In this episode, Tom and Brittany review "irritable bowel syndrome" and how the mainstream diagnosis and management of IBS leaves a lot to be desired.

IBS is an area where Functional Medicine and Integrative Gastroenterology really outshine the conventional approach by focusing on root causes and personalized approaches.

We discuss how "IBS" which is really just a list of symptoms, can be caused by many factors including dysbiosis and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), celiac, food intolerances and sensitivities, stress and disrupted nervous system of the gut. IBS falls under a category of conditions getting relabeled as DGBI- disorders of gut-brain interaction which is very telling. With a good personal history and the right diagnostic tests, many people are now finding that the functional medicine approach to their IBS provides the answers they have been looking for.

This is a chance to learn about IBS from a combined gastroenterology and functional medicine perspective.

#IBS, #irritablebowel, #functionalmedicine, #gastroenterology

In this episode, Tom interviews Brittany on her Functional Medicine approach to Women's Health, more specifically looking at Perimenopause and Menopause.

We review the hormonal changes that are occurring with estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, and what symptoms and biological effects this may have and how she approaches this as a Functional Medicine and DPC primary care provider.

This period of life can affect every body system of a woman, and she explains why it is important to work with a provider that understands the process and how best to support their body during this time. Risks for certain diseases also increase during this period of a woman's life, including heart disease, osteoporosis, urologic and cognitive/mental health issues which speaks to the importance of upstream preventive care for this population.

#perimenopause, #menopause, #functionalmedicine, #hormones, #womenshealth

Brittany and Tom review constipation from a Functional Medicine perspective.

They discuss their experiences as healthcare providers treating poop issues- Brittany from a Women's health perspective as well as Tom's experience as a Pediatric Gastroenterologist treating LOTS of cases of constipation.

What defines constipation and how big of a problem is it?

How often should we be pooping and what does it mean when things aren't "coming out right"?

This episode covers the basics of what we need to have good daily BM, known as "The 5 Things for a Good Number Two."

We discuss the impact of fiber, the gut microbiome, hydration, movement and good bathroom habits on your gut health and poop routine.

We also mention some of our favorite supplements to keep things moving and why you might not want to be relying on one of the most popular laxatives long term.

In this episode of the Aware Families Podcast, Brittany and Tom discuss the sixth and final Pillar of Health- Sunlight, Nature and Environment.

It is becoming evident that our modern lifestyle is out of synch with how we evolved in many ways. Yet another example of this is our drastically reduced level of exposure to sunlight and nature. All the while our exposure to artificial light, toxic chemicals and EMF are skyrocketing. How can we think that this doesn't affect our health?

How does exposure to sunlight or lack of sunlight impact human health and what can be done in the winter months in places like Montana where sunlight is scarce for 6 months out of the year?

Does being exposed to and immersed in nature have measurable health benefits for humans? What is the importance of the soil microbiome?

How do the different types of pollution- air, water, electromagnetic and chemical exposures cumulatively degrade our health.

This episode provides an overview of these topics with the purpose of getting people to think about how their environment is affecting their health.

In this episode Brittany and Tom discuss the 5th Pillar of Health- how human connection, community and a sense of purpose have a major impact on the health of both adults and kids.

In this episode, Brittany and Tom take a look at one of the Pillars of Health that seems to be crumbling in America right now: Stress Management and Mental Health.

Especially since COVID, we have been experiencing a mental health crisis in the US, with rising rates of depression, anxiety and suicide. This episode reviews the extent of the problem, and goes over some alarming statistics. Unfortunately our children are suffering the worst of this crisis, which underscores the importance of systemic action to try and reverse this trend.

This episode goes over the potential upstream causes and contributing factors to the decline in mental health, and looks at the relationship between mental health and every other pillar of health. How does nutrition impact mental health? What effect does poor sleep have on stress and depression? Can exercise alleviate some of the symptoms of depression and anxiety? How do connection and community help to improve resilience? Could toxic exposures in our food, water and environment be contributing to this decline? What effect does sunlight have on our brain and mood?

This episode is meant to get people thinking about stress and mental health from more of a Functional Medicine perspective.

In this episode Brittany and Tom talk about the importance of exercise and activity for physical and mental health. They discuss what the current exercise recommendations are for kids and adults and how far off the mark we are in America, leading to physical and mental decline.

They differentiate between the benefits of cardiovascular exercise, zone 2 versus HIIT training, as well as the dangers of neglecting strength training especially for women. There is a brief discussion of HRV- Heart Rate Variability and the impact of exercise on vagal tone.

This is an overview of the topic rather than a deep dive into any of the specifics that we will cover in later episodes.

In this episode, Tom and Brittany discuss the importance of sleep as one of the foundational Six Pillars of Health for kids and adults.

They cover why sleep is important, how much we all need based on age, and the potential ramifications of under-sleeping for both adults and kids.

Also reviewed are some medications and supplements for sleep and which ones are not recommended because of health concerns with regular use.