Living Well Functionally

02/07/2026

Great explanation of LDL

LDL vs ApoB: same LDL, different risk

For years we focused almost exclusively on LDL cholesterol.
Today we know that LDL doesn’t tell the whole story.

🔹 A simple analogy
LDL = how much cholesterol is being carried
ApoB = how many particles (“trucks”) are carrying it
👉 More trucks on the road = more chances of arterial “accidents.”

🔍 Two clinical scenarios, same LDL

Case 1
LDL 150 mg/dL – ApoB 85 mg/dL
Low triglycerides, healthy metabolism, normal blood pressure and glucose.
👉 Few trucks, well loaded
👉 Relatively low cardiovascular risk
➡️ In this setting, LDL is often enough.

Case 2
LDL 150 mg/dL – ApoB 120 mg/dL
High triglycerides, visceral obesity, insulin resistance or family history.
👉 Many trucks, lightly loaded
👉 Risk is underestimated if you look at LDL alone
➡️ Here LDL is not enough. ApoB reveals the true risk.

📌 When measuring ApoB adds value

ApoB is particularly useful when:
- triglycerides are elevated
- diabetes or metabolic syndrome is present
- central obesity
- clinical risk is unclear
- familial hypercholesterolemia is suspected
- monitoring response to therapy.

In these situations:
👉 counting trucks beats weighing the cargo.

📊 Practical reference values (targets, not dogma)
ApoB < 90 mg/dL → low–moderate risk
ApoB < 80 mg/dL → high risk
ApoB < 65 mg/dL → very high risk

📉 Lower ApoB = fewer particles = lower risk

🎯 How low to aim depends on the person’s overall risk, not a universal cutoff.

🧠 Take-home message

We don’t treat numbers.
We treat risk.
And in many real-world situations,
ApoB tells the story better than LDL.

01/29/2026

Very well explained.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a nerd and I love digging into this stuff and teaching it as well. This should raise the question of how? How does dysbiosis happen?
Poor diet
Antibiotics

Sure, you’ve probably heard that.

But did you know emotional trauma can do it?
How about head trauma?
Poor initial inoculation of the gut at birth?
Poor microbiome health of the mom?
Over sanitizing your life?
Chemical exposures?

Yup…all of these. The most shocking to most to learn is the emotional trauma.

I dig into all of these and if there is emotional trauma, I am starting there while still supporting your body.

We are not just a sum of our parts. We are an entire ecosystem that starts before we are even born and is greatly impacted by our exposures (or lack thereof), stress, diet, genes, and emotional/spiritual health.
There are no magic pills or quick fixes.
It takes time, work, commitment, support and digging.
Some people I have to dig deep to find a solution and for others it is straightforward (that is rare guys).
Each person and situation is unique and no one is treated exactly the same. Plans and solutions are tailored to your individual needs.

❤️❤️❤️

When gut imbalance turns into whole-body inflammation

This figure shows how an unhealthy gut microbiome can set off a chain reaction that affects metabolism, hormones, and nearly every major organ system. When the gut barrier weakens, bacterial toxins leak into the bloodstream, driving a cycle of chronic inflammation, hormonal resistance, and metabolic dysfunction.

1️⃣ From balance to breakdown
A healthy gut microbiota produces short-chain fatty acids and bile acid derivatives that regulate appetite, blood sugar, and immunity. Poor diet and nutrient overload disrupt this balance, reducing beneficial bacteria and allowing harmful species to dominate.
🟢 Example: Loss of SCFA-producing microbes weakens the intestinal barrier and reduces signals like GLP-1 that help control hunger and glucose levels.

2️⃣ Leaky gut and metabolic endotoxemia
When the gut lining becomes permeable, bacterial fragments such as LPS (lipopolysaccharides) enter the bloodstream and activate immune receptors. The result is a state of chronic low-grade inflammation.
🟢 Example: Elevated LPS stimulates immune cells to release TNF-α and IL-6, cytokines that cause insulin resistance and fat storage.

3️⃣ Adipose tissue and hormone disruption
Inflamed fat tissue releases inflammatory cytokines and interferes with hormones that regulate appetite and metabolism.
🟢 Example: Leptin resistance blunts satiety signals in the brain, promoting overeating, while cortisol and insulin changes reinforce fat accumulation.

4️⃣ Systemic effects beyond the gut
Inflammation from the gut spreads to the liver, pancreas, muscles, and brain, disrupting organ function.
🟢 Example: In the liver, it promotes fatty liver disease; in the pancreas, it impairs insulin secretion; in the brain, it contributes to mood and appetite dysregulation.

5️⃣ Metaflammation — the chronic loop
Persistent gut inflammation evolves into metaflammation, a systemic state of metabolic stress that underlies obesity, insulin resistance, infertility, and neuroinflammation.
🟢 Example: This feedback loop connects gut health directly to weight regulation, reproductive function, and cognitive decline.

In short, gut dysbiosis doesn’t stay in the gut. It fuels a metabolic storm that links poor diet and inflammation to obesity, hormonal imbalance, and disease throughout the body.

Citation:
Tian, Y., Xu, Z., Li, S., et al. Metaflammation: Chronic low-grade inflammation in metabolic disorders. Pharmacological Research, 2023; 187:106552.

01/11/2026

Let’s talk about why goals are harder than we think (and why it’s not a character flaw).

If you’ve ever said:
“I want to feel better, but I just can’t get it together”

“I start strong and then fall off”

“Why does this seem easy for everyone else?”

This is for you. 🤍

Most people don’t fail at their goals because they’re lazy or unmotivated.
They struggle because real life gets in the way.

Some of the biggest barriers I see (and live):

🖤 Grief
Grief isn’t just losing someone. It’s loss of health. Loss of the life you expected. Loss of energy, identity, or fertility. Grief takes up mental and physical space—and that’s not weakness, it’s biology.

😴 Fatigue & pain
It’s hard to “meal prep” or “work out” when your body feels like it’s moving through mud. Chronic fatigue and pain drain motivation before you even start.

🧠 Motivation (this one’s important)
Motivation isn’t a moral trait. It’s often tied to blood sugar, hormones, inflammation, sleep, and nervous system overload. If your body is struggling, motivation will follow.

⏰ Time (or the lack of it)
Between work, kids, appointments, and survival… there’s not much left. When every decision feels urgent, long-term goals naturally get pushed aside.

📋 Poor planning (or unrealistic planning)
This isn’t about being “bad at planning.” It’s about trying to use someone else’s plan in your season of life. What worked before may not work now—and that’s okay.

🎯 Poor focus
When your nervous system is overwhelmed, focus becomes fragmented. It’s not that you don’t care—it’s that your brain is prioritizing safety over optimization.

Here’s the truth:
👉 Barriers are information, not excuses.

They tell us what needs support—not what needs judgment.

Sometimes the goal isn’t “do more.”
Sometimes the goal is:
• simplify
• slow down
• regulate the nervous system
• lower the bar (on purpose)
• choose the next right step, not the perfect one

Healing and progress don’t happen through shame.
They happen through understanding, strategy, and compassion.

If you’re feeling stuck, it doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It might just mean your body and brain need a different approach.

✨ If this resonates, save it for later.
✨ Drop a 🧠 or 💛 if you’ve felt this.
✨ Or reach out when you’re ready to work with your body instead of against it.

You’re not broken.
You’re human. 🤍

01/09/2026

⸻

🦋 “Your Thyroid Is a Storage Unit… Not the Factory.” 🧠

If you’ve ever been told
👉 “Your thyroid labs look normal”
…but your body says otherwise — you’re not crazy.

Here’s why 👇

⸻

📬 The Thyroid Communication Chain (Simplified)

🧠 Tertiary Hypothyroidism
The hypothalamus starts the conversation by releasing TRH
Stress, inflammation, illness, or under-fueling can weaken this first signal.

🧠 Secondary Hypothyroidism
The pituitary responds by releasing TSH
If this signal is off, the thyroid never gets a clear message.

🦋 Primary Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland’s main job is to STORE and RELEASE T4
👉 It does not activate the hormone.

⸻

🔄 Where Thyroid Hormone Becomes “Usable”

💡 T4 is inactive.
It must be converted into T3, the active hormone your cells can actually use.

🧬 This conversion happens primarily in the liver
and relies on:
• Proper methylation
• Adequate selenium
• Adequate iodine
• Iron
• Zinc
• A healthy gut
• Low inflammation

If conversion is poor, you can have:
✔️ Normal TSH
✔️ Normal T4
❌ Low T3 symptoms

⸻

🚨 Why Labs Can Look “Normal” (But You Don’t Feel Normal)

Here’s the part most people are never told:

🧠 The body knows the thyroid stores T4.
If it senses a problem, the immune system may attack the thyroid to force hormone release.

👉 This is autoimmunity (most commonly Hashimoto’s).

So labs can look “fine” while damage is quietly happening.

❗ You will never know this without testing thyroid antibodies.

⸻

🧬 And One More Layer…

Even if T3 is present:
🚫 Your cells may not respond properly
This is called thyroid hormone resistance and is often tied to:
• Insulin resistance
• Chronic stress
• Inflammation
• Mitochondrial dysfunction

⸻

💡 The Big Takeaway

Thyroid health is about:
✔️ Signaling (TRH & TSH)
✔️ Storage & release (T4)
✔️ Conversion (T4 → T3)
✔️ Cellular response
✔️ Autoimmunity

✨ Not just TSH. Not just one lab. Not just one pill.

⸻

🌿 How I Approach Thyroid Care

At Living Well we look at:

• The entire thyroid communication system
• Antibodies — even when labs look “normal”
• Nutrient cofactors
• Liver and gut health
• Stress physiology

Because symptoms always have a reason.

12/29/2025

New Year. Same heart. A gentler pace.

This past year changed me.

I started the year completely broken-hearted.
Then my mom moved in with us so I could care for her as she was dying from AML.

If you’ve ever walked someone through the end of life, you know:
there is love, there is honor… and there is a level of stress your nervous system never forgets.

If I’m being honest, this year wasn’t the beginning of the hard.
The last seven years have been survival mode.

Pregnancy sickness for nine months.
My husband deploying—twice.
Home remodels.
Launching a business.
Raising a family.
Holding space for everyone else.

Somewhere in there, I stopped taking care of myself.

Hydration? Inconsistent.
Exercise? When I could.
Nutrition, supplements, rest?
What even is rest?

My mom passed in July. I miss her deeply.
But I’m also at peace knowing she isn’t suffering—and that she is whole and rejoicing with Jesus.

As we step into a new year, my word is not hustle.
It’s healing.

In 2026, I want to feel strong again.
Present.
Calm.
Grounded in my body—not just pushing through life from my head.

I want less rush.
A regulated nervous system.
Health that feels sustainable, not forced.

I’m sharing this because I know I’m not alone.

If you’re coming out of a hard season—
If you’ve been surviving instead of thriving—
If your body is whispering (or yelling) that it needs care…

You are not broken.
You are not behind.
You are allowed to begin again.

This year, I’m choosing restoration—for myself and for those I serve.
One steady, compassionate step at a time.

❤️

12/07/2025

💥 Meet Your “Seven Dirty Genes” — The Mischievous Crew Running Your Health Behind the Scenes
In Dirty Genes, Dr. Ben Lynch explains that some of your genes aren’t bad… they’re just a little messy. Think of them as the seven roommates who keep forgetting to do the dishes. With the right lifestyle and nutritional support, you can help them clean up their act.
✨ The 7 “Dirty” Genes:
🧬 MTHFR – The Overwhelmed Organizer
Great at handling methylation… until stress, poor diet, or toxins turn its desk into total chaos.
🧬 COMT – The Drama Processor
This one manages your stress hormones and neurotransmitters. When it’s “dirty,” it either doesn’t clean up the drama fast enough—or tosses it out too fast.
🧬 DAO – The Histamine Bouncer
DAO runs the velvet rope for histamine. When sluggish, it lets too many histamines into the party → hello, headaches, flushing, and food reactions.
🧬 MAOA – The Mood Regulator
Keeps serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine balanced. Dirty MAOA may mean big feelings… sometimes very big.
🧬 GST/GPX – The Detox Duo
Your cellular cleanup crew. When they’re dragging, toxins pile up like trash day was canceled.
🧬 NOS3 – The Traffic Controller
Manages blood vessel dilation. When dirty, circulation can feel like a highway with way too many lane closures.
🧬 PEMT – The Fat Metabolism Architect
Builds healthy cell membranes and supports liver function. A messy PEMT can leave your cells feeling… under construction.
The good news?
These genes aren’t your destiny—they’re your starting point. With personalized functional medicine support, you can help them shine, streamline, and stop acting like chaotic interns.
Want to find out how “dirty” your genes are—and what to do about it?

11/05/2025

Let food be thy medicine. There is a catch to this.

You are NOT what you eat, you are what you absorb!

So you could be eating an amazing diet. Your plate could look like the rainbow with all of the amazing vitamins and phytonutrients. But if you aren’t absorbing it, you will still be deficient.

So what impacts your absorption??

Medications, overgrowth of bad bacteria/yeast, low stomach acid, enzyme deficiency to name a few.

Functional tests like an organic acids test, GI map, or even looking at conventional blood markers through a functional lens are all things that we do at Living Well to discover and then get to the root of deficiency.

10/31/2025

Consistency.
It’s everything.
In a world obsessed with instant results, it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed, distracted, and ready to give up when progress doesn’t happen overnight. We scroll through videos of “quick” transformations — home renovations, fitness journeys, makeovers — all sped up to look effortless. But what you don’t see is the time, the sweat, and the countless small steps that made that end result possible.

When I shared my own space remodel, I chose not to fast-forward the process. That was intentional — because I wanted to show what real progress actually looks like: slow, steady, and worth every second.

As a healthcare provider, I understand the thrill of instant results. When I close a laceration or drain an abscess, the improvement is immediate — and yes, it’s satisfying. But lasting health? That’s different. There’s no quick fix, no magic pill.

True wellness is built through consistency, patience, and daily choices — small actions that add up over time.
🏃‍♀️‍➡️A walk after a meal.
💧 Prioritizing hydration.
🥦 Balancing your macros and getting enough fiber.
These simple habits may not bring instant gratification, but they create lifelong transformation.
And it’s okay to enjoy the occasional treat — just remember, those moments are meant to be special, not the everyday norm.

Change doesn’t happen overnight. It happens every day — one decision, one step, one choice at a time.

So today, show up for you.
Choose your health.
Not just for your own sake, but for everyone who loves and depends on you. ❤️

10/24/2025

Don’t miss our grand opening on November 4th at 6pm. There will be refreshments and an opportunity to meet the providers and learn a little about each of us. We all have our unique passion and calling as to why we are embarking on this journey for the community. Come hear what integrative medicine, functional medicine, thermography and homeopathy is all about!

11 S 4th in Tipp City. We are on the corner of 4th and main in the back of the building