Ascent Functional Wellness 412-847-8946

04/01/2026

We have a special announcement and donation opportunity for you!

One of our longtime patients is following what he feels is God’s plan for him at this time and leaning into an opportunity to minister to the children and community through sports camps in Assis, Brazil. His family has been involved with Open Arms Worldwide for years now and this will not be his first mission trip to Brazil.

We are so excited for Noah to share his gifts and the gospel with this community and hope you can join us in supporting his trip through giving and through prayers for his safety and reach during his time there.

Join me as I go to Assis, Brazil during April and May 2026. I will primarily be running basketball and football camps for elementary and middle school kids in different neighborhood projects throughout the city. I am excited to combine the passions and gifting God has given me to reach as many kids....

03/23/2026

🍭 Trying something new in the office today…

We just stocked up on some organic lollipops and had to give them a taste test 👀

No artificial colors, no weird ingredients—just a cleaner option for a little sweet treat 🙌

So far… we’re impressed 😎

👉 Has anyone else tried these yet? What do you think?

03/18/2026

As a functional medicine doctor, I keep it simple when it comes to daily health foundations. Here are 3 supplements I personally take 👇

1️⃣ High-quality Omega-3s
Supports brain health, reduces inflammation, and keeps my heart in check. Most people are way too high in omega-6s, so this helps balance things out.

2️⃣ Magnesium (bisglycinate chelate)
Crucial for stress, sleep, muscle recovery, and nervous system support. Honestly… almost everyone is deficient.

3️⃣ Vitamin D3 + K2
Immune support, hormone balance, and bone health. Especially important if you’re not getting consistent sun exposure aka PENNSYLVANIA!

💡 Remember: supplements should supplement a solid foundation—nutrition, sleep, movement, and stress management always come first.

If you’re just getting started, start here.

03/16/2026

How’d everyone else do with this storm? Dr. Kelly is set up to work at the dining room table to the calming sound of a maxed out generator. 😅

The office has FULL POWER if your nervous system needs a charge! 🔌🪫🔋

03/12/2026

Opening the doors today with great energy and gratitude! 💥

Every day I get the opportunity to help people move better, feel better, and take steps toward real health—and that’s something I never take for granted.

If you’re dealing with pain, fatigue, gut issues, or just not feeling like yourself, today might be the day we start turning things around.

Let’s make it a great day! 🙌

03/05/2026

We admit that our social media game could be a little stronger…we could use some ideas! That doesn’t mean we’ll get around to it. 🤣 Preferably ones that embarrass Dr. Lucas, but we’re open to all suggestions.

What do you like to read about? Learn about? Scroll passed?

🔺Chiropractic and functional medicine information?
🔹Things to brighten your day and make you laugh?
🔸General healthy living content? Tell us!

03/02/2026

🩸1️⃣ Iron

You don’t have to be anemic to be iron deficient. 🤔

Your hemoglobin can look completely normal…
but if your ferritin — your stored iron — is low, your cells aren’t getting the oxygen support they need.

When your cells don’t get oxygen efficiently, your mitochondria can’t make energy efficiently.

That shows up as:
• Exhaustion
• Shortness of breath with workouts
• Hair shedding
• Cold hands and feet
• Brain fog

🩸 2️⃣Ferritin

Ferritin is your stored iron.
You can have ‘normal’ hemoglobin… and still have low iron stores.

Functionally, I like ferritin closer to 50–100.
If you’re at 15 or 20… 😴
You’re probably exhausted.

🧠 3️⃣ Vitamin B12

B12 is critical for energy and brain function.
Many labs say 200 is normal.

Functionally?
I like it above 500–600.

Low-normal B12 can look like anxiety, numbness, or just constant fatigue.

🔥4️⃣ Fasting Insulin

This is the most overlooked lab in medicine! 😤

You can have a normal A1c.
Normal blood glucose.
AND still have insulin resistance.
If your fasting insulin is above about 8, time to start asking questions.

⬆️High insulin = energy crashes, brain fog, weight gain.

If you’ve been told everything is fine but you still feel exhausted…
it might not be ‘normal.’
It might just not be optimal!

Reach out. Let’s talk. 📞

02/25/2026

Doctor: “Could there be anything causing your chronic back pain??”
Patient: “Nothing comes to mind.” 🫠
Also patient: becomes human C-shape around dog nightly.

If this is you… we need to talk. 😂 🐶🦴🐾

02/25/2026

Is you probiotic trash!? 🗑️ 👀🦠

If a probiotic label only says “Lactobacillus” or “Bifidobacterium”… that’s actually not enough information.

For a probiotic to be clinically meaningful, the bottle should list THREE things:

1️⃣ Genus – the family (ex: Lactobacillus)
2️⃣ Species – the specific type (ex: rhamnosus)
3️⃣ Strain – the exact researched organism (ex: GG)

Why this matters:

The strain is what determines what the probiotic actually DOES in the body.

👉 One strain may help diarrhea
👉 Another may reduce bloating
👉 Another may support immune function
👉 Another may help eczema or allergies

But here’s the key:

Research is done on specific strains — not just the genus or species.

So if a bottle doesn’t list the strain (letters/numbers after the name), you actually have no way of knowing:
• if it was ever studied
• if it survives stomach acid
• or if it will do anything at all

Example of a good label:
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
Bifidobacterium lactis HN019

Example of a weak label:
“Proprietary probiotic blend – 20 billion CFU”

Big CFU numbers don’t fix a poorly identified probiotic.

In functional medicine, we don’t just give probiotics… we give targeted bacteria with specific jobs.

Next time you shop — flip the bottle around. The details matter 🦠

02/23/2026

One of our favorite gentle wellness tools for the whole family: red light therapy ❤️

Red light works at the cellular level to support mitochondrial function (hello, energy production!), increase circulation, and help reduce inflammation in the body. Because of this, it’s often used to support:

• Tissue repair and recovery
• Muscle soreness and joint discomfort
• Healthy skin and collagen production
• Immune support
• Nervous system regulation
• Gum inflammation during phases like teething

It’s non-invasive, calming, and works with the body — not against it.

We love having simple, supportive options that encourage the body’s natural healing processes for both kids and adults. As always, education and individualized care matter.

02/18/2026

In just the past week, we’ve had 4 different conversations about food sensitivities, and what’s fascinating is how differently they show up in each person.

Food reactions don’t always look like stomach pain or results in hives like allergies might.

They can show up as:
• Bloating or constipation
• Skin flare-ups (eczema, rashes, acne)
• Headaches
• Brain fog or fatigue
• Mood shifts or irritability
• Joint discomfort
• Kids who can’t focus
• “Healthy” eaters who still don’t feel well

When families feel stuck, they often start eliminating foods randomly…and that can become frustrating fast. This is why we use functional food sensitivity testing in our office. Instead of guessing, we gather data. For many families, it’s been the missing piece that helps calm inflammation, support gut healing, and finally move forward with clarity.

It’s not about restriction, it’s about understanding what your body is communicating.

If you’ve ever thought:
“I eat clean… so why don’t I feel better?”
“My child seems sensitive to everything.”
“I feel inflamed and puffy no matter what I try.”

It might be worth looking deeper.
We put together helpful information about how this testing works and who it’s best for 👇
https://www.ascentfw.com/foodtesting

We’d love to hear — what symptoms have you noticed improve when you change your diet? Do you feel like certain foods affect you?