L-Glutamine for Leaky Gut: A Functional Medicine Approach to Intestinal Permeability
L-glutamine serves as the primary fuel source for intestinal enterocytes and maintains tight junction integrity
13 min readFeb 27, 2026
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Root-cause protocols, lab guides, and evidence-based insights — so you can take charge of your health.
Pregnenolone Steal: Why Chronic Stress Hijacks Your Hormones and What to Do About It
Pregnenolone steal describes the body's survival-driven shift of the master hormone precursor pregnenolone away from sex hormone production and toward cortisol when chronic stress demands it.
13 min readFeb 27, 2026
Environmental Toxin Blood Test: A Functional Medicine Guide to Interpretation
Conventional reference ranges often miss subclinical toxicity patterns that drive chronic symptoms
12 min readFeb 27, 2026
How to Read Your Cholesterol Labs: Beyond Good and Bad
Total cholesterol alone tells you very little — particle size, number, and ratios matter far more than a single number.
13 min readFeb 26, 2026
Can Cortisol Cause Weight Gain? The Stress-Fat Connection
Chronic cortisol elevation drives weight gain through six distinct mechanisms including increased appetite, visceral fat storage, and blood sugar dysregulation.
13 min readFeb 26, 2026
HPA Axis Dysfunction: The Real Story Behind Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue isn't a recognized medical diagnosis — HPA axis dysfunction is the more accurate term
12 min readFeb 26, 2026
Food Sensitivity Testing (IgG): Is It Worth It?
IgG food sensitivity tests measure antibody reactions to foods, but IgG may reflect exposure and tolerance rather than true sensitivity — the science is still debated.
14 min readFeb 26, 2026
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) for Autoimmune Disease: What to Know
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) uses tiny doses (0.5–4.5 mg) of an opioid-blocking drug to modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation—without suppressing immunity.
13 min readFeb 26, 2026
TSH Levels Explained: Why Normal Results Might Not Be Optimal
The standard TSH 'normal' range (0.45–4.5) is far wider than the optimal range (1.0–2.0) where most people feel their best
13 min readFeb 25, 2026
Hormone Pellet Therapy Pros and Cons: A Functional Medicine Guide to Bioidentical Pellet Implants
Hormone pellets deliver the most consistent, steady-state hormone levels of any delivery method, making them ideal for patients sensitive to fluctuations.
8 min readFeb 25, 2026
IBS vs SIBO: What's the Difference and Why It Matters
IBS is a symptom-based diagnosis while SIBO is a measurable bacterial overgrowth — and SIBO may be driving many IBS cases
13 min readFeb 25, 2026
Hashimoto's Root Cause Treatment: Functional Medicine vs. Conventional Approaches Compared
Hashimoto's is an immune system disease, not just a thyroid disease — hormone replacement alone doesn't address the autoimmune process.
8 min readFeb 25, 2026