Silver Tree Health & Wellness

03/31/2025

It is my mission to help educate people on the importance of knowing the source of their vitamins and supplements. Our food supply is saturated with "fortified foods" - fortified with synthetic vitamins. So, why are there so many sick people, and why can we trace many of our issues back to our food supply?

‼️Vitamins and minerals do not work in isolation! Their absorption and utilization depend on essential cofactors found in WHOLE FOOD sources. Whole food supplements, derived from natural plant and animal sources, provide these cofactors, ensuring optimal nutrient absorption and efficacy.

✅Magnesium: Required for the activation of vitamin D. Without sufficient magnesium, vitamin D remains inactive and cannot regulate calcium and immune function properly.

✅Vitamin K2: Works synergistically with vitamin D to ensure
calcium is directed to bones rather than soft tissues, reducing the risk of arterial calcification.

✅Zinc: Supports immune function and enhances vitamin D receptor (VDR) activity, improving the efficiency of vitamin D utilization.

✅Boron: Assists in vitamin D metabolism, prolonging its half-life and increasing its effectiveness in the body.

✅Healthy Fats: Since vitamin D is fat-soluble, consuming it with healthy fats (such as those in avocados, nuts, and olive oil) improves absorption.

Other essential cofactors for optimal vitamin absorption include:

✅Vitamin C: Enhances the absorption of iron and is necessary for collagen synthesis.

✅Copper: Works with iron to form red blood cells and supports enzyme function.

✅Selenium: Aids in thyroid hormone metabolism and enhances vitamin E function.

✅Choline: Supports liver function and fat metabolism, improving vitamin B absorption.

✅Sulfur: Essential for glutathione production, which assists in detoxification and vitamin function.

🍎Whole food supplements provide these cofactors in their natural form, increasing bioavailability and ensuring that vitamins like D, B12, and magnesium are absorbed and utilized effectively. 🚫Synthetic supplements often lack these essential cofactors, leading to suboptimal results and continued deficiency symptoms despite supplementation.

03/26/2025

I’d like to take a moment to introduce a valuable service offered by my practice: functional health lab testing. This comprehensive approach includes everything from standard CBC panels to advanced diagnostic assessments such as comprehensive GI mapping, DUTCH Complete hormone testing, micro nutrient deficiency testing, genetic testing (for mutations like MTHFR) mold and mycotoxin screenings, Lyme and Epstein-Barr virus testing, and hair analysis for heavy metal toxicity. We can cover any in depth functional lab you need.

These in-depth evaluations provide critical insights into the root causes of your symptoms, eliminating guesswork and allowing for targeted, effective treatment strategies.

If you'd like to explore some of the testing, just follow the link. If you'd like more information on what each test entails - feel free to message me!

Order, track & get results from 30+ lab companies in one place with Rupa's Unified Lab Ordering Portal.

03/20/2025

Eating beef organ meat, such as liver, heart, kidney, and tongue, is a nutrient-dense practice that provides essential vitamins and minerals like iron, B vitamins, and protein. These cuts are prized for their rich flavor and health benefits, often consumed in traditional and gourmet cuisines worldwide.

Don’t like eating organ meat? There is a supplement that contains it all. Made from grass fed beef organs.

What does it contain?
• Iron – Found in high amounts in beef liver and spleen, supporting red blood cell production.
• Copper – Beef liver is one of the best dietary sources of copper, necessary for iron metabolism and energy production.
• Iodine – While not as rich as seafood, beef thyroid gland contains iodine, supporting thyroid function.
• Magnesium – Present in smaller amounts in beef heart, which helps regulate heart function and muscle contraction.
• Chromium – Beef spleen and liver contain chromium, which aids in blood sugar regulation.
• Zinc – Beef liver, kidney, and pancreas are excellent sources of zinc, supporting immune function, adrenal health, and prostate health.
• Calcium – While beef organs contain some calcium, they are not the richest source; bones and connective tissues (such as in bone broth) provide more.

Codeage Grass-Fed Beef Organs supplement provides nutrient-dense support for energy, immunity, and overall wellness. Sourced from 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised beef with no fillers or synthetics, it delivers essential vitamins, minerals, and cofactors in their most bioavailable form.

03/07/2025

Did you know that depression is intimately related to brain inflammation??
In functional medicine we look at the body as an integrated whole, with all parts working together and influencing one another. If you understand human physiology, it doesn’t make sense to isolate and treat one part of the body — such as the brain in depression — without including the overall health of the body.
Many factors can play into depression, including blood sugar imbalances, hormonal imbalances, immune dysregulation, gut health, and gut microbiome dysfunctions.
All of these factors can lead to brain inflammation, which scientists are increasingly finding is the most common cause of major depressive disorder. This type of depression rarely responds to antidepressants.
Feeling happy and content instead of depressed depends on proper neurotransmitter production and activity in the brain. Brain inflammation has been shown to sabotage the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin, the two neurotransmitters most associated with depression!
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Dopamine is called the “pleasure and reward” neurotransmitter. Symptoms of low dopamine include:
· Inability to handle stress
· Inability to self-motivate
· Inability to start or finish tasks
· Feelings of worthlessness
· Feelings of hopelessness
· Short temper over minor upsets
· Isolating oneself from others
· Unexplained lack of concern for family and friends
Serotonin is the “joy and well-being” neurotransmitter. Symptoms of low serotonin include:
· Feelings of depression
· Feelings of inner rage and anger
· Difficulty finding joy from life’s pleasures and favorite activities
· Depression when it is cloudy or when there is lack of sunlight
· Not enjoying friendships and relationships
· Not enjoying favorite foods
· Unable to fall into deep restful sleep
As dopamine levels drop, you lose your motivation and drive. As serotonin drops, you lose your mood, sense of happiness, and satisfaction with things you used to love.
While this may look like a neurotransmitter problem, antidepressants typically have no effect because they do not address the brain inflammation causing it. (ROOT CAUSE)
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So, what causes the brain inflammation?
The brain is made up of two types of cells: neurons and microglia cells. Microglia cells are the brain’s immune cells and facilitate healthy neuron function, respond to foreign invaders, and clean up plaque and debris.
However, the brain’s immune cells don’t have an off-switch like the body’s. When they are triggered by a brain injury, an inflammatory food, unstable blood sugar, a chronic infection, poor gut health, infectious bacteria in the gut, chronic stress, alcohol abuse, and other insults, they become over-activated in an effort to protect the brain. Unfortunately, they don’t necessarily turn off afterward and can stay in a “primed” over active state indefinitely if constantly triggered by poor dietary and lifestyle choices. This is what causes brain inflammation, and subsequently, depression.
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Addressing depression in a functional/naturopathic manner means addressing the root of the problem. There is light at the end of that seemingly dark tunnel.

03/06/2025

🙌🏻

Big news! West Virginia is making history as the first U.S. state to ban synthetic dyes, starting in 2028. A huge step for health and food safety!

03/06/2025

Hey mamas! When my health and wellness turned the corner - so did my ability to cope with mental stress, emotional stress, and the demands of being a wife, mother, pastors wife, business owner... and the list goes on! Giving my body what it needed physically, recognizing deficiencies, and addressing root causes of symptoms was a game changer. I never knew what it was like to NOT feel overwhelmed and heavily burdened to the point of emotional and physical exhaustion. A recent client of mine was able to put away the depression and anxiety meds after several years of use, by tackling certain deficiencies and relieving physical symptoms, her body was then able to cope with stressers that previously just added to physiological symptoms. There are no “miracle cures”, but it certainly feels like a miracle when you can enjoy life every day without pain, without fatigue, without emotional exhaustion. ❤️ Dont discount the power of good health on your emotional and mental wellness!
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03/05/2025

I use cast iron, enamel (like le cruset), glass or stainless steel!

One of the first things you can do when switching to a “non-toxic” lifestyle is ditch the nonstick cookware.

Researchers at the University of Newcastle in Australia have revealed that a tiny scratch on a non-stick pan can release about 9,100 microplastic particles. Even more alarming, a broken coating can release up to 2.3 million microplastics and nanoplastic particles in our food and cooking environments.

The study, published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, highlights the need to be cautious with the use and maintenance of non-stick cookware.

Researchers suggest opting for more durable and less scratch-prone kitchenware, such as stainless steel or cast iron, and avoiding the use of metal utensils that can damage non-stick surfaces.

topfans

PFEs (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Ethers) are a subset of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are synthetic chemicals known for their persistence in the environment and potential health risks.

Health Risks
• Endocrine Disruption: PFEs may interfere with hormone function, potentially affecting growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
• Cancer Risk: Some PFAS compounds, including PFEs, have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, such as kidney and testicular cancer.
• Liver and Kidney Damage: Prolonged exposure can lead to liver toxicity and kidney dysfunction.
• Immune System Suppression: Studies suggest that PFEs may weaken immune responses, making individuals more susceptible to infections and diseases.
• Developmental and Reproductive Issues: PFEs have been associated with lower birth weights, delayed development, and potential fertility issues.

10/20/2022

STOP scrolling and SAVE this post for later!

Trust me when I say this chart is going to be a reference you want to have on hand!

Many people end up frustrated when their HCP tells them their labs are “normal”. When in fact they do not feel “normal” and know SOMETHING is going on in their body. A simple TSH is not enough when deep diving into thyroid issues.

This chart has the ideal thyroid lab ranges that I reference daily in the functional health world, and these are just a general guideline. “Optimal” ranges will vary from person to person!!

Knowing whether your thyroid lab results are within a healthy/functioning range is ESSENTIAL when it comes to battling Autoimmunity and Hashimoto's Disease.

It's also important to realize that these numbers will be different when being observed by a traditional health care provider versus a Naturopathic doctor. In natural medicine-we recognize there is more going on in the body than just numbers. We dig deeper and hold higher standards when it comes to analyzing labs
so that we can make sure you get the
correct help you need.

04/15/2021

🔅 Do ever just want an excuse for the way that you feel? Something to blame it on? 🤯
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🔅 Sometimes our emotions and the way that we feel is directly related to our neurotransmitter levels. Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that influence our mood. When the levels of certain neurotransmitters are high or low, it will contribute (shall we say, aggravate?) the way that we feel.⁠ 🧠
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🔅 For instance, it is REALLY hard to not feel anxious when your serotonin and GABA levels are low and your PEA, epinephrine, norepinephrine and glutamate levels are high! Try as you might to avoid them, the anxious thoughts are just going to creep in.
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And anxious feelings aren't the only example!

Most of these neurotransmitter abnormalities are directly related to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. 🍊

🔅 Vitamin deficiencies can lead to numerous degenerative diseases. Severe deficiencies in B vitamins, for example, have been shown to have profound effects on the brain. These effects include impaired memory, higher levels of anxiety, confusion, irritability, depression, and inhibited mental performance. 😞

🔅 I get questions often about “which herb should I take for ____” and while herbs are very potent and effective, the first thing I am going to look for is if the body is nutrient deficient in any way. The sad truth is most of us are! This is crucial and foundational when addressing any symptom and its root cause.

Most people do not know that labs can certainly be run to check levels for vitamins and minerals! Though, based on symptoms alone, deficiencies usually have their tell-tell signs.

🔅 If you struggle with low mood, anxious thoughts, depression, trouble sleeping, but you consider yourself a pretty healthy person, you may be missing this piece of the puzzle. If you already take a vitamin or supplement your minerals and you don’t feel like you are achieving your desired results remember this: not all supplements are quality. It needs to be something your body can utilize on a cellular and molecular level. Also, gut health is so important in the absorption of your vitamins and supplements, and that bacteria in the intestinal mucosa and bacterial biofilms can greatly reduce your ability to absorb nutrients properly.

🔅 If you have any questions about neurotransmitters, amino acids, or specific vitamin or mineral deficiencies - feel free to message me and I’d be happy to help you if I can.

04/08/2021

Four of the biggest reasons people cannot lose weight, regardless of diet and exercise:

CONGESTED LIVER:
The liver is responsible for activating certain fat burning hormones such as T3 and igf-1.

It's also responsible for deactivating certain fat-storing hormones like cortisol.

When problems develop with this organ it can interfere with its ability to both activate fat burning hormones and deactivate fat storing hormones leaving a person in a weight-loss mystery.

ADRENAL FATIGUE:
When the adrenal glands become overly stressed they can overproduce their fat-storing hormone cortisol and under produce their fat burning hormone 7-keto DHEA.

HYPOTHYROIDISM:
The thyroid gland produces primarily T4, which doesn't have a huge effect on fat burning.

However, you have to have enough T4 so that way the liver can convert it into the active form T3.

It's T3 that will help you burn fat, have energy and feel great but if the thyroid is not making enough T4 you'll never have enough T3 to carry out these functions

INSULIN RESISTANCE: (this is a biggie)
In the presence of too much insulin your body will deactivate most of your fat burning hormones.

Problems with the insulin receptors that may arise due to certain toxins or poor dietary choices can create this condition in the body making it near impossible to lose weight.

If you have any questions feel free to direct message me as I'm happy to provide guidance where I can.