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Dr AF-Functional Medicine

Thrive Carolinas / Dr AF-Functional Medicine

Our Diets Are Killing Us And Doctors Aren’t Trained To Help

This article was first featured in The Hill. It was written by Emily M. Broad Lieb, Drs. Stephen DeVries and Walter Willet What if your doctor failed to talk to you about the most important threat to your health? Wouldn't you worry about the quality of your health care? A poor quality diet is a leading cause of death in the United States, but it is unlikely that your doctor has the knowledge even to begin a meaningful conversation about your nutrition or to make an appropriate dietary referral. Most doctors lack the knowledge necessary to offer patients nutrition advice; fewer than 14 percent of physicians report feeling equipped to advise on a diet or the connection between food and health. This is unsurprising given that, for example,...

Cruciferous Vegetables

One of the best things you can do to improve your overall health is to start making small changes in your diet. This season brings a new year and an increased motivation to participate in cleaner eating, detox programs, and new exercise plans. We all know that eating fruits and vegetables is a foundation aspect of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Unfortunately, only about 1 in 10 Americans consume the recommended 5-9 servings of these foods a day. Despite the mounting evidence of the health benefits of including these in your diet, most of us are falling short. Making a small change in just this area of your health can have big results! One easy place to start is to expand the variety of vegetables in your diet. As...

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Suggestions for Better Sleep

To help prepare for Daylight Saving time, let's look back at a great resource.  Suggestions for Better Sleep Courtesy of the Institute of Functional Medicine  MINIMIZE OR AVOID STIMULANTS Avoid alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime. Avoid caffeine-containing beverages or foods after 2 pm; if sensitive to caffeine, avoid it after 12 noon. Avoid Sudafed or other decongestant cold medicines at night. Some medications may have stimulating effects. Complete any aerobic exercise before 6 pm.   NIGHTTIME TENSION AND ANXIETY Avoid anxiety-provoking activities close to bedtime. Avoid watching the news before going to bed. Avoid reading stimulating, exciting materials in bed. Avoid paying bills before bed. Avoid checking your financial reports or the stock market before bedtime. Avoid arguments before bedtime. Try to achieve some action plan or resolution...

We’re Nuts about staying Healthy – Here’s Why

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. Nuts are a great way to get a dose of heart-healthy fat, as well as a mix of valuable vitamins and minerals.  The National Center for Biomedical Information states that “by virtue of their unique composition, they are likely to beneficially impact health outcomes.”  Research suggest that regular nut consumption is unlikely to contribute to obesity and may even help in weight loss!  But that doesn’t mean that you should eat handful after handful.  Instead (like most things), moderation is key. Ideally, a serving  should be about the size of a golf ball. All nuts are not created equal. Many are high in fat content. They are one of the natural plant foods richest in fat.  Nuts are beneficial because...

Exercise and Brain Health

[caption id="attachment_4816" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dr. Amy Fletcher[/caption] As we age maintaining a sharp mind gains increasing priority. We devote a lot of time focusing on optimal nutrition, gut health, immune support, and chronic disease prevention. Over the past several decades, our understanding of the brain and neurocognitive health has dramatically expanded. We are becoming more aware of the key factors that help determine the health of the brain. One of the most important factors for optimal brain health is a compound known as BDNF. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, is a primary brain protein or neurotrophin that directly influences brain function as well as peripheral nerve function and mental health. One way to think about BDNF is as a “brain fertilizer”. It helps to optimize how your brain works...

What Questions To Ask Your Functional Medicine Provider?

Questions for Functional Medicine Practitioners Is getting to the root cause of your health issue a goal of yours? Our Functional Providers are all certified by the Institute of Functional Medicine and believe in delivering a whole-health approach towards healing. If you're interested in becoming a patient of Thrive's or consulting with a functional medicine provider here are some questions that you may consider asking a clinician who practices Functional Medicine: How would you describe your practice? Do you work with other clinicians – Nutrition Professionals, Health Coach, etc.? Do you have any information you could send me about your practice? Do you have experience treating my condition(s)? Please describe your Functional Medicine training. Do you take insurance? Or are you a cash practice? What are the main...

Cruciferous Vegetables

One of the best things you can do to improve your overall health is to start making small changes in your diet. 2021 brings a new year and an increased motivation to participate in cleaner eating, detox programs, and new exercise plans.   We all know that eating fruits and vegetables is a foundation aspect of a healthy diet and lifestyle.  Unfortunately, only about 1 in 10 Americans consume the recommended 5-9 servings of these foods a day.   Despite the mounting evidence of the health benefits of including these in your diet, the vast majority of us are falling short. Making a small change in just this area of your health can have big results!   One easy place to start is to expand the variety...

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