Lake Norman Integrative Wellness Blog

Prevent post-election autoimmune flares this Thanksgiving

Prevent post-election autoimmune flares this Thanksgiving

November 16, 2016

A family gathering this Thanksgiving may feel like reality TV survival show if you have autoimmunity and politically polarized family members. Stress, anger, and fear trigger an inflammatory immune response that can rage on for weeks, flaring attacks against your tissue and sending inflammation coursing through your body and brain. This brings not only your…

Functional medicine tips for election recovery

Functional medicine tips for election recovery

November 9, 2016

Weathering one of the most acrimonious elections in U.S. history can be hard on health. Fortunately, functional medicine offers some strategies to help take the edge off. Prolonged heightened stress  fear, anger, and negativity have been shown to harmfully impact the body in the following ways: Raises inflammation. Heightened stress and negativity can inflame joints, cause…

Can’t lose weight? Look at underlying health issues

Can’t lose weight? Look at underlying health issues

November 3, 2016

Do you keep trying weight loss diets but can’t seem to drop the pounds? Are you instead exhausted and frustrated by an ever growing layer of fat? Calorie-restricted diets have been popular for decades as a way to lose weight, but clearly more is at play as many people under eat and still can’t lose…

Move over gluten; new kid on the wheat sensitivity block

Move over gluten; new kid on the wheat sensitivity block

October 28, 2016

Turns out gluten isn’t the only culprit when it comes to an immune reaction to wheat. New research suggests non-gluten proteins are also a source of those immune reactions to wheat. The new suspects are a family of proteins called amylase-trypsin inhibitors, or ATIs  While they make up only four percent of the proteins in wheat,…

Gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea? Could be SIBO

Gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea? Could be SIBO

October 20, 2016

Do you have gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, IBS…or maybe all of the above? Then you may have SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Doctors have long blamed stubborn gut problems on stress. For the person whose life is dictated by the cruel whims of their digestive system, this can feel like shame and blame. Thanks to…

Are you alkaline enough or too acidic? Learn what to do

Are you alkaline enough or too acidic? Learn what to do

October 13, 2016

One of the many downsides to a modern junk food diet low in vegetables is that it makes your body too acidic. The human body must maintain a healthy pH for optimal cellular function. When it’s too acidic, diseases take root. A body that is overly acidic sets the stage for obesity, diabetes, heart disease,…