How a “Modern Lifestyle” Can Harm Your Health

Achieving your best health can often seem straightforward, at least in theory. All it takes, a bounty of evidence has found, is adopting a lifestyle that balances activity, nutrition, socialization, and rest. In reality, it’s usually not that easy. The pressures and demands of life, like pursuing a fulfilling career, raising a family, and simply living in a society that favors screen time and fast food can often keep us from making the best decisions for our health.

What many fail to realize is this “modern lifestyle” has become increasingly unsustainable. The number of people with one or more chronic conditions has grown by over 40 million people in the U.S. in the past 25 years. A majority of this impact is a result of lifestyle factors like high stress, lack of sleep, and poor nutrition, among others. If current trends continue, this number is expected to reach over 170 million in the next decade — despite the billions of dollars invested in healthcare every year. What is needed now more than ever is a reevaluation of how our behaviors affect our health, and the incorporation of this concept into healthcare, so that we can make appropriate long-term changes to our lifestyle.

4 ways our modern lifestyle leads to poor health

We make choices every day, both consciously and unconsciously, that affect our health. This can encompass a variety of small and large decisions, from our diets to how much we move our bodies, to even our choice of career. But when we forget to prioritize ourselves, we risk damaging our health. A poor lifestyle can produce negative health consequences in several key ways:

1. Too little exercise

Moving our bodies is one of the most basic but important ways we can stay healthy. Yet a 2019 analysis found that U.S. adults are sitting, on average, six and a half hours a day, while teenagers are averaging eight hours. Much of this is due to the increasing centrality of computers and the normalcy of sedentary work settings, which makes it hard to move around as much as we should. As a result, we have become more susceptible to a range of health issues associated with a sedentary lifestyle, including obesity, weaker bones and muscles, and poor blood circulation.

2. Increased stress

Modern lifestyles have left many feeling anxious and burnt out. There are many reasons for this, including constant virtual connectivity and the increasing pressure to work long hours with little downtime. Worldwide events like the pandemic and economic uncertainty have also become a significant source of stress. Because of this, we are now facing what the American Psychological Association is calling a “national mental health crisis.” The consequences of this are serious: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects that 50% of all Americans will be treated with a mental health issue at some point in their lifetime. Prolonged stress can lead to a myriad of health issues, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and even diabetes. It is safe to say that stress is a vastly underestimated cause of health problems.

3. Too little sleep

Chronic sleep deprivation is also a national epidemic, according to many experts. Sleep is a large factor that can contribute to optimal health, and adults should aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night. This helps ensure proper recovery from the mental and physical activity our bodies experience throughout the day. But, according to the CDC, as many as one in three adults are not getting enough sleep. This can be traced back to a number of modern factors, such as the increased use of screens, too much caffeine or alcohol, irregular work hours, and, of course, stress. Lack of high-quality sleep over the long-term may increase the risk for chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

4. Poor nutrition

There is no doubt that what we put into our bodies nutritionally directly affects our health. Ideally, meals should consist of highly nutritious, balanced, whole sources of foods, with the appropriate number of calories required for metabolic health. Despite this ideal, the demands of our modern lifestyles can make this difficult. Many of us simply don’t have the knowledge or time it takes to maintain a perfectly balanced diet. Instead, we end up eating on the go or choosing cheaper, processed foods that can be higher in calories and lack the nutrients our bodies need to function properly. The negative health effects of this can be substantial over time. By some measures, poor diets are responsible for 22% of deaths among adults due to the range of conditions that it can cause, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

How functional medicine can address the modern lifestyle

For many of us, a modern lifestyle can feel like an inescapable aspect of life, especially because conventional healthcare is not designed to address its effects. Instead of focusing on the root causes of disease, a strictly conventional approach tends to treat just the symptoms, draining the healthcare system and often doing even more harm. A functional medicine approach to care builds on top of conventional medicine by not only treating the symptoms of disease, but going deeper to address root cause. This allows patients to make significant, long-term lifestyle modifications like reducing stress, developing better nutrition habits, increasing quality of sleep, and becoming more active to help prevent chronic disease and work towards optimal health.

It is possible to make small steps toward lifestyle change to improve health. For many, extra support may be needed to help start taking a more proactive, whole person approach to health. This can look like seeking support from a provider that looks beyond pharmaceutical interventions when determining a patient’s health plan. Our providers use a blend of conventional, functional and integrative medical disciplines to change the course of their patient’s lives by supporting long-term lifestyle change.

Want to learn more? Schedule a meet and greet to talk to an expert and see how our approach to care can benefit you.

The Difference Between Concierge Medicine & Direct Primary Care

Several medical practice models exist in healthcare that provide different experiences for both patients and providers. The changing healthcare landscape in the U.S. has ignited a shift in primary care delivery as providers experience burnout from grueling work schedules and unsustainable patient volumes, with less compensation than ever before. What has emerged? A new way to deliver primary care that not only puts the patient first, but prioritizes the provider as well.

Over the past decade, medical practices have been consumed, quite literally, by large healthcare systems due to changes in reimbursement policies and the economic implications of fee for service care. Health insurance companies drive incentives for providers to see as many patients as possible, making appointment time shorter and provider-patient interactions minimal. Providers are tied to a reimbursement system that compensates less than they deserve and prioritizes volume over value. As a result, prevalence of chronic health conditions has skyrocketed which has even further widened the gap between supply and demand for high-quality care. Patient and provider dissatisfaction levels are at an all-time high.

Deviating from the conventional practice norm, concierge medicine and direct primary care practice models have emerged in an attempt to create sustainable private practice models and improve patient outcomes. Both models can seem similar at face-value but have differences operationally and in their philosophies around care.

Similar but Different

The main difference between concierge medicine and direct primary care is in their provider payment structures and cost implications for patients. Both concierge medicine and direct primary care enroll patients on monthly or yearly payment “subscriptions” that provide direct access to their provider, as well as specialty testing and comprehensive health assessments. However, concierge practices usually also accept insurance, meaning a patient pays an insurance company for concierge services, on top of a subscription fee to the concierge practice. Direct primary care practices, on the other hand, typically do not accept insurance, so the provider is paid directly by the patient (hence its name), and monthly fees tend to be lower. The cost per month in a direct primary care setting covers appointment times, labs and other testing, where in concierge medicine, some of these costs may be billed additionally as “non-covered services.”

Patient panels in both concierge medicine and direct primary care are kept low, with providers typically seeing as few as 5-6 clients per day, as opposed to upwards of 25-30 per day in most conventional settings. In most cases, concierge medicine relies heavily on practicing conventional medical philosophies, while direct primary care often merges other philosophies in health care, like functional and integrative medicine. Without the control of insurance companies, direct primary care practices are able to think outside of the limitations in conventional medicine and focus on whole-person health.

It is clear the healthcare industry is seeing a shift in primary care delivery due to a demand in more personalized care for patients and more freedom for providers. BodyRenu’s direct primary care model allows for direct 24/7 access to a provider versed in the best of conventional, functional and integrative medicine, with little or no wait time for appointments.

Learn more about how BodyRenu’s direct primary care can help you reach optimal health by scheduling a meet & greet today.

What Does “Healthy” Mean to You?

Depending on who you ask, “healthy” can have very different definitions. Many providers may define their patients as “healthy” when they receive results from generic screening tests, such as a blood pressure reading, body mass index measurement, or cholesterol labs, that are “within a normal range.” However, “normal” results often do not resolve feelings of unwell in patients and can simply be the result of medications that manage symptoms. This is because a strictly conventional model of healthcare does not necessarily focus on root-cause of disease or helping patients reach “optimal” health.

By combining conventional medicine with functional and integrative approaches, patients and providers working within the Precision Health Care model can assess health at a much deeper level using a variety of specialized testing and services. The result both prioritizes optimal health and broadens our perspective of what being healthy really means.

Examples of Conventional vs. Optimal Definitions of Health

Conventional definitions of health are well-established in our culture. Because of this, it can sometimes be hard to see its limitations. To make this easier, consider how conventional medicine defines healthy when it comes to two specific examples: weight and blood pressure.

In order to assess weight-related health, conventional medicine will often rely on a metric called body mass index (BMI). Based around weight and height, BMI has long been used to determine whether a patient is overweight or obese, as well as to identify related risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes. Much of this can be attributed to its simplicity: BMI uses a single number that classifies patients into risk categories. For instance, a BMI between 18 and 25 in adults is considered “healthy.” However, this often does not tell the entire story of a patient’s overall health, nor does it imply that a patient is at their optimal weight for metabolic health.

By taking a more nuanced approach, Precision Health Care considers a variety of factors when determining a person’s weight-related health. If weight is an issue, patients can look deeper into its causes and gain a more thorough understanding of their body composition and other internal markers that may indicate health concerns. For example, unlike Precision Health Care providers, most conventional medical practitioners do not have adequate nutrition training.

Likewise, very few will take the time to talk about beneficial lifestyle changes or to consider factors like hormone imbalances — both of which are standard in a functional and integrative medicine approach. 

Conventional medicine also takes a limited view when it comes to assessing and treating high blood pressure. In most cases, providers following a traditional approach will simply prescribe a medication, such as a beta-blocker or ACE inhibitor. Despite the fact that these medications can come with a variety of side effects, including depression, dizziness, and insomnia, patients will often have to stay on them for prolonged periods of time — and sometimes even indefinitely.

While this approach may help stabilize blood pressure, it fails to address the underlying issues causing high blood pressure. Patients become dependent on their medication to reach what conventional medicine considers “healthy.” In contrast, Precision Health Care focuses on a patient’s optimal health by addressing the root-cause of their high blood pressure. This may involve guiding patients toward vital lifestyle or nutritional changes to lower their blood pressure. Precision Health Care providers may also help their patients identify other possible reasons, such as vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies, in order to get them off medication permanently.

Giving “Healthy” a More Personal Definition

For too long, conventional medicine has misconstrued “healthy” not as the “absence of disease,” but as the “absence of symptoms.” As long as those symptoms can be treated, conventional care often considers the patient “healthy enough.”

A Precision Health Care approach solves this by moving beyond the status quo and helping patients achieve what they consider to be their “optimal” health. This involves taking a much more personal and comprehensive approach that considers a variety of lifestyle factors. When compared with more conventional methods, the result can mean the difference between masking symptoms through medication versus being free of a health condition because the root-cause was addressed. Put another way, it can be the difference between having to uncomfortably manage a disease versus living a long and comfortable life.

Start a new journey to optimal health by scheduling a meet and greet with one of our providers today.

Think You Have a Hormone Imbalance? Know the Signs

Everyone has an off day here and there. But what if a whole month goes by, or even a whole year, and you still don’t feel like yourself? Maybe you can’t seem to get out of bed even when you’ve struggled to get to sleep all night. Or maybe your mood is all over place — depressed one moment, anxious and energetic the next. Whatever it is, something does not feel right.

If you’ve already tried exercise, adjusting your diet, and other lifestyle changes that can impact your mood and energy, it may be time to consider whether or not you have a hormone imbalance.

What Are Hormones?

Hormones are chemicals that control and regulate a variety of systems and functions in the body. They are produced in the endocrine glands (such as the thyroid, adrenal glands, and pancreas, among others), as well as testes in men and ovaries in women. Two of the most well-known hormones are testosterone and estrogen, although your body secretes around 50 different types of hormones in total. While some of these stimulate specific processes throughout the body, others carry out a wide range of different functions.

A hormone imbalance can trigger a cascade of downstream effects that impacts just about every system of the body. To understand why, it’s important to know what hormones are and the role they play in our lives.

For instance, cortisol is a hormone the body produces in response to stress. It reduces inflammation and can even alter or shut down certain functions that get in the way of the body’s threat response. Insulin, on the other hand, is produced in the pancreas and regulates blood sugar levels. An inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin, or the body not responding effectively to insulin, can result in diabetes.

6 Signs of a Hormone Imbalance

There can be several different reasons why you may be experiencing a hormone imbalance. Oftentimes a hormone imbalance can be the result of an over- or underactive thyroid or long-term stress. The aging process itself can also lead to an imbalance: Menopause in women and andropause in men are both associated with significant declines in estrogen and testosterone, respectively, that come with age.

Whatever the cause, these six possible signs may indicate that hormones are imbalanced:

1. Suddenly your scale seems off

   Weight and appetite are closely connected to hormone levels — and both can fluctuate widely depending on how off balance they are. For example, one study found that over a six-month period of time, individuals with higher cortisol levels were more likely to have an increased appetite and propensity to gain weight. Likewise, an underactive thyroid (also known as hypothyroidism) can lead to reduced energy and increased weight.

2. Your mood is variable

   Changes in mood are a well-documented effect of hormone imbalances. Most significantly, sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone, have an incredible influence over our emotional state, as do mood “boosting” hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Any man who has gone through puberty or woman who has a menstrual cycle has likely experienced the impact these hormones can have on their mood. Dietary behaviors, nutritional deficiencies, genetics and gut health can also have an effect on hormone production and utilization. While situational factors may be a play with variable moods, prolonged mood swings, as well as periods of anxiety or depression, may be a sign of a more serious imbalance.

3. Constant fatigue

   Energy levels can be affected by a range of factors, including hormones. For example, insulin not only lowers blood sugar levels but also plays a key role in stimulating the metabolism of glucose. When this hormone is off, your energy levels may fall dramatically. Thyroid hormone is also central to metabolism, which means those with hypothyroidism may experience fatigue at greater levels than normal.

4. Sleep is disrupted

   Sleep is vital for many reasons, including boosting your immunity and regulating the production of hormones like leptin (which controls appetite). However, hormones themselves may be a reason why you’re having trouble falling and staying asleep. Specifically, melatonin, which is produced in the pineal gland, helps you adhere to a natural circadian rhythm and get a good night’s rest. Insufficient production of melatonin may lead to insomnia and other subsequent symptoms, such as depression.

5. No interest in intimacy

   Low libido may be another sign of a hormone imbalance. Decreased levels of testosterone or estrogen could be the reason why your sex drive may not be what it once was, but other hormones may also be the culprit. For instance, an underactive thyroid can reduce your libido by making you feel fatigued or depressed. Less commonly, women with elevated levels of prolactin, a hormone associated with breast milk production, may also lack interest in sex.

6. Hair and skin conditions

   Finally, watch out for any sudden hair loss or unexpected skin conditions. This may be a sign of either an over- or underactive thyroid. If this is the case, it will typically be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue. The stress hormone, cortisol, can also drastically affect skin and hair health, causing loss of hair, rapid greying, or persistent acne.

What Should You Do if You Have a Hormone Imbalance?

Hormones play a vast and complex role in our bodies. Because of this, a hormone imbalance may encompass some or all of the symptoms mentioned, as well as many others not listed. Regardless, if you are suspicious that a hormone imbalance might be at the root of your symptoms, it’s smart to get specialized testing to check your levels, and frequently retest to track trends over time.

Fortunately, if you have a hormone imbalance, there are plenty of treatment options to choose from depending on your needs. These may range from lifestyle changes to a more structured intervention, such as Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. With a personalized evaluation, a Precision Health Care provider can help address the root cause of your symptoms and put you on the path to feeling better.

To get started, schedule a meet and greet with us today.

3 Expert Tips for a Healthy Winter Season

The winter months are rarely kind to our healthy habits. The days grow shorter and the weather gets colder, and suddenly we’re stuck inside — often with plenty of delicious holiday food to tempt us into the kitchen. After spending all year trying to get back into shape (or simply trying to lead a lifestyle that supports optimal health), it can be hard to maintain enough motivation to keep healthy habits alive.

But restarting your healthy habits each year doesn’t have to be an inevitability. Lean into these three tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the winter season and all year long.

1. Redefine Exercise

Running, biking, and swimming are all great forms of exercise that become suddenly less attractive when the weather turns cold. Fortunately, there’s no reason you are stuck suffering in the wind and ice to get your heart rate going. If just the thought of going outside in the cold or forcing strenuous workout classes feel like torture, it may be time to redefine exercise.

For instance, yoga or even stretching is one of the most accessible and adaptable workouts you can do — as well as one with plenty of physical and mental benefits. Whether you’re looking for something long and intense or short and gentle, there are countless online classes you can sign up for, both subscription-based and free.

If yoga isn’t your calling, consider embracing the season with a walk outdoors. Find a good coat and gloves and take a break from work to get outside. With daylight so limited, it can be incredibly beneficial to soak up some rays while you can. And although walking may not feel as intense as running, it still helps improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure, and boost energy levels by releasing endorphins. It’s also a great way to spend time with family or catch up with friends — social benefits you should not ignore.

Finally, don’t forget about winter sports. If you’re lucky enough to live close to some mountains, consider taking a weekend away to try out skiing. If you don’t mind the learning curve, hockey and ice skating are two other great forms of exercise. Or if you just want to keep it simple, find a good hiking trail and some quality boots and get outside. Not all exercise has to be sweat-induced or strenuous.

2. Supplement Your Diet

Getting adequate vitamins and minerals is important all year long, but especially during the winter months. However, this can often be a challenge. As the days get shorter, our moods may suffer, making it more likely for us to indulge in unhealthy habits, such as excessive eating or drinking. Likewise, the annual arrival of flu season means it’s important to take extra measures to maintain our health.

One of the first things you can do is start supplementing your diet with vitamin D. Essential for healthy bones, vitamin D is produced naturally by our bodies when we absorb ultraviolet light from the sun. Despite this, most people are actually vitamin D deficient — a condition that grows worse during the winter when there is less sunlight to go around. This can make us more vulnerable to conditions such as osteoporosis and make us more susceptible to falls. Fortunately, there are many different types of food that contain vitamin D, such as fish, eggs, mushrooms, and dairy products. Try to work more of these foods into your diet all winter long. 

The body’s immune system can also be supported by increasing your intake of vitamins A, B, and C. While your chances of contracting a cold may have lowered now that wearing masks and working remotely have become normal, you still don’t want to take any chances. Citrus fruits are a well-known source of vitamin C, but you can also find it in leafy greens, bell peppers, and cranberries. Good sources of vitamin B include legumes (such as chickpeas and beans), cherries, and beets. Vitamin A can be found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and eggs.

3. Keep Sleep a Top Priority

Between the adjusted hours and the holidays, the winter months can strain your schedule. But this is no time to neglect sleep. Sticking to a healthy sleep schedule can make or break a healthy lifestyle. Good sleep is also a crucial part of both short- and long-term health.

Sleep affects nearly every system of the body. As you sleep, for example, your metabolism will lower so that your body can make repairs and maintain a healthy hormonal equilibrium. In turn, this helps control weight gain and ward off insulin resistance, which can be a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Sleep also provides essential support to the immune system. By promoting the development of T cells (a type of white blood cell), sleep helps your body respond quickly and efficiently to infection. Sleep even helps improve brain performance by maintaining healthy cortisol levels, a hormone produced in response to stress that can help control inflammation and aid in the formation of memory.

Don’t Let Your Health Wait Until Spring

Winter is no time to let your healthy habits slide. In fact, these months are more important than ever to keep maintaining a healthy lifestyle as you continue your journey toward optimal health. However, you do not have to do this alone. Our functional medicine providers can help you adapt your lifestyle for colder weather and keep you on track until we see Spring again (and beyond).

Schedule a meet and greet with a provider today to learn more about how you can reach optimal health.

BodyRenu Launches Genetic Testing to Optimize Patient Health

BodyRenu expands programs to offer a new level of care rooted in functional medicine.

BOUNTIFUL, UT, February 2022 – BodyRenu, a local functional medicine clinic, has launched genetic testing with GeneSavvy as a part of their arsenal of services aimed at optimizing patient health through a functional medicine approach. The launch comes on the heels of a new partnership between BodyRenu and Essential Health out of North Carolina that began in early 2022.

GeneSavvy’s advanced genetic test sequences the entire human exome and mitochondrial genome to uncover thousands of unique genetic variants and provides actionable recommendations to give to patients based on their unique data.

“At GeneSavvy, our ultimate goal is to help practitioners identify patient-specific underlying mechanisms that have the highest potential to impact the path to optimal health and longevity.” Says Kris Fobes, co-founder, and CEO of GeneSavvy. “By offering GeneSavvy’s technology, BodyRenu providers will be able to utilize millions of genetic data points to help design the ultimate patient-centered, personalized, and effective treatment plans for their patients.”

Brian Rodgers, DO, ABAARM, IFMC has served as the provider and medical director for BodyRenu since 2010 and specializes in treating illness at its root cause, with particular specializations in hormone balance, thyroid health and cardiovascular health. His practice offers a unique set of programs aimed at discovering the underlying of illness to help patients regain health and avoid dependence on prescription medication.

“Genetic testing will be a huge asset for patients to start incorporating advanced solutions into their care plan,” says Rodgers, “With GeneSavvy’s level of detail and our training in interpretating data, our patients will have more insight into and agency over their health than ever before.”

A shared philosophy of personalized care ignited a partnership between BodyRenu and Essential Health, a group of functional medicine clinics based in North Carolina. Essential Health operates through a model called “Precision Health Care” which addresses disease through a blend of conventional, functional, and integrative medicine to promote optimal health and longevity.

Essential Health has guided the expansion of BodyRenu’s functional medicine programs including Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Weight Loss, Functional Nutrition Therapy, and Aesthetics, with Regenerative Medicine and IV Therapy launching in early 2022. BodyRenu also launched a subscription-based primary care program that includes 24/7 access to a provider, 30-60-minute appointments, no wait times, and access to state-of-the-art equipment and specialized testing.

“Essential Health shares our approach of giving time to patients to better understand their biology and lifestyle: something not many providers can feasibly do,” says Rodgers. “Genetic testing, along with our other expanded programs made possible through Essential Health’s guidance and support, will further support our commitment to delivering personalized care to each of our clients.”

BodyRenu offers a complimentary “Meet & Greet,” a 30-minute discussion with a member of their team to talk about health goals and recommendations for programs that may be most beneficial.

ABOUT GENE SAVVY:

GeneSavvy was founded in 2018 to provide a new kind of genetic testing built for and with functional and integrative health professionals. Our mission is to improve quality and duration of life by understanding the root cause of complex health conditions rather than just treating symptoms. We use whole exome and whole mitochondrial genome next-generation sequencing technology to report every coding variant in a client’s genome and enrich these data with environmental, dietary, and pharmaceutical interactions in order to guide our clients towards optimal health. 

Learn more about GeneSavvy at www.genesavvy.com.

Here’s Your Wake-Up Call: How Sleep Affects Health

Sleep is easy to take for granted. In the U.S., more than one-third of adults regularly get less than seven hours of sleep a night. Our work culture of long hours, along with our modern lifestyles, often even celebrates a lack of sleep. As a result, few people think twice about losing a few hours here and there if it means getting more done. After all, any ill effects can feel harmless — and easy to solve with a cup of coffee or two.

But this type of thinking ignores the long-term costs of neglecting sleep. A range of medical conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, have been linked to a lack of sleep. Recent studies have even found that middle-aged people who get six hours of sleep or less had a 30 percent greater risk of developing dementia. While scientists are still debating the exact connection between sleep and disease, more experts agree on one thing: getting adequate sleep is vital to our health.

What Happens When We Sleep?

Sleep can be divided into two different categories: REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. Over several hours, we cycle repeatedly between these two major phases as we progress through the multiple stages of sleep.

The first three stages are composed of non-REM sleep. The initial stage is the transition from wakefulness into sleep. The second stage is light sleep, or when the mind and body begin to slow down and prepare for the subsequent stages. During the third stage of sleep, the brain starts to produce what are known as delta waves and the body begins to go into deep sleep. Finally, by the fourth stage, REM sleep begins and delta wave activity increases. By this point, brain activity reaches levels that are similar to wakefulness, which is why intense dreams are most often associated with this stage. Breathing and heart rate also increase during REM sleep.

This entire process can repeat itself four or five times over the course of a normal sleep session (seven to eight hours). Although the specific purposes of each stage are still not entirely understood, REM sleep is thought to play a role in cognitive functions associated with learning new material, while non-REM sleep is associated with proper brain function while awake.

How Does Sleep Affect Health?

While it may not look like it’s doing much from the outside, lack of sleep affects nearly every system of the body and causes notable changes to our internal health. Here are some of the most significant ways getting enough sleep benefits us:

Regulates Metabolism and Weight

Metabolism refers to the amount of energy the body requires to maintain itself. During sleep, metabolism lowers by about 15 percent so that the body can repair any damage done during wakeful periods. However, when we do not get enough sleep, the body is less able to properly regulate this cycle of metabolism, leading to hormone imbalances and insulin resistance. Over prolonged periods, this can cause health issues such as weight gain and become a precursor to diabetes.

Helps the Body Recover and Repair

In addition to metabolic regulation, there are a variety of ways sleep promotes healing. A good night’s rest releases hormones that can help reduce inflammation and atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in blood vessels). Sleep also releases enzymes that repair brain cell damage caused by free radicals and clears away a protein called beta-amyloid, which is thought to be a precursor to Alzheimer’s.

Reduces Stress and Improves Cognition

Healthy sleep habits are one of the best ways to manage stress. This is accomplished, in part, by maintaining appropriate cortisol levels, a hormone produced in response to stress that can help control inflammation and aid in the formation of memory. Inadequate sleep can cause cortisol levels to become imbalanced, leading to headaches, high blood pressure, and anxiety, all of which can have unhealthy effects on mental performance.

Boosts Immune System and Cardiovascular Health

Sleep is an essential way the body keeps the immune and cardiovascular systems in check. In addition to lowering blood pressure and heart rate, giving the cardiovascular system time to repair, sleep also promotes the development of T cells, a vital part of the immune system. In contrast, a lack of sleep can make us more susceptible to disease.

How to Ensure You’re Getting Healthy Sleep

Getting a good night’s rest starts with creating a consistent bedtime routine — and sticking to it. Give yourself at least two hours between your last full meal and when you go to bed. This allows you to digest any food and can help you avoid issues like heartburn. You should also steer clear of any caffeine late in the day, which can stimulate your nervous system and keep you from relaxing into sleep.

Try to avoid looking at any electronic screens right before bed. Blue light emits from most screens which can interrupt your circadian rhythm by tricking your body into thinking it is daytime. Instead, read a book and dim the lights at night. If falling asleep is still an issue, eliminate any naps you take in the day so that you are more tired at night. Adding an exercise routine earlier in the day can also help prepare the body for rest at the end of the day. Rigorous exercise such as strength training right before bedtime may impede sleep.

If sleep problems persist, you may want to rule out a possible disorder. For instance, sleep apnea can interrupt sleep by causing inconsistent breathing. As many as 24% of men and 9% of women suffer from this condition, making it one of the most common sleep disorders. Contact a health care provider to explore possible sleep disorders if you have difficulty falling or staying asleep consistently for more than a few weeks.

Sleep is an essential aspect of maintaining good health — but it is also intimately connected to many other aspects of our physical and mental well-being, such as our diet, weight, stress levels, and even our genes. To help you get restful, healthy sleep, a functional medicine approach considers all aspects of a healthy lifestyle so that you can feel your best, day and night. Learn more by contacting us for a complimentary meet and greet today.

Announcing a New Partnership with Essential Health

We opened our doors more than a decade ago with the vision of restoring health in patients by providing individualized care and looking beyond conventional medical disciplines. This vision remains strong today and we find it important to further evolve our practice with our unique combination of conventional, functional, and integrative approaches to care. The impact of COVID has also underscored the importance of investing more time and resources into our patients to better support optimal health.

For these reasons, we are thrilled to announce we have partnered with a like-minded practice, Essential Health, out of North Carolina to help expand and build upon our programs and services.

Essential Health’s mission is to support optimal health and longevity by providing a highly effective combination of conventional, functional and integrative medicine called Precision Health Care. Like us, Essential Health is a practice rooted in finding the root-case of disease and dedicated to treating patients through whole-person care.

Our partnership with Essential Health will help us establish a subscription-based direct primary care as a foundational program. This will enable patients to have more time with their provider to establish in-depth and personal relationships. Primary care patients will also have 24/7 access to their provider with little to no wait times for appointments. Essential Health will also help expand our hormone balance, weight loss, functional nutrition therapy, and aesthetics services, and introduce several other new exciting programs launching in 2022.

Essential Health also brings a wide collection of comprehensive and state-of-the-art equipment and testing protocols for patients, most notably the Essential Health Assessment that takes a deep dive into a patient’s health status, including health history, biometrics, functional and physical exams, and extensive lab testing. This allows providers to develop a personalized plan to achieve optimal health and longevity for patients.

Stay tuned for more information about our expanded services and new offerings in the coming weeks. If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to schedule a free Meet & Greet with a member of our team.

We are excited to begin a new chapter with Essential Health and invite you to learn more at www.essentialhealth.health.  

 Sincerely,

Dr. Rodgers & the BodyRenu team

Here are 8 Effective Ways to Boost Immune System.

During something as serious as a global pandemic, it can feel as though things are spinning out of our control.  In addition to washing hands, covering your mouth, staying home if you are sick, etc. It's VERY important to consider "lifestyle factors" when it comes to dealing with our immune systems. In attempt to calm any anxiety and provide you with actionable steps towards protecting yourself from the COVID-19 virus, we've gathered the top 8 immune boosting practices and brought them to you.

1. STAY HYDRATED: Drinking water keeps lungs moist and loosens mucus helping to clear any opportunistic environments for infections to thrive. "One recent study found that staying hydrated may boost a particular immune response to enable your body to better fight the viruses." EveryDay Health. 

2. DRINK TEA: Certain teas like black and green tea have high levels of antioxidants which help boost the immune system by fighting free radicals. "One of the beneficial compounds found in green tea has a powerful ability to increase the number of "regulatory T cells" that play a key role in immune function and suppression of autoimmune disease, according to new research in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University." Science Daily. 

3. LIMIT SUGAR INTAKE: We can't stress this one enough. Sugar is inflammatory and causes constant stress on the body. "Eating or drinking too much sugar curbs immune system cells that attack bacteria" written on webmd. 

4. FOCUS ON QUALITY SLEEP: Sleep is where our bodies truly regenerate. If you have trouble sleeping, don't hesitate to reach out to Dr. Rodgers. Our Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy has helped hundreds of people sleep better throughout the night.  We also have an amazing supplement that helps which you can purchase here. 

5. MANAGE STRESS:  The stress hormone corticosteroid can suppress the effectiveness of the immune system (e.g. lowers the number of lymphocytes). Simple Psychology.  There are several ways we like to manage our stress but simple things like limiting media exposure, going for a walk, watching a funny movie or calling a friend are all great ways to do this. We also LOVE the calm app for easy help with breath and meditation work. 

6. EXERCISE DAILY: Even a 30 minute brisk walk can get your heart pumping, doing this in the sunshine also helps with stress and increases Vitamin D levels.  "Physical activity may help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways. This may reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu, or other illness. Exercise causes change in antibodies and white blood cells (WBC). WBCs are the body's immune system cells that fight disease." Medline Plus. 

7. SUPPORT THE GUT: According to Dr. Frank Lipman, "a healthy gut makes the rest of you less vulnerable to bacterial and viral invaders." Taking a daily probiotic can help support the microbiome, as well as staying away from inflammatory foods. 

8. EAT HEALTHY AND ADD SPICES:  A diet consisting of lots of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, adequate levels of protein and (preferably gluten-free) whole grains provide all the proper nutrients the body needs to function optimally. "Certain spices, like clove, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, and cumin not only make your meals more interesting, but they also have antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can help support immunity." mbg.

WRITTEN BY: Jaycee Waters, Certified Health Coach, BodyRenu.

Thyroid Questionnaire

HISTORY

• My family (parent, sibling, child) has a history of thyroid disease

• I’ve had a thyroid problem (i.e., hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, post-partum thyroiditis, goiter, nodules, thyroid cancer) in the past

• A member of my family or I have currently or in the past been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease

• I have had radiation treatment to my head, neck, chest, tonsil area, etc.I

• grew up, live, or work near or at a nuclear plant

• Women: I have a history of infertility or miscarriage

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• I am gaining weight for no clear reason or am unable to lose weight with a diet and exercise program

• My “normal” body temperature is low (below 98.2 when I take it)

• My hands and feet are cold to the touch and I frequently feel cold when others do not

• I feel fatigued or exhausted more than normalI have a slow pulse, and/or low blood pressure

• I have been told I have high cholesterol

• My hair is rough, coarse, dry, breaking, brittle, or falling out

• My skin is rough, coarse, dry, scaly, itchy, and thick

• My nails have been dry and brittle, and break more easily

• My eyebrows appear to be thinning, particularly the outer portion

• My voice has become hoarse and/or “gravelly”

• I have pains, aches, stiffness, or tingling in joints, muscles, hands and/or feetI have carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or plantar fasciitis

• I am constipated (less than 1 bowel movement daily)

• I feel depressed, restless, moody, sad

• I have difficulty concentrating or remembering things

• I have a low sex driveMy eyes feel gritty, dry, light-sensitive

• My neck or throat feels full, with pressure, or larger than usual, and/or I have difficulty swallowing

• I have puffiness and swelling around the eyes, eyelids, face, feet, hands and feet

• Women: I am having irregular menstrual cycles (longer, or heavier, or more frequent)

ASSESSMENT

Please review your responses. If you checked two or more questions above you may have a thyroid condition that requires a comprehensive assessment.