By: Yekta Dowlati, PhD Each new year brings a collective desire to “reset”—to cleanse, restore, and renew after the dietary excesses and stress of the holiday season. Yet, within the framework of functional medicine, detoxification is not a transient trend nor a restrictive cleanse—it is a complex, nutrient-dependent physiological process that sustains life itself. True detoxification is about nourishment, not deprivation, and it depends on supporting the body’s five primary organs of elimination—the liver, kidneys, gut, lungs, lymphatic system, and…

By: Yekta Dowlati, PhD The holiday season—rich in social connection, celebratory meals, and occasional indulgence—can also challenge the body’s natural detoxification capacity. The liver is the body’s biochemical command center—an organ of extraordinary metabolic intelligence that governs detoxification, nutrient processing, and redox equilibrium.1 Yet even this resilient system can become overburdened after periods of dietary excess and alcohol consumption common during the holiday season. The influx of macronutrient overload, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and xenobiotic exposure heightens hepatic oxidative…

By: Yekta Dowlati, PhD Introduction Creatine is one of the most extensively studied dietary supplements, supporting its role in exercise performance, recovery, and clinical health. Despite this robust evidence base, discussions of creatine supplementation have historically centered on men, particularly athletes and bodybuilders.1 This has left a significant gap in the clinical dialogue on women’s health—despite the fact that women possess 70–80% lower endogenous creatine stores compared to men, and often consume less through diet.1 Emerging research now suggests that…

By: Yekta Dowlati, PhD Vitamin C (ascorbic acid/ascorbate) is indispensable for immune defense, yet insufficiency remains widespread even in high-income nations. Data from the U.S. NHANES 2003–2006 survey revealed that 41.8% of adults had insufficient plasma Vitamin C levels, spanning deficiency (<11 µmol/L), hypovitaminosis (11–23 µmol/L), and inadequate concentrations (23–49 µmol/L).1 Notably, males, smokers, individuals with elevated BMI, and populations experiencing food insecurity were disproportionately affected. While scurvy is now rare, subclinical Vitamin C insufficiency exerts significant biological consequences. Inadequate…

by Yekta Dowlati, PhD In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining optimal health and vitality can feel overwhelming. With constant demands on energy, mood, digestion, and metabolism, many people struggle to feel their best. For women, these challenges can be even more complex due to hormonal fluctuations, evolving health needs, and busy lifestyles. But what if the key to lasting well-being lies in science-backed, natural ingredients? Research shows that targeted bioactive compounds—derived from plants and essential minerals—can support the body’s natural ability…

by Yekta Dowlati, PhD According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 2 billion adults globally are overweight, with 650 million classified as obese. Projections suggest that, if current trends persist, the number of overweight adults could reach 2.7 billion by 2025, with the obese population surpassing 1 billion.1,2 Obesity, a complex condition, emerges from an interplay of genetic, societal, and environmental factors and induces metabolic alterations, including changes in gut microbiota, systemic inflammation, and intestinal barrier dysfunction.3,4 Approximately 31%…

Angela Kelly, MA and Michael Stanclift, ND This is the last installment of a three-part series on bacterial vaginosis (BV). In part one, we discussed a healthy vaginal microbiome, symptoms, and diagnostic criteria. In part two , we highlighted the risk factors that contribute to BV, the health impacts it can cause, and conventional antimicrobial treatments, along with their propensity for resistance. As we saw in part two , conventional antimicrobials often only temporarily resolve BV, and contribute to antibiotic resistance. For…

Angela Kelly, MA and Michael Stanclift, ND This is part two in a three-part series about bacterial vaginosis (BV). In part one we discussed a healthy vaginal microbiome, BV’s characteristics, and diagnostic criteria. In this section, we’ll explore risk factors for developing BV, the health impacts of it, and current conventional therapies. BV risk factors While the precise causes of BV are still being investigated, researchers have discovered the following risk factors that can contribute to its development: Having a sexual…

Angela Kelly, MA and Michael Stanclift, ND In part one of this three-part series, we’ll discuss a healthy vaginal microbiome, symptoms, and the diagnostic criteria of bacterial vaginosis (BV). A healthy vaginal microbiome The vaginal microbiome is the lesser-known heroine of the body's microbiomes and the first line of defense against pathogens that can cause infections.1-5 Like the gut microbiome, the vaginal microbiome is seeded from mother to daughter and the surrounding environment within 24 hours of birth.6-7Hormonal fluctuations related…

by Lewis Chang, PhD A century ago, the global average life expectancy of humans was around 32 years. Today, it is 73. Because we live much longer, aging is now a major risk factor for a myriad of modern-day chronic illnesses. For scientists to study aging-related health issues, one must find a scientific way to measure aging, a quantifiable biochemical marker that reflects our biological age, so to speak. Having the ability to detect changes in such a biomarker will…