Strong on Health

02/12/2026

We could all use more good news.

Here’s some:

A neuroscientist from the University of Chicago recently shared research showing that spending time in nature measurably improves brain function — increasing attention, improving mood, accelerating healing, and even reducing inflammation.

Participants who walked in a park improved their cognitive performance by 20% compared to those who walked in an urban setting.

Hospital patients with views of trees healed faster.
Children surrounded by greenery performed better academically.
Even adding a single tree per city block improved reported health outcomes.

Nature isn’t a luxury.

It’s neurological medicine.

And this is exactly why, at the Crazy Wellness Sleep Retreat, we spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Not as a side activity.
Not as entertainment.
But as therapy.

🌿 Stargazing under wide Texas skies
🌿 Resting in a hammock
🌿 Walking the ranch at a slower rhythm
🌿 Spending time with Flo, our miniature Highland cow
🌿 Wandering through the herb garden
🌿 Letting the nervous system exhale

When we talk about improving sleep, we often focus on supplements, routines, or discipline.

But the brain needs something more foundational:

Soft fascination.
Natural light cycles.
Open space.
Rhythmic movement.
Safety.

Nature gently restores attention and reduces the stress load that keeps so many people wired and exhausted.

If sleep has felt fragile…
If your brain feels tired but overstimulated…
If you’ve been doing everything right and still not fully recovering…

It may not be more effort you need.

It may be more sky.

📍 Crazy Wellness Spring Retreat: Ultimate Sleep
March 6–8, 2026 | Mineral Wells, TX

Join us for a weekend designed to restore your nervous system, your sleep, and your brain — the way humans were meant to heal.

Learn more here:
https://www.crazywellnessretreat.com/events/crazy-wellness-spring-retreat-ultimate-sleep-march-6-8-2026-mineral-wells-tx

Nature isn’t an amenity.

It’s a necessity.

And we would love to share it with you. 🌙🌿

Crazy Water Rest Yourself River Ranch

Registration is now open for our Crazy Wellness Spring Immersion Weekend. We will focus on ultimate SLEEP, but, as always, this retreat also includes workshops and activities centered around experiences, education, and fellowship that will revive, energize and rebalance the body and spirit.

02/11/2026

Sometimes healing happens quietly.

And then one day, you get a message that makes you stop and just sit in gratitude.

Almost a year ago, I met a young physician at a dinner following a thyroid seminar I was teaching. She had been on thyroid medication since 2017 and told me she felt miserable — like she was managing numbers but never truly feeling well.

Over the past year, we worked patiently.

Not chasing symptoms.
Not forcing outcomes.
Not looking for shortcuts.

We focused on foundations:
• Stress physiology
• Sleep
• Nutrition
• Nervous system support
• Creating the right environment for the body to regulate

Recently she shared that she has now been off her thyroid medication for several months (appropriately supervised) and feels better than she has in years.

But what moved me most was the last line of her review:

“I can’t wait to share this with my own patients… it is possible to feel great.”

That’s the ripple effect.

When a physician experiences restoration in her own body, she practices differently.

She listens differently.
She asks deeper questions.
She carries hope into the exam room.

This isn’t about rejecting medication.
It’s about remembering that the body is intelligent.
It’s about giving physiology time and context.
It’s about partnership.

Healing is rarely overnight.
It requires commitment.
It requires patience.
It requires courage.

And she brought all three.

If you’ve ever been told “this is just how it is,” I want you to hear this:

The story may not be finished.
The body often knows more than we think.
And healing is possible.

🤍

02/11/2026

Today I got off a Zoom call that reminded me why I do this work.

A young physician first came to me just over a year ago after attending a thyroid seminar I was teaching. She had been on thyroid medication since 2019.

Like many people, she assumed this was permanent.
A life sentence.
Managed — not healed.

Over the past year, we didn’t chase symptoms.
We didn’t force outcomes.

We worked patiently and comprehensively:
• Stress physiology
• Sleep
• Nutrition
• Nervous system support
• Foundational restoration

Today she shared that she has been off her thyroid medication for several months — and is feeling better than she has in years.

This is not about “getting off medication.”
This is about something far more important:

✨ Healing is possible.
✨ The body is adaptive.
✨ When given time and the right context, it can do what once seemed impossible.

Too many people are told their diagnosis is their destiny.

I don’t believe that.

I believe in physiology.
I believe in partnership.
I believe in creating the conditions where the body remembers how to regulate and restore.

Join me live as I share this story and talk about what it really takes to create an environment where healing can unfold.

If you or someone you love has been told “this is just how it is,” I want you to hear this conversation.

Your body is not broken.
It may simply be waiting for the right support.

02/10/2026

What If Sleep Matters Even More Than Nutrition?

I’ve spent my entire professional life believing nutrition was the most important health intervention.

And it is powerful.

But after years of watching people do “everything right” — eat well, supplement wisely, exercise intentionally — yet still struggle to heal…

I’ve come to believe something may matter even more:

💤 Sleep.

Not perfect sleep.
Not forced sleep.
But deep, restorative, safe sleep.

In the final post of my sleep series, I share a story that changed how I think about rest forever. A physician under intense neurological and emotional stress couldn’t access deep sleep — not because he lacked discipline, but because his nervous system was overloaded.

When his stress response was finally supported, sleep returned.

That’s why I created the Crazy Wellness Sleep Retreat with Crazy Water and The Rest Yourself River Ranch

This isn’t about hacks or rules.

It’s about creating the conditions where your body finally feels safe enough to rest — and healing can begin again.

✨ If you’re exhausted but wired
✨ If sleep feels fragile or fragmented
✨ If you’re nourishing your body but still not recovering

Please hear this:

Your body isn’t broken.
It may simply be asking for rest at a deeper level.

📍 Ultimate Sleep Retreat
March 6–8, 2026 | Mineral Wells, TX

Read the final Blog post here:

https://www.strongonhealth.com/single-post/why-sleep-eludes-us-and-how-to-find-our-way-back-part-4-of-a-4-part-series

Rest is not a luxury.
It’s the foundation.

Sleep Under Stress — When the Body Can’t Power DownWhy Supporting the Stress Response Can Unlock Deep SleepSome people don’t struggle with sleep because they lack good habits.They struggle because their bodies don’t feel safe enough to rest.A physician came to see me while navigating Parkins...

02/09/2026

We just wrapped up our weekly team meeting, and we couldn’t wait to share some incredible updates with you LIVE!

💚 Community Wellness Impact

We’re thrilled to share early results from a wellness grant from the Texas Health Community Impact Foundation, supporting blood pressure and A1C screenings in specific underserved zip codes.

After reviewing preliminary data from 1,100 participants, we’re seeing STRONG positive outcomes—including improved blood pressure in 93% of individuals. This is powerful, life-changing work, and there’s more to come soon.

😴 Sleep, Brain Health & Longevity
Yesterday was spent at the beautifuRest Yourself River Ranchch finalizing details for thCrazy Waterer - Crazy Wellness Sleep Retreat.

As sleep rapidly becomes one of the most critical pillars for protecting the brain and supporting longevity, we’ve designed an outstanding, immersive experience that we cannot wait to share with you.

🎙️ Podcast Spotlight Coming Soon
And finally—exciting news for our Truth or Trend? The Holistic Breakdown community!

My co-host, Dr. Scott Vrzal, has been invited to appear as a guest on a major podcast. Details coming soon… but this is a big one!

Join us LIVE as we celebrate progress, partnerships, and what’s ahead. This is what happens when we move from surviving to thriving—together. 💪🌿

02/09/2026

If you’ve been exhausted for a long time — and nothing seems to fully explain it — this conversation may offer a missing piece.

In today’s episode of Truth or Trend? The Holistic Breakdown, we sit down again with Dr. Gaeta to talk about something that is often missed in chronic illness: hidden infection.

Research suggests that up to 93% of people with chronic fatigue may be dealing with an underlying infection — yet many people are told it’s “just stress,” aging, or a mitochondrial issue.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why chronic fatigue is rarely simple

How subtle symptoms (yes, even things most people don’t talk about) can be important clues

Why treating infections at the wrong time can make things worse

How parasites can affect brain function

And why understanding depletion, infection, and toxicity — in the right order — matters so much

This isn’t about fear or chasing diagnoses.
It’s about listening more carefully to what the body is already communicating.

🎧 If you’re dealing with fatigue, gut issues, brain fog, autoimmune symptoms — or supporting someone who is — this episode is for you.

In this episode of Truth or Trend? The Holistic Breakdown, we welcome Dr. Gaeta back for a deeper conversation on one of the most overlooked drivers of chron...

02/06/2026

People don’t go looking for deeper answers because they’re careless.

They do it because they’ve been trying for a very long time.

Recently, I worked with a gentleman in his 70's whose life had quietly narrowed due to a health issue many live with — but few talk about openly.

He had done everything he was told.
Appointments.
Medications.
Follow-ups.

And still, nothing was changing.

What finally helped wasn’t another prescription — it was having access to more complete information and the time to truly understand it.

Using expanded labs through Function Health we were able to see patterns that had been missed and create a path forward that finally made sense to him.

I shared his story in a new blog post — to encourage anyone who feels discouraged to know:

👉 there may still be unanswered questions
👉 there may still be tools worth exploring
👉 and it’s okay to want to understand your body more deeply

If you’re part of a community that supports proactive aging, functional medicine, patient education, or integrative health — please feel free to share or tag groups that align with this message.

The more people who know there are options, the better.

✨ Knowledge becomes powerful when it’s paired with the right guidance.

You can read the full story here:

👉

A story about dignity, persistence, and the power of looking deeperA gentleman in his 70's came to see me recently, not because he wanted optimal health or longevity — but because his quality of life had quietly slipped away.He was struggling with incontinence.Not the kind people casually joke abo...

02/06/2026

Last weekend was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people come together with a shared intention to heal. 💛

I’m feeling incredibly grateful for every doctor who showed up, shared their wisdom, and helped create a space rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and care. This seminar wasn’t just an event—it was a community experience, and that’s where real healing begins.

Thank you for trusting the process, supporting one another, and making this weekend so meaningful. I’m deeply thankful to walk this path alongside such an inspiring group of practitioners.

Here’s a small thank-you from my heart to yours. ✨
Healing is never a solo journey—it’s something we build together.

Check out this highlight reel from the weekend!

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1162402380?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479

02/04/2026

What if truly healing sleep were the norm instead of the exception?

What if deep, restorative rest quietly healed relationships, softened reactivity, and allowed chronic illness to loosen its grip?

Sleep has become my current fascination—and honestly, something I wish I could give as a gift to humanity. Because when people sleep well, everything changes.

✨ Part 3 of my sleep series is now live:

“Why Sleep Eludes Us—and How to Find Our Way Back"

This installment explores the deeper reasons sleep slips away—and how we can begin restoring our natural rhythm with rest.

And this work is expanding beyond the page…

🌙 Coming Soon: A Sleep Retreat

This spring, I’ll be hosting a deeply nourishing sleep retreat with Crazy Water & Crazy Wellness Retreats at The Rest Yourself River Ranch in Visit Mineral Wells—a space intentionally designed to help your nervous system exhale and remember how to rest.

📚 Teaching in February
I’m also honored to be co-teaching with Michael Gaeta, DAc, MS, CDN an upcoming course on sleep for The Gaeta Institute, sharing the science and the wisdom behind true restorative rest.

If we can help more people sleep better, we can start a wave of healing—one night at a time.

🔗 Read Part 3 here:

Sleep, Memory & the Nervous SystemWhat REM and Deep Sleep Reveal About Brain HealthWhen a woman in her 70s first came to see me, her primary concern wasn’t sleep.It was memory.She was noticing subtle but unsettling changes — moments of forgetfulness that didn’t feel like her. Naturally, her mi...

02/02/2026

This past weekend’s seminar reminded me (again) how much wisdom shows up when we slow down, listen, and stay curious. In this live, I’ll be sharing a couple of key insights that landed for me while teaching — the kind that stick with you long after the room empties.

As we move into the beginning of February, I’ll also be announcing an important shift in our focus: we’re transitioning from the heart to the brain, and I’ll talk about why this timing matters and what that means moving forward.

I’ll also take you into a small but meaningful part of my daily, in-clinic self-care ritual — my afternoon tea ☕
We’ll talk about:

Why asparagus has far more to offer than most of us realise, especially when it comes to brain health

How I’ve found an easy, practical way to include creatine monohydrate in my daily routine

A live demo of exactly how I do this in real life (simple, doable, no fuss)

This is about supporting the brain, honouring the body’s capacity to heal, and sharing tools that fit into real days — not perfect ones.

Come join me live, bring your questions, or catch the replay if that’s what works for you. 💛

01/29/2026

We are happy to be back in the office today! ⛄️

For anyone who plans on coming in today, please be aware that the parking lot and sidewalks in the complex are still very icy! ⛷️

Though we look forward to seeing you, please use extreme caution! ⚠️

01/27/2026

For all you Texans who are experiencing this weather, we are hopeful that you are able to seize the opportunity to get some well deserved rest.

Sleep isn’t something most of us struggle with because we lack effort or good intentions — it’s often because our bodies are asking for something different, something more supportive and individualized.

Today Dustin Strong, Holistic Nutritionist & Wellness Specialist shared Part 2 of his sleep series, and it highlights one of the most overlooked, yet powerful, aspects of sleep: timing — when we eat and when we rest. Even small shifts in these areas can help the body find rhythm and deeper rest.

https://www.strongonhealth.com/single-post/why-sleep-eludes-us-and-how-to-find-our-way-back-part-2-of-a-4-part-series

And there’s science that supports this approach in a broader way too. A recent Lancet analysis reminds us that tiny, realistic improvements in sleep, diet, and movement — even just a few extra minutes a day — are linked with meaningful benefits for long-term health and years lived in good health. Small changes don’t need to feel insignificant; they stack up in ways that matter.

So if you’re feeling discouraged because sleep feels just out of reach, celebrate what is moving in the right direction — even the smallest improvement is still progress. And sometimes that little nudge is all it takes to unlock a bigger shift later on.

Part 2 is live now — and if sleep has been harder than it should be, we hope this message brings you both hope and support. 🤍

**If it is something you are ready to "put to bed" ;) check out our upcoming Sleep retreat linked in the blog.

Sleep & Timing — When Consistency Becomes MedicineWhy When You Eat and When You Sleep Matters More Than You ThinkBy Dustin Strong, CHN, ACNOne of the most overlooked aspects of sleep has nothing to do with supplements, sleep aids, or even bedtime routines.It’s timing.A woman in her 60s came to s...