What are the opening hours?

Monday 7:30am - 5pm Wednesday 7:30am - 5pm Thursday 7:30am - 5pm Friday 7:30am - 5pm

http://www.personalizedvitalityclinic.com/

Personalized Vitality Clinic, 1653 Merriman Road, Akron, OH (2026)

04/22/2026

Does the probiotic strain matter?

🤯 What most people don’t know about probiotics 🤯

Most people who take probiotics don’t think twice about what strains are in it. Does it have Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1? Bifidobacterium lactis BI-07? Or one of the other thousands of strains out there?

You might think it doesn’t matter, but the truth is that different strains have different benefits.

For example…

👉👉 A new study just found that a probiotic strain of Bacillus subtilis eliminated more than 95% of the dangerous Staph aureus bacteria in people with detectable levels in their intestines and noses.

That’s huge.

Because even though Staph aureus can be present without causing any symptoms, it can turn deadly—especially when it spreads in hospitals or nursing homes.

‼️ PLUS it’s almost impossible to eliminate because of antibiotic resistance.

This new research showing that a specific strain of probiotic can eliminate Staph without adverse effects is truly amazing.

But we have to remember that the effects of probiotics are specific to the strain. This doesn’t mean that just ANY probiotic can eliminate Staph infections.

It’s why we test instead of guess.

❤️ Like if you learned something!
💬 Comment with your thoughts!

04/20/2026

Why some people feel worse taking probiotics

✨Why some people feel WORSE taking probiotics✨

The microbiome and probiotics are all the rage. These healthy bacteria support gut health, immunity, brain function, and more.

❌ But probiotics are not for everyone! In some people, probiotics make gut problems even worse.

The most common explanation for this is that there is already an overgrowth of bacteria— called SIBO.

SIBO stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Excessive numbers of bacteria convert carbohydrates into gas, causing bloating and digestive problems.

Adding more bacteria to the mix? It’s like adding fuel to a fire 🔥

Prebiotics can be equally problematic, so look closely at supplement labels for things like inulin, chicory, arabinogalactan, FOS, or GOS.

Questions about probiotics? Drop them below! ⤵️

04/17/2026

What’s the obesity paradox?

The obesity paradox refers to the confusing finding in some studies that people who are overweight or obese are at no higher risk of death.

It’s shown on a graph as a U-shaped curve, where only individuals who are extremely underweight or extremely obese are at a higher risk of death.

🔸 It’s a paradox because it just doesn’t make sense 🔸

Obesity is linked with heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—all of which increase the risk of death.

‼️ But now researchers out of the University of Colorado in Boulder are challenging this paradox.

They analyzed data from more than 18,000 people and found some fascinating things:

🔹 BMI measurements taken in one moment of time are what have given the U-shaped curve.

🔹 What matters more is HOW MANY YEARS has a person been overweight or obese?

🔹 When looking at the duration of obesity, being overweight or obese for many years DOES correlate to a higher risk of death.

They also found that where fat was distributed in different people with the same BMI made a huge difference in health outcomes.

Is this making sense? Here’s the bottom line:

✅ More years of being overweight or obese means worse health.
✅ Body composition and abdominal fat are more important than BMI alone.

What do you think? Have they succeeded in challenging the paradox?

04/15/2026

Stop starving yourself.

⚠️ Don’t Make This Mistake ⚠️

Most people believe that if they have SIBO or IBS or other digestive problems…

….that they need to follow a highly restrictive diet forever.

❌ It’s not true!!!!

Here’s the reality:

✅ Bacteria in the gut feed on carbohydrates to produce gas

✅ Diets like the Low-FODMAP Diet and the Specific Carbohydrate Diet limit the fuel source for gas-producing bacteria

✅ These diets can be extremely helpful at temporarily reducing symptoms like gas and bloating

✅ In the long run, the gut microbiome needs variety AND carbohydrate fuel sources to stay healthy

✅ So a better approach is to work on healing the gut and gradually reintroduce foods over time

Don’t go it alone!!!!

We help our patients make sense of their digestive symptoms and find personalized long-term solutions.

We can do that for you too. Just send us a message with questions or book a consultation through our website!

04/13/2026

🤔 What’s even better than chicken soup?

When it comes to optimizing gut health, the answer is…

🍲 Chicken soup made with BONE broth 🍲

Because bone broth is an amazing source of:

⭐ Collagen to support gut barrier function
⭐ Gelatin to support the gut mucosal lining
⭐ Glutamine to fuel the intestinal cells
⭐ Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium

Bone broth is made by simmering down the bones of just about any animal to make a nutrient-rich broth.

It doesn’t have to only be used for chicken soup! You can use it as a base for soups, sauces, or even just take it straight as a health drink!

Tell me in the comments—is bone broth part of your health routine? ⤵️

04/10/2026

Is it possible to take too much folic acid?

⬇️ Proof that more of a good thing isn’t always better!

Folic acid is proven to reduce the risk of birth defects, like spina bifida. That’s why more than 80 countries have programs to fortify foods with folic acid.

But if women take folic acid supplements, is it possible to take too much? Here’s what a new study found:

➡️ Supplementing HIGH folic acid was just as dangerous as LOW folic acid when it came to genetic mutations ⬅️

If you want to know the science-y explanation for why, keep reading, but here are some takeaways:

✅ Too much folic acid is dangerous.
✅ Folic acid is synthetic. It is not found in nature.
✅ Folic acid is not active until after it’s processed in the body by an enzyme (and many people have a genetic mutation so this enzyme is not fully functional).
✅ Natural forms of folate that the body can process more easily are folinic acid and methylfolate.

Now you want the science?

Folic acid supports methylation of DNA. Too much can lead to hypermethylation. When DNA repair genes become hypermethylated, they work more slowly and allow more mutations to occur.

Phew 😅

Just remember: there is no one-size-fits-all in health, medicine, or nutrition. More is not always better.

Questions about nutritional supplements? Drop them below ⤵️

04/08/2026

Difference between IBS & SIBO

⬇️⬇️ What’s the difference between IBS & SIBO??

On the surface, IBS and SIBO are hard to tell apart. Both can cause bloating, gas, pain, and either diarrhea or constipation.

❌ But they are NOT the same ❌

IBS and SIBO have different causes and different solutions—making it critical to know which is to blame if you ever want to heal.

🔆 Solving digestive mysteries is one of our specialties. We always recommend testing to know for sure what we are working with 🔆

Here are some differences between IBS and SIBO that anyone struggling with gas and bloating needs to know:

✅ SIBO affects the small intestine, whereas IBS affects the large intestine

✅ SIBO is caused by overgrowth of good bacteria, whereas IBS often involves yeast, parasites, or pathogenic bacteria

✅ Antibiotics may give temporary relief from SIBO but not IBS

✅ Probiotics and prebiotics are more likely to make SIBO worse and IBS better

The bottom line?

If you are at all confused about the cause of digestive distress, it’s time to stop guessing and actually test.

❤️ Like, share, save, and follow for more!

04/07/2026

✨ Stop complaining and start manifesting ✨

Sending you a little dose of tough love with this one.

We all have moments when we feel stuck or frustrated. But how we respond in those moments can mean the difference between wallowing in negativity or shifting into a higher vibration of positivity.

So I’m going to give you something to think about.

When you find yourself having negative thoughts, just pause.

Notice what is happening, take a breath, and reframe that thought into something positive. Like this:

🔹 Instead of “I have to…” say “I get to…”

🔹 Instead of “I don’t know how…” say “I’m excited to learn…”

🔹 Instead of “Nobody appreciates me…” say “I am so grateful for…”

Our thoughts and beliefs shape our reality, so focus on what you want more of in life and trust that it will happen ❤️

04/06/2026

Best & Worst Uses of Peppermint Oil

⬇️⬇️ Best & Worst Uses of Peppermint Oil

If you’re on the market for supplements to support better digestion, the first thing to know is that just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s harmless.

Peppermint oil is a natural supplement that can work wonders in some situations but cause problems in others.

Enteric-coated peppermint oil is best for digestive issues like:

✅ Gas
✅ Bloating
✅ Abdominal Pain

These benefits are well documented in research studies!!

The enteric coating is important because it prevents the peppermint oil from being released in the stomach.

But there are some caveats. Peppermint oil can potentially worsen:

❌ Heartburn
❌ Reflux

Its safety is not known during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it may interact with some medications.

As a functional medicine practitioner, I make it a priority to stay on top of the research, risks, and benefits of nutritional and herbal supplements because they can be powerful tools in our medicine chest!

Give me a tap ❤️ if you found this helpful!

04/03/2026

Can sleep make it easier to lose weight?

📣 New Research 📣

People who reported getting regular and uninterrupted sleep did a better job sticking to their diet and exercise goals during a 12-month weight loss study.

This was based on a study of 125 mostly white and female adults around the age of 50.

It was reported at a recent conference of The American Heart Association ❤️

Why does this matter?

There are over 100 studies linking sleep to weight. We already know that sleep influences:

✅ Metabolism
✅ Blood Sugar
✅ Hunger
✅ Food Cravings

But this study shows that good sleep makes it easier to make healthy choices and engage in BEHAVIORS that help with weight loss.

This is such a great reminder of why diets are never enough for sustainable weight loss! We have to look at the entire picture of a person’s life—from their metabolism to hormones to stress levels to sleep.

It’s what we do in functional medicine best.

04/01/2026

Root Causes of Bloating

🤯⁉️Why am I so bloated??

Bloating is one of the most aggravating symptoms because of how uncomfortable and embarrassing it can be!

When attempts to avoid beans and broccoli fail, it’s time to get to the root cause. Here are some driving factors we look for when a client comes to us with bloating:

1️⃣ Food Reactions
It’s not only beans that can cause the bloat! Some people are reactive to gluten, dairy, or other foods they eat every day without even thinking about it.

2️⃣ Gut Dysbiosis
That’s a fancy word to say the gut microbiome is out of balance. There could be an overgrowth of yeast or unwanted bacteria to blame.

3️⃣ Hormones
Hormonal changes can cause fluid retention and bloating—sometimes leading people to believe they have a digestive problem when it’s actually hormones!

4️⃣ SIBO or IBS
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome are two common diagnoses that cause bloating. I’ll break down the difference in my next post!!

How can you know what the cause is for you?

➡️ That’s our forte. We use functional medicine testing to eliminate the guesswork.

Give us a tap ❤️ if you found this helpful, and head over to our website to learn about our functional medicine services!

03/30/2026

DIY Hand Massage to Stop Stress

📌 Save this post if you want to remember how to do a simple hand massage to stop stress in its tracks.

The massage is based on the concept of hand reflexology, which says that different parts of the hand correspond to different parts of the body. For example:

🖐 The outer side of your thumb corresponds to your spine

🖐 The pad of your thumb corresponds to your pituitary gland

🖐 The line many call the “life line” corresponds to your diaphragm

Chinese Medicine also includes a belief that different body parts can be influenced by acupuncture points on the hand.

Whether or not you believe these ideas, an intentional hand massage is calming and can help you put the breaks on stress.

There’s no wrong way! Try this:

1️⃣Spread your fingers wide. With the opposite hand, massage the entire palm with your thumb.

2️⃣Use your thumb to massage all the way to the tip of each finger, pulling when you reach the end.

3️⃣Massage 2 other targeted points: the pad of your thumb (which corresponds to the pituitary gland) and the soft spot between your thumb and first finger (which corresponds to the adrenal glands)

Breathe deeply while you do the massage, and repeat for both hands.

Personalized Vitality Clinic

04/22/2026

04/20/2026

04/17/2026

04/15/2026

04/13/2026

04/10/2026

04/08/2026

04/07/2026

04/06/2026

04/03/2026

04/01/2026

03/30/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Monday	7:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	7:30am - 5pm
Thursday	7:30am - 5pm
Friday	7:30am - 5pm