Category: Blog Posts

Linden & Arc Vitality Institute is a place for transformation, learning, growing, and change! We are a sanctuary where souls align, minds unpack, vitality emerges, and science rules. We refuse to settle for the status quo instead, we push for what is right and what is effective when it comes to your health.

 

Named after the healing powers of the Linden tree, our Functional Medicine Practice is ready to help you:

 

RECLAIM your health,

OVERCOME your pain,

CELEBRATE your body,

& EMBRACE your wellness.

 

At Linden & Arc we are continuously learning and adapting to gain greater insight into the mind, body, and spirit connection. Dr. Murfin and her team treat patients with a root cause philosophy. When paired with our patient centered care, individuals are given the ability to achieve the highest level of health and well-being. 

 

Meet Your Physician

 

Dr. Lynne Murfin

Founder, Medical Director, Physician

MBChB LMCC CCFP ABAARM FAARM IFMCP

Linden & Arc Arc Vitality Institute's Founder Dr. Lynne Murfin

“Passionate science coupled with transformative care has always been my driver. There is nothing more fulfilling than being able to change the arc of a patient’s life.” – Dr. Lynne Murfin

 

Dr. Lynne Murfin has gained strength, and deep understanding, and built a vast knowledge of Functional Medicine over 34 years of practice. She has found great success achieving healing results in her practice at Lynne Murfin MD, renamed as Linden & Arc Vitality Institute in 2021.

 

Dr. Murfin talks often of how moments in our lives may be defining ones. For examples, the damp, musty basement you used to live in, that spider bite years ago, or eating certain seafood on that Caribbean cruise could be the reason for the downward spiral in a patients health. Over years, these events can manifest as fatigue, chronic pain, and other deliberating symptoms. These symptoms can be remedied with relatively straightforward interventions.

 

The knowledge that the body is a biological system, and everything is connected, is how we transform Medicine from treating symptoms to uncovering and treating the root causes. Often, it’s the system interface of Gut-Brain-Immune needing review. Something as simple as an undetected food allergy can create havoc in the permeability of the gut lining with immune system upregulation in the gut.  This eventually culminates in blood brain barrier permeability with constipation and bloating. It is then accompanied by brain fog, memory loss and headache. This too can be addressed and healed.

 

The same symptoms often have different root causes and so treatment cannot be one size fits all.  For example, if you have a headache there are multiple possible root causes such as nutrient depletion (e.g. low magnesium and low coenzyme Q10) or possible gut symptoms. Taking Tylenol or Advil is a bandaid for the larger issues rather than addressing the root cause. Dr. Murfin can help you get down to the root cause of your issues.

 

Dr. Murfin and her team are here to help those who are tired of battling persistent health challenges while struggling to get the medical support and treatment they need. Dr. Murfin believes that everyone deserves the highest level of well-being and will stop at nothing to heal her patients.

 

Contact Linden & Arc Vitality Institute

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute we are here to break the cycle of unnecessary suffering with pro-active treatments that will improve your quality of life.  It is time you found freedom from pain, fatigue, memory loss, illness, and depression! Our Calgary, Alberta-based clinic offers Functional Medicine Physician Services, Health Coaching, and Massage Therapy. If you are struggling with persistent health challenges contact us HERE and we will guide you through what Linden & Arc Vitality Institute has to offer you.

Health Coaching, Functional Medicine, and Functional Nutrition are revolutionizing healthcare! 

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, our transformative care and Functional Medicine Health Coaching programs work to treat you from the inside out. With the help of Health Coaches, people everywhere are beginning to take charge of their health and wellness. A Health Coach is the solution you’ve been looking for to make lasting changes to your health.  

 

What is a Functional Medicine Health Coach? 

 

Functional Medicine Health Coaching is designed to bridge the gap between diagnosis and a complete health transformation. Health coaches are your ally, collaborating with Functional Medicine doctors to help you navigate your evidence-based treatment plan. 

 

A Functional Medicine Health Coach is a wellness expert who mentors and guides patients on their journey from diagnosis to transformation. They work collaboratively with you and your health care team to ensure you can make and sustain the necessary changes to your health. Through personalized diet and lifestyle plans, they can help you feel your best. 

Our Health Coaches offer you support, education, accountability, and the resources needed to empower you to move forward on your health journey. 

 

What Does a Health Coach Do? 

 

Health Coaches use the principles of Functional Medicine to help patients understand their doctor’s plan for their care. They will help you navigate new food plans, dietary changes, and necessary physical activity and protocols. Your Functional Medicine Health Coach is here to help you every step of the way so you can find success.  

 

Health Coaches will not prescribe or give treatments. Instead, they will show you how to follow your doctor’s directions and help you discover your full potential.  

 

Ways a Functional Medicine Health Coach Can Help You: 

 

  • Eliminate inflammation & bloating
  • Overcome poor digestion
  • Get relief from chronic pain
  • Manage food sensitivities, allergies, & intolerances
  • Treat SIBO & IBS
  • Optimize brain health
  • Kickstart weight loss
  • Support overall health & wellness

 

Discover The Role of Functional Medicine Health Coaching & Nutritional Therapy at Linden & Arc Vitality Institute  

 

Your nutrition plays a critical role in your health. Food intolerances, food allergies, food sensitivities, poor diets, and a lack of healthy enzymes and nutrients can imbalance digestion and absorption, increasing widespread inflammation.  

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, we approach nutrition through a Functional Medicine discipline: we consider each biological function, their interrelationship with your genetics, lifestyle choices and environments, and how food affects your overall health. With evidence-based foundations, our Health Coaching in Calgary will give you the tools to enhance, improve, and transform your health.  

 

 Our Nutrition Practitioners and Functional Medicine Health Coaches offer personalized nutrition advice and deliver therapeutic nutrition programs. They walk alongside patients as they journey through the protocols assigned by their clinicians. Our Health Coaches’ education, encouragement, troubleshooting, and problem-solving are vital in helping our patients succeed. They will ensure you progress through protocols as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

 

Our Functional Medicine Health Coaching Program 

 

Get Treatment for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) 

 

CIRS is a challenging condition to navigate, but our Functional Medicine, CIRS Coaching program, can help. This program will assist you with targeted and personalized dietary and nutritional plans and support, lifestyle recommendations, and collaborative meetings to discuss your progress. Click HERE to learn more about CIRS and how Linden & Arc can help you. 

 

Boost Your Brain Health 

 

Our coaching program is based on the Bredesen ReCoDe program, reversing cognitive decline. You’ll receive personalized dietary and nutritional plans (potentially Keto/Ketoflex), lifestyle recommendations specific to the ReCoDe protocols, daily support on the Nudge coaching app, and bi-monthly team meetings. 

 

Food First 

 

“Food First” is a mantra at our institute, and for a good reason: food sensitivities cause systemic inflammation throughout the body. Our physicians use the “6 R’s to Gut Healing Program” to improve the health of your GI tract and reduce symptoms. Click HERE to learn more about Functional Medicine and the 6 Rs to Gut Healing.  

 

Dig Deeper 

 

This program dives deep into your nutrition and lifestyle to get to the root cause of your chronic condition. It is suited to those who require more guidance or will be transitioning to other diets, such as the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) to SIBO/SIFO program. 

 

Lifestyle Recommendations 

 

Improving your social and environmental surroundings, reducing stress, increasing mindfulness and exercise, and enjoying positive experiences can revitalize and improve your gut function. Brain power, energy, heart vitality, and hormones can also significantly improve. 

 

Comprehensive Care 

 

Our integrative medicine approach gives you the most comprehensive care available, connecting all aspects of your life to treat your diagnosis. Combining nutrition with other research-based treatments, such as IV therapy and TCM, can restore your body’s imbalances. 

 

Our Foundational Health Coaching Program includes the following:  

 

  • In clinic or virtual 60-90 minute appointments with your Functional Medicine Health Coach. Meetings will occur as required for seven appointments for the 5-month program or 14 appointments for the 12-month program. 
  • Opportunity for your health coach to accompany you to your appointments with your physicians and to represent you at our weekly ward rounds. 
  • Targeted dietary support in the form of personalized food lists, meal suggestions and recipes.
  • Support with the introduction of new supplement regimens and with troubleshooting possible side effects.
  • Lifestyle recommendations and coaching specific to your protocols and aligning with the Core Nodes of Healing that may include breathwork, limbic retraining, vagus nerve toning, detoxification, and exercise.
  • Daily support on the Nudge coaching app and messaging system that allows you to track and for your health coach to view metrics that are relevant to your progress. 
  • Opportunity to have your questions or concerns addressed by your team quickly. 

 

Overall, the program is a concierge service that will help bridge the gap between your appointments with your physicians. It will ensure that you keep moving forward through the protocols efficiently and as smoothly as possible.  

 

Our Functional Medicine Health Coaching program is designed to assist you in your health and vitality journey so you can start feeling your best. 

 

To book an appointment with a Functional Medicine Health Coach, contact Linden & Arc Vitality Institute HERE to start your transformative health journey. 

  

Meet The Author 

 

Nora Kassay-Farkas, Linden and Arc Vitality Institute’s certified Health Coach, is here to support our patients through their Functional Medicine healing journey. Nora is committed to providing substantial nutrition consultation and Functional Medicine coaching to improve and change your overall vitality and well-being. She offers sessions for CIRS, Brain Health, weight loss, and supports autoimmune conditions. To book an appointment with Nora Kassay-Farkas, email [email protected] or call our clinic at 1-587-390-0180. 

 

 

Lately, you may have seen a lot about the fantastic benefits of Lymphatic Drainage. What is it, how can it help you, and where can you get it done?  

 

 Lymphatic Drainage has become widely popular in recent years because it speeds up and supports the body’s natural detoxification process and relieves congested lymph fluid. Your practitioner uses light stretching and pressure to move stagnant lymph fluid to your lymph nodes.  Symptoms such as brain fog, frequent illnesses, bloating, and swollen glands are all signs your lymph vessels may be congested. Congested lymph fluid may be the reason why you are feeling sluggish and burnt out!  

 

Meet Helen Husak   

 

  Helen Husak

 

Helen Husak is Linden & Arc Vitality Institute’s Registered Massage Therapist (RMT). Helen’s extensive background in movement reflects her passion for the human body’s intelligence. She brings this passion to Linden & Arc, helping patients become aware, in balance, and connected to their bodies.  

 

 Helen Husak is fascinated with the body for its potential for creative expression and its ability to move, heal, and transform. She has always been drawn to the physicality of the human body and the body as a vehicle for expression. She loves problem-solving and connecting to something greater than herself.  Along with Therapeutic Massage, Dynamic Cupping and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Helen has found a passion for Lymphatic Drainage to help eliminate toxic overload and strengthen the immune response.   

 

Helen, Can You Tell Us About Your Educational Background?  

  

“I went through a Bachelor of Arts program at the University of Calgary and graduated in 2002. I learned a lot about the human body because I was partnered with the Kinesiology department. My degree was based on movement, anatomy, physiology, and the biomechanics of dance.   

   

After my university degree in dance, I took on some extra education at the School for Participatory Arts and Somatic Research in Oakland, California. My studies there were based a lot on somatic principles, and I learned about the body as a whole and how to work with a person as a whole being – spiritually, physically, and mentally. There was a lot of emphasis on community building and somatic modalities like Body-Mind Centering, developed by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. It also included massage and learning how to work with patients’ bodies.   

  

I also took my yoga teacher certification in 2002 and started teaching in Calgary because yoga was so on par with what I was doing.    After a 20-year dance and yoga career, I transitioned to massage therapy fully and became a Registered Massage Therapist in 2020. I went to Mount Royal University and did a 2-year massage therapy diploma there. I intermingled a 2–year diploma in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) as well.   

  

I’m still learning; it’s continuous. That is why massage therapy is so interesting – I never stop learning. I’m always taking courses that get me thinking differently about the body, such as Myofascial Release courses and Trigger Point Therapy. I learned about cupping and Lymphatic Drainage so that I could help clients even more.  

 

Lymphatic Drainage is amazing and so needed since there are not a lot of practitioners who know Lymphatic Drainage well. I am certified in Vodder Manual Lymphatic Drainage Levels 1 and 2 and I am now taking further courses on The Chickly method. The Chickly method is more precise and geared toward the unique needs of the individual. I’m looking forward to learning more about that because I love getting into the precision of these practices and techniques.”  

 

The Lymphatic System: Let’s Get Technical   

  

The lymphatic system is a system of the body consisting of nodes, vessels, and ducts that accumulate and circulate fluids in the body. This network significantly affects the body’s ability to detoxify, filter toxins, drain stagnant fluids, regenerate tissues, and maintain a healthy immune system.   

 

This network consists of myriad parts in your body including: 

 

  • lymph, also called lymphatic fluid 
  • lymph nodes, which are bean-shaped glands that monitor and cleanse the lymph as it filters through them 
  • lymphatic vessels 
  • collecting ducts 
  • the spleen 
  • the thymus 
  • your tonsils and adenoids 
  • your bone marrow 
  • Peyer’s patches 
  • and yes, the appendix! 

 

Every region of the body has a group of lymph nodes that can be described as biological filter stations. The human body contains 500-600 lymph nodes. Each lymph node houses special white blood cells which break down and filter anything that may be harmful to the body, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and cancer cells. Lymph fluid is pumped and propelled through the lymph vessels by hundreds of small muscular units called lymphangions.   

 

Substances picked up in the lymph fluid such as proteins, toxins, hormones, fatty acids, and immune cells are sent to the regional lymph nodes to be processed. When lymphangions are compromised due to surgery, trauma, burns, infections, substantial swelling, fatigue, stress or age, the lymph fluid becomes stagnant, and these substances accumulate in the tissue. This eventually alters proper cellular function, which may result in various health challenges.  

 

What is Lymphatic Drainage?  

  

The two primary therapies for Lymphatic Drainage are Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT)/ The Vodder Method and Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)/ The Chikly Method. Lymphatic techniques have been used widely in Europe for the past century and are swiftly gaining popularity in North America due to their many health benefits. The gentle manual techniques work on the lymphatic system by encouraging lymph fluid circulation, which, in turn, activates the function of the immune system and parasympathetic nervous system.  

   

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels throughout the body, much like the veins and arteries of the circulatory system. The lymph vessels pick up any fluid and macromolecules that the veins cannot reabsorb. They are transported through the lymphatic system to key areas in the body where they will re-enter circulation. When the lymph vessels are compromised through illness or trauma, there may be congestion or a build-up of lymph fluid (also known as lymphedema). LDT and MLD techniques are used to relieve congestion or swelling and assist in moving the lymph fluid back into circulation.  

Lymphatic Drainage has two steps. The first step is to release stagnant lymph fluid in the body. The second step is encouraging the movement of lymph fluid to the lymph nodes.   

  

Benefits of Lymph Drainage:  

  

  • Reduce swelling and water retention (edema and lymphedema)  
  • Improve blood circulation  
  • Strengthen immune function  
  • Flush toxins   
  • Resolve sinus issues  
  • Reduce bloating   
  • Reduce acne, eczema, and allergies  
  • Stimulate healing   
  • Relief of chronic pain   
  • Detoxify the body  
  • Management of autoimmune disease symptoms  
  • Regeneration of tissues from burns, scars (post-surgery), and anti-aging effects  
  • Deep relaxation to help with insomnia, depression, stress, vitality, and memory   
  • Anti-aging effects  
  • Reduced symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia  
  • Alleviation of adipose and cellulite tissue  

 

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) – The Vodder Method  

  

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) was developed in 1932 by Emil and Estrid Vodder. It has become a well-known technique to assist lymph flow and aid in the drainage of tissues.  

 

The Vodder Method of MLD is unlike a therapeutic massage that works on the muscular system and often uses moderate to deep pressure. The vessels of the lymphatic system reside just beneath the skin, so for a practitioner to move lymph fluid, the skin is rhythmically stretched and released using light pressure.   With MLD, specific sequences are used for every region of the body, starting at the neck and moving out towards the extremities. The gentle, rhythmic pressure of MLD has a pain-relieving effect for clients and often induces deep rest and relaxation.   

 

MLD techniques assist in re-circulating congested lymph fluid, stimulating the immune system, providing pain relief, reducing inflammation, and balancing the autonomic nervous system.  

 

Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT) – The Chikly Method  

  

Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT) was developed by Bruno Chikly MD, DO, LMT. The Chikly Method uses lymph drainage techniques and adds Manual Lymphatic Mapping (MLM) of the lymphatic vessels and Lympho-Fascia Release (LFR).  

  

LDT enables practitioners to identify in greater detail the quality of the lymph flow anywhere in the body. Lymph drainage therapists use flat hands and wave-like movements to improve circulation, specify the location of stagnant fluid, and map the best drainage pathways. This activates the circulation of interstitial and lymph fluid and enhances the functioning of the immune and nervous systems. Lymph drainage techniques are often used on ligaments, tendons, viscera, trigger points, and fascia.  

 

Lymph Drainage Therapy aims to enhance the body’s healing process.  

 

Helen, What Excites You About the Varying Treatments We Offer at Linden & Arc Vitality Institute?  

   

“Every individual has their own personal stories about what is going on in their bodies, where they hold tension and emotion, what their life story has been, and how it has been expressed through the body. What is excellent about having different modalities to work from at Linden & Arc is I can pull them out when necessary.   

  

If someone is coming in with a specific illness or injury, I can choose from 4 different techniques that I think would be useful. Some people do not like a lot of pressure, so Lymphatic Drainage or Craniosacral Therapy can be used to help them. Other people love the deep pressure, so techniques like Trigger Point Release and Myofascial Release work can be helpful for them.   A session can intermingle all my techniques. It is up to the client and I to figure out what is most compatible for their systems. It is an exchange of dialogue, experiment, and intuition that helps me develop the right combination for each patient. I enjoy connecting with patients and helping create a safe place for them to find their healing strength.”  

 

What is Your Favorite Lifestyle Hack for Stress Reduction?   

   

  “Moving is key! I will always put movement as number one.  Whatever way you want to move is up to you, but it needs to be a way of moving that makes you happy.    It’s one thing to go for a run on a paved road and think, well, I have to do this; it’s another thing to be in someone’s living room dancing around with them, laughing, enjoying yourself, and getting the same benefits.    You need to find enjoyment in moving. I like to walk in nature and connect to the trees and earth. I also like to participate in slower paced, mindful movement modalities such as Chi Kung, which allows me to be in more of a meditative state where I can find calm in the body and build my energy reserves. It is a really personal choice how you want to move. Do what moves you!   

   

Connecting to others and finding a like-minded community would be my number two. More than ever, through COVID times, we are all really understanding the importance of community in a more profound way.    

   

Finding creative expression is another stress-relieving hack. Mine has always been movement – it brings me joy and helps me connect to deeper parts of myself.”  

 

Massage Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage in Functional Medicine  

  

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, Massage Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage play an integral and substantial role in our Functional Medicine approach. By combining advanced quantitative testing with our massage treatments’ precision and delicate care, we can target and unshackle the dysfunctional biological systems causing you severe, chronic pain. Our Lymphatic Drainage and Massage Therapy in SW Calgary will address the root cause of problems, empowering you to experience complete vitality and better overall health.   

  

To book an appointment with Helen Husak, please click HERE or email [email protected] 

  

  

   

  

  

  

  

  

 

Functional Medicine is a nebulous and ill-defined term these days. There are so many different practitioners touting themselves as “Functional Medicine practitioners.” They are providing such a variety of care that it can be difficult for one to discern what the practice is comprised of. Here at Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, Dr. Murfin is a trained MD who has received dedicated Functional Medicine training beyond innumerable years of medical training.

 

From our perspective, we see Functional Medicine as a patient-centered, holistic approach to health care. It aims to treat a patient’s entire being by balancing their mind, body, and spirit. Our bodies are comprised of numerous incredibly complicated interconnected systems that impact one another. Functional Medicine addresses each system in concert to achieve and maintain optimal health. Given current evidence and understanding, we aim to strike as close to the heart of an issue as possible, rather than just continually masking symptoms.

 

Functional Medicine  clinics  provide integrated care based on assessments of your body’s key biological functions, social circumstances, and evidence-based treatments. With precision testing and individualized programming, extraordinary things begin to happen to your mind, body, and spirit. This is your first step toward a happier, healthier, more vigorous you.

 

Linden & Arc Vitality Institute’s Approach to Functional Medicine:

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, our emphasis is on you as a whole being! By peeling back the layers of your health, we can expose the root cause of your health issues so that we can help you break the cycle of suffering.

 

During your first appointment, we will generate a timeline of your life. This will incorporate your family and health history and any significant events in your life. We focus on antecedents (e.g., genetics), triggers (e.g., stressful events) and mediators (e.g., ongoing perpetuating factors, such as environmental toxins) to determine the patterns and causes of your health challenges.

 

We approach Functional Medicine using the 7 Core Nodes of Healing:

 

  1. Gut Health
  2. Brain Power & Mood
  3. Hormones
  4. Detoxification
  5. Heart Health
  6. Immune Function
  7. Energy Production

 

Health problems generally comprise all seven nodes; thus, we address each node as appropriate to manage various health issues. At the center of the physiological nodes rests the patients and their integrated sense of well-being – mind, body, spirit, & soul. The patient’s inner life directs the narratives contained in their timeline and the downstream physiological processes we dive deeply into using the seven core nodes above. The lifestyle factors of our patients are the bedrock of their health and are always explored in great depth – food first, then sleep, movement, resiliency and relationships and networks.

 

The 7 Core Nodes of Healing

 

Our Functional Medicine practice uses the 7  Core Nodes of Healing Model to organize and prioritize any health challenges that you may have. Using the core nodes of healing, we can develop your individualized treatment strategies, target the root causes of your illnesses, and improve your overall health. Each of the seven nodes represents a set of interconnected biological functions, much like a web, influencing each other.

 

1. Gut Health

 

To improve gut health, we dive deeply into your overall gastrointestinal function. We evaluate digestion, assimilation, your microbiome, food sensitivities/allergies, and any potential parasitic involvement contributing to unwanted local and systemic immune activation. The gut is the gateway to the body. This is where some of our most essential functions occur: taking in the nutrients needed to fuel our entire being.

 

Our gut is our greatest contact with the outside world! It has a surface area that is powers of ten beyond that of our skin. This results in a tremendous amount of environmental exposure and immune activity along the lining of our gastrointestinal system, which can have profound systemic implications. A primary area of detoxification is our gut. Our liver is our body’s primary (not only) detoxifier. It’s an enzymatic supercenter! It does an incredible job at regularly breaking down the many environmental toxins we’re exposed to and flushing them out through our intestines. If this system is inefficient, however, or if we have increased gut permeability, our body’s ability to truly rid itself of toxins becomes markedly impaired.

 

We then use the 6 R approach to restore your gastrointestinal function:

 

  1. Remove – offending agents (foods, toxins, unwanted bacteria like H.pylori, parasites etc.)
  2. Replace – replenish nutrient depletion, digestive enzymes, bile acids & hydrochloric acid
  3. Re-inoculate – re-introduce healthy microflora
  4. Repair – fix the mucosal lining & correct increased permeability
  5. Rebalance – re-establish the balance in the microflora
  6. Re-test

 

The 6R approach will significantly change how you see and eat food and heal and restore your gut health.

 

2. Brain Power and Mood

 

Our Functional Medicine physicians boost brainpower and mood by looking at the link between your brain, gut, and immune system. This can detect patterns that may be contributing to your health issues. Metabolic and genetically influenced pathways may impact neurotransmitters available in the brain and peripheral nervous system. We work to ensure systemic inflammation is minimized and that the right neurotransmitters are available. Treatments can include neurotransmitter and hormone balancing through nutrient repletion, gut healing, detoxification, psychotherapy, craniosacral therapy, and neuromodulation. We stress a bio-psycho-social approach to managing mental health and strongly encourage psychotherapy and managing challenging social situations in addition to our biological approach through the clinic.

 

3. Hormones

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, we are experts at addressing and treating hormone imbalances. Our goal is to support your body by restoring and improving your overall health and wellbeing. Hormones are key signaling molecules in our bodies. A hormone imbalance can quickly result in numerous issues throughout our complex systems! Even a slight imbalance can impact your immune system and alter your brain’s capacity to function effectively. Symptoms of hormone imbalance can include poor sleep, anxiety, low libido, fatigue, hair loss, changes in bowel movements, weight changes, mood lability…the list goes on!

 

We address the hormonal imbalance by testing vital aspects of the endocrine system. We look at all of your hormones, from the thyroid, adrenals, and insulin, to your estrogens, androgens, and human growth hormone (HGH). This shows us the best approach to returning your body to optimal balance.

 

4. Detoxification

 

We live in a world inundated with toxins. These toxins can negatively impact our cellular function, endocrine system, and fertility. Functional Medicine physicians assess for the presence of numerous forms of toxins. Many toxins have endocrine disrupting, pro-inflammatory, neuroinflammatory, and cancer-causing effects. By minimizing exposure to and eliminating environmental toxins, we assist your body’s natural systems to rid itself of unwanted toxic compounds. We use micronutrient repletion and various forms of nutraceuticals to support methylation and sulfation. We focus on improving gastrointestinal elimination to allow these toxins to exit the body efficiently.

 

5. Heart Health

 

The heart is one of our most vital organs – our lives depend on them. When it comes to energy, the heart is quite demanding. Lack of energy is often connected to cardiac problems.

 

To evaluate your risk of cardio-metabolic syndrome, we evaluate multiple cardiac data points such as:

 

  • Lipid Profile
  • High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)
  • Lipoprotein A (LpA)
  • Apolipoprotein B100
  • Apolipoprotein A1
  • Insulin sensitivity
  • Genetic predisposition to heart disease

 

These tests help us predict your risk of heart disease and stroke and inform us of inflammation in your body. To restore your heart’s vitality, we go beyond the standard cardiovascular assessment tools and advise medical and lifestyle management to optimize your cardiovascular risk profile.

 

6. Immune Function

 

Optimizing immune balance is a tremendous area of focus for us. The immune system is complex and impacts so many of our bodies systems. With all the stressors in the world today, many have pushed their immune systems into a state of dysregulation. Because of this, we are unable to calm down. This can lead to various issues, including autoimmune diseases, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), histamine intolerance, and a host of mental health issues.

 

Further, we delve into the complexities of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and Post COVID Syndrome (PCS), which have immunogenic origins and require an individualized approach to manage. For an excellent in-depth but accessible explanation of CIRS, click HERE to read our blog: Understanding Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.

 

Our assessments of immune function include unique genetic and transcriptomic assays and key indicators of present immune function and communication. Further, we use various antibody assays to determine whether one may be experiencing chronic underlying infections that have gone unchecked for years.

 

Once we identify immunogenic triggers, we do our best to eliminate the source and calm the immune system. We do this by using both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations.

 

7. Energy Production

 

Our Functional Medicine Physician evaluates your energy production by assessing mitochondrial health. There are numerous potential barriers to efficient energy production. These include extracellular insulin resistance, intracellular insulin resistance, insufficient coenzymes to fuel the mitochondria, and impaired elimination of mitochondrial waste products. When one’s mitochondria’s ability to produce energy is impaired, their overall health and wellbeing will plummet.

 

Our Physician assess mitochondrial functioning through biochemical testing that looks at coenzyme q10 (C0Q10), carnitine, pyruvate, lactate, and alpha lipoic acid, to name a few.

 

We aim to optimize glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial function to increase energy. We will clean up damaged and sick mitochondria and supercharge your energy generation.

 

Mind/Body/Spirit

 

Many cultures over numerous generations have acknowledged the existence of a spirit. Though “spirit” is another nebulous term and seems inherently unscientific to acknowledge, the idea that there is another form of energy that comprises who we are and which we have been unable to measure is not implausible. It’s important to maintain the perspective that everything we know now through scientific processes was once not understood and possibly even deemed “witchcraft” or something of the like.

 

Though we don’t fully understand what spirit is, for those of our patients, whom it is important to acknowledge as a part of their overall well-being, we encourage them to do so. Further, we recognize the importance of a healthy mind. Though there are biological contributors to a healthy mind, learning to reframe one’s thinking as a practice is crucial to their perception of the world and their perceptions of themselves. We are big believers in the power of psychotherapy, meditation, and mindfulness as a way to remedy the mind and calm our nervous systems.

 

We are firm believers that proper health is only achieved when mind, body, and spirit are balanced. Your mind, body, and spirit are at the center of the 7 Core Hodes, tying everything together.

 

How Functional Medicine Can Help You

 

Every patient experiences illness differently and, therefore, deserves treatment that works for them. Functional Medicine is about growing, learning, transforming, and addressing that unique patient illness experience. Our Functional Medicine practice at Linden & Arc Vitality Institute is focused on reshaping your story, renewing your health, and transforming the arc of your life. Our physicians offer individualized treatment plans through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach so that you can return to optimal health.

 

If you are struggling with persistent health challenges, contact Linden & Arc Vitality Institute HERE to start your transformative health journey.

 

Most of us are not living in line with our natural biological rhythms. This is causing imbalances in our hormone levels. Hormone imbalances often affect our brain’s ability to function efficiently and can cause obesity, dementia, mental health disorders, and many other serious health issues. Keeping our sex hormones in check is critical to our overall well-being. 

 

Signs your  sex hormones are out of balance:  

  • Depression and anxiety 
  • Exhaustion  
  • Trouble concentrating 
  • Sleep issues 
  • Being overweight or having excessive belly fat 
  • Sugar and salt cravings 
  • Menstrual pain and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) 
  • Challenging menopause or andropause symptoms 
  • Mood and energy swings 
  • Low sex drive 
  • Needing caffeine or alcohol to function 

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, we are experts at addressing and treating hormone imbalances. Our goal is to support your body by restoring and improving your health and well-being. 

 

What Are Hormones? 

 

Hormones are produced and managed by our endocrine glands. They are chemical messengers in our bodies that are secreted directly into our bloodstream. They move to all parts of the body to help control how cells and organs work. Hormones help us manage our moods, sleep, growth, thyroid, sexual behaviours, stress responses, and blood sugar levels.  

 

Because the control centers of your endocrine glands are in your brain, even a slight imbalance of your hormones can alter your brain’s capacity to learn and function effectively. Meaning your hormones can affect all aspects of your life! 

 

Your sex hormones affect your sexual development, reproduction, and many other aspects of your life. These hormones include testosterone, estrogen, pregnenolone, progesterone, and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). 

 

Testosterone 

 

Testosterone is a brain-boosting  sex hormone responsible for building muscle mass and improving all genders’ mood, memory, motivation, and cognitive function.    

  

Testosterone levels tend to drop with age due to weight gain, little exercise, chronic stress, and high sugar diets. Birth control, surgical menopause (surgical removal of the ovaries), and medications can also lower testosterone levels.   

  

Signs of low testosterone:  

  

  • Low sex drive  
  • Erectile dysfunction   
  • Less sensitive clitoris  
  • Decreased sense of well-being  
  • Depression  
  • Decreased concentration and memory  
  • Fatigue  
  • Mood changes  
  • Decreased muscle strength  
  • Increased cellulite or varicose veins  
  • Joint pain  
  • Hair loss  

   

Those born males often experience symptoms of andropause as they reach their 40s. Andropause happens as testosterone levels decline with age. Symptoms include depression, fatigue, loss of mental clarity, and loss of sex drive and function. These symptoms are avoidable and are caused by hormone imbalance.   

  

Regular exercise and strength training, ensuring you are eating enough protein, fat, and whole carbohydrates, getting plenty of sleep, and reducing stress are great ways to help raise your testosterone levels.   

  

Many excellent delivery systems are available to easily keep your testosterone levels optimized and balanced, including Bio-Te pellets, creams, lozenges (troches), and injectables. 

 

Estrogen 

 

Everyone’s body makes and needs estrogen! Estrogen promotes the production of serotonin, making it one of nature’s natural antidepressants! Like all hormones having imbalanced estrogen levels can send your body into crisis.  

 

In the brain, estrogen has been shown to reduce the risks of dementia, while too much can cause breast, uterine, and cervical cancer, as well as breast growth in men.  

 

Adrenal glands, ovaries, and fat tissues produce estrogen. All genders have this hormone, but those born female create more of it. As we age, our adrenal glands start to make most of our sex hormones. Bad habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, high sugar and refined carbohydrate diets, and chronic stress deplete our adrenal glands.  

 

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, brain fog, memory loss, mood swings, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleepless nights due to menopause are not inevitable. They are treatable symptoms that are caused by hormonal imbalances. 

 

Signs of estrogen imbalance: 

 

  • Fatigue 
  • Weight loss or gain 
  • Irregular or no periods 
  • Mood swings 
  • PMS  
  • Hot flashes 
  • Sore breasts 
  • Headaches and migraines  
  • Decreased sex drive 
  • Depression and anxiety 
  • Infertility  
  • Increased hunger and thirst  
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold 
  • Bowel movement changes  
  • Frequent urination 
  • Stretch marks 
  • Blurred vision 

 

Maintaining a moderate weight, regular exercise, reducing stress, consuming proper nutrients, and taking care of your gut health are great ways to help balance your estrogen levels.  

 

Estrogen Detox  

 

Your body naturally detoxes estrogen using a 3-part process. 

   

Phase 1: Estrogen is turned into three types of metabolites including 2-OH, 4-OH, and 16-OH. 

 

Phase 2: A process called methylation neutralizes 2-OH and 4-OH. This makes the metabolites water soluble so that they can be safely excreted from the body.   

 

Phase 3: Excretion – If your gut bacteria is agitated and you produce too many enzymes, this phase will not work, and recirculation will occur. This leads to inflammation and estrogen dominance.   

 

How to promote estrogen detox: 

 

  1. Try a whole food plant-based diet (avoid soy). Plant foods support hormone balance and microbiome.  
  2. Reduce plastic use. Plastic contains synthetic estrogens, even when it is BPA-free plastic.   
  3. Reduce stress.  
  4. Take care of your gut and ensure you have regular bowel movements.  
  5. Exercise regularly.  
  6. Limit alcohol intake.   
  7. Ensure you are getting proper sleep.  

 

Pregnenolone   

 

Some call this the “mother of hormones” because it is the steroid hormone used as a precursor to making all the other steroid hormones in a process called steroidogenesis. Pregnenolone is made from cholesterol in the adrenal glands, brain, ovaries in females, and testes in males. The synthesis of each class of hormones is dependent on various factors, including the location of where it is being made, the enzymes involved, and the other hormones present.   

  

There are five classes of steroid hormones synthesized from pregnenolone, including:  

 

  • Androgens (Ex. testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT))   
  • Estrogens (Ex. estradiol)  
  • Glucocorticoids (Ex. cortisol, corticosterone)  
  • Mineralocorticoids (Ex. aldosterone)  
  • Progestins (Ex. progesterone)   

  

Pregnenolone also has other actions in the body. It has anti-inflammatory effects and is immune supporting. When pregnenolone is made in the nervous system, it is called a neurosteroid. Neurosteroids influence gene transcription and modulate neurotransmission. This results in various effects on brain function and supports neuroprotection.  If your pregnenolone production declines, the hormonal imbalance often results in struggles in your day-to-day life.

 

Low pregnenolone can show as:  

 

  • Poor memory & trouble concentrating  
  • Fatigue  
  • Decreased sex drive  
  • Dry skin  
  • Muscle & joint stiffness  

   

Progesterone   

 

Progesterone is what we like to call a magical unicorn hormone! It helps soothe and calm our nervous system and supports our capacity to manage stress.  

  

Progesterone is a sex hormone produced in both men and women and plays a significant role in testosterone production. It is produced in a woman’s second half of her menstrual cycle after ovulation. It plays a role in maintaining blood flow to the uterine lining, regular menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and normalizes periods (not too light and not too heavy).   

  

Progesterone levels can drop due to nutrient depletion, stress, consuming too many saturated fats and refined sugars, certain medications (especially antidepressants), overexercising, and decreased thyroid functioning. When progesterone drops in relation to estrogen – either relatively or absolutely – PMS occurs.  

 

Low progesterone can show up as:   

 

  • Anxiety, nervousness, irritability, moodiness, and lethargic depression   
  • Insomnia – unable to get into that deep, restorative sleep and therefore restless sleeps and waking up tired   
  • Decreased libido – this symptom is also shared with low testosterone and DHEA   
  • Headaches (especially around your period)   
  • Weight gain   
  • Lighter or skipped periods   
  • Spotting before your period  
  • PMS: acne, bloating, breast tenderness, water retention   
  • Estrogen dominance signs – heavy periods, painful periods, fibroids, endometriosis, cysts, and fibrocystic breasts.   

 

If you identify with any of the listed symptoms above, know that there are many ways we can naturally support your sex hormones balance. Here are a few lifestyle tips to get you started:   

 

  • Get better sleep – prioritize your sleep and make it your non-negotiable! No matter who you are, 8 hours is still the recommended minimum amount of sleep per night.  
  • Consume good quality, healthy fats – our hormones use cholesterol as their backbones!  
  • Try castor oil packs placed on the body over the liver (see link). The liver detoxifies all our hormones, and castor oil can help clear excess estrogen from the body that can contribute to progesterone deficiency. At Linden & Arc, we recommend the Queen of Thrones Castrol Oil Pack. 

  

DHEA 

 

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is another one of your sex hormones. It is made by your adrenal glands, with a small amount also being made in your brain and skin. DHEA makes your estrogen and testosterone and has been shown to have protective effects against cancer, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, and autoimmune disease.   

 

DHEA production declines with age, starting in your late twenties, and by the age of seventy, your body only makes one-fourth of the amount it made earlier. All too often, the focus is on estrogen, progesterone & testosterone as a first step. However, the doctors at Linden & Arc start balancing the hormones of Metabolic Triad 1: adrenal, thyroid, pancreas as an integral first step to wellness and reclaiming your energy.  

 

DHEA helps to:  

 

  • Decrease allergic reactions  
  • Decrease cholesterol  
  • Deal with stress 
  • Increase brain function  
  • Increase sense of well-being  
  • Prevent blood clots  
  • Promote weight loss  
  • Reduce insulin resistance  
  • Support your immune system   
  • Reduce blood sugar spikes 

 

DHEA deficiencies often occur due to aging, nicotine, menopause, or stress.  

 

Symptoms of DHEA deficiencies include:  

  

  • Decreased energy  
  • Decreased muscle strength  
  • Difficulties with stress  
  • Irritability  
  • Joint soreness  
  • Weight gain  

 

If your body has low DHEA levels, DHEA hormone replacement may be an excellent option for you.  

 

How Linden & Arc Vitality Institute Can Help You Diagnose and Treat Hormone Imbalances 

 

If you are experiencing symptoms of sex hormone imbalance, Linden & Arc Vitality Institute will take a thorough history of your hormone function. Our doctors will access your hormones using blood, urine, and saliva tests.  

 

We use some of the most advanced tests to access hormone levels accurately. Saliva testing measures cortisol, estrogens, progesterone, and androgens levels. Our blood tests allow us to measure insulin, thyroid, and other hormone levels accurately. Urine is used to evaluate estrogen metabolism ratios. Estrogen metabolism ratios are how we gauge the pathways through which estrogen and sex steroids are detoxified from your body. We can also measure cortisol, progesterone, testosterone, and other hormone levels with urine samples. 

 

We recommend a hormone test for everyone around ages 35-40, so we can measure your baseline labs and ensure you continue to have a good quality of life. 

 

Once we have defined your hormone imbalance and addressed the cause, we will help your body restore and replenish balance using bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormone therapy (BHRT or natural hormone therapy) uses hormones that are identical to those your body produces on a molecular level.  

 

Benefits of Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy: 

 

  • Mental clarity  
  • Increased energy 
  • Increased sex drive 
  • Increased ability to lose fat and gain muscle 
  • Decreased anxiety and depression symptoms  
  • Improved sleep quality 
  • Improved well-being 
  • Improved skin and hair health 

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, we aim to break the cycle of unnecessary suffering with proactive treatments that will improve your quality of life.  Our Functional Medicine practice seeks to uncover and treat the root cause of your illness, healing you as a complete being, not just a collection of symptoms.

 

If you are experiencing symptoms of  hormone imbalance, click HERE, call 1-587-390-0180, or email [email protected], and we will guide you through how Linden & Arc Vitality Institute can help you. 

 

Author: 

Dr. Ayla Lester, ND

Gluten is a hot topic these days! Just bringing it up can lead to very emotionally heightened conversations.  

 

Some think going gluten-free is just a fad, and some health-conscious people unfairly demonize gluten. Those that do suffer from gluten reactions are quite often cast out as being problematic. Despite the massive prevalence of celiac and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), society has not adapted. For anyone with gluten issues, you know how difficult it is to navigate this world and feel safe when eating outside the comfort of your home.   

  

Few know about the connection of the gut to the rest of our body and cannot understand how one could be affected by gluten systemically, especially if there are no gut symptoms. Many do not know that gluten is hidden in most processed and packaged foods and is extremely difficult to avoid.  

  

What do you think? Is a gluten-free diet just a fad? Let’s dig deeper!  

  

  

What is Gluten?   

  

Gluten is a plant protein molecule found in grains. It belongs to a family of proteins called prolamins, which are proline-rich lectins. Proline makes gluten resistant to digestion, regardless of whether you are allergic or sensitive to it. Our digestive enzymes don’t have the capacity to break down the strong bond between two proline molecules very well, which often causes digestive issues.  

  

Gluten is made up of glutenin and gliadin and is also rich in glutamine. Gliadin is responsible for many of the adverse effects caused by gluten. Gliadin activates an essential protein in the gut called zonulin and immediately negatively affects intestinal barrier functioning. This allows gliadin to enter the lining of the gut, disrupting and poking holes in the gut lining, which permits molecules that have no business moving across the gut to enter the bloodstream. This sets off immune dysregulation and results in autoimmune disease. It also may cause direct damage to the enterocytes (gut cells) and can activate a crucial immune pathway called the complement system, which can lead to a cascade of reactions.  

  

In one study, some degree of increased intestinal permeability (when your gut allows more than nutrients and water through) occurred in ALL people with gliadin exposure. Another study showed that 5 minutes worth of exposure caused intraepithelial lymphocytes to activate; tight junctions to break open and intervillous spaces to widen. This is a problem!  

  

 

Why Are So Many People Reactive to Gluten?   

  

Since 1974, there has been a 5-fold increase in celiac disease. In North America, genetically modified (GMO) wheat makes up most of the wheat supply. Wheat has also changed over time due to hybridization, essentially taking the ‘best’ strains of the wheat with the wanted characteristics and breeding them. This eventually leads to wheat that looks quite different from the original wheat. Modern wheat can contain up to 100 different gluten proteins. There are at least 50 toxic epitopes in gluten peptides exerting cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, and gut-permeating activities.   

  

The amount of gluten consumption has increased over the years and, in eating more, it is likely you are also consuming more processed foods, including refined carbohydrates. In today’s food supply, we are bombarded by additives and toxins (including pesticides), which further challenge the immune system and increase the chance of reactivity to food. Suppose the gluten molecule is bound to a pesticide molecule, for example. In that case, your immune system is far more likely to recognize this as a foreign particle and mount an immune response. 

 

We also have many other stressors on the gut today, including medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), antibiotics and stomach acid blocking medications, like PPI’s and H2 receptor blockers. Our high-stress lives also directly affect the gut through cortisol effects on the tight junctions (leading to leaky gut). These contributing factors lead to loss of tolerance in the gut and can tip the immune system over the edge, causing you to start reacting to gluten. It is not uncommon to see patients who develop NCGS later in life or manifest celiac only in their 40s or 50s after accumulated stress has primed the gut and immune system.  

  

  

What is Celiac Disease?  

  

Celiac disease is, in its most basic terms, a gluten allergy. It is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten that causes erosion of the gastrointestinal villi and chronic inflammation. Eventually, the villi atrophy and nutrient absorption is affected. Celiac has many associated genes, but the two most important are HLA DQ2 and HLA DQ 8. More than 90% of celiac disease patients have one or more of these genes. Having celiac disease increases the risk of other autoimmune diseases.   

  

 

What is Gluten Sensitivity?   

  

In non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), we do not see a true allergy or autoimmune process occurring. In NCGS, gluten is considered to cause gastrointestinal, non-neurological, and neurological damage via cross-reacting antibodies, immune complexes, and direct toxicity. The direct effects of gliadin on the small intestines lead to increased intestinal permeability or ‘leaky gut.’ This causes food proteins to leak across the gut lining and stimulate the immune system. Interesting to note that 80% of the immune system is found in the gut!   

 

The proline content in gluten forms something called prolamines which irritate the gut wall and are difficult to digest. Gluten also inhibits protease enzymes, making protein difficult to digest. Studies show that gluten triggers changes in gut flora, dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria), gut inflammation, and intestinal permeability, leading to systemic inflammation, neuroinflammation, and possible behavioural changes.   

  

  

Where Might You be Exposed to Gluten?   

  

Gluten grains include wheat (gliadin), rye (secalin), barley (hordein), triticale (a hybrid of wheat), and oats (avenin). One in 5 people with celiac disease will react to oats, even if they are gluten-free oats. If you have celiac disease, it is essential to test and rule out reactivity to oats. Wheat varieties such as Kamut, farro, durum, and spelt also contain gluten.   

  

It is extremely common for gluten to be hidden in various food sources. Gluten does not need to be listed on the package for an item to contain gluten. One example is spices, which commonly contain gluten. To name a few, products like sauces, tea, chips, and broths often contain gluten. You can be exposed to gluten even if you do not eat bread!  

  

When avoiding gluten, labels must be looked at in great detail. If they do not explicitly say they are gluten-free, they are not! 

  

It is often best to contact companies directly and ask them how/if they ensure there is no gluten in their products. Some companies may have cross-contamination if the factory is used for gluten-containing products.  

 

Building your gluten awareness is likely to be quite overwhelming when you start to dig into it, but once you have a handle on which products are safe for you, it becomes second nature.   

  

Gluten is more than just food! It is crucial to be mindful of cosmetics and cleaning products when you have celiac disease. Toothpaste often contains gluten and can fuel immune reactions even though it is not swallowed. Shampoos, soaps, and creams commonly contain gluten and if you have celiac disease, you need to avoid these. Our skin absorbs these products, and the same reaction in the gut will occur with topical use.   

  

Cross-contamination is also common when someone with celiac cooks with the same utensils and pans as others in the home consuming gluten. In an ideal world, it is best not to have gluten products in the home when you have celiac disease. However, if this is too disruptive to the family, you must be strict with using separate utensils, pans, cutting boards and toasters!   

  

Helpful resources for avoiding gluten:  

  • Gluten Freedom by Alessio Fasano   
  • The Paleo Approach by Sarah Ballantyne, PhD   
  • Celiac Disease: A Hidden Pandemic by Dr. Peter HR Green, MD, & Rory Jones, MS 
  • Wheat Belly by William Davis, MD 
  • https://www.celiac.com/  

  

 

Management of Gluten-Related Disorders   

  

A celiac disease diagnosis means that you need to remain gluten-free for life. With NCGS, gluten should be removed and can be rechallenged once gut healing has occurred. However, knowing that NCGS can also lead to chronic inflammation and systemic effects, it is recommended to limit it lifelong. One should not consume gluten daily. However, with NCGS, you do not need to be as strict with checking spices, sauces, and cosmetics. Having said that, some people have a gluten sensitivity level that requires this level of elimination to get back to full vitality.  

  

The most important part of recovering from gluten-related disorders is to heal the gut. If we remove gluten and do nothing else, the damage already done over the years of exposure will not self-repair in most patients. Gut healing requires a consistent protocol for at least 3 months, but typically more than 6 months in those with celiac or severe NCGS.   

  

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, we recommend our 6R’s gut healing approach . It is the best way to heal the gut. The specific treatment in each step will be individualized by your clinician based on symptoms, other health conditions, and testing.   

  

 

6R’s gut healing program:   

  

1. Remove 

Remove triggering foods. This includes gluten and, quite often, dairy. Further removal is based on testing and other conditions. For example, if you have an autoimmune disease, we may choose to put you on strict autoimmune paleo as a first step (often needed in celiac disease). Food sensitivity testing and gluten cross-reactive foods will guide initial elimination steps. 

 

Remove triggering bugs. Food sensitivities and other inflammatory triggers may lead to bacterial/ fungal/ parasitic imbalances in the gut. Part of healing the gut is restoring balance using herbs or pharmaceuticals where appropriate. 

 

2. Replace 

Replace stomach acid (HCL), pancreatic digestive enzymes, and bile. Inflammation in the gut switches off your body’s natural capacity to produce these. With poor digestion, foods move into the gut partially digested, leading to malabsorption and fermentation, further fueling inflammation and imbalance. 

 

3. Re-inoculate 

Re-introduce good bacteria. This is done with a combination of prebiotic foods and targeted probiotic supplements, individualized to you. 

 

4. Repair 

Repair damaged gut cells (enterocytes) and the tight junctions in the gut. As discussed, gluten can damage cells and lead to leaky gut. We need to feed the gut nutrients and antioxidants repair. This may include glutamine, aloe, zinc, fish oils, collagen, and gut healing powders. We often use intravenous high-dose vitamin C and gut healing infusions to fast-track gut healing. 

 

5. Rebalance 

The gut-brain connection is a powerful two-way communication. This is why many people experience stomach upsets when nervous or stressed. This is the response of the nervous system in the gut. When the sympathetic nervous system turns on, the body sends its resources to areas in the body that would help you to survive. Digestion is not needed when you are running away from a lion! High sympathetic tone or being in constant fight or flight, as many are in today’s world, leads to enzymes being switched off in the gut and tight junction disruption from high cortisol. This can affect motility in the gut. The gut cannot heal when it is stressed. At Linden & Arc, we use various modalities to calm the gut, from meditation to Neurofeedback and everything in between.   

 

6. Re-test 

  

 

Is a Gluten-Free Diet Just a Fad? 

 

In short, no! 

 

Due to genetically modified wheat, our high-stress lives, and medications, gluten sensitivities, and celiac disease are on the rise.  

 

At Linden & Arc, we know removing gluten from your diet is a drastic lifestyle change and our highly trained doctors, nurses, and health coaches are here to help you every step of the way.  

 

Contact us HERE to get started on your journey today!  

  

Author:

Dr. Michelle Van Der Westhuizen, MD

 

References 

 

Tom O’Bryan. Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: The Evolving Spectrum. In book: Advancing Medicine with Food and Nutrients, Second Edition (pp.p315-334)Publisher: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group 

 

Ludvigsson, J et all. The Oslo definitions for coeliac disease and related terms. Gut 2013 Jan;62(1):43-52. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2011-301346. Epub 2012 Feb 16. PMID: 22345659 

 

Halblaub JM, Renno J, Kempf A, Bartel J, Schmidt-Gayk H. Comparison of different salivary and fecal antibodies for the diagnosis of celiac disease. Clin Lab. 2004;50(9-10):551-7. PMID: 15481630. 

 

Martha M. C. Elwenspoek, . The accuracy of diagnostic indicators for coeliac disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Published online 2021 Oct 25. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258501 

 

Heinz-Erian et al. FECAL TISSUE TRANSGLUTAMINASE ANTIBODY (FTTGA) CONCENTRATIONS CORRECTLY IDENTIFY PATIENTS WITH CELIAC DISEASE. https://www.maier-analytik.de/site/assets/files/1072/fecal_tissue_transglutaminase_antibody.pdf 

 

Kappler Mathias. Research Detection of secretory IgA antibodies against gliadin and human tissue transglutaminase in stool to screen for coeliac disease in children: validation study. BMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38688.654028.AE (Published 26 January 2006) 

 

Bruni, O, Dosi, S; Luchetti, A et al. An unusual case of drug resistant epilepsy in a child with non- celiac gluten sensitivity. Seizure 2 (2014) 674-676 

 

Mak Adam Daulatzai . Non-celiac gluten sensitivity triggers gut dysbiosis, neuroinflammation, gut-brain axis dysfunction, and vulnerability for dementia CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 2015;14(1):110-31.  

 

Biesiekierski, J et al. Is Gluten a Cause of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in People Without Celiac Disease? Current Allergy and Asthma Reports  volume 13,  pages 631–638 (2013) 

 

Petula Nijeboer, Hetty J. Bontkes , Chris J.J. Mulder , Gerd Bouma. Non-celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Is it in the Gluten or the Grain?http://accurateclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Non-celiac-Gluten-Sensitivity.-Is-it-in-the-Gluten-or-the-Grain-2013.pdf 

 

Eugenia Lauret, Luis Rodrigo, ”Celiac Disease and Autoimmune-Associated Conditions”, BioMed Research International, vol. 2013, Article ID 127589, 17 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/127589 

 

Drago S, El Asmar R, Di Pierro M, Grazia Clemente M, Tripathi A, Sapone A, Thakar M, Iacono G, Carroccio A, D’Agate C, Not T, Zampini L, Catassi C, Fasano A. Gliadin, zonulin and gut permeability: Effects on celiac and non-celiac intestinal mucosa and intestinal cell lines. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2006 Apr;41(4):408-19. 

 

Hollon J, Puppa EL, Greenwald B, Goldberg E, Guerrerio A, Fasano A. Effect of gliadin on permeability of intestinal biopsy explants from celiac disease patients and patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Nutrients. 2015 Feb 27;7(3):1565-76. 

 

Volta, U., Villanacci, V. Celiac disease: diagnostic criteria in progress. Cell Mol Immunol 8, 96–102 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2010.64.  

 

Umberto Volta 1, Maria Teresa Bardella, Antonino Calabrò, Riccardo Troncone, Gino Roberto Corazza. An Italian prospective multicenter survey on patients suspected of having non-celiac gluten sensitivity. 2014 May 23;12:85. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-12-85. 

 

Giuseppe Losurdo, Mariabeatrice Principi, Andrea Iannone, Annacinzia Amoruso, Enzo Ierardi, Alfredo Di Leo, Michele Barone. Extra-intestinal manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity: An expanding paradigm. World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2018; 24(14): 1521-1530 Published online Apr 14, 2018. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i14.1521 

 

Losurdo G, Principi M, Iannone A, Amoruso A, Ierardi E, Di Leo A, Barone M. Extra-intestinal manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity: An expanding paradigm. World J Gastroenterol 2018; 24(14): 1521-1530 [PMID: 29662290 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i14.1521] 

 

Jennifer May-Ling Tjon 1, Jeroen van Bergen, Frits Koning. Celiac disease: how complicated can it get? Immunogenetics. 2010 Oct;62(10):641-51. doi: 10.1007/s00251-010-0465-9. Epub 2010 Jul 27. 

 

Bürgin-Wolff, A., Mauro, B. & Faruk, H. Intestinal biopsy is not always required to diagnose celiac disease: a retrospective analysis of combined antibody tests. BMC Gastroenterol 13, 19 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-230X-13-19 

 

Abrams, J.A., Diamond, B., Rotterdam, H. et al. Seronegative Celiac Disease: Increased Prevalence with Lesser Degrees of Villous Atrophy. Dig Dis Sci 49, 546–550 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:DDAS.0000026296.02308.00 

 

Benjamin Lebwohl, Peter H R Green. Screening for celiac disease.N Engl J Med.. 2003 Oct 23;349(17):1673-4; author reply 1673-4. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200310233491718.  

 

J Molina-Infante 1, S Santolaria, D S Sanders, F Fernández-Bañares. Systematic review: noncoeliac gluten sensitivity. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015 May;41(9):807-20. doi: 10.1111/apt.13155. Epub 2015 Mar 6. 

 

 

 

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587-390-0180

[email protected]

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7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary, Alberta
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