News & Insights

Pesticides have been associated with short- and long-term effects on human health, including elevated cancer risks and disruption of the body’s reproductive, immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. READ MORE

Epidemiologic and case-controlled studies have linked organophosphate use to lung cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s leukemia, and even an elevated risk of breast cancer in female spouses of pesticide applicators. How can we help patients manage the health risks of exposure to these ubiquitous substances? READ MORE

Because dyspepsia can manifest in a multitude of symptoms, clinicians are encouraged to look for red flags that are clinical indicators of a possible serious underlying condition. Yet on diagnostic work-up, only 20 to 30% of patients with dyspepsia are found to have frank diseases that account for their symptoms. READ MORE

For thousands of years, cultures have recommended mindful practice as a way to cultivate well-being, and over the last several years, incredible scientific advances have been made to confirm its benefits. While scientific understanding of meditation is still in its infancy, research suggests that mindfulness practice is a powerful modulator of structural and functional brain plasticity. READ MORE

One strategy to improve the patient-provider relationship is by utilizing health coaching. The role of health coaches is to listen to and guide patients through a change process. Coaches set expectations, provide feedback, and help clients identify challenges along the way. Read More

Within the last several years, there has been an increase of new data regarding the pathophysiology of skin diseases. Clinicians have begun to examine the sophisticated interplay between the skin, the immune system, and the environment; nutrition as early as the prenatal period can affect the priming of other immune cells. READ MORE

Dietary changes, chronic alcohol consumption, stress, the use of antibiotics, and other environmental factors, as well as genetic factors, can lead to alterations in the gut microbiota, which in turn may induce intestinal inflammation and increase intestinal permeability. As clinicians, how can we help patients with dysbiotic microbiota? READ MORE

What dietary and lifestyle interventions can help to diminish the effects of stress within the body and affect gastrointestinal function? New evidence suggests that both prebiotic diets and exercise interventions are most effective if given early in life when the gut and brain are more plastic. READ MORE

Bile absorption difficulties are common in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, as are anxiety and depression. When and how should treatment address these concerns? READ MORE

A 2018 study provides the first published evidence that lead exposure results in DNA damage via oxidative stress and promoter methylation of DNA repair genes in human cell lines. What other emerging research links lead to undesirable health outcomes? READ MORE

Once thought to be extraneous to the body, stress is now seen as another symptom of dysbiosis. Learn cost-effective strategies for resolving stress and gut-based diseases. READ MORE

How does a traditional medical practitioner transition into Functional Medicine? What resources are available to help them along this path? This is where the IFM Toolkit comes in. All practitioners who complete IFM’s premier course, Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP), either online or in-person, have access to the IFM Toolkit, which contains hundreds of easy-to-use resources for new and seasoned practitioners alike. READ MORE