How To Purify Water And Add Back Minerals While water is vital to health and life, it is also one of the main ways we are exposed to toxins in the environment. Many chemicals end up in the water supply, from plastics to heavy metals, and one way to decrease toxin exposure is to clean up the water you drink.  This is exactly what we will dive into today. Keep reading to learn more about: Why clean, quality drinking water is less available than you might think What chemicals and contaminants are in the water supply Why bottled water isn’t a good replacement Why you need to filter your wate ..read more

Heavy Metals Found In Popular Health Foods – And How To Avoid  Heavy metals are like many toxins we talk about in the food supply – microplastics, PFAS, pesticides – you can’t see or taste them and might not even know they are there. However, small amounts of toxins in food, throughout days and weeks, and eventually over a lifetime, impact health in tragic ways that we continue to uncover.  Often, we think we are doing the right thing by choosing healthy foods but are unaware of the contamination. In today’s article, we are going to take a closer look at heavy metals and hidden sourc ..read more

The Microbiome May Be The Key To Anti-Aging The interaction between the microbiome and the body is complex. Research is showing how changes in the microbiome are associated with disease, or with health restoration. Conversely, the microbiome is influenced, for better or worse, by our lifestyle and the environment in which we live. This relationship is central to health and longevity and is such an important area of expanding research. Considering the accumulating microbiome research, we can’t help but wonder if the microbiome itself holds the key to longevity and anti-aging.  Keep reading ..read more

In the journey to conception, numerous factors play pivotal roles, but one that often goes unnoticed is the level of blood glucose. Emerging research highlights a compelling connection between blood sugar levels and fertility, shedding light on how high blood glucose can significantly impede the path to pregnancy.  This blog post delves into the science behind this link, offering insights and considerations for anyone who is hoping to conceive. Continue reading to learn: How high blood sugar impacts fertility Sugar-induced inflammation’s impact on fertility How high glucose influences ho ..read more

Today I want discuss an incredibly powerful tool for healing: meditation. While the benefits of meditation on mental health and stress reduction are widely recognized, its impact on our physical health, particularly through epigenetic changes, is an exciting frontier in medical research. Let’s delve into the fascinating connection between meditation and our genes, supported by scientific evidence. Stress Reduction: One of the most significant ways meditation affects our genes is by reducing stress. Chronic stress can lead to harmful epigenetic changes, such as the overexpression of genes invo ..read more

Folate Vs. Folic Acid – The Importance of Methylation During Pregnancy  You likely know about the importance of folate during pregnancy. It’s the nutrient discussed the most in terms of women’s health, both in conventional and functional medicine circles. But is all folate created equal? What’s the difference between folate, folic acid, and methylfolate? If you want to get pregnant, do you need to supplement with folate, and when should you start?   Today’s article will answer these questions and more! Keep reading to learn more about: What is folate and why it’s critical for p ..read more

Preconception Nutrition And Choosing A Quality Prenatal Supplement  Did you know that it takes a woman’s egg three to four months to fully develop before ovulation? Nutrition status during pregnancy is certainly important for healthy growth and development, but nutrition prior to pregnancy is equally important and sets the stage for what is to come.  If you want to become a mother in the coming years or are experiencing fertility challenges, nutrition is a part of the picture not to be overlooked. In fact, nutrition is often a place women turn in a last resort when other medical inte ..read more

The holidays are here! If you’re seeking healthy and thoughtful presents that will bring delight to your loved ones, look no further than my 2023 Healthy Holiday Gift Guide. Perhaps you’ll even discover something for yourself! The post 2023 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Ann Shippy MD ..read more

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and Polyautoimmunity  A primary tenant of Functional Medicine is that all body systems are interconnected. This concept is always essential to consider but is highlighted in autoimmune disease and the relationship between autoimmune thyroid disease and other autoimmune conditions.   Conventional medicine addresses autoimmunity by the part of the body that is affected. You will likely go to an endocrinologist for management of your thyroid health. If you have celiac disease, you might be treated by a gastroenterologist or by a rheumatologist for rheumat ..read more

Dopamine – New Secrets Revealed  Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers critical for the functioning of the nervous system and the behaviors we engage in daily. Dopamine is our “feel good” neurotransmitter and helps us experience pleasure, focus, motivation, and happiness. We are learning more about dopamine all the time. For example, like serotonin, not all dopamine is produced in the brain; the gut plays a leading role. And new research reveals how dopamine is taken back up into cells with the DAT transmitter, where it can be reused. Today’s article will dive into this latest discove ..read more