Why Testing Homocysteine Matters: A Missing Clue in Your Health Puzzle
When most people get routine lab work, they look at cholesterol, blood sugar, or vitamin D. But one important marker is often overlooked: homocysteine. Homocysteine is an amino acid produced in the body during the breakdown of protein. Normally, your body recycles it using key B vitamins like folate, B6, and B12. But when this […]
Having Purpose Is Good for Your Brain
Being a grandparent gives me a powerful sense of purpose that keeps me mentally and emotionally energized. When I spend time with my grandchild, I’m not just making memories — I’m also keeping my brain active, reducing stress, and supporting my long-term cognitive health. I notice that having someone I love to show up for […]
The 9 Essential Tests to Protect Your Health in Midlife
You show up for your annual exam, answer a few quick questions, get a brief check-up—and before you know it, you’re sent off for “routine blood work.” A few days later, you hear the familiar phrase: “Everything looks normal.” But here’s the truth: “Normal” doesn’t always mean optimal—especially during perimenopause and menopause. This stage of […]
GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs: What Happens When You Stop?
We have entered a new era of obesity medicine. Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy (called GLP-1 agonists) can lead to fast and impressive weight loss. There’s no denying that.But there’s a big question most people aren’t talking about: What happens when you stop taking them? The answer matters—because without a plan, many people end up […]
The Science Behind the New Dietary Guidelines
The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans mark the most significant change to the guidance since 1980. They encourage people to eat more animal proteins and fats, and avoid highly processed foods, while putting a clear focus on eating real, whole foods. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture […]
Why ‘Normal’ Lab Tests Might NOT be Optimal
Lab ranges are built from statistics, not from how a healthy body actually feels. Ranges are created by taking a thousand ambulatory Americans, tossing out the extremes, and calling the rest “normal.” A result can be normal yet nowhere near optimal. Normal shows how you compare with everyone else; optimal reflects what’s right for your […]
Biomarkers for Your Brain Health
Biomarkers for your brain health podcast is focused on being able to assess your likelihood for cognitive decline before it happens. In this podcast Dr Karen discusses biomarkers for you to assess your cognitive health What Are Some Biomarkers for Brain Health? High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein (Hs-CRP) A high level of CRP in the blood is […]
What Is Prediabetes and Why Should You Care?
What is prediabetes and why should you care? It’s a wake-up call that you’re on the path to diabetes. But it’s not too late to turn things around. If you have it (like 86 million other Americans), your blood sugar (glucose) level is higher than it should be, but not in the diabetic range. People […]
Key Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease
Did you know there are key biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease? Whether a person is at risk of developing the disease versus actively has symptoms, is often reflective of the number of their biomarkers. As few as three to five suboptimal lab values may be observed in an at-risk pre-symptomatic person versus up to 25 in […]