If you have been following me for any amount of time you know that I have talked a lot about Insulin, also known as our fat storage hormone. But today, we are going to talk a little bit about some of our hunger hormones as they join in alongside insulin to have a big impact on our overall metabolic health. Hang in there because hormones can get a little “science-y”, but I promise it will be worth it!

In recent years, you may have heard the term "FODMAPs" thrown around in discussions about digestive health and diet. But what exactly are FODMAPs, and why are they gaining attention in the realm of health and nutrition?

FODMAPs stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? That’s why…

A patient I had years ago shared with me that they had had a terrible time with a random onset of health issues and that these health issues had been so severe, they even caused physical injuries. They visited all kinds of specialists – none of them knowing exactly what the issue was with this patient. Finally, in a moment of frustration and without really anything left to do, a healthcare provider suggested to this patient the most valuable thing in all the testing that had been done and definitely the easiest – try keeping a food journal. Within a month the patient linked the health issues to a particular food they had been eating that had a lot of artificial sweeteners in it. While most of us do not have that profound of a reaction to artificial sweeteners, there is mounting evidence against them that suggests that they may not be the innocent, guilt-free sugar substitutes we once thought they were.

You have likely heard of a drug called Ozempic by now. It is also known as semaglutide and is sometimes called “the weight loss shot”. Ozempic and “its siblings” Wegovy and Mounjaro are in a drug class called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA). GLP-1 is a natural hormone that plays a role in glucose metabolism and insulin secretion. These drugs mimic that hormone and basically stimulate insulin, inhibit glucagon, and slow gastric emptying (which makes you feel full longer).

Ozempic is quite the controversy. Approved for use in type 2 diabetes since 2017, it is praised for its efficacy in blood sugar control, cardiovascular benefits, and weight loss – all three of which it does well. In fact, there has been such an impact of weight loss by the drug that in 2021, the pharmaceutical company who makes Ozempic, came out with Wegovy (marketed more for weight loss). However, Ozempic itself is still very much prescribed “off label” (which just means it is not the approved indication by the FDA) for weight loss. Prescribing “off label” is not the issue as this is done with many medications to the benefit of many conditions. So, what is all the talk about? Could this be the miracle drug so many people want to believe it is for a chronic disease that is becoming or is at the point of being called an epidemic? Many healthcare providers believe that it is, but I should warn you, likely just as many healthcare providers believe it is not. Let’s get into it…

Here we are in 2024 and I know that many of you have maybe made the resolution or the decision to incorporate more exercise into your life this coming year - and that is a great decision! However, if you have not been a regular exerciser in the past, it is likely going to be a bit more of a challenge for you and you may not find the immediate success you are looking for despite your good intentions. Building new habits takes time, a plan, a back-up plan, a little bit of determination and discipline and a lot of grace and not expecting perfection.  With all of this in mind, I thought today of all days would be a great day to talk about something you can do to help yourself reach your fitness goals for 2024! Why today? Today is National Take the Stairs Day! Yep, that’s apparently a thing – but let’s go with it because it’s a good one.