DNP Wellness

01/26/2026

Breast Implants & Whole-Body Health: What the Evidence Is Showing
Breast implants were designed for localized cosmetic or reconstructive purposes—but for some women, their impact may extend far beyond the chest.
Growing clinical evidence and patient-reported data show that a subset of women with breast implants experience systemic symptoms, often referred to as Breast Implant Illness (BII). These symptoms are not vague or rare—they follow consistent patterns across multiple studies.
Commonly reported symptoms include:
• Persistent fatigue
• Joint and muscle pain
• Brain fog and memory issues
• Morning stiffness
• Neurologic symptoms (tingling, numbness)
• Hair loss
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Gastrointestinal complaints
Large observational data demonstrate that women with breast implants have higher odds of developing multiple systemic symptoms, with symptoms often emerging or worsening in the years following implantation.
What’s especially important:
The majority of women who choose implant removal (explantation) report meaningful improvement in symptoms. Across high-quality analyses, approximately 80% of patients experience partial to significant symptom relief after explantation, along with improvements in quality of life. Earlier explantation appears to be associated with better outcomes.
This does not mean that every woman with implants will develop symptoms. Many do not. But systemic symptoms should be taken seriously—and not dismissed—when they arise.
From a functional medicine perspective, the body does not compartmentalize. Immune activation, inflammation, detoxification pathways, hormonal balance, and connective tissue health are interconnected. For some individuals, implants may act as a chronic immune or inflammatory trigger.
If you have breast implants and are experiencing unexplained symptoms that don’t fit neatly into a single diagnosis, a root-cause, whole-body evaluation matters.
Informed decisions start with informed conversations.
Resource:
Ferreira S, Barros AS, Marques M. Breast Implant Illness: Symptoms, Outcomes With Explantation and Potential Etiologies – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2025. doi:10.1007/s00266-025-05142-x
Educational content only. Not medical advice. Individual evaluation is essential.

01/24/2026

01/20/2026

Why walking after meals matters more than you think

Your muscles clear glucose in two different ways after a meal.
Most people only use one.

When you sit after eating, glucose disposal depends almost entirely on insulin signaling from the pancreas.
That pathway works—but it has limited capacity, which is why post-meal glucose spikes can be higher and longer.

When you move after eating—even lightly—a second pathway turns on.

Muscle contraction directly activates glucose transporters (GLUT4)
This allows glucose to enter muscle without waiting for insulin.

What’s happening under the hood:
• Muscle contraction triggers GLUT4 translocation
• Glucose enters muscle directly
• Blood sugar falls faster
• Insulin demand is reduced (not replaced)

This isn’t about burning calories or “earning” food.
It’s about using the physiology you already have.

🚶‍♀️ A 10–15 minute walk after meals doesn’t override insulin.
It adds another glucose-clearing pathway.

That’s why timing matters.

—
Functional medicine focuses on leveraging simple, biologically smart habits for long-term metabolic health

01/19/2026

BERBERINE: A NATURAL COMPOUND WITH METFORMIN-LIKE BENEFITS FOR BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL

Berberine is one of the most well-studied natural compounds for type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance—and the data are impressive.

What the research shows:
• Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials demonstrate that berberine:
• Lowers fasting glucose
• Reduces HbA1c by ~0.5–0.7%
• Improves post-meal glucose levels
• In head-to-head studies, berberine’s glucose-lowering effect was comparable to metformin.
• It significantly improves insulin sensitivity, lowering fasting insulin and HOMA-IR.
• Benefits extend beyond glucose:
• ↓ Triglycerides
• ↓ LDL & total cholesterol
• ↑ HDL cholesterol
→ supporting cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with metabolic disease.

How berberine works (root-cause mechanisms):
• Activates AMPK (the body’s metabolic “master switch”)
• Suppresses hepatic glucose production
• Enhances insulin receptor expression
• Improves glucose uptake in muscle and liver
• Positively modulates the gut microbiome, which plays a key role in glucose regulation

Dosing insights from studies:
• Most effective range: 900–1,500 mg/day
• Benefits typically seen within 1–3 months
• Particularly effective in patients with higher baseline glucose and HbA1c

Safety profile:
• Generally well tolerated
• Mild GI symptoms (constipation or diarrhea) are the most common side effects
• No increased risk of hypoglycemia compared to placebo
• No evidence of liver or kidney toxicity in clinical trials

Functional medicine perspective:
Berberine can be a powerful adjunct or alternative (when appropriate) to conventional therapy—especially when combined with nutrition, lifestyle optimization, and individualized care.

Key Source:
Zhao JV et al. Overall and Sex-Specific Effect of Berberine on Glycemic and Insulin-Related Traits: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. The Journal of Nutrition. 2023;153(10):2939-2950. doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.08.016

Always discuss supplements with a qualified healthcare professional before starting—especially if you are on prescription medications.

01/19/2026

Hawthorn Extract & Blood Pressure — What the Science Actually Shows

Hawthorn (Crataegus species) has long been used in cardiovascular herbal medicine. But what does modern evidence tell us?

What studies show:
A 2025 meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials found that hawthorn extract led to a clinically meaningful reduction in blood pressure, with:
• ⬇️ ~6–7 mmHg reduction in systolic BP
• ⬇️ similar reductions in diastolic BP
after 2–6 months of use at doses ranging from 250–1200 mg/day.

Individual trials support these findings, including:
• Significant diastolic BP reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes already on antihypertensive medications
• Promising BP-lowering trends in mild essential hypertension
• Additional benefit when hawthorn is used as part of a polyphenol-rich botanical blend

How hawthorn may work:
• Enhances nitric oxide–mediated vasodilation
• Mild ACE-inhibitory effects
• Powerful antioxidant activity, reducing oxidative stress linked to hypertension

Important clinical context:
While results are promising, most studies are small and heterogeneous, and extract standardization varies. Even the American College of Cardiology notes that hawthorn shows potential—but should be used thoughtfully and under clinical guidance, especially in patients already on blood pressure medications.

At DNP Wellness, we use an evidence-informed functional medicine approach, which means:
• Integrating botanicals only when appropriate
• Assessing root causes like insulin resistance, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction
• Monitoring for drug–herb interactions and individual response

Natural therapies can be powerful tools—but only when used safely, strategically, and based on science.
Reference: doi: 10.3390/ph18071027

📍 DNP Wellness | Waldwick, NJ
📞 551-766-1269
✉️ info@dnpwellness.com

01/10/2026

The New U.S. Food Pyramid: A Major Shift Toward Metabolic Health
The newly released U.S. Food Pyramid represents a meaningful step in the right direction—and from a functional medicine perspective, this is long overdue.
For decades, national nutrition guidance emphasized high-carbohydrate intake and heavily relied on ultra-processed foods, largely influenced by food manufacturing interests rather than human physiology. The updated pyramid finally corrects that course by prioritizing real, whole foods and minimizing processed products that drive inflammation, insulin resistance, and chronic disease.
What’s Changed—and Why It Matters
🥩 Protein Takes Center Stage
The new pyramid emphasizes adequate protein intake, particularly from whole, nutrient-dense sources. Protein is foundational for blood sugar stability, muscle mass, hormone production, immune health, and healthy aging.
🥑 Healthy Fats Are No Longer the Enemy
Natural fats—including animal-based fats (such as butter and tallow) and plant-based fats (olive oil, avocado, coconut)—are recognized for their role in satiety, metabolic health, brain function, and hormone balance.
🍎 Fruits & Vegetables for Micronutrients and Fiber
Colorful fruits and vegetables remain essential for antioxidants, phytonutrients, and gut health—supporting detoxification, inflammation control, and cellular health.
🚫 Ultra-Processed Foods Are Clearly Called Out
Packaged snacks, refined grains, sugary cereals, candy, donuts, and snack bars are explicitly identified as harmful. These foods disrupt blood sugar, damage the gut microbiome, and promote chronic inflammation.
⬇️ Grains Are De-Emphasized
Unlike the old pyramid that promoted grains as a dietary foundation, whole grains are now placed at the bottom—indicating moderation, not daily reliance. This is a critical shift for metabolic and hormonal health.
🍭 Stronger Warnings About Sugar—Especially for Children
One of the most impactful changes: recommendations to delay added sugars in children until at least age 10. This is a major win for preventing insulin resistance, obesity, and early metabolic dysfunction.
The Bottom Line
This updated food pyramid aligns far more closely with functional medicine principles: eat real food, prioritize protein and healthy fats, limit sugar, and avoid ultra-processed products. Nutrition guidance is finally starting to reflect how the human body actually works.
At DNP Wellness, we have been teaching this approach for years—because food is not just calories, it is information for your hormones, metabolism, and immune system.
If you are ready to optimize your health from the inside out, we are here to guide you.

01/07/2026

Oxytocin: The Overlooked Hormone Shaping Your Body
Most people know oxytocin as the “love hormone”—released when you hug your child, bond with a partner, or feel social connection. But emerging science shows oxytocin plays a much bigger role in your health than emotions alone.
According to new research highlighted by Dr. William Davis, oxytocin is a key regulator of body shape and body composition—influencing:
Where you store fat (abdomen vs. hips and thighs)
Muscle mass and strength
Skin appearance, posture, and joint health
Youthful vigor and physical resilience
Social connection and emotional well-being
Here’s the truly revolutionary part
Your gut microbiome helps control how much oxytocin your brain releases.
Restoring specific beneficial microbes—particularly Lactobacillus reuteri—has been shown to stimulate continuous oxytocin release from the brain, without nasal sprays or medications. This creates whole-body effects, not short-lived spikes.
Why does this matter?
Hormones like cortisol, insulin, and testosterone strongly influence fat distribution and muscle loss:
Chronic stress → high cortisol → abdominal fat + muscle wasting
Insulin resistance → visceral and ectopic fat storage
Low testosterone → reduced muscle mass and strength
Oxytocin helps counterbalance these effects, and restoring key gut microbes may support healthier hormone signaling across the entire body.
Bottom line:
Your waistline, muscle tone, energy, and even how youthful you feel are not determined by willpower alone. They are deeply influenced by the gut–brain–hormone axis—and your microbiome is a major driver.
At DNP Wellness, we take a functional medicine approach to metabolic health, hormones, and gut optimization—because true transformation starts from the inside out.
📍 DNP Wellness | Waldwick, NJ
📞 551-766-1269
🌐 Personalized Functional Medicine & Hormone Optimization
Source:
Davis, W. MD. SUPER Body: A 3-Week Program to Harness the New Science of Body Composition and Restore Your Youthful Contours, pp. 87–89. Function Health Publishing.

01/03/2026

Hair Loss in Women: It’s Not “Just Stress” — There Are Many Possible Causes
Hair thinning or shedding in women is common, but it is never something to ignore. Female hair loss has multiple causes, and identifying the root cause is essential for proper treatment.
The most common causes we see in practice include:
• Female-pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)
The most common cause, often showing as widening of the part or thinning at the crown. Hormones, genetics, and metabolic health all play a role.
• Telogen effluvium
Diffuse shedding that usually starts 2–4 months after a stressor such as illness, surgery, childbirth, COVID, rapid weight loss, or medication changes. The good news: it is often reversible once the trigger is addressed.
• Iron deficiency (even without anemia)
Low ferritin is a very common and overlooked cause of hair loss in women—even when hemoglobin is normal.
• Thyroid dysfunction
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can contribute to hair thinning, dryness, and shedding. Hair loss is often one of the earliest signs.
• PCOS and hormone imbalance
Elevated androgens may cause scalp hair thinning while increasing facial or body hair, along with acne or irregular cycles.
• Alopecia areata
An autoimmune condition that causes sudden, patchy hair loss.
Conditions that are critical NOT to miss:
• Scarring alopecias
These cause permanent hair loss if not treated early. Redness, scaling, burning, or recession along the hairline are warning signs.
• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus
Hair loss may be one of the first visible symptoms.
What proper evaluation should include:
✔ A detailed history (stressors, hormones, nutrition, medications)
✔ Careful scalp examination
✔ Targeted labs such as ferritin, thyroid markers, vitamin D, CBC, and hormone testing
✔ Autoimmune testing when clinically indicated
At DNP Wellness, we take a root-cause, functional medicine approach to hair loss—looking beyond topical solutions to identify what your body is trying to signal.
If you’re experiencing hair thinning or excessive shedding, it’s time for answers—not guesswork.
📍 Waldwick, NJ
📞 551-766-1269
🌿 Functional Medicine | Hormone Optimization

01/02/2026

Gut Motility Starts in the Nervous System: The Vagus Nerve Connection
Did you know that your gut doesn’t just respond to what you eat—but also to how your nervous system functions?
The vagus nerve is a major communication pathway between the brain and the gut. When vagal tone is low (often due to chronic stress, inflammation, or autonomic imbalance), patients may experience slow motility, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain, and poor digestion.
🔬 Research shows that stimulating the vagus nerve can improve gastric motility, bowel movements, and gut-related pain, even using non-invasive techniques.
🌿 Natural Ways to Stimulate the Vagus Nerve
These simple, accessible modalities can support gut motility and overall parasympathetic balance:
• Deep, slow breathing & meditation
• Singing, humming, or chanting
• Laughter
• Gargling
• Grounding / earthing
• Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
• Regular physical activity
• Music and dancing
• Cold exposure (as tolerated)
• Acupuncture
• Massage & reflexology
📚 What the science says:
• Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation has been shown to improve constipation and sleep quality (BMC Pediatrics, 2023)
• Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation significantly influences gastric motility (Brain Stimulation, 2021)
• Vagus nerve stimulation reduces abdominal pain and constipation through neuromodulation of the gut–brain axis (JCI Insight, 2021)
✨ At DNP Wellness, we look beyond symptoms to address root causes, including nervous system regulation and gut–brain communication—especially for patients with chronic constipation, IBS, hormone imbalance, and stress-related digestive issues.
📞 Interested in a functional medicine approach to gut health?
📍 DNP Wellness | Waldwick, NJ
📲 551-766-1269
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical care.

01/01/2026

Welcome 2026 — A New Year to Prioritize Your Health
As we step into 2026, it’s the perfect time to reset, refocus, and invest in your health from the inside out.
At DNP Wellness, we believe true wellness starts by addressing root causes—not just symptoms. Whether your goals this year include balancing hormones, improving metabolic health, optimizing thyroid function, or simply feeling more energized and resilient, a personalized functional medicine approach can make all the difference.
The new year is not about perfection—it’s about progress, consistency, and sustainable habits that support long-term health.
If you’re ready to take a proactive, data-driven approach to your well-being in 2026, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Here’s to a healthier, stronger year ahead.
📍 DNP Wellness | Waldwick, NJ
📞 551-766-1269

12/30/2025

Menopause Is a Critical Turning Point for Women’s Heart Health ❤️
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in women, yet it is still widely underrecognized—by both patients and healthcare providers.
Emerging research from the American Heart Association makes one thing clear:
👉 The menopause transition is a period of accelerated cardiovascular risk.
During perimenopause and menopause, women experience changes that directly impact heart health, including:
• Increase in abdominal and visceral fat (even without major weight gain)
• Worsening cholesterol patterns, including LDL and ApoB
• Rising blood pressure, often at levels still considered “normal”
• Increased risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance
• Structural changes in blood vessels that promote atherosclerosis
⚠️ Certain menopause-related factors raise cardiovascular risk even further:
• Early or premature menopause (before age 45)
• Frequent hot flashes and night sweats
• Rapid shifts in estradiol levels
• Changes in menstrual cycle length during perimenopause
The good news?
📉 More than 70% of coronary heart disease cases may be preventable with optimized lifestyle and early risk identification.
The menopause transition is a window of opportunity—a time when targeted lifestyle changes, metabolic screening, and individualized risk assessment can meaningfully reduce long-term heart disease risk.
At DNP Wellness, we view menopause not as an endpoint, but as a critical stage for proactive cardiovascular prevention through functional and integrative care.
🩺 If you’re in perimenopause or menopause, your heart deserves attention—now, not later.
Source:
El Khoudary SR. The Menopause Transition: A Critical Stage for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Acceleration in Women. American Heart Association Practice Pearl, released January 18, 2023.

12/27/2025

Did You Know? 1 in 4 People Worldwide Have Fatty Liver Disease
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) now affects approximately 25% of the global population, making it one of the most common — and most overlooked — metabolic conditions worldwide.
Fatty liver is not just a liver issue. From a functional medicine perspective, it is closely linked to:
Insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction
Chronic inflammation
Hormonal imbalances
Gut health disturbances
Cardiometabolic risk
Many people with fatty liver have normal liver enzymes and no obvious symptoms, allowing the condition to progress silently toward fibrosis, cirrhosis, or increased cardiovascular risk if left unaddressed.
The encouraging news:
NAFLD is often reversible when root causes are identified and addressed through:
Targeted nutrition and metabolic support
Blood sugar and insulin optimization
Weight and body composition management
Gut-liver axis support
Personalized lifestyle and supplement strategies
At DNP Wellness, we use a functional medicine and hormone optimization approach to evaluate liver health in the context of the entire metabolic system — not just isolated lab values.
If you’ve been told you have fatty liver, elevated liver enzymes, insulin resistance, or unexplained fatigue, it may be time to look deeper.
📍 DNP Wellness
36 Franklin Turnpike, Suite 5, Waldwick, NJ 07463
📞 551-766-1269
📧 info@dnpwellness.com
Reference:
Younossi ZM et al. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Overview. Integrative Medicine (Encinitas). 2019;18(2):42-49. PMID: 31341444.