Is Functional Medicine?

6/23/2024

Functional medicine

Welcome back! We enjoyed a lovely long weekend visiting our friend in Tennessee last weekend, including lots of lake time, boating, and swimming, which made the hot weather more bearable. We returned home to an Ohio heatwave, accompanied by a bumper crop of peas and raspberries and basil. It's shaping up to be a bountiful garden year - as long as I can keep everything watered!

Anyway, I realized the other day that although I frequently share information here from a Functional Medicine perspective, I've actually never discussed what it actually is - at least not in depth. Today, we'll dive into the benefits, treatments, and methods of the Functional Medicine approach. Check it out below to learn how this healing modality can complement your health journey.

[Podcast] How to Fix Your Busted Metabolism: A Deep Dive into Functional Medicine and Metabolic Health

6/9/2024

Metabolic health podcast

One of the reasons I became so interested in Functional Medicine is that it is, as Dr. Mark Hyman says, "the medicine of asking why". Rather than simply evaluating a symptom and throwing some pills at it, Functional Medicine takes a curious approach and seeks to find out WHY you're having the symptom, so that it can be addressed at the root level.

This is one thing that I've found so frustrating in my own health journey, as I've started taking steps to begin addressing my chronic acid reflux. The conventional doctors I have met with so far seem to want nothing to do with the problem other than try to prescribe me prescription-strength antacids. (Which is obviously just a band-aid approach.)

Anyway, I'll stay off my soapbox for now, but I'll give you an update on my own health story - and the issues I've had with conventional medicine - later this summer. For now, I'll just say that I'm no longer content to just take the drugs, and soon, I plan to talk to someone who will actually start helping me look for the "why."

If you're dealing with your own chronic health problems that just won’t go away, it might be time to look beyond conventional medicine and dive into the world of Functional Medicine. In the latest episode of The Doctor's Farmacy podcast, Dr. Mark Hyman sits down with Dr. Casey Means to unravel the complexities of metabolic health and how it interconnects with our broader societal issues. This episode emphasizes the importance of looking beyond the status quo to reimagine health in a more holistic and effective way. Check it out below!

How to Live to 100: 7 Healthy Habits of Centenarians

5/19/2024

Healthy habits of centenarians

I'm back today with a topic that has been on my mind lately as I draw ever closer to 50...

I'm talking about the subject of longevity.

When we're in our 20's, we feel like we'll live forever - even though we know it's not true! In our 30's, we may start to pay more attention to our health, but our "golden years" still seem so far away.

Once we hit 40, we begin to realize that we're already halfway through our lives (at least for most of us), and by 50, the reality of old age becomes more apparent - and more present - in our lives.

Wounds and injuries take longer to heal, we don't see or hear as well as we used to, and when we look in the mirror, sometimes we are startled to see that we no longer look like that innocent 20-something anymore... (Or is that just me??)

While growing older is inevitable, there are plenty of things that we can do to prolong a youthful state of health - both mentally and physically. This week, I'm sharing 7 tips for staying younger for longer. These healthy habits can be observed in all cultures where longevity is more prevalent than it is in most of the Western world.

The highest percentages of centenarians are found in a few specific pockets throughout the world, and researchers have been studying these so-called "Blue Zones" for the past few decades to find out their "secrets" to a long life. As you will see below, it turns out, they aren't all that "secret" after all...

[Podcast] What Women Should Know About Fasting & Health

4/21/2024

Fasting for women

Although fasting has been practiced for centuries (often for religious or medical reasons), this practice has gained new popularity in recent years among health circles for its health and weight loss benefits.

However, a recent study claiming that fasting may actually harm cardiovascular health flies in the face of previous research, and has been gaining media attention.

Keep in mind that this was a limited study, and few long-term studies have actually been done on the subject of fasting. However, there are some caveats to keep in mind when deciding whether or not fasting is right for you.

For one thing, as is the case with most medical topics and studies, little attention is paid to the differences between men and women. Contrary to popular belief, women cannot follow the same health and fitness protocols as men and expect to see the same results.

Unlike men, women in their reproductive years have specific hormonal considerations, and their rise and fall throughout the month impact everything from energy to focus, mood, metabolism, and the ability to adapt to good-for-you stressors like exercise or fasting.

This interesting podcast episode addresses the benefits of fasting, but also dives deeper into how women, in particular, can develop fasting routines that align with their hormonal needs. Check it out below!

The Role of Community in Holistic Health: How Social Support Can Impact Our Well-Being

3/17/2024

Community & holistic health

After a little break last week (honestly, the weather outside was too nice to stay indoors and write!), I'm back with the final installment in our Holistic Health series.

While we often think of things like nutrition, sleep, and exercise when it comes to maintaining good health, the role of social and community engagement is often overlooked. Truly understanding holistic health means recognizing the interconnectivity of physical, mental, and social well-being. Therefore, community support is a vital component of holistic health.

According to research, engaging with your community can lead to significant physical health benefits, such as reduced blood pressure and improved recovery times.

And mental and emotional well-being are bolstered by a sense of belonging and support found within communities.

Read on to find out how a health and wellness plan that includes community engagement can lead to a more fulfilling and healthier life!

[Free Guide] At-Home Gut Detox Strategies

3/3/2024

Gut health guide

March is here, which means...

It's time for your monthly freebie! :-)

This month, I'm sharing a quick guide with some helpful tips for improving your gut health.

In today's world, we are constantly exposed to chemicals, environmental stressors, and toxins that can take a toll on our gut health. And, as we are learning, the health of your gut and microbiome are closely related to many different facets of overall health.

Your gut plays a vital role in health and longevity, and the more we learn about it, the more we realize how important it is to pay attention to this area of our health instead of ignoring it (which the mainstream medical establishment has done for so long).

Fortunately, we are also learning that maintaining good gut health doesn't need to be difficult or complicated. It just requires paying attention to what you eat, consuming things that support healthy gut bacteria, and avoiding things that harm them whenever possible.

Check out the free guide below to learn how to safely cleanse and detoxify your gut in order to restore balance and improve your digestive health - just in time for spring!

The Importance of Sleep for Holistic Health + 8 Tips for Getting a Good Night's Rest

1/21/2024

Holistic health and sleep

Welcome to the next installment in our Holistic Health series, where we are discussing the myriad aspects of holistic health and sharing tips for a healthier and more balanced life! This week, we're talking about an important aspect of health that I feel often doesn't get enough attention...

Although we can't function at our best without proper rest (which, frankly, most of us don't get enough of), I hear relatively little discussion of the importance of sleep in holistic health circles - other than passing mentions about "making sure you get enough."

It's almost like sleep is an afterthought for most of us in the busy, modern world. This is alarming, because sleep is not only essential for energy production and healing, but it also impacts all areas of our health, from metabolism and weight maintenance, to immune system function, mental health, and more.

This week, I'll dive deeper into the world of sleep and explore why it's so important for overall health, plus share some tips for getting more of it. Check it out below!

[Podcast] Healing Your Gut to Improve Your Physical & Mental Health

1/14/2024

Science of Gut Microbiome

I almost didn't post a blog for you this week due to an intense episode of back and hip pain, but I seem to have rebounded in the past 24 hours and am feeling a lot more energetic and motivated today, so you're in luck! :-)

And I'm particularly excited to bring you this podcast episode this week, as the topic is near and dear to my heart. If you've been following this blog for a while, you probably know that the gut microbiome is something I find quite fascinating. We are still only exploring the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding the immense range of microbiota that makes up such a huge part of our physical bodies, and it's so exciting and amazing to me that there is so much more still to discover in this microscopic realm!

There is still so much we don't know about the many different types of bacteria within us, how they interact with each other and each of our bodily systems, and what a difference our bacterial balance can make for so many areas of both our physical and mental health.

I'm grateful for the many researchers out there who are studying this largely unknown world, and to forward-thinking professionals like Dr. Mark Hyman who are bringing these findings to us! In this week's episode, Dr. Hyman and Dr. Steven Gundry explore the science of the gut microbiome, and how a healthy and diverse gut biome can improve your overall physical and mental health and longevity. Check it out below!

Improve Your Bone Health Naturally (Free Video Class)

1/7/2024

Improve your bone health video class

Welcome back! It's time for your January Freebie, and I've got something a little different for you this month...

Osteoporosis is an issue that impacts millions of people (especially women) worldwide, and it can significantly affect quality of life in your later years. Simple falls, sprains, or even just tripping over something around the house can lead to fractures that limit mobility and activity, and reduce health and longevity.

The good news is, there are many things you can do to reduce your risk of osteoporosis while you are younger, or slow its progress as you age. And most of these natural techniques are simple, easy, and low-cost or even free to implement in your own life.

The folks over at Health Means have put together a free video this month to help you learn these techniques and put them into practice. The sooner you start working on your bone health, the better, since bones can take time to respond and grow stronger.

Learn more below, or check out the free video class here to find out what you can do right now to build strong, healthy bones that carry you with vigor into your golden years!

Managing Stress Using Holistic Health Approaches

12/17/2023

Managing holiday stress

The holiday season is upon us, and as much as I love this time of year, there's no doubt that it can also be stressful. Between juggling holiday parties, shopping, wrapping gifts, planning meals, visiting with family, and travel - along with the usual day-to-day activities - it's no wonder that this time of year sees a higher than usual number of heart attacks, not to mention mental health challenges such as anxiety, panic attacks, and just good old-fashioned stress.

There are many options for dealing with stress in a healthy way, and taking a holistic approach can be of great value. In this episode of our Holistic Health series, we'll explore how holistic health practices can be powerful tools for managing stress and enhancing mental health - both during the holidays and throughout the year.

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