One important contributor to healthy longevity is an optimal balance of hormones. The body makes many hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone, thyroid hormones, cortisol and more. All interact with each other in a delicate balance to maintain health. When the body becomes inflamed due to illness or age, hormones can suffer.

Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing root causes of disease and is synonymous with anti-aging or longevity medicine, both of which rely heavily on fixing lifestyle factors that may diminish health. A functional medicine approach aims to identify any potential sources of inflammation or toxicity. 

“I evaluate each patient’s lifestyle—nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management—along with possible sources of inflammation or toxicity which may be contributing to symptoms, as well as possible genetic contributors. This helps people achieve health with a more natural, comprehensive approach,” says Tara McLellan, nurse practitioner and owner of Integrative Healthcare of Lower Alabama.

McLellan adds that it’s important to focus on good nutrition. Most fruits and vegetables, especially those with deep color, contain phytonutrients that offer powerful signals to our cells that fight inflammation and result in healthy gene expression. Similarly, nutraceuticals or carefully selected supplements can influence good health. 

Stress is often a problem for optimal health. Certain kinds of stress are often out of one’s control but responses can be controlled. Under stress, whether it’s perceived or actual, adrenal glands pump out the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol creates inflammation in the body that can lead to diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, hormone imbalances and chronic fatigue.

One can learn to curb the flood of cortisol with a relaxation practice, which can be as simple as deep breathing or walking in nature. In addition, there are many herbal remedies that help support adrenals and their production of cortisol.

“It’s very satisfying to work with people to create a customized treatment plan that corrects hormone imbalances and other lifestyle health issues,” says McLellan.

Location: Integrative Healthcare of Lower AL, 620 N. McKenzie St., Ste. 200. For more information, visit AlabamaIntegrativeHealth.com. Call 251-943-9355 or email [email protected].