Lisa Dreher, MS, RDN, LDN

02/02/2023

Excited to announce the launch of my very first on-demand webinar! See below for details and how to access it!

Nearly 75% of adults aged 20 years and older are overweight or obese while 88% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy. There are many potential health consequences to being overweight or obese including increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more. Unfortunately, 80% of people follo...

11/02/2021

Hi all! I’ve moved away from Facebook, so please come follow me on Instagram for fresh content!

06/09/2021

🥦 Have you ever wondered what makes broccoli SO good for us?! The benefits come from amazing compounds that are activated by chewing the raw plant:
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Glucoraphanin ⁣
A sulfur-containing compound in the glucosinolate family. It’s found in potent smelling plants like mustard, cabbage, and broccoli. When this compound comes into contact with myrosinase, it’s converted to disease-fighting sulforaphane.⁣
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Myrosinase ⁣
A plant enzyme that transforms glucosinolates into the biologically active compound sulforaphane. It is transformed in when we chew the plants and then in our gut.
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The pièce de résistance: Sulforaphane⁣
Research has shown sulforaphane to protect against certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and may even normalize brain chemistry making it a potential therapy for people with depression and schizophrenia.⁣
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Broccoli isn’t the only super star here. You can also get these benefits form chewing other raw cruciferous veggies such as cauliflower, radish, cabbage, turnip, kale, etc. If you have an under-active thyroid, it may be best to cook these veggies very lightly before eating to deactivate the goitrogenic compounds, but not too much which can destroy the enzymes such as myrosinase. Ultimately, the most important thing is to eat these amazing veggies every day! Thank you for such great information ⁣
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06/04/2021

More research from well respected Dr. Alessio Fasano to support what functional medicine has been saying for decades: all disease begins in the (leaky) gut. To better understand the role that leaky gut, zonulin, and gluten plays in conditions such as allergies, asthma, autoimmune disease, insulin resistance, schizophrenia and more, take a look at this current paper:

Improved hygiene leading to reduced exposure to microorganisms has been implicated as one possible cause for the recent “epidemic” of chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) in industrialized countries. That is the essence of the hygiene ...

05/29/2021

These tips come from ’s Functional Medicine nutritionist, Lisa Dreher. ⁣⁣
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Eat more dark leafy green vegetables:⁣⁣
These veggies are packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients that protect cells and DNA from damage. They are rich in fiber, folate, carotenoids, vitamins C and K, iron and calcium. They help support the immune system and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Try adding more arugula, watercress, spinach & dark lettuces to your meals.⁣⁣
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Eliminate sugar, gluten & dairy:⁣⁣
Of all foods and food additives, our patients see the greatest improvement in their symptoms when they remove sugar, gluten & dairy from the diet. These are difficult to digest and can cause inflammation, especially within the gut. And since 80 percent of the immune system is found in your gut, it is best to remove these ingredients completely for a period of time and see how you feel.⁣⁣
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Eat high omega-3, low-mercury fish 2 to 3 times a week:⁣⁣
Many autoimmune conditions are characterized by high levels of inflammatory substances known as cytokines. Eating more omega-3 fatty acids from fish (like wild Alaskan salmon and sardines) can help regulate these cytokines and reduce inflammation.⁣⁣
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Drink bone broth:⁣⁣⁣
Bone broth has been used in cultures around the world for centuries, and now science is uncovering the myriad of benefits. It is rich in collagen (the main component of connective tissue), gelatin (which is anti-inflammatory and helps protect the gut lining from harmful microbes), glutamine (which protects against and can help reverse leaky gut – a key factor in the development of autoimmune disease), proline-rich peptides (needed for proper collagen structure) and several vitamins and minerals.
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Add turmeric and black pepper to your cooking:⁣⁣
Ample research shows the potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of turmeric. Specifically, curcumin is the constituent in turmeric that provides its deep yellow color and medicinal qualities. Curcumin inhibits inflammatory cytokines. We recommend you use turmeric as it has been used traditionally – in cooking!

05/20/2021

There is a point in everyone’s health journey when it’s time for a reset. The UltraWellness Center is offering a 3 week virtual detox class which will guide you in removing inflammatory food triggers and developing healthy mindset practices to help reset body, mind, and spirit. Come join!

Presented by one of Dr. Hyman's Nutritionists, Sarah Canfield, MS, CNS, LDN

02/27/2021

A new research study found that adults with overweight or obesity who took 0.9g of polyphenol supplements -- which consisted of extracts from grapes, grapefruits, green tea, black carrots and guarana -- every day for 16 weeks experienced improvements in health-related quality of life, as well as better perceived physical and mental health. This is great news because I’ve been singing the praises of polyphenols to my patients for years. Take a look at my blog if you want to learn more:

What are Polyphenols? Polyphenols are chemicals found in plant foods, especially herbs and spices, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and beverages such as tea and coffee. They are produced naturally to protect the plant against ultraviolet radiation and other threats such as pests. Therefore, it make...

01/28/2021

We must vote with our forks!

01/22/2021

More evidence of how important the balance of our gut microbiome is to health and prevention of disease.

The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.

01/16/2021

The pandemic brings new challenges to women navigating pregnancy. Annette Quatrano, fellow Nutritionist at The UltraWellness Center, shares her experience and ways to protect yourself and baby.

We are living in scary times during this COVID pandemic, and it can be even scarier when you are pregnant. As I enter my third trimester and get closer to giving birth to my son, I can’t help but worry. Even though time feels as if it has stopped during this pandemic, my biological clock […]

01/04/2021

As we begin the new year with goals, visions, and hopes of a brighter future, it's typical to expect we have those thoughts for ourselves. But what about others, specifically our children, grandchildren, or children of those we love? Setting them on the path to healthy living and independence can be one of life's most fulfilling experiences. Yet so many parents and guardians struggle with how to get their children to eat healthy and enjoy it. Well, the solution is in the kitchen, and I want to share an amazing resource for families interested in getting their kids and teens empowered in the kitchen and beyond:

No more kids' meals! Time to raise the bar on how our kids eat and change the health of our young generation! This cancelled TEDx talk from Katie Kimball will change the way you think about getting your kids in the kitchen. Sign your family up for the today!

12/28/2020

This year has challenged the best of us, and while I know the power of food as medicine, I also understand its limitations. This is why I do what I need to support my mental and emotional health: ⁣
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✔️Daily gratitude practice morning and night with
✔️Two 20 minute transcendental meditations daily⁣
✔️Monthly check-ins with my therapist ⁣
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Even with all of this, there are still days that I feel disconnected and require additional space, compassion, and tools to reconnect with my inner truth such as tapping, reading/listening to a spiritual book, or journaling. We all go through waves of connection and disconnection, which makes ritual and support so critical to our mental and physical health. So, as we near the end of 2020, I encourage you to dig deep and find just one practice that can help you reconnect to the truest part of yourself. ⁣This is more important than ever and can strengthen your immune system and enhance your resilience in ways nothing else can.