Ann Shippy MD

Ann Shippy MD Functional Medicine information and tips to improve your health She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Certified in Functional Medicine.

Dr. Shippy practices functional medicine, a method that addresses the underlying causes of disease, not simply treating the symptoms. Her unique approach combines the art and science of healing to address the care of the whole person. She integrates conventional and complementary therapies to promote optimal health and to prevent and treat disease by addressing contributing factors. Dr. Shippy is dedicated to providing proactive and personalized medicine for her patients.

Your brain is one of the most nutrient-demanding organs in the body, and one of the first to suffer when it’s depleted. ...
04/21/2026

Your brain is one of the most nutrient-demanding organs in the body, and one of the first to suffer when it’s depleted.

Modern life makes it harder to get what your brain needs:

• Soil depletion reduces nutrients in our food
• Absorption declines with age
• Chronic stress depletes key nutrients faster than we can replace them

It’s increasingly difficult to meet all your needs through diet alone. But you can support your body more strategically.

Targeted support can make a meaningful difference.

👉See slides above👆 for a comprehensive list.

But supplements are just one piece of the puzzle.

True brain health is built daily through:

• A whole-food, nutrient-dense diet
• Regular movement and exercise
• Quality sleep
• Stress management
• Meaningful social connection
• Challenging your brain and learning something new

Because your brain thrives on stimulation, connection, and nourishment.

If you’re ready to take a more proactive approach to your brain health…

Comment BRAIN, and we’ll send you the link to my Better Brain Kit.

Dr. Ann

If you have Hashimoto’s and you’ve been told your labs are “normal,” but you still don’t feel like yourself, it’s import...
04/16/2026

If you have Hashimoto’s and you’ve been told your labs are “normal,” but you still don’t feel like yourself, it’s important to look deeper.

In many cases, there is an underlying trigger like mold that has not yet been identified or addressed.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly targets the thyroid. It affects hormone production, energy, metabolism, and many other systems in the body.

And it doesn’t happen in isolation.👏

Hashimoto’s can develop when three factors come together:

👉 A genetic predisposition. But a lack of family history doesn’t rule out Hashimoto’s, which is why symptoms and lab work (TSH, TPO antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies) are key for diagnosis.

👉 Immune system dysregulation (often rooted in the gut)

👉 An environmental trigger

That third piece is often overlooked❗️
Toxic mold exposure, especially.

👉 Swipe to see how mold impacts Hashimoto’s and signs that mold may be the hidden trigger.

👉👉👉Other triggers include:

✅ Environmental toxins
✅ Hidden infections
✅ Gut imbalances
✅ Hormonal shifts
✅ Ongoing stress or disrupted sleep

Medication can be a helpful tool. But if your goal is to support your body more naturally, you have to address the underlying drivers of immune dysregulation.

If you think mold could be holding you back, comment “MOLD,” and I’ll send you my “It Could Be Mold” guide. It’s a great place to start.

Dr. Ann

Did you know that s***m can develop with structural and functional abnormalities? When s***m is suboptimal, it can lead ...
04/12/2026

Did you know that s***m can develop with structural and functional abnormalities?

When s***m is suboptimal, it can lead to:

👉 Lower chances of conception
👉 Poor embryo development
👉 Increased risk of miscarriage
👉 Altered placental function and nutrient delivery
👉 Changes in how genes are expressed in your baby

Your s***m reflects what is happening inside your body.

Meaning factors like poor diet, alcohol, environmental toxins, lack of sleep, and chronic stress can contribute to impaired s***m development.

But the good news for men is that s***m take about 90 days to be made!

This is a powerful window of time to influence s***m health.

And EVERY👏 prospective 👏 dad 👏 should use this time before they start trying to conceive.

Refer to the slides 👆 for simple, actionable ways to support s***m health.

For a more comprehensive, guided approach, consider enrolling in the Preconception + Fertility Program.

This program walks you step-by-step through the critical 90-day window to help optimize s***m health, support fertility, and lay the foundation for a healthy future baby.

Comment s***m and I’ll send you the link to learn more.

Dr. Ann

***mhealth

Struggling with consistent sleep?😴 Sleep is not just rest. It’s when your body repairs, detoxifies, and resets.While you...
04/07/2026

Struggling with consistent sleep?😴

Sleep is not just rest. It’s when your body repairs, detoxifies, and resets.

While you sleep, your glymphatic system clears waste from the brain, hormones are regulated, and your body restores itself at a cellular level.

Sleep is also essential for memory, mood, metabolism, and fertility❣️

If your sleep is off, it’s often a signal.

Understanding your sleep patterns and identifying the root cause is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health.

Because sleep disruption is often driven by:

👉 Stress and a dysregulated nervous system
👉 Blood sugar imbalances
👉 Hormone shifts
👉 Gut imbalances and inflammation
👉 Toxin exposure that can disrupt hormones and neurotransmitters
👉 Nutrient deficiencies
👉 Environmental factors, including light exposure at night

👉👉👉And over time, poor sleep can contribute to fatigue, hormone imbalances, increased inflammation, impaired detoxification, and metabolic dysfunction.

The supplements above offer both direct and indirect support.

Direct support can help you fall and stay asleep, while indirect support helps address the underlying reasons your sleep may be disrupted.

This isn’t a complete list, but it’s a place to start.💕

If you’d like to learn more, comment SLEEP and I’ll send you my free Sleep Guide.

And one thing not to overlook is sleep apnea.

If you snore, wake frequently, or experience daytime fatigue, it’s worth being evaluated.

Sleep apnea reduces oxygen delivery during sleep and can have a significant impact on overall health if left unaddressed.

Work with your healthcare professional to determine if testing is right for you, and when starting new supplements.

Dr. Ann

Emerging research continues to show that your gut plays a key role in reproductive function.When your gut is out of bala...
04/02/2026

Emerging research continues to show that your gut plays a key role in reproductive function.

When your gut is out of balance, it can lead to inflammation and poor nutrient absorption, both of which can disrupt hormone signaling.

And this can show up in ways that directly impact fertility (for both men and women)

• Ovulation
• Implantation
• Cycle regularity
• Egg and s***m quality

If you’re thinking about pregnancy, your gut is an important place to start.

The encouraging part is that this is something you can support. Small, targeted changes can help create a healthier internal environment for conception and long-term health.

To learn the specific steps you can take, read my latest blog, The Gut–Fertility Axis: Why Healing the Gut Is Foundational for Fertility.

Comment GUT, and I’ll send you the link to read the full article. While it’s one piece of the fertility puzzle, it’s an important one to pay attention to.

Dr. Ann

03/26/2026

In case you missed it, I recently joined Mark Hyman on The Dr. Hyman Show to talk about preconception health and fertility.

One of the biggest topics we covered was mitochondria.

In this clip, we discuss how NAD is often known as a longevity supplement, but it’s actually essential for cellular energy, DNA repair, and mitochondrial function. And how when mitochondrial function declines, egg quality can decline too.

There’s also emerging research showing that NAD support, including IV therapy in certain cases, may help improve fertility outcomes.

If you’re in a season where timing matters, NAD IVs may be something to consider.

If you’re looking for a more accessible way to support NAD, comment NAD, and I’ll send you a link to learn more. 🤍

Dr. Ann

Fatigue. Brain fog. Poor sleep. Skin changes. Frequent illness. Hormone imbalances. Fertility challenges.These can all b...
03/24/2026

Fatigue. Brain fog. Poor sleep. Skin changes. Frequent illness. Hormone imbalances. Fertility challenges.

These can all be signs of oxidative stress❗️

Here’s what’s happening at the cellular level: every time your cells produce energy, they also generate free radicals as a natural byproduct.

Under ideal conditions, your body keeps these in check with antioxidants. But when free radical production overwhelms your defenses (due to stress, toxins, poor diet, sleep deprivation, or nutrient depletion), the balance shifts.🫤

Over time, that imbalance can affect how your cells function, accelerate aging, and contribute to a wide range of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, metabolic dysfunction, autoimmune disease, and more. (See slides.)

From a functional medicine perspective, the question isn’t just “how do I take more antioxidants?” It’s: Why is the body under so much oxidative stress in the first place?

Because it’s rarely just one thing, and it requires a multi-layered approach. (Swipe for root causes + strategies.)

Antioxidants are most powerful when they work together as a network, not in isolation…the combination matters as much as the individual nutrients.

I’ve put together a Mitochondrial Kit with this in mind. Comment “KIT” and I’ll send you the link.

Dr. Ann

The response to The Preconception Revolution has been incredible.I am deeply grateful for all the positive feedback, tho...
03/19/2026

The response to The Preconception Revolution has been incredible.

I am deeply grateful for all the positive feedback, thoughtful messages, and stories from people who have already received their copy - thank you!

Amazon is currently sold out until early April, but if you don’t want to wait, you can order it directly from my website with free shipping! ☺️

Comment “baby” and I’ll send you the link!

Dr. Ann

03/17/2026

I recently joined my friend Dr. Mark Hyman to talk about my book, The Preconception Revolution, and one of the topics that I cover. This is a subject we both feel deeply passionate about - the powerful connection between stress and fertility.❣️

Stress doesn’t just affect how you feel. It can directly influence the hormones that regulate reproduction.

When your body is under chronic stress, it activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, increasing cortisol and other stress hormones.

Over time, this can disrupt the delicate hormonal signaling needed for fertility.

For women, elevated stress can interfere with ovulation, menstrual cycle regularity, and hormone balance.

For men, chronic stress may impact testosterone levels and s***m quality, both of which are essential for conception.

The good news is that practices like meditation 🧘 and mindfulness can help calm the nervous system and lower cortisol levels, supporting healthier hormone signaling and reproductive function.❤️

When we reduce stress and support the body’s natural balance, we create a healthier environment for conception and for the future health of the next generation.

Comment baby below and I’ll send you the link to the full episode.

Dr. Ann

Many people think of stress as something emotional.But in the body, stress is a biological state.When stress becomes chr...
03/16/2026

Many people think of stress as something emotional.
But in the body, stress is a biological state.

When stress becomes chronic, it can disrupt cortisol rhythms, strain mitochondria, destabilize blood sugar, and affect the nervous system.

Over time, this can influence energy levels, sleep quality, mood, immune balance, and metabolic health.

Chronic stress has also been associated with increased risk for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, anxiety disorders, immune dysregulation, and fertility challenges.

The good news is that the body is remarkably responsive to supportive changes.

Small daily habits can help regulate the stress response and support resilience over time.

Stress Management Strategies

✔️Prioritize consistent, high-quality sleep
✔️ Balance blood sugar with protein, fiber, and healthy fats
✔️ Spend time outdoors and in natural light
✔️ Practice meditation or deep breathing
✔️ Move your body regularly
✔️ Strengthen social connections and supportive relationships
✔️ Limit excessive caffeine and alcohol
✔️ Support mitochondrial health through nutrient-dense foods
✔️ Create technology boundaries to support nervous system recovery

👉 Targeted nutrients may also help support the body’s stress response.

👉 Ashwagandha is one of the most well-studied adaptogens and has been shown in research to support healthy cortisol levels, improve stress resilience, and promote overall well-being.

Comment STRESS to learn more about Ashwagandha.

Save this post if you’ve been feeling stuck in stress mode, and follow me for more functional medicine insights.

Dr. Ann

The Preconception Revolution is currently  #1 in Men’s Health on Amazon❣️This is a powerful sign that men get it. 👏They ...
03/13/2026

The Preconception Revolution is currently #1 in Men’s Health on Amazon❣️

This is a powerful sign that men get it. 👏

They want to know they can do during the months leading up to conception to support fertility and a healthy baby.

Since s***m regenerate approximately every 72–90 days, this is a powerful window of opportunity for men!

The book outlines how the choices men make during this time, around nutrition, toxin exposure, sleep, stress, and lifestyle habits, don’t just influence fertility, they help shape the biological signals passed to the next generation.

This book shares the steps to take, the science behind them, and offers hope and encouragement to both men and women.❤️

To every man who has bought this book, shared it, or simply started asking questions, thank you. 🙏

This is exactly what this movement is about.

Healthier pregnancies. Healthier babies. Healthier generations.

Comment Book below and I’ll send you the Amazon link to get your copy.

Feeling grateful ☺️

Dr. Ann

menshealthmatters malefertility infertilitysup

03/04/2026

Testosterone therapy is often promoted as a quick fix for low energy, muscle loss, or libido. But when it comes to fertility, it can have the opposite effect.

I recently sat down with Dr. Kristin Brogaard, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Path Fertility.

She’s an expert in epigenetics and helped develop the SpermQT test, a groundbreaking diagnostic designed to improve how we evaluate male fertility and move beyond the trial-and-error approach many couples face.

In our conversation, we talked about why testosterone therapy can essentially act like s***micide by shutting down the body’s natural s***m production, and how more advanced testing can help us better understand s***m quality.

I use SpermQT often with patients during the preconception window, the months before you start trying to conceive, when the right interventions can make a meaningful difference in s***m health❣️

The full conversation is included inside my Preconception + Fertility Program, where we go deeper into how men can improve s***m (and egg) health and fertility before trying to conceive.

This time before conception is incredibly powerful. It’s an opportunity to support fertility and positively influence the health of your future child.👏

Comment BABY, and I’ll send you the link to learn more about my next Preconception Program starting in April.

Dr. Ann

Address

6836 Bee Cave Road # 114
Austin, TX
78746

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+15127329975

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