Functional medicine addresses weight gain with a holistic and personalized approach, often employing the "5 R" framework to get to the Root Cause. This sometimes means adding on an injectable for the first few months called Semaglutide (AKA Ozempic, Wegovy, Monjaro) to help your body uptake more GLP1, a peptide that can increase the feeling of fullness in the brain. while decreasing your blood sugar levels. However, the goal is to help your body produce MORE GLP1 on its own-so we don't stop there! We fix the underlying cause that ultimately helps your body produce more of its own GLP1 so you don't suffer the long term effects and costs of this medication. 

 

Metabolic syndrome, characterized by a cluster of conditions like increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels, can significantly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Here's how the 5 R approach can be applied:

1. Remove: This step involves eliminating factors that negatively affect the body's balance. In the case of metabolic syndrome, this could mean removing foods that contribute to insulin resistance or inflammation (such as processed foods, excessive sugars, and trans fats), as well as addressing potential environmental toxins and stressors.

2. Replace: This step focuses on adding back essential elements that the body needs for proper function but might be lacking. For metabolic syndrome, this might include incorporating a diet rich in nutrients that support insulin sensitivity and metabolic health (like magnesium, chromium, omega-3 fatty acids), as well as adding physical activity to improve glucose metabolism and cardiovascular health.

3. Reinoculate: This involves restoring beneficial bacteria in the gut through probiotics and prebiotics. A healthy gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as important in metabolic regulation, insulin sensitivity, and overall inflammation levels.

4. Repair: This step aims to support and heal the body's tissues and systems. For metabolic syndrome, repairing might focus on adopting a diet high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as lifestyle changes that promote restorative sleep and stress reduction.

5. Rebalance: This final step involves ensuring that all aspects of lifestyle are conducive to health. In the context of metabolic syndrome, it includes managing stress, ensuring adequate sleep, engaging in regular physical activity, and fostering healthy relationships and emotional well-being.

It's important to remember that functional medicine approaches are highly individualized. What works for one person may not work for another, and interventions are often tailored to an individual's specific health status, genetic predispositions, environmental exposures, and lifestyle factors. During your consultation you will meet with one of our trained practitioners in Functional Medicine who will develop the treatment plan with you.