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Optimize your microbiome because the vast majority of our immune function is actually made from our gut’s ecosystem, called the “microbiome.” Reduce toxic exposures whenever possible and support the body’s ability to eliminate and detoxify things that can compromise the immune system—heavy metals, synthetic and environmental chemicals, mycotoxins from mold, radiation etc. Finding ways to support each of the body’s detoxification pathways and continue a daily detox regimen helps to keep the body’s total toxic burden as low as possible and this plays a big role in sustaining optimal immune health. Address nutrient deficiencies, especially Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids fatty acid levels. Manage stress. Adrenal dysfunction and hormonal imbalance can wear down the immune system. Controlling inflammation and oxidative stress and chronic infections are also crucial.

Fatigue, headaches, migraines, brain fog, poor concentration, poor ability to tolerate caffeine or alcohol, chemical sensitivity, gallstones, elevated liver enzymes on lab work (ALT, AST, GGT), chronic inflammation, chronic rashes or allergic reactions, mood swings or irritability.

Many people lose weight only to gain it back later. That is not the goal. Instead, we want to address the underlying reasons the body is holding onto fat. Therefore, weight loss becomes a beneficial side effect of good metabolic health. First, we must balance and optimize hormones, including the thyroid, adrenals, and sex hormones.

Next, we must get blood sugar and insulin levels stable and address underlying insulin resistance. When insulin levels spike in response to high blood sugar, it is very difficult for the body to burn fat effectively and instead it will enlarge fat cells and increase fat storage, which becomes an uphill battle if you are trying to lose weight. Optimizing the digestive system and the gut microbiome can improve weight loss because they regulate the body’s metabolism, nutrient uptake, energy production, inflammation, and waste elimination.

A big missing piece to weight loss is reducing the body’s toxic burden. The body transports many toxins/toxicants into fat tissue and they stay there for years or even decades unless they are strategically mobilized out of fat cells through various detoxification techniques. If you are trying to lose weight, a well formulated detoxification technique can greatly help those fat cells purge what’s inside. Much more than aerobic exercise, resistance training improves insulin resistance and fat loss, builds lean muscle and improves metabolic rate so you can burn more calories at rest to become a fat burning machine. Addressing additional things such as food sensitivities, fungal overgrowth, parasites, gut dysbiosis will also help your weight loss efforts.

What is stealing all your energy? is it your hormones or lack thereof? blood sugar swings? an imbalanced microbiome? or bugs overgrowing like fungus and parasites? maybe detox pathways that cannot keep up? are you burning the candle at both ends? Is inflammation running rampant? or maybe all of the above? Are your mitochondria suffering?

These are the energy powerhouses inside our cells that take in nutrients and oxygen and turn it into ATP, or cellular energy. If they are suffering from any number of insults, then our ability to make energy is compromised. As you can see, solving the energy mystery is not straightforward. It requires a methodical approach to investigate the myriad of potential causes. However, you’d be surprised how energy can be restored once they are properly addressed.

Hormone balancing requires optimal liver, gallbladder, and digestive function. Addressing proper detoxification of these organs will dramatically help balance hormones. Treating intestinal permeability or “leaky gut” will reduce the toxic burden on the liver and gallbladder and also improve the excretion of inflammatory estrogens which can lead to a syndrome called “estrogen dominance” and estrogen related cancers in both men and women.  

Hormone disrupting chemicals called “xenoestrogens” are found in many everyday products (soaps, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, sunscreens, detergents, makeup, perfume, cologne, plastics), as well as in conventionally raised meat and dairy products. These chemicals and hormones disrupt the normal function of our endocrine organs (thyroid, ovaries, uterus, testes, pancreas etc.) and contribute to acne, weight gain, cellulite, obesity, thyroid disorders, irregular periods, heavy periods, uterine fibroids, PCOS, infertility, gynecomastia or “man boobs,” metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes or diabetes. It’s important to reduce exposure to these chemicals and support the body’s ability to properly excrete them.

Look for paraben-free, phalate-free, sulfate-free products or make your own non-toxic disinfectants/cleansers. Whenever possible, eat grass-fed grass-finished beef, pasture raised poultry, free-range eggs, wild fish/seafood, all without added hormones or use of antibiotics.

Test, don’t guess. Hormones fluctuate in response to many factors so if improving digestive, gallbladder, and liver function do not improve hormone balancing, then the next step is to evaluate hormone levels and ideally evaluate hormone metabolites (by urine) to see if the liver is able to break estrogen down into appropriate levels of estrogen metabolites and is not holding onto too much of the inflammatory estrogens that increase cancer risk and disrupt the normal balance of our hormones. A deeper dive may be needed to also evaluate adrenal health, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, stress, sleep, etc.

DIM (diindolylmethane), Chaste berry (vitex), and Calcium D-Glucarate are a few examples of commonly used supplements that can support hormone detox and hormone balancing.

Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts), turmeric or curcumin, green tea, non-GMO flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, are a few examples of fabulous food sources that support estrogen detox and hormone balancing.

Great question as this is so common. Work with your doctor or provider to identify root causes and personalize the diagnostic/treatment approach. Make sure to rule out a thyroid condition (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto’s or Grave’s disease, and check a full comprehensive thyroid panel). Also evaluate levels of inflammation and oxidative stress, which are common after a major acute infection, chronic infections, and after surgery or during times of major stress or trauma. Make sure to address any iron deficiency, and evaluate and correct any deficiencies of amino acids, protein malabsorption, mineral deficiencies, endocrine disrupting chemicals, hormone imbalances (high DHEA/Testosterone in women, high cortisol levels or adrenal imbalance), parasitic infections, intestinal permeability commonly known as “leaky gut.” Hair loss can also occur with a high toxic burden or major emotional stress as these are big stressors on the body. 

For basic detox support, milk thistle, N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) or Glutathione as they are typically well tolerated and have few interactions or contraindications. A more comprehensive detox regimen needs to address each of the body’s main detoxification pathways–kidneys, liver, bile flow, gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, lymphatic system, glymphatic system (brain/nervous system detox which occurs best at night when sleeping). This includes things like regular sweating (through exercise, hot yoga, infrared saunas or epsom salt baths), magnetic clay baths, dry brushing, lymphatic massage, and coffee enemas.

Always work with your doctor or provider to rule out any serious condition conditions that can cause heartburn. Food sensitivities are often a trigger, so start by removing gluten, sugar, dairy, soy and lower total carbohydrates in the diet as high carbohydrate/high starch foods often trigger or worsen heartburn. Over the counter remedy options include licorice root, marshmallow root, mastic gum, bismuth, oregano, broccoli sprouts. Don’t overeat. Avoid heartburn trigger foods (overly spicy foods, tomato, garlic, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, peppermint). Work with your provider to also ensure you do not have stomach acid levels that are too low which will affect bile flow and release of digestive enzymes which are needed for proper digestion and insufficient levels of can trigger heartburn.