by Sara Gottfried, MD and Melissa Blake, BSc, ND Hormones drive the many functions of our body and mind. For example, hormones and their receptors influence metabolic function, heart rate, appetite, tissue growth, and development. Ultimately, the body relies on the hormonal signals of a strikingly choreographed endocrine system. Most of the endocrine system is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid-gonadal (HPATG) axis, which is instrumental in regulating mood, reproductive health, and general homeostasis.1 Unfortunately, the HPATG axis is remarkably sensitive to…

In this video animation, you will learn about the role of phytocannabinoids in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a biological system that plays diverse roles in regulating various aspects of health. ECS actions on the central and peripheral nervous systems are numerous, such as helping to moderate stress responses and pain sensations, supporting mood and memory, and performing immunomodulatory functions like reducing inflammation, to name a few. The ECS was discovered in the 1990s by researchers studying bioactive…

by Kari Hamrick, PhD, RD and Elnaz Karimian Azari, PhD In school, we’re taught the human body is divided into 11 major organ systems that function together to carry out specific tasks. However, a new system has emerged in research over the last 30 years called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is described as, “one of the most important physiologic systems involved in establishing and maintaining human health.”1 This article aims to shed light on the size and scope of…

by Nikky Contractor, PhD, and Sara Gottfried, MD Cannabis is a booming growth industry. As cultural attitudes evolve, prevalence of consumption is rising exponentially. You may wonder if our knowledgebase regarding cannabis is based on best evidence or interest-driven pseudoscience. Meanwhile, many medical conferences now offer a cannabis track, as education channels scramble to catch up to demand. Perhaps you are curious about the emerging role of the endocannabinoid system and if it is safe to recommend hemp oil, or…

by Sara Gottfried, MD, and Kari Hamrick, PhD, RD Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a problem of hormone dysregulation that can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, high androgens, and its downstream sequelae such as acne and hirsutism, infertility, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease. As practitioners and their affected female patients anguish over the root cause and solutions, one part is very clear: up to 85% of women with PCOS are insufficient in vitamin D.1 For our patients with PCOS, correcting…

by Sara Gottfried, MD Physician burnout and suicide rates are alarmingly high.1 Some blame the two hours of charting in an electronic health record (EHR) for every hour of patient care.2-3 Others cite the rushed 7.5-minute patient appointment that limits the delivery of high-quality care.4 Numerous challenges coexist: an aging population, the rising burden of chronic disease, billing requirements, workforce shortages (particularly in primary care), increasing health disparities, and shifting healthcare policies. Many physicians feel disempowered and hopeless about the…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD Guest: Kara Fitzgerald, ND In this discussion, Kara Fitzgerald, ND and Deanna Minich, PhD explore the active process of inflammation resolution and how to provide clinical support to quench inflammation chronicity in your patients. Dr. Fitzgerald thinks of inflammation broadly, as a complex immune response to a variety of inputs. The offensive input could be a pathogenic insult like a bacterial or viral infection, and the inflammatory response is acute and protective to the patient. But when…

by Robert Silverman, DC, MS, CNS, CCN Endurance athletes are a unique breed of athlete. Their specific energy system used during exercise requires them to eat differently than their peers. They also need to maintain adequate levels of electrolytes—before, during, and after exercise—and thus, need the support of targeted supplementation. As a sports nutritionist and Functional Medicine practitioner, I work with both competitive and amateur endurance athletes. Let’s take a closer look at what endurance athletes need to know about…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD Guest: Jennifer Stagg, ND In this discussion, Jennifer Stagg, ND and Deanna Minich, PhD examine the relationship and connection between psychological stress and emotions with health and chronic disease states, and the mediating role that inflammation and oxidative stress play. As a naturopath, Dr. Stagg considers the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Incorporating her robust science background in biochemistry and nutrigenomics, Dr. Stagg has discovered in clinical practice that, even when critical aspects of wellness and lifestyle…

by Sara Gottfried, MD and Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP Introduction We’re just starting to understand the full spectrum of toxic threats to the human body, including obesity. What’s clear is that the body doesn’t know what to do with our myriad exposures to toxins. They clog the liver, then get stored in fat, and ultimately back up into the brain. Since the brain is almost two-thirds fat (the fattiest organ in the body), it makes sense that it’s likely the…