Faith-Based, Holistic Care from a Root Cause Perspective
Faith-Based, Holistic Care from a Root Cause Perspective.
Bridging the gap between Conventional Medicine & holistic Care
THIS UNIQUE COMBINATION ALLOWS FOR A MORE PERSONALIZED APPROACH.
Bridging the Gap between conventional medicine & holistic care
THIS UNIQUE COMBINATION ALLOWS FOR A MORE
PERSONALIZED APPROACH.
meet theresa
I know what it feels like to be sick, with no hope in sight. You can feel better and we can help you.
A Journey To Regain My Health
When I was just 35 years old the Rheumatologist told me "I'm so sorry but there's nothing more we can do." I was encouraged to go home and file for disability.
At that point in my life I had more than 17 years of experience in conventional healthcare and a master's degree in nursing. I could not believe that with all my training and all of my experience in healthcare that there was no hope.
I am grateful to God every day that he gave me a spirit of stubbornness and a refusal to quit. I encourage you to watch this video I made of my health journey and pray about whether or not I am the right person to help you.
My career in conventional healthcare began over 30 years ago, when I was just 18 years old as a Hospital Corpsman (medic) in the United States Navy. Since that time, I have gained a variety of professional experiences in orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatrics, medical/surgical, psychiatric/mental health, critical care, home health, and hospice.
God has allowed me to combine my varied experiences in conventional healthcare with advanced training in Lifestyle and Functional Medicine. This unique background enables me to provide you with a personalized approach to seeking out the root cause of your unique health concerns.
Not only am I skilled at teaching about wellness from a holistic and faith-based perspective, but I can also zoom out and approach your unique circumstances strategically.
This means that every single person that God allows me the privilege of working with, receives recommendations based on their unique health history, goals, finances, and life circumstances.
I believe that one of my spiritual gifts is teaching and there is little I would rather do than to share some of what I have learned and experienced with God's people.
My zone of genius involves my ability to consume large amounts of information, synthesize it into bite-sized pieces, and provide actionable take-aways that you can implement right away.
These action items may seem small, and seemingly insignificant, but they make a HUGE and significant impact on the overall quality of your health.
I would be humbled and honored to share some of what I have learned with you and your community.
how we help
Empowering you to reclaim your health, naturally.
Education & support
Our philosophy is focused on seeking out the root cause of the problem rather than just chasing symptoms. The 90-Day Jumpstart will teach you all the foundational principles you need to know in order to start getting results!
quality supplements
We prefer you get as many nutrients as possible from your food, but sometimes high quality supplementation is necessary. We partner with the best companies in the industry that have clinical studies to support their efficacy.
Lab testing & analysis
We can analyze your lab results from an Advanced Functional Medicine Perspective which enables us to prioritize which body systems to strategically support. We can also help you obtain the right labs at an affordable price.
faith-based
Your body was created to heal itself when given the right environment and the right circumstances.
Serving God's people is our favorite thing to do.
This concept of serving permeates everything we do at Empower and Flourish. Our goal is to help you regain your health so that you can go out into the world as God's hands and feet.
Everything we teach is based on Romans Chapter 12, which explains that each of us were given different functions and different gifts.
God designed us to serve His people in unique ways and no one else can fulfill what God created you uniquely to do.
the problem
Just treating symptoms does not work. It's like running on a hamster wheel.
Now I just told you that you can feel better and your symptoms can improve or possibly even go away. But, I also need to tell you that if you keep doing the same thing over and over you will likely keep getting the same result.
That is why I like the imagery of the hamster on the wheel. That poor little creature is running with all of his might, he is trying so hard! But he will never get anywhere.
That is what it is like when you just chase your symptoms. You invest time, money, and effort into seeking a diagnosis so that you can finally start treating whatever is wrong with you. Only to discover that you still feel poorly.
This approach simply does not work. It's time to try something different.
Healing occurs when you seek out the root cause or the underlying dysfunction that is causing your symptoms in the first place. This approach is not a quick fix and it takes time and involves making some changes to your lifestyle. But it works and will give you long-lasting results.
Let's get you off that hamster wheel and onto the path towards healing.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
If you have been exposed to Biblical teaching at any point in your life, you have probably heard the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 that talks about how God has a plan for your life. This verse was part of a letter that the prophet Jeremiah wrote for the surviving elders and priests that were in exile in Babylon.
God wanted his people to build houses and settle down. They were to plant gardens and eat what they produce. They were to marry and seek peace and prosperity in their new city, being careful not to be deceived by the prophets and diviners living among them.
God promised that after seventy years passed, he would come to them and bring them out of exile. Then, Jeremiah writes
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity."
Why am I sharing this with you today? I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each of us, but sometimes it seems like our poor health gets in the way of that plan.
When I was at my very sickest, just surviving each day consumed most of my thoughts and my energy. Serving God and fulfilling my purpose was a thought at times, but was certainly not my main priority.
Can you relate?
your purpose
Reclaim your health and fulfill your purpose.
Empower and Flourish was born out of a desire to help God's people reclaim their health so that they can fulfill their purpose. Of course God can use you even in your brokenness and sickness - no doubt about that.
But how much easier would things be if your health wasn't a stumbling block? How much more could God use you as his hands and feet if you were well?
Speaking of which, when was the last time you felt truly well? Were you in your teens? 20's? 30's? 40's?
Did you know that feeling better is possible?
We have been conditioned to believe that health is unobtainable and that our symptoms are just a normal part of aging.
Or we've been told that it's our genetics that's the problem, and there's nothing you can do about your genetics, right?
That is not actually true. You can feel better. Your symptoms can improve or possibly even go away and we can help you.
meet theresa
I know what it feels like to be sick, with no hope in sight. You can feel better and we can help you.
A Journey to Regain My Health
When I was just 35 years old the Rheumatologist told me "I'm so sorry but there's nothing more we can do." I was encouraged to go home and file for disability.
At that point in my life I had more than 17 years of experience in conventional healthcare and a master's degree in nursing. I could not believe that with all my training and all of my experience in healthcare that there was no hope.
I am grateful to God every day that he gave me a spirit of stubbornness and a refusal to quit. I encourage you to watch this video I made of my health journey and pray about whether or not I am the right person to help you.
My career in conventional healthcare began over 30 years ago, when I was just 18 years old as a Hospital Corpsman (medic) in the United States Navy. Since that time, I have gained a variety of professional experiences in orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatrics, medical/surgical, psychiatric/mental health, critical care, home health, and hospice.
God has allowed me to combine my varied experiences in conventional healthcare with advanced training in Lifestyle and Functional Medicine. This unique background enables me to provide you with a personalized approach to seeking out the root cause of your unique health concerns.
Not only am I skilled at teaching about wellness from a holistic and faith-based perspective, but I can also zoom out and approach your unique circumstances strategically.
This means that every single person that God allows me the privilege of working with, receives recommendations based on their unique health history, goals, finances, and life circumstances.
I believe that one of my spiritual gifts is teaching and there is little I would rather do than to share some of what I have learned and experienced with God's people.
My zone of genius involves my ability to consume large amounts of information, synthesize it into bite-sized pieces, and provide actionable take-aways that you can implement right away.
These action items may seem small, and seemingly insignificant, but they make a HUGE and significant impact on the overall quality of your health.
I would be humbled and honored to share some of what I have learned with you and your community.
how we help
Empowering you to reclaim your health, naturally.
education & support
We will teach you how to make simple lifestyle changes that will help to heal your body at the root of the problem, instead of just chasing symptoms.
Are you ready to feel truly well?
QUALITY SUPPLEMENTS
Our preference is that you will get the nutrients your body needs from food, but high quality supplementation may help to support your body as it heals.
LAB TESTING & ANALYSIS
We use advanced lab analysis software that helps us prioritize which body systems to strategically support. We can also help you obtain the right labs at an affordable price.
faith based
Your body was created to heal itself when given the right environment and the right circumstances.
Serving God's people is our favorite thing to do.
This concept of serving permeates everything we do at Empower and Flourish. Our goal is to help you regain your health so that you can go out into the world as God's hands and feet.
Everything we teach is based on Romans Chapter 12, which explains that each of us were given different functions and different gifts.
God designed us to serve His people in unique ways and no one else can fulfill what God created you uniquely to do.
the problem
Just reading symptoms does not work. It is like running on a hamster wheel.
Now I just told you that you can feel better and your symptoms can improve or possibly even go away. But, I also need to tell you that if you keep doing the same thing over and over you will likely keep getting the same result.
That is why I like the imagery of the hamster on the wheel. That poor little creature is running with all of his might, he is trying so hard! But he will never get anywhere.
That is what it is like when you just chase your symptoms. You invest time, money, and effort into seeking a diagnosis so that you can finally start treating whatever is wrong with you. Only to discover that you still feel poorly.
This approach simply does not work. It's time to try something different.
Healing occurs when you seek out the root cause or the underlying dysfunction that is causing your symptoms in the first place. This approach is not a quick fix and it takes time and involves making some changes to your lifestyle. But it works and will give you long-lasting results.
Let's get you off that hamster wheel and onto the path towards healing.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
If you have been exposed to Biblical teaching at any point in your life, you have probably heard the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 that talks about how God has a plan for your life. This verse was part of a letter that the prophet Jeremiah wrote for the surviving elders and priests that were in exile in Babylon.
God wanted his people to build houses and settle down. They were to plant gardens and eat what they produce. They were to marry and seek peace and prosperity in their new city, being careful not to be deceived by the prophets and diviners living among them.
God promised that after seventy years passed, he would come to them and bring them out of exile. Then, Jeremiah writes:
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity."
Why am I sharing this with you today? I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each of us, but sometimes it seems like our poor health gets in the way of that plan.
When I was at my very sickest, just surviving each day consumed most of my thoughts and my energy. Serving God and fulfilling my purpose was a thought at times, but was certainly not my main priority.
Can you relate?
your purpose
Reclaim your health and fulfill your purpose.
Empower and Flourish was born out of a desire to help God's people reclaim their health so that they can fulfill their purpose. Of course God can use you even in your brokenness and sickness - no doubt about that.
But how much easier would things be if your health wasn't a stumbling block? How much more could God use you as his hands and feet if you were well?
Speaking of which, when was the last time you felt truly well? Were you in your teens? 20's? 30's? 40's?
Did you know that feeling better is possible?
We have been conditioned to believe that health is unobtainable and that our symptoms are just a normal part of aging.
Or we've been told that it's our genetics that's the problem, and there's nothing you can do about your genetics, right?
That is not actually true. You can feel better. Your symptoms can improve or possibly even go away and we can help you.
they said
My clients have experienced amazing results like weight loss, increased energy, & improved lab results.
they said
My clients have experienced amazing results like weight loss, increased energy, & improved lab results.
Marie Beard
“It's mind blowing. Life changing is really an understatement.”
Theresa teaches information that I'd never heard before, even though I was educated as a nurse practitioner and worked in nursing since the 1990's. I had been sick for about a decade and was taking numerous prescription medications that I thought I'd have to take forever. It's frustrating to know that the answers are so simple, but no one is talking about this. I'm so grateful that my health has improved and now I have the energy to do things I hadn't been able to do for a long, long time.
Marie Beard
“It's mind blowing. Life changing is really an understatement.”
Theresa teaches information that I'd never heard before, even though I was educated as a nurse practitioner and worked in nursing since the 1990's. I had been sick for about a decade and was taking numerous prescription medications that I thought I'd have to take forever. It's frustrating to know that the answers are so simple, but no one is talking about this. I'm so grateful that my health has improved and now I have the energy to do things I hadn't been able to do for a long, long time.
answers
Here are answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to get started?
The best way to get started is to either schedule your Free Consultation to learn more about how we can help you, or to watch Healthy for Jesus and learn more about our approach to limiting and mitigating systemic inflammation. We know that systemic inflammation is the root cause of most all chronic disease, including many cancers as well as cognitive decline. Our approach teaches you how to stop contributing to inflammation and how to improve (mitigate) the damage you have already unknowingly caused. You can also watch a free video about inflammation on the services page of our website here (just scroll down a little bit and you'll see the video about inflammation).
Why is the 90-Day Jumpstart so successful?
When I first started working with clients 1:1 I found myself spending a lot of time talking about foundational things like foods to add more of, foods to eat less of, how much water to drink, why digestion and absorption are so important, and how the microbiome is a key in limiting systemic inflammation.
Eventually I realized that my time would be much better spent working with people 1:1 that already had a foundational understanding of the principles of health. The non-negotiable concepts if you will. This knowledge is so crucially important that I really cannot help you effectively if you do not understand them.
You can learn more about the 90-Day Jumpstart in this blog article here or on the services page of the website here. Just scroll down a little bit and you'll find 3 free videos taken directly from the 90-Day Jumpstat, including a video about inflammation, the energy tank, and weight loss.
How are your services different from other practitioners?
We are different in several ways.
First, unlike my colleagues in Conventional Medicine, we do not help you to "manage your symptoms". Instead, we focus on getting to the root cause of your symptoms so that you improve or reverse the underlying cause rather than just "managing" symptoms.
Second, unlike my Functional Medicine peers, we do not believe that you should invest $$ thousands of dollars in expensive functional testing right off the bat. Instead, we believe that you need to learn the foundational principles of health and implement some of them. Then, we can see what symptoms you are left with. It is very possible (likely even) that your symptoms will improve or go away once you change your lifestyle and start to mitigate the systemic inflammation that is contributing to your symptoms.
Do you accept health insurance?
Unfortunately no. I will not be able to accept your health insurance. When practitioners operate inside the insurance-based model of care, they are expected to follow published practice guidelines that do not align with a Root Cause approach. Plainly speaking, if I accept your health insurance than my hands will be tied and my treatment decisions will be based on what your insurance will cover, rather than on what you actually need to get better.
However, if you happen to have an HSA or FSA, it is possible that you may be able to use that to pay for my services. I recommend you check with them first to determine whether or not they require a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your primary care provider to be submitted to them prior to approval. More often than not, your insurance will allow you to use FSA and HSA funds, but be sure to confirm this first.
If you do have an HSA or FSA, you should be able to use that to pay for laboratory testing and/or supplements.
Are supplements necessary to work with you?
No. Nothing is required. However, I do believe that your body was created to heal itself when given the right environment and the right set of circumstances. This root cause approach considers your body in its entirely, not broken up into separate body systems. All of your body systems are dependent on one another and you must provide your body with what it needs to heal itself.
Ideally, you will provide your body with what it needs in the form of an abundance of plant foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. However, in the beginning it is likely that you are lacking in crucial nutrients and good bacteria (probiotics) that your body needs to heal itself. In those cases, strategic and targeted supplementation is often helpful.
You can learn more about some of the supplement companies I recommend here.
the blog
Theresa's thoughts about a variety of health-related topics.
Quick Fixes For Weight Loss Or Diabetes
“Losing weight does not make you healthy. Artificially lowering your blood sugar without fixing the issue that caused the insulin sensitivity in the first place will not give you better outcomes in the long term. The research just does not support this.”
Introduction:
I’m not one to sugar coat things or make the truth more palatable. My intention is never to be unkind or hurtful. Rather, I just don’t have the patience for dancing around a topic. Time is precious to me and quite limited, so it makes more sense for me to be concise but thorough as I answer the questions my clients, friends, and family ask.
With that in mind, I’d like to share with you answers to two of the questions I’ve been asked over the last few days.
Semaglutide and Tirzepatide:
First, what are my thoughts on the new weight loss or anti-diabetic injections? This client was referring specifically to semaglutide (Ozempic), which is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) which is a dual agonist acting on both GIP receptors and GLP-1 receptors.
Contrary to what you may think, I am not anti-medicine or anti-doctor. I love our healthcare providers and am proud to have worked among them for over 26 years. However, there are no quick fixes without consequences. Every choice you make has either a positive or a negative consequence and you are fooling yourself if you choose to believe otherwise.
Choosing these medications in place of addressing the root cause of your diabetes or obesity will equate a negative consequence. I cannot predict what that consequence will be, but I am confident that you will not gain the outcome you are hoping for by choosing either of these medications.
But Theresa, what if it helps me lose weight? Or lower my blood sugar? Isn’t that a good thing?
Maybe in the short term. Maybe. But those are just symptoms of a much larger problem.
Losing weight does not make you healthy. Artificially lowering your blood sugar without fixing the issue that caused the insulin sensitivity in the first place will not give you better outcomes in the long term. The research just does not support this.
I encourage you to redefine what being healthy really means. The numbers on a scale are not sole predictors of health. Muscle weighs more than fat. If your body does not have the right nutrition at a cellular level, you will still be sick. It is more important to fix the underlying causes and then trust your body to balance itself once it has been given what it needs to fix itself.
Let me give you an example. When you fix your gut and improve the ratio of good bacteria versus harmful bacteria, your short chain fatty acids are able to activate the production of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) which affects satiety or how full you feel. This is one of the big selling points of Ozempic and Mounjaro.
When you support adequate digestion and detoxify your liver, limiting the harmful things that make it difficult for these two things to function properly, your bile acids will be able to function the way they were designed. Proper bile acid signaling increases the release of GLP-1.
There are also targeted practitioner-grade supplements that increase the activation of GLP-1 without the potential adverse side effects of drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro. I can teach you more about these if you're interested.
If you are considering taking one of these drugs, be sure to read the warnings and understand the potential side effects and possible drug interactions.
Fad Diets and Processed Foods:
The second question I researched and answered in the last few days concerned a popular health program that encourages people to consume a low-calorie diet by eating 5 meals a day from processed foods that are shipped to their home and then preparing a low-calorie meal heavy in animal products for dinner.
Low-calorie diets involve the participant consuming a low amount of calories. When you do this, you lose weight. However, there are consequences associated with consuming a low-calorie diet. The most concerning consequences are muscle loss and multiple nutrient deficiencies.
"Dietary intake must include the minimum basic building blocks and key nutrients to prevent deficiency-related diseases." - Dr. Thomas Guilliams
There are also negative consequences associated with consuming lots of animal products, such as the effects of TMAO, endotoxins, a disruption to the microbiome, and the the gunking up of your insulin receptors.
Let me ask you this question. Why do you eat? What is the purpose of eating?
I explain this in detail inside my 90-day program but here is the short answer. Your body needs not only the calories and glucose for fuel, but also the vitamins, minerals, nutrients, phytonutrients, and fiber from the food you eat. Without these things, you will experience negative consequences.
That’s not my opinion or some holistic mumbo jumbo. It’s just truth.
Your cells need these things and without them, they will attempt to compensate. This may work for a while, but the deficiencies will manifest in other ways. New symptoms will develop, all related to the lack of proper vitamins, minerals, nutrients, phytonutrients, and fiber from the foods you should have been eating.
Here is an image of a product label from the health program I researched for a client.
As you can see, there are very few recognizable food ingredients. Soy protein isolate is a heavily processed version of soy and is typically a genetically modified version (GMO) of soy. GMO foods often contain a higher concentration of glyphosate which is a chemical commonly used as a pesticide.
The next three ingredients are forms of sugar, then cocoa, then polydextrose. Did you know that Dupont is one of the big manufacturers of this synthetic, non-digestible, complex carbohydrate made of glucose?
I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about the remaining ingredients, but I teach my clients that if you cannot readily picture ingredients in your mind as you read them, then perhaps they should not be considered to be food.
And if you haven't read the China Study by T. Colin Campbell yet, who explains the relationship between the casein protein and cancer, you might want to do so.
And should you be consuming any processed food at all? Much less five processed meals a day?
Also, if the label says bioengineered food, maybe reconsider?
If you’re interested in really getting healthy, I may be able to help you. My approach is not a quick fix and requires effort on your part, but it works. It is also evidence-based and will give you long-term, lasting results. I’m happy to talk with you and answer any questions you may have. Just send me a message.
References
Soy Protein Isolate: https://www.wellandgood.com/should-you-avoid-soy-protein-isolate/#:~:text=Soy%20isolate%20protein%20is%20probably,with%20pesticides%2C%22%20says%20Middleberg
Polydextrose: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5037538/
Glycerol: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4720
Fructose: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/why-is-fructose-bad-for-you
GLP-1 Agonists for Type 2 Diabetes: https://www.verywellhealth.com/glp1-receptor-agonists-4134034
Ozempic: https://online.epocrates.com/drugs/797810/Ozempic/Monograph
Ozempic: https://www.ozempic.com
Semaglutide: https://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/Ozempic-semaglutide-24167
Mounjaro: https://www.pdr.net/resources/edrug-updates/jun2022?month=June&year=2022
Mounjaro: https://www.mounjaro.com
The China Study: https://nutritionstudies.org/the-china-study/
Buy the China Study on Amazon with my affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3Q9ZG0l
Dr. Thomas Guilliams - Supplementing Dietary Nutrients: https://www.pointinstitute.org/product/supplementing-dietary-nutrients-second-edition/
answers
Here are answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions
answers
Here are answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to get started?
The best way to get started is to either schedule your Free Consultation to learn more about how we can help you, or to watch Healthy for Jesus and learn more about our approach to limiting and mitigating systemic inflammation.
We know that systemic inflammation is the root cause of most all chronic disease, including many cancers as well as cognitive decline. Our approach teaches you how to stop contributing to inflammation and how to improve (mitigate) the damage you have already unknowingly caused.
You can also watch a free video about inflammation on the services page of our website here (just scroll down a little bit and you'll see the video about inflammation).
Why is the 90-Day Jumpstart so successful?
When I first started working with clients 1:1 I found myself spending a lot of time talking about foundational things like foods to add more of, foods to eat less of, how much water to drink, why digestion and absorption are so important, and how the microbiome is a key in limiting systemic inflammation.
Eventually I realized that my time would be much better spent working with people 1:1 that already had a foundational understanding of the principles of health. The non-negotiable concepts if you will. This knowledge is so crucially important that I really cannot help you effectively if you do not understand them.
You can learn more about the 90-Day Jumpstart in this blog article here or on the services page of the website here. Just scroll down a little bit and you'll find 3 free videos taken directly from the 90-Day Jumpstart, including a video about inflammation, the energy tank, and weight loss.
How are your services different from other practitioners?
We are different in several ways.
First, unlike my colleagues in Conventional Medicine, we do not help you to "manage your symptoms". Instead, we focus on getting to the root cause of your symptoms so that you improve or reverse the underlying cause rather than just "managing" symptoms.
Second, unlike my Functional Medicine peers, we do not believe that you should invest $$ thousands of dollars in expensive functional testing right off the bat. Instead, we believe that you need to learn the foundational principles of health and implement some of them.
Then, we can see what symptoms you are left with. It is very possible (likely even) that your symptoms will improve or go away once you change your lifestyle and start to mitigate the systemic inflammation that is contributing to your symptoms.
Do you accept health insurance?
Unfortunately no. I will not be able to accept your health insurance. When practitioners operate inside the insurance-based model of care, they are expected to follow published practice guidelines that do not align with a Root Cause approach.
Plainly speaking, if I accept your health insurance than my hands will be tied and my treatment decisions will be based on what your insurance will cover, rather than on what you actually need to get better.
However, if you happen to have an HSA or FSA, it is possible that you may be able to use that to pay for my services. I recommend you check with them first to determine whether or not they require a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your primary care provider to be submitted to them prior to approval.
More often than not, your insurance will allow you to use FSA and HSA funds, but be sure to confirm this first.If you do have an HSA or FSA, you should be able to use that to pay for laboratory testing and/or supplements.
Are supplements necessary to work with you?
No. No supplements are required. However, I do believe that your body was created to heal itself when given the right environment and the right set of circumstances. This root cause approach considers your body in its entirely, not broken up into separate body systems. All of your body systems are dependent on one another and you must provide your body with what it needs to heal itself.
Ideally, you will provide your body with what it needs in the form of an abundance of plant foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.
However, in the beginning it is likely that you are lacking in crucial nutrients and good bacteria (probiotics) that your body needs to heal itself. In those cases, strategic and targeted supplementation is often helpful.
You can learn more about some of the supplement companies I recommend here.
the blog
Articles about a variety of health-related topics.
Quick Fixes For Weight Loss Or Diabetes
“Losing weight does not make you healthy. Artificially lowering your blood sugar without fixing the issue that caused the insulin sensitivity in the first place will not give you better outcomes in the long term. The research just does not support this.”
Introduction:
I’m not one to sugar coat things or make the truth more palatable. My intention is never to be unkind or hurtful. Rather, I just don’t have the patience for dancing around a topic. Time is precious to me and quite limited, so it makes more sense for me to be concise but thorough as I answer the questions my clients, friends, and family ask.
With that in mind, I’d like to share with you answers to two of the questions I’ve been asked over the last few days.
Semaglutide and Tirzepatide:
First, what are my thoughts on the new weight loss or anti-diabetic injections? This client was referring specifically to semaglutide (Ozempic), which is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) which is a dual agonist acting on both GIP receptors and GLP-1 receptors.
Contrary to what you may think, I am not anti-medicine or anti-doctor. I love our healthcare providers and am proud to have worked among them for over 26 years. However, there are no quick fixes without consequences. Every choice you make has either a positive or a negative consequence and you are fooling yourself if you choose to believe otherwise.
Choosing these medications in place of addressing the root cause of your diabetes or obesity will equate a negative consequence. I cannot predict what that consequence will be, but I am confident that you will not gain the outcome you are hoping for by choosing either of these medications.
But Theresa, what if it helps me lose weight? Or lower my blood sugar? Isn’t that a good thing?
Maybe in the short term. Maybe. But those are just symptoms of a much larger problem.
Losing weight does not make you healthy. Artificially lowering your blood sugar without fixing the issue that caused the insulin sensitivity in the first place will not give you better outcomes in the long term. The research just does not support this.
I encourage you to redefine what being healthy really means. The numbers on a scale are not sole predictors of health. Muscle weighs more than fat. If your body does not have the right nutrition at a cellular level, you will still be sick. It is more important to fix the underlying causes and then trust your body to balance itself once it has been given what it needs to fix itself.
Let me give you an example. When you fix your gut and improve the ratio of good bacteria versus harmful bacteria, your short chain fatty acids are able to activate the production of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) which affects satiety or how full you feel. This is one of the big selling points of Ozempic and Mounjaro.
When you support adequate digestion and detoxify your liver, limiting the harmful things that make it difficult for these two things to function properly, your bile acids will be able to function the way they were designed. Proper bile acid signaling increases the release of GLP-1.
There are also targeted practitioner-grade supplements that increase the activation of GLP-1 without the potential adverse side effects of drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro. I can teach you more about these if you're interested.
If you are considering taking one of these drugs, be sure to read the warnings and understand the potential side effects and possible drug interactions.
Fad Diets and Processed Foods:
The second question I researched and answered in the last few days concerned a popular health program that encourages people to consume a low-calorie diet by eating 5 meals a day from processed foods that are shipped to their home and then preparing a low-calorie meal heavy in animal products for dinner.
Low-calorie diets involve the participant consuming a low amount of calories. When you do this, you lose weight. However, there are consequences associated with consuming a low-calorie diet. The most concerning consequences are muscle loss and multiple nutrient deficiencies.
"Dietary intake must include the minimum basic building blocks and key nutrients to prevent deficiency-related diseases." - Dr. Thomas Guilliams
There are also negative consequences associated with consuming lots of animal products, such as the effects of TMAO, endotoxins, a disruption to the microbiome, and the the gunking up of your insulin receptors.
Let me ask you this question. Why do you eat? What is the purpose of eating?
I explain this in detail inside my 90-day program but here is the short answer. Your body needs not only the calories and glucose for fuel, but also the vitamins, minerals, nutrients, phytonutrients, and fiber from the food you eat. Without these things, you will experience negative consequences.
That’s not my opinion or some holistic mumbo jumbo. It’s just truth.
Your cells need these things and without them, they will attempt to compensate. This may work for a while, but the deficiencies will manifest in other ways. New symptoms will develop, all related to the lack of proper vitamins, minerals, nutrients, phytonutrients, and fiber from the foods you should have been eating.
Here is an image of a product label from the health program I researched for a client.
As you can see, there are very few recognizable food ingredients. Soy protein isolate is a heavily processed version of soy and is typically a genetically modified version (GMO) of soy. GMO foods often contain a higher concentration of glyphosate which is a chemical commonly used as a pesticide.
The next three ingredients are forms of sugar, then cocoa, then polydextrose. Did you know that Dupont is one of the big manufacturers of this synthetic, non-digestible, complex carbohydrate made of glucose?
I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about the remaining ingredients, but I teach my clients that if you cannot readily picture ingredients in your mind as you read them, then perhaps they should not be considered to be food.
And if you haven't read the China Study by T. Colin Campbell yet, who explains the relationship between the casein protein and cancer, you might want to do so.
And should you be consuming any processed food at all? Much less five processed meals a day?
Also, if the label says bioengineered food, maybe reconsider?
If you’re interested in really getting healthy, I may be able to help you. My approach is not a quick fix and requires effort on your part, but it works. It is also evidence-based and will give you long-term, lasting results. I’m happy to talk with you and answer any questions you may have. Just send me a message.
References
Soy Protein Isolate: https://www.wellandgood.com/should-you-avoid-soy-protein-isolate/#:~:text=Soy%20isolate%20protein%20is%20probably,with%20pesticides%2C%22%20says%20Middleberg
Polydextrose: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5037538/
Glycerol: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4720
Fructose: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/why-is-fructose-bad-for-you
GLP-1 Agonists for Type 2 Diabetes: https://www.verywellhealth.com/glp1-receptor-agonists-4134034
Ozempic: https://online.epocrates.com/drugs/797810/Ozempic/Monograph
Ozempic: https://www.ozempic.com
Semaglutide: https://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/Ozempic-semaglutide-24167
Mounjaro: https://www.pdr.net/resources/edrug-updates/jun2022?month=June&year=2022
Mounjaro: https://www.mounjaro.com
The China Study: https://nutritionstudies.org/the-china-study/
Buy the China Study on Amazon with my affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3Q9ZG0l
Dr. Thomas Guilliams - Supplementing Dietary Nutrients: https://www.pointinstitute.org/product/supplementing-dietary-nutrients-second-edition/
answers
Here are answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions
the blog
Articles about a variety of health-related topics.
Did you know you can access lab testing without an order from your physician? We have partnered with Vibrant Labs to offer you a comprehensive set of labs for a fraction of the price you would pay elsewhere. Check it out now and let us know if you have questions.
All supplements are not created equally. That's why we only recommend Practitioner Grade supplements. We have partnered with Fullscript, an online dispensing platform that ships recommended products to your front door! Create your free account now.
Deciding where to start is often the most difficult part of your health journey. The easiest way to get started is to chat with us so we can help you decide where to focus your efforts. Once you schedule your call, we will send you a link to take the free health assessment.
At this time we are only able to work with clients that live in states that recognize compact nursing licenses. We are hopeful this will change in the future, but if you live in one of the following states then we cannot work with you at this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Feel free to contact us to learn more.
Alaska, California, Conneticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon.
Our staff are not medical doctors. Therefore, we do not diagnose or treat specific disease. Instead, we provide education so that you can become empowered and start to make better, more educated and informed decisions regarding your health. The information provided on this website, by Theresa, or any member of the Empower and Flourish team is intended to be construed as education, not medical advice. Please refer to our disclaimer, privacy statement, and terms and conditions for more information.
Frequently Used Links
Did you know that you can access lab testing without an order from your physician? Theresa can answer your questions and provide education about this. Schedule your free call here.
There’s an easier way to refill supplements! We’ve partnered with Fullscript, an online dispensing platform that ships recommended products to your front door! Create your free account now.
Deciding where to start is often the most difficult part of your health journey. The easiest way to know what to focus on first is to take this free assessment and then talk with Theresa to discuss your results.
At this time we are only able to work with clients that live in states that recognize compact nursing licenses. We are hopeful this will change in the future, but if you live in one of the following states then we cannot work with you at this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Feel free to contact us to learn more.
Alaska, California, Conneticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon.
Theresa is not a medical doctor. Therefore, she does not diagnose or treat specific disease. Instead, she provides education so that you can become empowered and start to make better, more educated and informed decisions regarding your health. The information provided on this website, by Theresa, or any member of the Empower and Flourish team is intended to be construed as education, not medical advice. Please refer to our disclaimer, privacy statement, and terms and conditions for more information.
© empowerandflourish.com 2025| | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY | TERMS & CONDITIONs