Functional Medicine Part 2
My last blog on June 17 reviewed talks from the Institute for Functional Medicine AIC conference held virtually. Today I am sharing from the talks that were presented on day 2.
From my last blog: What the heck is functional medicine anyway? Is that the same as integrative medicine, or complementary medicine or even alternative medicine? They all have their own focus and also have things in common. Here is the explanation from the Institute for Functional Medicine website: (www.ifm.org ). “Functional Medicine determines how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual.”
I like this quote from Mark Hyman, MD: “We need to understand how the whole body operates as a system, not just how different pieces of the body operate independently from one another. We need to treat people, not body parts; we want to treat the causes of disease, not symptoms.”
Here are some snippets from day 2:
Francesco Di Pierro, PhD. “New Discoveries in the Microbiome”
The large majority of the bacteria in our gut, 95%, belong to the bacteroides and firmicutes group of organisms. The other 5% is made up of several other bacterial species. Streptococcus salivarius is a prominent organism in the mouth. Hormones, diet and lifestyle all contribute to the make up of our microbiome. There was so much information in this talk it was hard to pick a snippet to share!
Panel discussion: Georgia Tetlow, MD, Mylene Huynh, MD; Joel Evans, MD; Kara Parker, MD; Facilitated by Patrick Hanaway, MD “ COVID-19, Clinical Practice and the New Normal: A Panel Discussion
It’s important to explain why risk factors make the disease worse. Inflammation and mitochondrial health need to be addressed. For prevention it is important to support the strength of the person’s immune system with vitamins A,D, K, C, as well as zinc, NAC and glutathione. (Contact your health care provider for specific recommendations). Shift conversation to health, cultivate mindset, self care, emotional health and community. Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (https://im4us.org) is a nonprofit organization believing that integrative health care should be accessible to all, not just the wealthy. They have a yearly conference in August, this year virtually.
Here is a fun recipe from Kalia Wattles, ND: Flax muffins in a cup-
1 egg. 2 TBS flax meal. Coconut oil to grease cup. 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c blueberries. 1/2 tsp baking powder. Monk fruit to sweeten if desired 1 TBS chopped pecans
Mix 1 egg well, add flax meal, baking powder, cinnamon, pinch of salt, add monk fruit if using (1/4-1/2 tsp) add blueberries and pecans, grease ramekin(10 oz size) with coconut oil. Add mixture to ramekin. Oven: 350 degrees, 10-15 minutes. 10gm protein 12gm carbs 6gm fiber (not sure how much fat)
A Unified Theory of Disease: Joe Pizzorno, ND: “Community is the Guru of the future” Thich Nhat Hahn”
Nutrient density in our food supply is diminished and toxic chemicals are abundant. Arsenic contributes to several cancers and can be found in public water supplies. Toxins and nutrient deficiencies damage synergistically. Toxins impair our detoxification systems. If you want to test your own water for toxins you can purchase a test from National Testing Laboratories https://watercheck.com. Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org is a great resource for learning about environmental toxins in food, skin products and cleaning products.
What Timing Matters: Circadian Rhythms and Chronobiology. Satchidananda Panda, PhD
One in 3 adults in the US have a chronic disease, and many of those diseases are related to lifestyle choices. Lifestyle is what, when and how much we eat, sleep and move on a daily basis. A robust circadian rhythm leads to health and vitality. Circadian rhythm is closely tied to our light exposure. Daytime exposure should be 10,000 lux for 15-60 minutes in morning. Before bedtime- less than 20 lux. App mentioned: my lux recorder. There is a research project that uses an app to help understand your body’s rhythms. Go to https://mycircadianclock.org to learn more.
Try to be in bed for 8 hours. If you are practicing time restricted feeding, eat during a 10 hour window, nothing before or after. (For example 8am-6pm)
Dysbiotic Drift and the Modern Health Crisis: Susan Prescott, MD, PhD
(Dr Prescott is also an artist! www.drsusanprescott.com) Her slides were amazing!). Dysbiotic systems are life in distress. Dysbiosis is an unhealthy change in the normal bacterial ecology of a part of the body. Inflammation is the most significant threat to our health. Autoimmune diseases, allergies, eczema and mental health crises are all on the rise. Contact with soil and plants increases our immune resilience. Grass root strategies: local food, green spaces, community. For change to happen we must believe that our actions will make a difference. We all need to take responsibility for our choices.
Food Fix: The True Cost of Food: Mark Hyman, MD
Only 12.2% of people in the US are metabolically healthy. The majority of Covid-19 deaths, 94-97%, had obesity or chronic disease- diabetes, hypertension, cancer. In the US, 6 in 10 have a chronic disease, 4 in 10 have two chronic illnesses and 1/3 of the federal budget is for Medicare.
Violent crime in prisons was shown to decrease when prisoners were fed whole food. Policies do not serve public health. Dr. Hyman’s latest book: www.foodfix.org. Dr. Hyman’s podcast: Doctor’s Farmacy. Movie: Kiss The Ground. An organization that works to promote a healthy, sustainable food system through public education, issue advocacy and publication of the National Food Policy Scorecard. https://foodpolicyaction.org
Systems Biology and the Journey in Uncertainty: Patrick Hanaway, MD
Dr Hanaway shared his personal and moving experience with his own cancer diagnosis. Normal cells slow down and are protected from chemotherapy, while cancer cells can’t slow down and are more susceptible to chemotherapy. Water only fasting 24hrs before chemo and 24hrs after chemo has been shown to decrease side effects. Ketogenic diets are sometimes prescribed because cancer cells cannot use ketones for fuel. Cancer cells thrive on sugar! These cancers respond best to a ketogenic approach: breast, colon, endometrial, pancreas, glioblastoma and head and neck cancer. High carb enteral feedings have an increased mortality. Ketogenic enteral formulas are better but hard to find. A balanced microbiome decreases the adverse effects of immunotherapy.
The Radical Redesign of Healthcare: What Now? Tracy Gaudet, MD
I was especially encouraged by Dr Gaudet’s talk! Great information and hope for the future. She is now working for a new nonprofit called The Whole Health Institute in Bentonville, Arkansas. It is still new and does not yet have a website. Whole health empowers and equips people to take charge of their physical and mental wellbeing, and live their life to the fullest. Me + self care + professional care + community = whole health. Being mindful and aware is critical. Focus is on purpose driven care. The personal health plan is in the center. Explore what matters most to the individual. Future: well being instructors, peers, coaches.
Me: led by peers, empower, finding your purpose “What is your purpose in life?”
Self care: equip- led by instructors and coaches
Professional Care: led by clinicians, shared medical appointments, co-create personal health plan, people start wherever they feel drawn
Community- led by all, rooted in and sustained by ones community
This was longer than I expected! If you made it this far, I hope you learned lots of helpful information!
And as a reminder- this blog is intended for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.
Stay well out there! Keep your immune system strong. Wear masks when you are around other people-you never know who might be more vulnerable than you. Be kind.