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In today’s world, we’re exposed to countless environmental toxins—from chemicals in our food and water to pollutants in the air we breathe. These toxins, combined with stress and poor lifestyle habits, contribute to what we call the total toxic burden. This invisible load can manifest as persistent fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, and unwanted weight…
Why Treating Parasites Is Crucial for Your Health Are parasites silently sabotaging your health? At Idaho Center for Functional Medicine, our chiropractic and functional medicine approach uncovers hidden culprits behind chronic health issues. One often-overlooked cause? Parasites. These sneaky organisms can disrupt your body’s balance, contributing to symptoms like joint pain, brain fog, and…
What Causes Chronic Inflammation and How to Manage it Naturally Inflammation often gets a bad rap, but it’s your body’s built-in hero—a rapid-response team tackling infections, healing injuries, and repelling invaders. The catch? When inflammation overstays its welcome, it turns chronic, quietly wreaking havoc. Let’s unpack why this happens and how you can tame…
Did you know that the human body requires more than 40 micronutrients to function optimally? Missing even one essential vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient can lead to a whole host of chronic symptoms and diseases. Unfortunately, the latest research finds that most American fall short of not just one but several essential nutrients. That’s why…
I often hear a similar story in my practice. Patients come in feeling frustrated and defeated because their doctors can’t explain why they don’t feel “normal”. Whether it’s the struggle to lose weight, constant fatigue, brain fog, muscle or joint pain, bloating, anxiety, depression, or a host of other ailments, these symptoms are undeniably real.…
The gallbladder is an organ most doctors don’t pay much attention to until it’s too late and removal is the only option. Each year, 20 million people are diagnosed with gallbladder dysfunction and roughly half will have their gallbladder removed as the “cure”. While removal of this important organ is sometimes needed, it doesn’t fix…
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about fasting for health benefits, and for good reason. As more and more research accumulates, the benefits of fasting are becoming undeniable. Humans have been fasting since the beginning of civilization. Having food on demand 24/7 is a completely new phenomenon to human physiology and we’re surely…
If you or someone you know are struggling with a chronic health issue, then, with out a doubt, the best place to start is with an anti-inflammatory diet. Essentially all chronic health conditions have inflammation at their core. Whether it be autoimmune disease (like Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Crohn’s Disease and Psoriasis), chronic fatigue syndrome,…
Could a sluggish thyroid be causing your pain? Does this sound like you? I can’t bear it. Help! Doctors tell me it’s not my thyroid. They say there is nothing more they can do. They say it’s all in my head. Thyroid hormones influence every cell and every metabolic process in the human body. Muscle…
The Thyroid-Gut Connection Chances are, if you are suffering with metabolic challenges such as difficulty losing weigh, low energy, brain fog, constipation or body aches and pain, then you’ve had your thyroid hormones tested. If you haven’t, then you definitely should. However, checking thyroid hormone levels alone doesn’t tell you the whole story. There are…
Could too much iodine be the cause of your thyroid symptoms? I believe the answer to this question is a resounding YES! Thyroid symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, anxiety/depression, constipation, thinning hair, difficulty losing weight, feeling cold constantly and achy muscles, just to name a few, are frequent complaints of almost every patient I interact…
When the check engine light comes on in your car you know exactly what to do. You call up your mechanic and schedule a checkup as soon as they can get you in. After performing a few diagnostics, a competent mechanic can quickly diagnose and fix the problem and get you back on the…
So common that they are often referred to simply as “the Pill”, hormonal birth control pills are used by over 100 million women around the world, and that’s not counting the number of women who are instead using hormonal contraceptive devices such as the IUD that also work by suppressing hormones. Though an…
Collagen is an abundant protein and an important component of many parts of the body including our muscles, bones, skin, blood, and joints. Composed of beneficial amino acids including proline and glycine, collagen is well-known for its beauty-related benefits, from promoting skin elasticity to strengthening hair and nails. Beyond those effects, it plays…
If you eat healthy, exercise regularly, and feel that you’ve done everything in your power to get well, but you’re still experiencing frustrating symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or digestive issues, environmental toxicity may be behind it. Environmental toxins are everywhere. Substances and chemicals that can disrupt our hormones, lead to chronic illnesses, and…
It’s getting to be that time of year again. All of a sudden, you and everyone else you know seem to be suffering from sniffles, aches and pains, nausea, headaches, and sore throats. The cold & flu medications that we find at the pharmacy may be effective when it comes to fast-acting relief of…
What is CBD? CBD has been making a splash in the health and wellness world recently, thanks to a rapidly growing body of positive research into its far-reaching benefits and effects, but there is still quite a bit of confusion out there about what CBD is, what it isn’t, and how it works. Cannabidiol (or…
The human body has an extraordinary ability to heal itself. We often look for external solutions to our problems or symptoms, but often, the body actually knows what to do– and our job is to support the process. Intermittent fasting is a technique that focuses on this principle. Forgetfulness and brain fog are often signs…
Tea, the most widely consumed beverage worldwide next to water, has been recognized as something of a superfood for quite some time. In fact, green tea has been called the second healthiest drink in the world (again, after water). The health benefits of tea are widespread and include stress reduction, improved sleep and increased…
Understanding Metabolism Most of us associate the word “metabolism” with the word “weight”. We often talk about having a slow or fast metabolism when we talk about the way our bodies react to the foods we eat in terms of weight gain. The rate at which we burn calories from food is an indicator of…
Metabolic disorders currently affect one third of America’s population, according to the CDC. That statistic continues to rise year after year, with waves of new people being diagnosed daily. Conditions like elevated blood sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and increased waist to hip ratio are all risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome, a condition…
Have you started intermittent fasting recently only to feel like all you can think about is your next meal? If you’re struggling to make it through your fasting window without experiencing pronounced hunger, fatigue, weight gain, shakiness, brain fog, or mood swings, you may be dealing with an underlying health situation that needs your attention.…
I consider intermittent fasting to be one of the most life changing health tools at our disposal. I’ve seen how dramatically it has changed my own health and continuously witness the incredible effects intermittent fasting has on the health of my patients. Fasting offers amazing healing benefits and turns on the body’s cleansing and rejuvenation…
Have you ever considered that skipping breakfast might actually be good for you? That’s a big bite to swallow, but intermittent fasting has proven to be an incredibly healing modality with incredible potential to jumpstart a sluggish, overburdened body. What we’re finding through medical research is that cellular vitality and bodily fortitude hinges…
By now, I’m sure you know that consuming sugar is terrible for health. But do you know why? If we realized the struggle our body goes through when we abuse it with sugar consumption, I really hope we would stop and assess whether that cookie or slice of pizza is worth it. To better understand…
When we think of the words “crazy hormones,” we often think of pubescent tweens and pregnant women. While this mental picture holds some truth to it, it’s lacks the sad reality we’re facing today. What should really come into our minds when we think of hormones is Homer Simpson. He’s a fat, donut-eating middle-aged man…
Why Restricting Calories is Ruinous Whether you’ve tried losing weight so that you could fit into a dress for an upcoming event, run a half marathon with your twenty-something-aged kids, or wean off one of your prescription drugs, dieting and calorie restriction is something you’ve likely experienced. Most popularized standard diets, such as Weight…
P R E B I O T I C S We have more bacteria in our bodies than we do human cells. Why is this important and why should we care? With the high level of toxins we are constantly exposed to on a daily basis (pesticides on food, chlorine in our shower water, flouride…
For years, I have been warning many of my patients about the potentially negative health effects of drinking coffee. Recent new studies, however, have concluded that coffee consumption might not be bad for you after all, and may actually decrease your risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, and even…
Vitamin B12 deficiency is a silent epidemic causing symptoms of chronic disease all across the globe. Remember that iconic line from I Love Lucy? “Are you tired, run-down, listless? Do you poop out at parties?” Lucy was definitely onto something as she comically recited her famous “Vitameatavegimin” monologue. As funny as it seemed on the…
If you have a family history of heart disease including heart attack or stroke, if you’ve had multiple miscarriages, or if you suffer from depression, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome or infertility, you may consider getting tested for a common (yet extremely under-diagnosed) genetic defect called MTHFR. Recent advances in genetic testing capabilities have made…
Are food sensitivities troubling your child? Here are 10 symptoms to look out for. Most parents know if their child has a true food allergy because the symptoms are obvious and immediate. For instance, your child’s throat may swell shut after eating peanuts, or he may break out in hives after eating eggs. Unfortunately, most food…
If you are taking a statin or know someone who is (that should cover just about everyone), I encourage you to read this article by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con. Dr. Kendrick eloquently details how misleading and outright deceiving the media can be reporting on the benefits of medications. In this case,…
Cold and flu season is now in full effect. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, more than 1 billion colds will be had this year in the United States—that’s about three colds per person! Think of all the missed days at school for our kids, less-than-productive days at work for parents, overflowing…
Have you heard about “SIBO?” If not, let me introduce you… SIBO stands for small intestine bacterial overgrowth and it’s responsible for many common conditions that conventional medicine has no solid answers for. An ever-growing number of ailments such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, autoimmune conditions, irritable bowel disease, leaky gut, and multiple food sensitivities…
Chronic Stress, also known as Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, is estimated to affect up to 80% of people in the world! An estimated 75-90% of all visits to doctors are for stress related ailments. According to Dr. James Wilson (author of “Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome”) chronic stress interferes with the body’s ability to recuperate from physical, mental or emotional…
In case you haven’t heard the news, our bodies were not created to sit for extended periods of time. We’ve all likely felt the effects of long car rides, being stuck behind a desk for hours at a time, or pulling all-nighters preparing for a test or meeting. You may experience an ache in your…
By Dr. Paul Garcia Reactions to the foods we eat are having noticeable and detrimental effects on our health. It’s no secret why food reactions seem to be more prevalent nowadays. Today’s food is not the food our ancestors ate, nor the food our bodies were created to eat; it’s more processed, has chemicals added…
The GAPS diet has been growing in popularity recently and for good reason. Originally developed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, a medical doctor with postgraduate degrees in both neurology and human nutrition, the GAPS diet has become an integral tool in my practice, as well as for functional medicine practitioners all over the globe. The diet…
In today’s post I want to shed some light on “Goitrogenic” foods. Don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard this term before. It’s generally not given much attention by most healthcare practitioners or by the mainstream media. In their defense, most people don’t need to worry about goitrogenic foods because they are found in some…
Ear infections, or otitis media, are the number one reason we take our kids to the pediatrician today (aside from well visits). They account for an estimated 30 million doctor visits per year and half of all antibiotics prescribed to children are for ear infections. The cost of treating ear infections in the US is…
Are you deficient in magnesium? By: Paul Garcia In my office the answer is yes until proven otherwise. Magnesium is, by far, the most common mineral deficiency I see in my office. In fact, an estimated 80% of Americans are not getting enough of this important mineral and their health is paying the price. Your…
By Paul Garcia We need to take fresh look at how we get vitamin A from our diets, because you’re likely not getting enough of it. And you and your family’s health may be suffering as a result. There’s been some confusion in the literature lately about which foods best provide our daily requirement of this important…
By: Dr. Paul Garcia In our last two posts we explained some need to know facts regarding high cholesterol levels. First, we established that cholesterol is a essential nutrient for your body and it’s not the cause heart disease. Next, we showed how the proteins that transport cholesterol through the blood, called lipoproteins, can morph- changing…
My husband came across this powerful video about how children model our parenting. A beautiful reminder that the way we parent truly does shape our children’s identities, personalities and ability to cope in the world. “The extent, to which we as parents know ourselves, is the extent to which our children will. The extent to which we as parents can love deeply,…
By: Paul Garcia DC In my last post, I discussed how cholesterol is often misunderstood and considered a dangerous molecule or the root of all evil (at least when it comes to heart disease)! But in actuality, it’s a vital substance needed for life itself. I discussed the crucial role cholesterol plays in your physiology, how it’s a poor…
Written by: Deanna Garcia Seeds are living foods and plants go to great lengths to produce each and every seed they produce. They’re packed with vital nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, essential oils and enzymes. In order to benefit from a seed’s high quality nutrients, humans need to consume them in their rawest form! All seeds (beans, legumes and nuts)…
[polldaddy poll=7932467] We want to take a poll to see what the most common diet that our readers are following. This will help us determine what posts would be most helpful to you! If you select “other” please let us know which diet you do follow in the comment section. Please feel free to list your questions you…
By Paul Garcia DC I have spent the last 20 years studying and learning all I could about health and how our bodies function. This journey was initially motivated by my desire to overcome my own health challenges and now my motivation comes from helping others overcome theirs. Along the way, it became increasingly…
Written By: Deanna Garcia Picture your kids sitting down for dinner in front of a plate of actual food. Food that’s unprocessed (not out of a can or box), nutritious and without alteration to make it “kid friendly”. Maybe it’s a plate of paleo breaded chicken with honey mustard dipping sauce (cut up small for little ones), seasonal veggies…
Our Healthy Tribe is based on our personal family struggles, challenges and knowledge. We’re here to share, inspire and inform you on fitness, nutrition, parenting, relational health tips, and personal development. We’ll even give you some of our favorite recipes that can help you detox, lose weight, balance blood sugar, heal your gut or just…
