Integrative Brain and Body

Integrative Brain and Body Integrative Brain and Body specializes in providing patients with answers to chronic health conditions The key to individualized care is proper testing!

Our goal at Integrative Brain and Body is to empowering people with knowledge to overcome chronic health concerns so they may live healthy, fulfilling lives. We respect that no two people are alike, even if they have the same condition. Because of this, we take time to get to know patients as individuals so we may deliver custom tailored care. If you do not feel “normal” your body is telling you that there is something physiologically not right! If you’ve been told your lab results are normal the root cause that is driving your condition hasn’t been addressed. To see the list of laboratory tests we offer, visit ibrainandbody.com/labs. For all the conditions we help we offer laboratory analysis, nutritional counseling, neurological rehabilitation, supplementation, chiropractic care and lifestyle modifications. Some conditions we help:
Thyroid dysfunction
Autoimmune diseases
Gut/digestive disorders
ADD/ADHD
Vertigo
For a complete list, visit http://ibrainandbody.com/who-we-help/

Most people have no idea how powerful their stomach actually is...
12/23/2025

Most people have no idea how powerful their stomach actually is...

“To know yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”— Aristotle
12/21/2025

“To know yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
— Aristotle

Most people have no idea what their stomach is actually capable of.Freshly produced stomach acid has a pH of ~0.8.For pe...
12/19/2025

Most people have no idea what their stomach is actually capable of.

Freshly produced stomach acid has a pH of ~0.8.
For perspective:
🛢 Battery acid = ~0.7

Your stomach is supposed to be one of the most acidic environments in nature.
It’s designed to:
• Break down protein
• Kill pathogens
• Trigger digestive enzymes
• Extract minerals like iron, zinc & magnesium
• Prevent bacterial overgrowth

So here’s the twist…

A huge number of people don’t have enough stomach acid — and their symptoms look like “too much acid.”

If any of these sound familiar, low stomach acid might be part of the picture:

• Bloating after meals
• Feeling full after a few bites
• Gas or burping after protein
• Reflux or heartburn (yes… low acid can cause this)
• Undigested food in stool
• Fatigue after eating
• Weak nails or thinning hair
• Iron, B12 or zinc deficiencies
• Recurrent gut bugs (H. pylori, SIBO, Candida)

When stomach acid is weak, food sits too long, ferments, and pushes upward.
The problem isn't “acid attacking the esophagus”…
It’s often not enough acidity to keep digestion moving the way it should.

And here are some of the most common reasons stomach acid drops:

• PPIs like Nexium/Prilosec (they’re helpful short-term but shut down acid production)
• H. pylori
• Chronic stress
• Highly processed diets
• Eating quickly or while distracted
• Alcohol + smoking
• Aging (acid naturally declines after ~40)

The stomach isn’t dangerous.
It’s protective.
And when its acidity drops, everything downstream — nutrients, digestion, immunity, metabolism — has to compensate.

Your stomach acid isn’t the enemy.
It’s one of the most important tools your body has… and most people never hear this.

Your gut won’t change just because you added a probiotic or more fiber… and in some cases, that can make things worse.Th...
12/17/2025

Your gut won’t change just because you added a probiotic or more fiber… and in some cases, that can make things worse.

There’s a specific order your microbiome needs to heal, and when you follow it, symptoms start improving fast.

Swipe through to see the 3 phases I use with patients in functional medicine & neurology — and why the sequence matters more than the supplements. 👇🧠✨

Most people try to fix their gut by adding more probiotics or more fiber…but your microbiome doesn’t work that way.Your ...
12/16/2025

Most people try to fix their gut by adding more probiotics or more fiber…
but your microbiome doesn’t work that way.

Your gut is an ecosystem, and just like any garden, there’s a natural order to restoring it:

⛏️ W**d
🌱 Seed
💧 Feed

This simple sequence is one of the biggest “a-ha” moments for patients.

1️⃣ W**D

Think of this as clearing the soil.
If there’s bacterial overgrowth, yeast imbalance, or inflammation, your gut isn’t ready to receive ANY good bacteria.
This phase is about:
• Reducing overgrowths
• Supporting stomach acid + bile
• Calming irritation
• Rebalancing the environment

2️⃣ SEED

Once the terrain is cleared, you can start adding the good guys back in.
This includes:
• Targeted probiotics
• Spore-based strains
• Saccharomyces boulardii
The goal? Rebuild stability and diversity.

3️⃣ FEED

Now you nourish what you planted.
• Prebiotic fibers
• Resistant starches
• Polyphenol-rich foods
• Colorful plants
This phase strengthens the gut lining, increases short-chain fatty acids, and improves the gut-brain connection.

Why this matters

Probiotics or extra fiber can be super helpful — but only if introduced at the right time.

When you follow the correct sequence, people often see:
✔ Less bloating
✔ Better digestion
✔ Improved mood and energy
✔ Clearer skin
✔ More food tolerance
✔ Reduced inflammation

Gut healing isn’t about throwing more supplements at the problem.
It’s about restoring the ecosystem in the right order. 🌿

If you want help figuring out which phase you’re in, DM me GUT and I’ll point you in the right direction. 💬

“When you listen to yourself, everything comes naturally. It comes from inside, like a kind of will to do something.”— J...
12/14/2025

“When you listen to yourself, everything comes naturally. It comes from inside, like a kind of will to do something.”
— Jean Renoir

✨ Happy Hanukkah ✨Wishing light, joy, and peace to our friends and family who celebrate. May this season bring warmth, c...
12/14/2025

✨ Happy Hanukkah ✨
Wishing light, joy, and peace to our friends and family who celebrate. May this season bring warmth, connection, and meaningful moments. 🕎💙

Your gut does not just respond to what you eat. It also responds to how you move.Research is now showing that regular ex...
12/11/2025

Your gut does not just respond to what you eat. It also responds to how you move.

Research is now showing that regular exercise can reshape your gut microbiome in ways that support metabolism, mood, and long term health. In fact, people who train consistently for more than 8 weeks tend to see the biggest boosts in healthy gut diversity and in the production of butyrate, a short chain fatty acid that strengthens the gut lining and fuels brain health.

What is even more interesting is that exercise and diet work together. Up to 40 to 60 percent of gut differences seen in athletes can be traced back to the mix of movement, protein intake, and fiber in their routine. Movement can change gut transit time, shift intestinal pH, and influence bile acids. These changes create new opportunities for beneficial microbes to grow.

If you needed another reason to get moving today, your gut is already cheering you on. 🙌🧠💪

Studies show professional athletes have 20–25% higher gut microbiome diversity compared to sedentary people — even when ...
12/09/2025

Studies show professional athletes have 20–25% higher gut microbiome diversity compared to sedentary people — even when researchers control for diet.

Their gut bacteria are better at using amino acids, carbohydrates, and generating energy.

Translation?

Movement reshapes your microbiome in ways that support metabolism, recovery, mood, and long-term health.

You don’t need to train like an Olympian — just move consistently.

(Citations: Barton et al., 2018; Clarke et al., 2014; Petersen et al., 2017)

“The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.”— Hippocrates
12/07/2025

“The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.”
— Hippocrates

🧠💪 If You Care About Your Weight & Heart Health… You Should Care About Your GutMost people think gut health only matters...
12/06/2025

🧠💪 If You Care About Your Weight & Heart Health… You Should Care About Your Gut

Most people think gut health only matters if you have digestive symptoms.
But a major study on 363 adults shows something surprising:

👉 Gut permeability (measured by zonulin) has nothing to do with whether someone feels bloated, gassy, or has IBS symptoms.

Instead, higher zonulin, meaning the gut barrier is leaking more than it should — was linked to:

🔥 Higher waist circumference
🔥 Higher diastolic blood pressure
🔥 Higher fasting glucose
🔥 Higher risk of overweight & obesity
🔥 Higher risk of hyperlipidemia

In other words…

Your gut can be driving metabolic and cardiovascular risk even if your digestion feels “fine.”

This is why so many people struggle with weight, insulin resistance, inflammation, or stubborn belly fat without any obvious gut symptoms.

A compromised gut barrier allows inflammatory molecules to leak into circulation → increasing metabolic stress → altering insulin signaling → raising blood pressure → and expanding visceral fat.

Your gut isn’t just about digestion.
It’s a metabolic organ that directly shapes your:

❤️ Cardiovascular health
⚖️ Body composition
🩸 Blood sugar regulation
🔥 Inflammatory load
🧠 Neurological function

If you want to protect your heart, improve your metabolism, and maintain a healthy weight…

Start by protecting your gut barrier.

Want help figuring out what your gut is doing beneath the surface?
Message me “GUT” and I’ll send you our gut-brain evaluation process. 🧠💪 If You Care About Your Weight & Heart Health… You Should Care About Your Gut

Most people think gut health only matters if you have digestive symptoms.
But a major study on 363 adults shows something surprising:

👉 Gut permeability (measured by zonulin) has nothing to do with whether someone feels bloated, gassy, or has IBS symptoms.

Instead, higher zonulin — meaning the gut barrier is leaking more than it should — was linked to:

🔥 Higher waist circumference
🔥 Higher diastolic blood pressure
🔥 Higher fasting glucose
🔥 Higher risk of overweight & obesity
🔥 Higher risk of hyperlipidemia

In other words…

Your gut can be driving metabolic and cardiovascular risk even if your digestion feels “fine.”

This is why so many people struggle with weight, insulin resistance, inflammation, or stubborn belly fat without any obvious gut symptoms.

A compromised gut barrier allows inflammatory molecules to leak into circulation → increasing metabolic stress → altering insulin signaling → raising blood pressure → and expanding visceral fat.

Your gut is a metabolic organ that directly shapes your:

❤️ Cardiovascular health
⚖️ Body composition
🩸 Blood sugar regulation
🔥 Inflammatory load
🧠 Neurological function

If you want to protect your heart, improve your metabolism, and maintain a healthy weight…

Start by protecting your gut barrier.

Want help figuring out what your gut is doing beneath the surface?

Check the link in our bio to book an appointment.

You don’t need stomach pain or bloating to have a gut problem...and the way this shows up might explain stubborn weight,...
12/05/2025

You don’t need stomach pain or bloating to have a gut problem...and the way this shows up might explain stubborn weight, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.

Flip through to see why. 👉

Address

2777 Finley Road Suite 5
Downers Grove, IL
60515

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 1pm
2pm - 6:30pm
Wednesday 2pm - 6:30pm
Thursday 10am - 1pm
2pm - 6:30pm
Friday 10am - 1pm

Telephone

+16309687891

Website

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