The term "quad-demic" that many people are hearing about involves influenza (flu), COVID-19, norovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These viruses, while distinct, share some commonalities in terms of transmission (respiratory droplets, contact), symptoms (fever, fatigue, respiratory issues), and strain on the immune system.  Functional medicine, with its strong focus on addressing the root causes of illness and optimizing overall health, is a powerful approach to supporting individuals during suffering from any or all of the "quad-demic" viruses as well as many other maladies. 

Here’s how functional medicine principles can be leveraged to assist:

1. Strengthen Immune Function

Nutrition: A cornerstone of functional medicine is personalized nutrition. Do this in order to bolster immunity against these viruses:

• Increase intake of vitamin C (e.g., citrus fruits, bell peppers) and zinc (e.g., pumpkin seeds, oysters), which support immune cell function.
• Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, fatty fish (rich in omega-3s), and turmeric to reduce systemic inflammation that can exacerbate viral symptoms.
• Avoid sugar and processed foods, which can suppress immune responses.
• Supplements: Evidence-based options include:
• Vitamin D (critical for respiratory immunity; levels should be optimized, especially in winter months when these viruses peak).
• Elderberry, which has antiviral properties and may reduce flu and cold severity.
• Probiotics to support gut health, as 70-80% of the immune system resides in the gut.
• Sleep: Prioritize 7-9 hours of quality sleep nightly, as sleep deprivation impairs immune defenses against viral infections.

2. Address Underlying Vulnerabilities

Functional medicine emphasizes identifying and correcting imbalances that make individuals more susceptible to illness.  Three of the most common vulnerabilities are:

• Chronic Stress: High cortisol levels weaken immunity. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation, or adaptogens (e.g., ashwagandha) can help regulate stress responses.
• Gut Health: Norovirus, in particular, targets the digestive system. Healing the gut with prebiotics (e.g., fiber-rich foods) and avoiding inflammatory triggers (e.g., gluten for sensitive individuals) can improve resilience.
• Comorbidities: Conditions like obesity, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases increase severity risk for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Functional medicine can tailor diet (e.g., low-glycemic plans) and lifestyle changes to manage these.

3. Prevention Through Lifestyle Optimization

• Hydration: Adequate water intake supports mucosal barriers (key for blocking RSV and flu) and helps flush toxins during norovirus infection.
• Exercise: Moderate activity (e.g., 30 minutes of walking daily) enhances immune surveillance, but overtraining should be avoided during illness to prevent immune suppression.
• Hygiene and Environment: Functional medicine often considers environmental factors. Regular handwashing, air purification, and avoiding crowded indoor spaces align with reducing exposure to all four viruses.

4. Personalized Symptom Management

Flu and COVID-19: 

• Focus on reducing inflammation and supporting lung health with herbs like licorice root or N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which thins mucus and aids clearance.

Norovirus: 

• Replenish electrolytes (e.g., coconut water, bone broth) and use ginger or peppermint to ease nausea and support digestion.

RSV: 

• For vulnerable groups (infants, elderly), ensure airway support with humidifiers and monitor nutrient status (e.g., vitamin A for lung repair).

5. Integration With Conventional Care
​
Functional medicine does not replace medications like antivirals (e.g., Tamiflu for flu, Paxlovid for COVID-19), or medical intervention when severe symptoms arise (e.g., RSV in infants). Instead, it complements these by enhancing baseline health, potentially reducing symptom severity and recovery time.

Practical Example Plan

Morning: Start with a smoothie (spinach, berries, protein powder, vitamin C-rich kiwi) and 5,000 IU vitamin D.
Day: Stay hydrated, snack on zinc-rich nuts, and practice diaphragmatic breathing to lower stress.  Get outside with some amount of skin exposure.  Exposing your skin to the sun will increase your natural vitamin D levels.  The sun will also help set your circadian rhythm, which in turn helps develop or maintain positive sleep patterns. 
​Evening: Wind down with herbal tea (e.g., chamomile) and ensure early bedtime.
Ongoing: Test for deficiencies (e.g., vitamin D, iron) and adjust diet/supplements based on individual needs.


"Flu season" is widely recognized to occur between the months of October to November in the Northern hemisphere.  Not coincidentally, these are also the months where the temperatures drop and more people spend time inside and out of the sun.  After all, all viruses don't just magically disappear during the summer.  Our bodies just deal with them better because of increased vitamin D levels from the sun. Please keep in mind, however, that in some severe cases and situations medical attention may still be warranted.  Whatever you do, don't loose hope!  Summer and sunshine are just around the corner, and with the sun comes some much needed relief from nagging viruses and the general need to get outside. 

In an effort to better serve our rapidly growing business, DCAM has decided to switch its blog postings to bi-monthly. This will allow us more time to better serve our patients.  Stay tuned for news of our developments and for a new and exciting blog post in March! 

Fall marks the beginning of the darker season, the season of staying indoors.  The temperature outside drops, and for some people, so do their moods.  It is this time of year that many people experience SAD.  Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of depression that a significant number of people suffer from.  The depression generally sets during the fall and doesn't begin to dissipate until spring.  For many people, SAD is a pattern of life, a pattern of depression, that occurs for multiple years or decades in a row.  

There are multiple effective treatments for SAD, nearly all of which do not involve pharmaceutical medications.  Consistent sleep patterns has been shown to have a positive effect on SAD.  Vitamin D therapy, red light therapy, taking a walk outside, engaging with family and friends, finding new hobbies, dawn simulating devices used to assist waking, opening the curtains and working near windows are all effective means of combating SAD.  

Mindfulness is another method of treating SAD that can be used in combination with nearly all of the above-mentioned potential remedies.  Mindfulness, simply stated, is completely engaging your mind in whatever it is you are doing at that moment.  For instance, if you are taking a walk outside, walking with mindfulness would mean you are focusing completely on things like your breathing, the feeling of wind on your face, the warmth of the sun on your cheeks, the sounds of nature, or how it feels from your toes to your head every time you take a step.  Engaging with loved ones in a mindful way would mean eliminating all distractions, focusing on the words being said, the tone by with they are said, and the body language used to convey them.  Mindfulness during a pleasant conversation would involve a thoughtful focus on the positive feelings being experienced during this interaction; it means being truly engaged and focused on the person or persons you are with and nothing else.  

Mindfulness ranges from difficult to impossible to achieve for long periods of time during most of our typical routines of work and home life.  But in those positive moments you have really focusing and being present for the experience has been shown to help alleviate depression, fatigue, anxiety, fear, anger and a host of other things.  It has also been shown to contribute positively toward human performance of tasks of the mind and of the body.

​If you’re interested in using mindfulness for SAD, how much time should you spend on it?  The correct answer is: we don’t really know yet.  More research is needed to determine what exact dose of mindfulness meditation will most effectively reduce SAD.  But don’t worry, we do have access to general guidelines. 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation every day for 8 weeks have proven to be very beneficial for the brain. 

5 steps to practice mindfulness:

1. Direct your focus to the present moment (for example by noticing sounds, smells, your breathing or the emotions in your body).
2. Try not to judge what you find. 
3. Get distracted by thoughts (this is part of the deal and simply how the human mind works).
4. When you get distracted (because you will), kindly bring back your focus to the present moment.
5. Repeat step 1-4 over and over again.

Dry eyes is a condition where tear production in the eye is not sufficient.  This can lead to irritation, redness, decreased vision, decreased visual clarity, and other related issues.  Most people at some point in their lives have experienced some of the symptoms of dry eyes.  Common occasional or temporary causes can include over exposure to sunlight, wind, or computer screens.  While uncomfortable, exposures such as these are temporary, as are the resulting dry eye symptoms.  

Chronic dry eyes, on the other hand, can lead to more serious eye issues and can also be a sign of more serious health problems.  Chronic dry eyes is loosely defined as the body's inability to produce enough tears to properly lubricate the eye leading to persistent eye fatigue, irritation and vision impairment.  Permanent damage to the eye, such as damage to the ocular nerve, can occur without proper treatment.  

Chronic dry eyes is recognized as a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, Vitamin A deficiency, sjorgen's syndrome,  Lupis, uveitis, and other diseases and disorders.  There are several different treatment options for chronic dry eyes.  Vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, and the use of serum tears.  Some medications are also known to cause or contribute toward dry eyes.  Cessation of that medication when possible can also help to alleviate symptoms.    

Briefly stated, serum tears are custom eye drops made from the patients own blood making them rich in growth factors, vitamins, and nutrients resulting in a product that closely mimics the body's natural composition of tears.  This tailored therapy not only help alleviate the discomfort of dry eyes, but it also plays a crucial role in preventing the condition's progression. 

​Through our partner, Health Check Diagnostics, patients at DCAM have access to these custom made serum tears.  From the comfort of the patient's home, or here at DCAM, Health Check Diagnostics draws the patients blood and formulates the completely custom serum tears.  For more information about serum tears, please contact us here at DCAM.  

Glyphosate is the most commonly used chemical for weed control in the world.  It is sprayed routinely to control unwanted vegetation nearly everywhere we go in this modern world.  It is used so frequently and in such high amounts that it can now be found in the soil, the water, the air, and our bodies.  It is even found in breastmilk.  

The consequence of the glyphosate being found in our food sources - most often in wheat, soy, and corn - is the growing prevalence of cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, autoimmune disorders, and chronic sickness in humans.  The damage caused by glyphosate in the body starts in two ways.  First it disrupts our microbiome through its antibiotic like properties.  Second, it loosens the tight junctions in our intestines, leading to leaky gut syndrome.  The damage caused by glyphosate is cumulative, meaning the more you are exposed or consume, the more damage is done.  

So what can be done to minimize a person's exposure to and damage from glyphosate?  First, eat organic foods as often as possible.  Second, avoid using the chemical around your own house and garden.  Third, make an effort to repair your microbiome through the consumption of pre and probiotic foods as well as supplements like Ion Gut Health.  

For more information please click the following link. 
intelligenceofnature.com/blogs/ion/glyphosate-exposure?utm_source=High%20Engagement&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DTC%20–%20Glyphosate%20in%20Public%20Spaces%20%28%20Blog%20%29%20-%20%5B%20AUG%2022%20%5D%20-%20DG%20%2801J5TPSVMKEXTCXZPS15BV6XV9%29&cid=01EN0Q9H1HZMC366B0MJS52V5A&_kx=oVI-tvY10y5gQ7HaJXCXxlb9ffccrfff0m922fI1PrM.T5DaPb
​

Should you microwave your food?  In an effort to uncover the answer to this question, there were many articles both in support and against microwaving your food.  In the end, DCAM's research lead to a scientific paper where the structure of three macronutrients (carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins) were tested prior to and after heating in the microwave.  The paper goes into great detail explaining the specific structural changes that occurred during microwaving.  To be clear, the structure of all three macronutrients can and often did change during microwaving.  Some of those changes were positive, and some were negative.  An example of a positive change was the digestibility of specific starches changed in such a way that there was less of an impact on blood glucose levels post meal.  Another example was the structure of proteins could change in a way that made those proteins less allergenic.  

There were also negative effects on all three macronutrients.  Two examples of negative effects were a breakdown of proteins into free radicals and the changing of some specific proteins to make them more allergenic.  

Taste can certainly be effect by the microwave.  Certain macronutrients are better suited to be microwaved than others, resulting in retained flavor when compared to traditional cooking methods.  However, some macros, like a raw chicken breast, are just never meant to be cooked in the microwave due to the certain difference in flavor between a pan fried or grilled chicken breast.  

What about nutrient content.  In general, because a microwave heats faster than traditional boiling or cooking, the nutrient content of food is often better preserved.  This is especially true for vitamins A and C.  

So what is the bottom line?  According to the study, microwaving your food is not a bad decision.  There needs, however, to be consideration given to the power of the microwave used, the amount of time the item is cooked for, and the overall composition of the food to begin with.  Few to no studies of this specific nature have been done on foods that contain different ingredients, for example; chicken parm over pasta.  The ingredients in this meal have different ideal cooking times, heats, and power levels.  Warming the ingredients up all at the same time with same power level and cooking time can result in what many might perceive as a decrease in quality over fresh.  This decrease in quality is likely due to the degradation of specific macronutrients and their structures within the foods.   

This study provides an understanding that the microwave has a place in kitchens across the world.  It serves as a great way to quickly warm food, but attention should be paid to not overcooking the food, using too much time or too much power.  The overcooked food could contain dangerous free radicals, abnormal cellular structures and increased allergenic effects.  And, let's not forget to mention you should always microwave your food in glass containers.  While many food storage, preparation and serving products are made from plastic, microwaving them can accelerate the release of harmful chemicals like BPA and phthalates.  These harmful chemicals are endocrine disruptors.  They can mimic, block or interfere with the body's hormones--possibly increasing the risk of various conditions including infertility, some cancers, metabolic diseases, neurological conditions and immune system dysfunction.  Research is still continuing in this area.    

We encourage your to read the study for yourself.  Here is the link:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9607893/

    Scientists have discovered an interesting link between low serum testosterone and increased prevalence of kidney stones.  This relational link has been noticed over time.  As total testosterone levels in men have continued to drop over the last several decades, the incidence of kidney stones has increased at a pace similar to the rate of testosterone decline.  

     To summarize, men in the study over 18 years of age with a testosterone count under 300 ng/dL were considered to have low testosterone.  When compared with men of similar age and testosterone counts over 300 ng/dL, the men with low testosterone had a significantly higher incidence of kidney stones, especially by age 33.  Scientist did not find a direct causal relationship, but did note a strong correlation.   

     To read more about it, please click the following link: www.nature.com/articles/s41443-024-00963-x

Next to air, water is the most important element for the survival of all living creatures on earth.  But science is showing that water is even more critical to life than we previously realized.  

There are two critical factors that contribute to longevity, the density of microbes, specifically the mitochondria, and the level of hydration deep within our cells.  This statement shows the importance of proper hydration.  However, it is not enough to simply drink water.  As we age and and are exposed to poor diets and toxins, our gut health declines.  This damage to our microbiome often leads to leaky gut syndrome (LGS).  Leaky gut syndrome means the gut’s tight joints have been weakened.  The weakened junctions allow substances to move freely across the colon, causing water to leak back into it, and that results in poor absorption for proper hydration, as well as a wide array of other health issues.  One of the critical effects of LGS is it degrades the body's ability to properly absorb and distribute water throughout the body.  

For more information click the link below. 
intelligenceofnature.com/blogs/ion/how-to-hydrate-your-body?utm_source=High%20Engagement&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DTC%20–%20Hydration%20%28Blog%29%20-%20%5BJUNE%2013%5D%20-%20NS%20%2801J0KJVPPYC0HYT0ZYHFAG34H6%29&cid=01EN0Q9H1HZMC366B0MJS52V5A&_kx=oVI-tvY10y5gQ7HaJXCXxlb9ffccrfff0m922fI1PrM.T5DaPb

Vitamin D deficiency is common around the world.  It is also common in athletes.  Research is showing that proper levels of vitamin D in athletes can have positive effects on strength, performance, muscle and bone density, lung function, and overall health.  Click here and here for more information. ​