By Dr. Karen Bender, ND, RN Have you ever had a gut feeling about something? What about having butterflies in your stomach when nervous or excited? These common experiences are examples of how the gut and the nervous system are connected. In the research, this connection is referred to as the gut-brain axis. In this article, we will explore the … Read More
The Vagus Nerve: Learn to Reduce Inflammation and Improve your Stress Response
By Dr. Karen Bender Meet Your Vagus Nerve Have you heard of the “wandering nerve”? This important nerve is named the vagus nerve because it wanders throughout your body, connecting the brain to the rest of the body. It’s the longest nerve in the body, and it stretches from the brain to the large intestines. Why You Should Care Since … Read More
What Your Gut is Telling You
What Your Gut is Telling You How Poor Gut Health Contributes to Anxiety and Depression By Dr. Karen Bender How is your digestion? Do you experience pain and indigestion after eating foods you once enjoyed? Have you started to accept gas and bloating as normal? Do you often go days without having a bowel movement? These are all signs that … Read More
Caregiver Fatigue Prevention
By Dr. Karen Bender Are You Experiencing Caregiver Fatigue? It is not uncommon for people who care for others to become fatigued and overwhelmed by their role in caring for another. It is not hard to see why. The role can be very demanding, and responsibility can seem endless. Parents, teachers, health care professionals, and caregivers to elderly family members … Read More
Mindfulness for Better Nutrition
By Dr. Karen Bender Slowing Down Improves Digestion Nutrition is not just about what you eat, but also about how you eat it. Studies have shown that the amount of absorption you get from the food is affected by how you eat it. If you are distracted or preoccupied when you are eating, you absorb less nutrients from the food … Read More
Dogs for Depression
By Dr. Karen Bender Feeling Blue? Has the isolation and uncertainty of the past year left you feeling sad, lonely and anxious? If so you are not alone. The circumstance of the past year have been challenging for most of us. We have had to adapt to many changes outside of our control. We are spending more time at home … Read More
Compassion for Success
By Dr. Karen Bender Meet Your Harsh Inner Critic What happens inside your head when you do not reach your goals, or you fall short of the expectations set by yourself or others? If you are like many people, you are met with a harsh voice that is often brutally unkind and almost impossible to satisfy rather than an encouraging … Read More
Seasonal Affect Disorder Treatment
By Dr. Karen Bender How are you feeling with the latest snow we just had? While it has been fun watching my new puppy bound through the powder that is as deep as she is tall, there is a part of me that is ready for it to be spring already. With the excitement of the holidays over, the short … Read More
When MTHFR is not the answer
By Dr. Angela Karvounides In recent years, the gene, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, better known as MTHFR, has well-achieved its 15 minutes of fame in popular media for it’s role in many biological processes and a variety of different medical conditions. Genetic variations of this gene are present in 60% of the U.S. population. MTHFR polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of … Read More