Risa Lynch - Cellular Health Coach

Society and Physicians who ONLY practice on you have never told you…. Bananas don’ t make doctor money 💴 Using food for common ailments can often support gut health more holistically than conventional medicines, which may sometimes disrupt the gut microbiome. Here’s how and why: 🌿 How Food Supports the Gut: 1. Feeds Your Microbiome Many functional foods (e.g., garlic, oats, bananas, kimchi) act as prebiotics or contain natural compounds that nourish your beneficial gut bacteria—this strengthens immunity and digestion from the inside out. 2. Reduces Inflammation Naturally Anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, ginger, and omega-3s (from flax, walnuts, or salmon) help lower chronic gut inflammation without the side effects of NSAIDs or steroids. 3. Maintains Mucosal Lining Bone broth, collagen, aloe vera, and zinc-rich foods can help restore gut lining integrity, improving symptoms of leaky gut and IBS. 4. Balances Acid Naturally Apple cider vinegar or fermented foods can support digestion and pH balance without the need for long-term antacids, which can reduce stomach acid and impair nutrient absorption. 💊 Where Conventional Meds Fall Short: 1. Antibiotics kill good bacteria While sometimes necessary, antibiotics often wipe out beneficial microbes, creating gut imbalance (dysbiosis) and raising the risk for yeast overgrowth or IBS. 2. Acid blockers reduce digestion PPIs like omeprazole may relieve heartburn but reduce stomach acid needed to digest protein and absorb B12, magnesium, and iron—often harming long-term gut health. 3. Painkillers harm gut lining NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) can damage the intestinal barrier, increasing risk of ulcers or leaky gut over time. #holistichealth

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Vitamin D plays a key role beyond just bone health—it supports immune function, mood regulation, and overall wellness. Since many people don’t get enough from sun exposure or diet alone, supplements can help fill that gap. This article covers the most effective forms of vitamin D (D3 is generally preferred), recommended dosages, and tips for choosing quality products. As a dietitian, I always encourage testing your vitamin D levels first, then tailoring your supplement choice to your needs. Personalized approaches make all the difference. ☀️ Ready to learn how to safely and effectively boost your vitamin D? This is a great place to start! https://lnkd.in/eVPbEDbc

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Cannabis Terpenes Offer Morphine-Level Pain Relief Without the Risks! New research from the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction reveals certain cannabis terpenes may rival morphine in relieving chronic pain, minus the addiction or side effects. Five key terpenes: ✅ alpha-humulene ✅ beta-caryophyllene ✅ beta-pinene ✅ geraniol ✅ linalool showed powerful anti-inflammatory and nerve-soothing effects. Unlike opioids, they posed no risk of dependency. This could mark a shift toward safer, plant-based pain relief, making chronic pain management more natural and less risky. https://lnkd.in/e5-Yr3qp

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Even though our goal as a company is to help build a standard of care and guidelines to support clinical practice for naturopathic doctors, we always focus on the individuals that are not being well served by the current standards of care and how patient centred care and longer healthcare appointments can help to uncover groups who are being missed or unsupported based on the current guidelines. Guidelines are intended to serve population-level health and work off of statistics that will capture the majority of people. In every guideline, however, there needs to be acknowledgement of the individuals who are missed by general screening and by algorithmic care. Naturopathic medicine often shines in this area of patient support because we have more time to spend with our patients and have the ability to help them make patient-centric and value based decisions where necessary. We want our members to be equipped with standards that help them understand the solutions and treatment options that have the highest statistical likelihood of effect, but also be equipped with the confidence for when to make decisions in the patient's best interest that don't fall inside regular care guidelines.

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Fast food doesn’t just affect your waistline—it changes your clock. Western-style diets disrupt microbiota diversity and intestinal circadian rhythms, driving risk for obesity and diabetes. 👉 Takeaway: Timing meals and choosing whole foods supports both gut health and metabolism. Question: Do you feel your energy shift after eating late or heavily?

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🚭 Vaping Among Youth: Effective Treatment Emerges Amid Mounting Health Risks Nicotine vaping is now common among adolescents and young adults, with many using e-cigarettes daily. But behind the clouds of flavored vapor are serious health concerns—and until now, very few proven tools to help youth quit. 🔬 A new randomized clinical trial (2022–2024) found that varenicline, combined with behavioral counseling, significantly increased vaping abstinence: - 51% vs 14% (placebo) abstinent at 12 weeks - 28% vs 7% (placebo) abstinent at 24 weeks - Compared with text-based support alone (enhanced usual care), varenicline was even more effective. 🧠 How Varenicline Works: Varenicline (commonly known as Chantix) targets nicotine addiction by acting on the brain's nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. It: - Reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings - Blocks nicotine’s rewarding effects, making vaping less satisfying This makes varenicline uniquely suited to break the addiction-reward cycle, even for those who vape but don't smoke cigarettes. ⚠️ Health Risks of Vaping Include: - Respiratory issues (bronchitis, wheezing, cough) - Nicotine addiction and changes in brain development - Increased risk of cardiovascular problems - Potential links to anxiety, depression, and poor sleep - Dual use with cannabis and tobacco, which may worsen outcomes - Exposure to harmful chemicals (formaldehyde, heavy metals, etc.) 🔍 Why This Matters: - Vaping is often underestimated, but carries real risks—especially when started early. -Most young people who vape want to quit, but lack clinically validated support. - Varenicline + behavioral support offers a safe, effective, and scalable approach. We need to: ✅ Integrate vaping cessation into primary care ✅ Expand school-based health literacy and prevention programs ✅ Support community-based interventions with proven tools ✅ Educate on health risks and available treatments Let’s help youth quit vaping—not just by warning them, but by equipping them. #YouthHealth #VapingCessation #NicotineAddiction #AdolescentMedicine #PrimaryCare #Varenicline #PublicHealth #EVALI #HealthLiteracy #CommunityHealth #BehavioralHealth

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Ever wonder why headaches look so different from person to person? ⁠ As a naturopathic doctor focusing in neuropsychiatry, I see this often — and it’s rarely “just stress.”⁠ ⁠ Headaches are multifactorial — shaped by a combination of brain, body, and environment.⁠ 👉 Neurological Pathways — Overactivity in pain-processing regions, like the trigeminal nerve and brainstem, contributes to migraines and cluster headaches (Burstein et al., Nat Rev Neurol, 2015).⁠ 👉 Vascular Changes — Fluctuations in blood vessel tone, oxygen delivery, and circulation can trigger migraines and tension headaches (Silberstein, Headache, 2004).⁠ 👉 Neurotransmitters & Hormones — Serotonin, dopamine, and estrogen shifts play major roles in headache frequency, especially around menstrual cycles (Vetvik & MacGregor, Nat Rev Neurol, 2017).⁠ 👉 Inflammation & Immune Activation — Cytokines, mast cell activity, and neuroinflammation sensitize pain pathways, making headaches more frequent and severe (Edvinsson, Nat Rev Neurol, 2019).⁠ 👉 Metabolic & Nutritional Factors — Low magnesium, riboflavin (B2), CoQ10, blood sugar swings, dehydration, and mitochondrial dysfunction are all linked to headaches (Gaul et al., J Headache Pain, 2015).⁠ 👉 Lifestyle & Environment — Stress, poor sleep, jaw tension, posture, screens, caffeine, alcohol, and environmental triggers (like fragrances or weather shifts) can amplify headache risk (Buse et al., Neurology, 2020).⁠ When we see headaches through this whole-body lens, it opens up supportive strategies — from nutritional repletion and nervous system regulation to reducing inflammation, stabilizing hormones, and identifying triggers.⁠ ⁠ Headaches are not one story. They’re many. And every person deserves care that honors their unique biology.⁠ ⁠ ✨ What’s one headache trigger you wish more people understood?⁠ #neuropsychiatry #naturopathicmedicine #headache #migraines #painmanagement #gutbrainaxis #integrativemedicine #brainhealth

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