Essex Integrative Health

10/20/2021

Heartburn and upset stomach are typically attributed to sky rocketing levels of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid or HCL for short). Contrary to popular belief, many digestive ailments are actually the result of low stomach acid.

Check out our latest blog post for information on how stomach acid plays critical roles in our digestion and overall health.

Heartburn and upset stomach are typically attributed to sky rocketing levels of stomach acid. Contrary to popular belief, many digestive ailments are actually the result of low stomach acid.

07/01/2021

For the last 30 years, the messaging has been clear: Slather your body with sunscreen if you so much as even think about going outside in the sun. Cloudy

03/26/2021

Interesting read...and a great reminder to breathe.

A growing number of clinicians are on an urgent quest to find treatments for a frighteningly pervasive problem. They’ve had surprising early success.

03/10/2021

The sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response) and parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest response) are divisions of the autonomic nervous system, which controls unconscious body functions (breathing and digestion) and every organ in our bodies.

The sympathetic nervous system interacts with the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis to control the body’s stress response. Stress signals the adrenal glands to secrete stress hormones and neurotransmitters (cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) in order to increase blood pressure and blood sugar. After the stressful event, the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in to decrease stress hormone production and lower blood pressure through the release of the neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine. This balance maintains the body’s preferred state of homeostasis.

If you’re suffering from chronic stress, your body spends too much time in “fight or flight” mode and not enough time in “rest and digest” mode, upsetting the balance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.

Our bodies aren’t meant to withstand sustained stress. An overactive sympathetic response disrupts the HPA axis, induces chronic inflammation, and has been linked to multiple chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, obesity, a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, kidney disease, depression, poor sleep, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Check out our latest blog post for more information and ways to increase your parasympathetic tone in today's world of unrelenting stress.

If you’re suffering from chronic stress, your body spends too much time in “fight or flight” mode and not enough time in “rest and digest” mode, upsetting this balance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.

02/24/2021

Collagen has exploded on the market the last few years, touting benefits such as glowing skin, improved sleep, accelerated healing, increased athletic performance, and flexible joints, among others. While these claims might sound too good to be true, collagen does have some remarkable health benefits that may surprise you. ⁠
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As we age, our body’s natural production of collagen slows down. We observe this in our skin, which is no longer as firm and smooth. The decrease in collagen production also affects the health of our joints, ligaments, hair, nails, teeth, bones, and can even impact vital organs.⁠
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Check out our latest blog post for more information and steps you can take to improve your collagen levels.⁠
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Collagen has taken the health world by storm, touting benefits such as glowing skin, improved sleep, accelerated healing, increased athletic performance, and flexible joints, among others.

02/11/2021

Often referred to as “the master antioxidant”, glutathione is found abundantly in nearly every cell in your body and is a critical factor in health and longevity. It neutralizes free radicals, regulates the nitric oxide cycle (important for control of blood pressure and inflammation), helps the liver process and eliminate toxins, and plays a role in DNA synthesis.

Additionally, it has a significant impact on immune function. A recent study reported that endogenous deficiency of glutathione is the most likely cause of serious manifestations and death in COVID-19 patients.

Check out our latest blog post for more information and how to naturally increase your glutathione levels.

Glutathione is your master antioxidant. It neutralizes free radicals and reactive oxygen compounds, regulates the nitric oxide cycle, helps the liver process and eliminate toxins, and plays a role in DNA synthesis.

01/28/2021

COVID-19 symptoms can last weeks or months for some patients. Often termed "long haulers", these patients have recovered from the worst impacts of COVID-19 and have since tested negative. Yet, they are still experiencing symptoms.

Impaired mitochondrial function may be a potential factor for these lingering symptoms. Mitochondria are known as the energy powerhouse of the cell. They are organelles inside of cells that take in nutrients, break them down, and create ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the primary energy unit of the cell.

Check out our latest blog post for a look at the evidence that hints at a potential role of mitochondria in recovery.

Evidence hints at a potential role of mitochondria in recovery from severe illness. Utilizing diet and supplementation to ensure the mitochondria are functioning optimally may be an important part of returning to health.

01/21/2021

Quality sleep is a non-negotiable for good health. Insufficient sleep is a significant stressor on the body and has repeatedly been linked to obesity, insulin resistance, impaired cognitive function, and cancer, among other health issues. If your sleep is poor, your health will suffer, regardless of favorable nutrition and exercise habits. ⁠
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An estimated one-third of the adult population reports having at least one symptom of insomnia. A lot of people struggle with falling asleep at a reasonable hour, waking up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, or consistently wake up too early, all of which make it quite difficult to obtain a solid 8 hours per night. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve the quality of your sleep. ⁠
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Check out our latest blog post for ways to upgrade your sleep for some quality rest.⁠
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Quality sleep is a non-negotiable for good health. Insufficient sleep is a significant stressor on the body and has been linked to obesity, insulin resistance, impaired cognitive function, and cancer, among other health issues.

01/13/2021

Migraines are a bummer, to say the least. They affect millions of people and are responsible for billions of dollars in healthcare costs. Conventional treatment for frequent migraines typically includes trying out a prescription or two and, for women, may include birth control for hormone regulation. However, a more effective strategy would be to look into what’s actually causing the migraines.

This is where Functional Medicine comes in. Functional Medicine is addressing the underlying cause, not only the symptom(s). The root cause of your migraine may be triggered by a number of factors, and the underlying cause can differ from one individual to the next.

Check out our latest blog post for some of the causes of migraines and how to generally address them.

Conventional treatment for migraines typically includes a prescription or two and may include birth control for hormone regulation. However, a more effective strategy would be to look into what’s actually causing the migraines.

01/07/2021

Need a post-holidays "detox"?⁠
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Detox should simply mean supporting the natural detoxification pathways human bodies have been using for ages. It’s not a magic, 2-week cleanse you do once a year. We live in a world where daily exposure to harmful pollutants, chemicals, allergens, and other toxins is not uncommon, therefore detoxification is an ongoing process.⁠
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Our bodies come equipped with their own detoxification capabilities. We use the liver, kidneys, and various antioxidants to void damaging substances that we may encounter, and we can improve their functioning by actively supporting them in a variety of ways.⁠
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Check out our latest blog post to learn how to support your body's natural detoxification capabilities.
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When we come into contact with toxins or compounds that pose a threat to our health, we need to remove them or render them ineffective. The body comes equipped with its own detoxification capabilities—no magic, well-marketed cleanse required.

01/01/2021

A Cure for Muscle Cramps? It’s Not What You Think...

Whether you’re awakened in the middle of the night or stopped dead in your tracks by a sudden charley horse, you know that muscle cramps can cause some pretty intense pain.

A muscle cramp is a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles that has been known to be caused by overuse of a muscle, dehydration, muscle strain, or simply staying in the same position for a prolonged period. Although most muscle cramps are harmless, some may be related to an underlying medical condition, such as inadequate blood supply, nerve compression, and mineral depletion. Some medications can also lead to muscle cramps.

It’s unexpected and conflicting with popular belief, but research finds that neither electrolyte nor hydration status predicts susceptibility to cramps 🤯. Check out our latest blog post to read what may really be at play and how to address it.

It’s unexpected and conflicting with popular belief, but research finds that neither electrolyte nor hydration status predicts susceptibility to muscle cramps.

12/23/2020

The holiday season tends to bring about a trifecta of high stress, high sugar and high fat comfort foods, leading to the inevitable result of energy crashes, potential illness, and added stress to kick off the new year.

We listed our favorite powerhouse foods that are seamless additions to your holiday recipes. They pack a nutritional punch to help make your holidays just a little bit healthier!

The holiday season tends to bring about a trifecta of high stress, high sugar, and high fat comfort foods, leading to the inevitable result of energy crashes, potential illness, and added stress to kick off the new year. Here are our favorite holiday foods that pack a nutritional punch to help make