​Back in the day, getting health information meant going to the doctor. You called and scheduled an appointment, then waited several days, weeks or months until your appointment.
 
With the internet, things have changed. Web MD got the ball rolling with their Symptom Checker. (Which, in the early days of the internet, I used frequently. At one point I had tingling in my foot, which Web MD indicated was either caused by MS, stroke, or brain tumor. I called my mom in a panic with my dire diagnosis, and she told me to get new shoes. I switched them out, and the tingling was gone. This complete diagnostic misfire happened a few more times before my husband shut me down from Web MD.) Several websites popped up with medical advice and information, and forums were created where people could trade ideas about illnesses and medications. And there, Dr. Google came to be. When you are under duress and trying to figure out what is wrong with you, waiting a month for an appointment seems like an eternity. When there is a plethora of information out there, it is hard to pass up the opportunity to self-diagnose.
 
In addition to the issue of waiting for appointments, short visits with doctors and limited solutions have led frustrated people to turn to the internet more and more frequently. That is especially true of functional and naturopathic medicine, as it is a concept that tends to hit home with a lot of people. Doctors like Mark Hyman, Amy Myers and Dr. Mercola have built audiences and become go-to sources of information.
 
As a Functional Medicine practice, we are always happy to see the word spread about Functional Medicine. Many people do not know that there is often a root cause of their misery that can be addressed and reversed. Functional Medicine helps remove “tacks” that make people feel miserable and gives your body the tools it needs to heal itself vs. band-aiding symptoms.
 
The problem comes in when people think that every Functional Medicine “tack” applies to them. During my time doing new patient intakes, I have seen patients treat themselves for yeast, SIBO, food intolerances, Celiac Disease and vitamin deficiencies. They put themselves on low-FODMAP, or Specific Carbohydrate diets that are extremely difficult even for those schooled in nutrition. At the very least, this can be inconvenient and ineffective for the patient. In some cases, it can be dangerous.
 
Here’s an example: I had a friend in Functional Medicine coaching school who decided she needed lots of probiotics and went all in with the fermented foods. (Kombucha, Kefir, etc.) Turns out she had a major yeast issue that she didn’t know about and the fermented drinks caused the yeast to multiply very quickly, rendering her very ill. It took a visit to a doctor and testing to set her on the road to recovery.
 
When I first started my job as a health coach, I would try to guess in my head at what my patient’s tests would reveal. What seemed like cut and dry cases would always surprise me. Take my husband, for example. He always had athlete’s foot and issues with his skin. I was betting his yeast was off the charts. Tests showed his yeast was low, not requiring treatment, but he did have Vitamin B deficiencies and insulin resistance. I did not see that coming.
 
Everyone’s genetic makeup differs. Combined with environmental factors, there could be a lot of reasons that your body can react. Insomnia is a problem we see very frequently. For some people, a B12 shot is all they need to get back on track. Others need magnesium. For women, hormone variations can be the cause. My husband has the “warrior” gene, which means he’s built to go on “campaigns” for several days and forsake rest. He also has the “clock” gene, which means his body struggles with time. Sleep does not come as easy for him genetically as it does for others, so he needs support like melatonin, GABA and theanine. There is not a one-size-fits-all cure for insomnia, or really any other condition.
 
The bottom line… please do not do it yourself. See a doctor to find out YOUR specific issues and get guidance on how to treat them accordingly. Just because supplements are natural and do not require a prescription does not mean that they are appropriate or safe for everyone. And truthfully, for many patients, seeing numbers and a definitive diagnosis means the difference between compliance and non-compliance.
 
And no matter what, please do not turn to Dr. Google. He is always on call but his information is sketchy at best. 

For most of us with food issues, managing them has become second nature. It takes some getting used to, but we put together a routine that involves specific grocery stores and restaurants that we trust. When we travel, all of that goes out the window. We must plan, we must research, and we must cross our fingers and hope for the best that we can stay healthy on the road.
 
As a health coach, I spend quite a bit of time helping others figure out what to pack when they travel. I practice what I preach, as I currently react to gluten, dairy and eggs, as well as any migraine triggers such as vinegar (salad dressing), soy sauce, citrus and processed meats. When my family travels anywhere, even for a few days, I spend most of my packing time and energy on food. Food for the road or plane, food for the hotel or house where we are staying, and things to keep in my bag for an emergency. (On one trip, I was so wrapped up in packing my food that I forgot to bring my wallet and pajamas.) After doing this in my own life for some time, and helping others as a health coach, you would think I had this down pat.
 
I guess not. For a recent trip to Boston, I packed a bag with almonds, gluten-free bread and almond butter, fruit, vegetables, crackers and many other snacks. Our first stop was Bob Evans, and I was able to assemble a decent lunch of grilled chicken, hash browns and broccoli. I was feeling quite smug. If I could eke a decent meal out of a Bob Evans, I could go anywhere on this trip and eat well.
 
Reality hit when we arrived in Syracuse. My daughter found a healthy-looking restaurant that seemed to be perfect: wraps, smoothie bowls, lots of healthy options. As I looked further at the menu, it seemed that all of their meats were soaked in soy sauce. They did not offer plain grilled chicken…everything was “pulled.” I could hear Dr. Sprecher’s voice in my head “If it tastes sweet, it is dessert!”, so no smoothie bowls for me. I sat with a bottle of water while my daughters ate, and my husband and son ate at a nearby sub shop. I was quite hangry and defeated by the time we got back to the hotel, where I ate my soggy bread with some almond butter on it.
 
The bread was also my breakfast the next morning. I was desperate, DESPERATE for some real food by the time lunch rolled around. Unfortunately, we were on a long stretch of road with only rural exits and infrequent rest stops, which featured McDonald’s and a pizza place. Every time a sign would pop up for a new stop, I would get my hopes up, only to be shut down when I saw the McDonald’s/pizza signs. EVERY SINGLE ONE WAS THE SAME! We managed to find a Wendy’s (the only fast-food restaurant I trust) at about 3:30 p.m. By then, my husband was threatening to send me home on a plane because he couldn’t stand driving with me when I was hungry.
 
We rented a home with the kitchen, and stocked it immediately upon our arrival. We ate at home most of the time. I used my trusty app “Find Me Gluten Free” when we needed to eat out, but even that was not foolproof. We had a lunch where the waitress said anything on the menu could be adjusted to be gluten-free. “Do you have a gluten-free pizza crust?,” I asked. “No,” she answered. “Do you have a gluten-free bread for the sandwiches?” I asked. “No,” she answered. “Do you have gluten-free pasta?” I asked. “No,” she answered. So they really couldn’t adjust ANYTHING on the menu to be gluten free. I had a salad with no dressing.
 
The only win came on the last day, when we found a Pizzeria Uno where we had a FABULOUS gluten-free pizza. Down the street was a Ben and Jerry’s with dairy-free ice-cream. My daughter and I finally got to enjoy “vacation” food, and boy, did we enjoy it.
 
I guess the moral of the story is to never get too complacent when you are on the road. Always, always have a meal on hand or at least something to keep you satiated if you cannot find something to eat. My husband said he expected Boston to be more progressive with its food, and truthfully, I did too. Thank God we had a place with a kitchen. On the way home, I packed a cooler with enough food to get us through the ride home without stopping. And I was SO happy to come home to my kitchen, my Heinen’s, and all of the places I know and trust. There is no place like home!

​If you are anything like me, when you hear the stomach flu is going around you hit the panic button. It is especially challenging when you have small children who bring the virus home and then pass it on to whomever the lucky person is who is taking care of them. I have said many times I would pay a monthly premium to prevent the stomach flu from hitting my house. Since there is no such option, here is some information from Dr. Sprecher on how best to prevent getting the dreaded virus this winter:

1. Keeping your immune system running optimally is one of the best ways to prevent getting sick at all. Plenty of Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc are the first line of defense for your body, Using thieves oil on your hands and feet also helps.
2. Saccharomyces boulardii helps bind toxins and restore normal gut functioning. Our nutritionist, Bob, told me several years ago that this can help prevent the stomach flu and I have used it ever since, cranking it up a few notches when the stomach flu is going around. I have had much less severity of the bug than the rest of my family, so maybe it does work! We offer it here as Sacro B by OrthoMolecular or in Orthobiotic probiotic.
3. Probiotics: Keeping your gut balanced and healthy will help it be less vulnerable when the germs strike. Read more here.
4. If you have the stomach flu, one of the best gut-rebuilders on the market is GI Replenish by Metagenics. It has an amazing combination of ingredients that help calm and heal the gut. (It is also great after you finish a round of antibiotics, which is what I am currently using it for.) We have it here in chocolate and vanilla. Dr. Sprecher likes Perma Clear from Thorne, which has glutamine, saccharomyces boulardii and bacillus coagulans, and ginger, all great stomach soothers and rebuilders.
5. Another option for electrolyte rehydration when you've been sick is Endura from Metagenics, which is a little pouch that is poured into a water bottle. It contains electrolytes and other vitamins, is convenient and tastes great. Standby Gatorade is also a good (maybe a bit sugary) option.

Food sensitivities are very common and manifest themselves in many different ways. Common signs of food sensitivities include:
• Digestive Upset: Symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, heartburn, gas, diarrhea, cramps, or bloating which begin immediately or up to several hours following a meal.
• Headaches or Migraines: Most people who suffer from migraines can point to a specific food, or several foods, that seem to kick off their headaches. Common triggers include wheat, dairy, yeast, corn, and eggs. Tyramines are another common irritant, and they can be found in foods including cheese, wine, avocados, bananas and citrus foods.
• Depression or Anxiety: More than 90 percent of serotonin is produced in the gut, which is often referred to as our “second brain.” It therefore makes sense that what happens in the gut affects our moods. 
• Skin Disorders: These include eczema, rosacea, acne and psoriasis. Research has indicated that the gut and skin are tightly related, and removing trigger foods can make a big difference in keeping sufferers more comfortable.
• Fatigue: Food sensitivities cause inflammation, which taxes the body. If this occurs on a chronic basis, it can lead to constantly feeling tired.
• Joint Pain: It may seem hard to believe, but research has shown a connection between joints and the gut. Many patients with joint pain noticed significant improvement when problem foods were removed from their diets.
• Insomnia: The body’s inflammatory response to problem foods can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. An unfortunate side effect is that lack of sleep can make the body crave things like bread, sugar and alcohol, which exacerbate the problem.
• Weight Gain: Food sensitivities can interfere with the signals the gut sends to the brain after eating, leading the brain to indicate a higher “set point” for weight than a healthy person would have. 
• Allergies: Runny nose, blocked ears, coughing and sinus pain may be linked with food sensitivities. Research has indicated that patients show considerable improvement after removing trigger foods from their diets.
WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND?
1. The most cost-effective way to determine your food sensitivities is an Elimination Diet. Most common triggers are eliminated and re-introduced over a period of weeks. This requires vigilance, discipline and an ability to keep a food journal.
2. We offer food sensitivity testing, also known as the Alletess, which is done by blood draw. On the plus side, you will get a very specific list of 184 foods and your level of sensitivity. However, it is not covered by insurance and costs $350. The results take about three weeks to come in. When sorting through food reactions gets overwhelming, the Alletess can help provide very specific answers.