St. Charles Functional Medicine

11/14/2025

A New Perspective on Menopausal Hormone Therapy

For years, hormone therapy was misunderstood — but new research is changing that. Reanalysis of the Women’s Health Initiative and updated 2024–2025 guidelines from ACOG, NAMS, and the FDA show that:
✅ Estrogen therapy may reduce breast cancer risk and mortality in many women.
✅ Continuing therapy beyond age 65 can lower risks of heart disease, dementia, and even mortality when properly prescribed.
✅ Transdermal and bioidentical (isomolecular) options offer lower risk than older synthetic forms.
✅ Supporting hormone metabolism and detoxification (via nutrition, methylation, and gut health) can further enhance safety and results.

It’s time to rethink menopause support — safely, naturally, and in tune with each woman’s needs.

11/11/2025

11/10/2025

What Is Candida Overgrowth?

Candida is a yeast that naturally lives in our gut, mouth, and skin — but when it grows out of balance, it can cause a wide range of frustrating symptoms.

Common signs of Candida overgrowth:
• Bloating, gas, or sugar cravings
• Brain fog or fatigue
• Recurring yeast infections or sinus issues
• Skin rashes or nail fungus
• Mood swings or anxiety

Imbalances often develop after antibiotics, high-sugar diets, stress, or weakened immune function.

11/07/2025

Very cool hack I learned from a simple CBC that can show if you have a gut infection like parasites, bacteria overgrowth, fungi, or virus.

11/02/2025

The 4 Testosterone “Switches” Every Man Should Know

If you’re struggling with low energy, poor sleep, belly fat, or low drive — your testosterone “switches” may be turned off.

Here are the 4 key ones:

1️⃣ Cortisol (Stress) – Chronic stress raises cortisol, which shuts down testosterone production at the cellular level.
2️⃣ Insulin (Blood Sugar) – High insulin from sugar and carbs lowers testosterone and increases fat storage.
3️⃣ Estrogen (Aromatase Activity) – Excess estrogen from poor metabolism or body fat flips the testosterone switch off.
4️⃣ Oxidative Stress – Cellular inflammation and free radicals damage testosterone-producing cells.

Fix these switches with:
• A low-glycemic, antioxidant-rich diet
• 10 minutes of intense daily exercise
• Deep, restorative sleep
• Targeted nutrients for cortisol, aromatase & oxidative stress balance

10/31/2025

🎃 No tricks, just treats for your health this Halloween!

10/25/2025

If I had to give advice to anyone that is fatigued it would be this 👇🏼

🌞 Start Your Day with Light

Your morning sunlight is medicine.

Getting bright light within the first 30–60 minutes after waking helps set your cortisol rhythm, which drives energy, mood, focus, and even sleep at night.

When your brain senses morning light, it signals your adrenals to release cortisol at the right time — giving you a natural energy boost and helping it taper off by evening.

Skip the dark rooms and phone glow. Step outside, face the sky for 5–10 minutes (even on cloudy days), without sunglasses!
It’s one of the simplest ways to restore your circadian rhythm and support adrenal health.

10/23/2025

Hot take

If you are fatigued, hormonally imbalanced, and overweight (underlying adrenal dysfunction) your HIIT workouts (F45, HYROX..) are making it WORSE.

10/21/2025

Behind the scenes-

Sneak a peek at our team putting together an amazing report of findings for a patient. This one included a lot of blood work that was very eye opening.

10/16/2025

Problems we're working on with patients this week:

Chronic sinus issues, psoriasis, chronic fatigue, SIBO, Grave's disease (hyperthyroidism), and diabetes

Let us know if you have any questions about what else we may be able to get to the root of!

10/13/2025

Here is a brand new testimonial from a great patient of ours!

10/09/2025

The next big pandemic might already be here — and no one’s talking about it.

Antibiotic-resistant infections are now killing more people than HIV or malaria worldwide. Every time antibiotics are overused (even for viral infections or livestock feed), we make the bacteria smarter.

What’s worse? The same factors that weaken our immune systems — processed food, chronic stress, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis — also make us more vulnerable to these “superbugs.”

In functional medicine, we focus on building the terrain, not just fighting the invader.

Prevention isn’t just about fewer prescriptions — it’s about stronger bodies.