Wellness

When “Normal” Labs Don’t Explain Why You Feel Awful

When “Normal” Labs Don’t Explain Why You Feel Awful

Most conventional blood work is like looking at your health through a keyhole. It can show a tiny slice of what’s happening—but it often misses the bigger picture. By design, standard testing is meant to catch problems once they’re significant enough to create obvious abnormalities. But what about the months or years before that—when your body is whispering warnings through fatigue, bloating, pain, or brain fog, yet everything still looks “normal” on paper

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Healing from Mold Toxicity – the Functional Medicine Way

Healing from Mold Toxicity – the Functional Medicine Way

At Tendwell, we have a number of patients with chronic health issues that have gone unresolved and whose causes have been undiagnosed, despite repeated trips to conventional doctor’s offices. When clinically appropriate, we test for mold toxicity, which quite often leads to an ah ha moment. Patients finally have an understanding of where their dysfunction is coming from. But knowledge is only half the battle. Then comes treatment. At our Denver functional medicine office, we have developed a number of effective strategies to help patients recover from mold toxicity. In this blog, we outline a few.

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Brain Fog

Brain Fog

At Tendwell, we are proud to offer services by an Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) certified practitioner. IFM is the nation’s premier institution dedicated to research and training on the functional medicine approach to health. Learn more in this blog post.

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The benefits of choosing a functional medicine practitioner certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)

The benefits of choosing a functional medicine practitioner certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)

At Tendwell, we are proud to offer services by an Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) certified practitioner. IFM is the nation’s premier institution dedicated to research and training on the functional medicine approach to health. Learn more in this blog post.

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Spotlight on green tea & EGCG

Spotlight on green tea & EGCG

Many cultures have been drinking green tea for centuries. In fact, in places like Asia, consuming tea is a daily practice for young and old alike. Tea is used in cooking and baking. You’ll see teas used medicinally and for recreation. When I lived in Beijing China in 2005, I was able to enjoy this amazing aspect of Chinese culture. I took in tea in the many tea houses in parks around the city, and enjoyed restaurants serving unlimited green, black or flower teas. Tea culture is beautiful. Certainly, from the functional medicine perspective, teas can be considered a functional food, containing powerful phytonutrients bodies can harness to positive impact. Today I would like to put a spotlight on green tea and it’s most famous catechin: EGCG.

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Miso-Butter Noodles

Miso-Butter Noodles

This recipe is for 1-2 people at most unless you double it. I think of this as a quick meal for lunch at home or even dinner. This recipe was inspired by my friend, who described this as a “basic meal” she used to make for her young son “miso-butter noodles”. I thought it sounded deliciously comforting. This is my own take on the recipe, which I often make for lunch when I am in a hurry and need to eat something warm.

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The Importane of Glutathione & Balancing Production Naturally

The Importane of Glutathione & Balancing Production Naturally

Does your provider check glutathione levels? At Tendwell, we routinely check for glutathione status because it plays a pivotal role in the human body. Glutathione is a tripeptide that, when present at the right levels, helps to reduce oxidative stress, enhance detoxification and regulate the immune system. A growing body of evidence suggests that glutathione status may be an important biomarker and treatment target in various chronic, age-related diseases: especially cancer, neurodegeneration and mitochondrial dysfunction. There is increasing awareness of glutathione’s impact on mitigating toxic load through enhanced hepatic (liver) conversion, and excretion of toxicants like mercury and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

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Golden Milk Latte

Golden Milk Latte

I recently bought a nut-milk maker (Nutr brand), and I love it. I never loved Golden Milk Lattes before but with my homemade milk (made with: 1T organic almonds, 1T cashew pieces, a pinch of salt, ¼ tsp vanilla & ½ T pure maple syrup), it was a delicious afternoon treat on a cold wintery day. Next time, I will make a double-batch.

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Everything Muffins (Gluten-Free)

Everything Muffins (Gluten-Free)

These muffins are a riff on classic Morning Glory Muffins, using ingredients we usually have around the house. I like these muffins for sneaking a couple veggies into my 7-year-old, who only “likes” a couple green vegetables at this point. I’m constantly tweaking this recipe to see what I can get away with. This is the most up-to-date iteration. This recipe makes about 16 muffins.

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Chicken Liver Pâte

Chicken Liver Pâte

I am trying to incorporate more organ meat into my diet. This organic chicken liver pate is super easy to make and quite tasty. My 7 year old has no idea what he is eating but loves this on gluten-free bread lightly toasted. Also great on crackers. Chicken livers are surprisingly difficult to find at the grocery store…I have found them at old fashioned butcher shops & at Whole Foods.

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