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SIBO Is Not Just a Gut Problem: The Whole-Body Consequences
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is linked to heart failure, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and mood. Why SIBO is a whole-body problem, and what drives it.
How Much Coffee Is Safe to Drink Each Day?
A 2026 American Heart Association statement says up to about 400 mg of caffeine, roughly 3 to 5 cups of black coffee, is safe for most adults. Here is the evidence and the nuance.
Do Sweeteners Harm Gut Bacteria? A New Cambridge Study
A Cambridge lab study found common sweeteners can slow the growth of gut bacteria, and that medications and caffeine change the effect. Here is what it does and does not prove.
Losing 80 Minutes of Sleep a Night: A Hidden Metabolic Risk
A Columbia study found that cutting sleep by about 80 minutes a night for six weeks led to weight gain and more sitting. Here is why mild sleep loss belongs on your cardiometabolic map.
2026 Cholesterol Guidelines: ApoB, Lp(a), and a Retired Risk Score
The 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guideline retired a risk calculator that overestimated heart risk by 40 to 50 percent, made Lp(a) testing universal, and elevated ApoB. Here is what it means for you.
Thyroid Symptoms but Normal Labs? It May Be Hashimoto’s
If you still feel hypothyroid (tired, foggy, gaining weight, cold) despite “normal” or medicated thyroid labs, the most likely explanation is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune attack on the thyroid. It causes about 90 percent of hypothyroidism, and a TSH-only test can miss it. The fix is not just replacing hormone; it is calming the autoimmune process driving the damage.
Insulin Resistance: Symptoms and How to Reverse It
Insulin resistance is when your cells stop responding well to insulin, forcing your pancreas to produce more and more to keep blood sugar in check. It develops quietly, often years before a diabetes diagnosis, and it drives heart disease, weight gain, fatty liver, and cognitive decline. The good news: caught early, it is largely reversible with diet and lifestyle.
Is High Cholesterol the Real Cause of Heart Disease? A Functional Medicine View
Cholesterol is part of the heart disease picture, but it is not the whole picture. Chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, high triglycerides, and small dense LDL particles often predict risk better than total cholesterol alone. The most useful question is not “how high is my cholesterol,” but “what is driving my cardiovascular risk?”. This article explains the evidence, including where the mainstream and functional medicine views agree and disagree. It is educational and not a recommendation to start or stop any medication.
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: Is It Real? What the Science Says
You do not need celiac disease to react to gluten. Research, including a Columbia University study, confirms that non-celiac gluten sensitivity produces a real, measurable immune response. Unlike celiac disease, the reaction is systemic rather than confined to the gut, which is why symptoms range from brain fog to joint pain. Standard testing is limited, so a carefully done elimination trial is often the most useful tool.
Leaky Gut: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Heal It
Leaky gut (intestinal hyperpermeability) means the lining of the small intestine has become inflamed and porous, letting undigested food and bacteria into the bloodstream. The immune system attacks these intruders, producing chronic inflammation linked to autoimmune disease, brain fog, skin problems, and more. The fix is to remove what is damaging the gut, repair the lining, and address the root cause.
