Think about it…

How is it standard to recommend statins to patients who have normal cholesterol just because they are diabetic, yet a common effect of statins is to raise the risk for diabetes? I lost count of how many patients over the years I’ve seen developed diabetes while on statins.

Let’s face it – When it comes to metabolic health, the same old recommendations we’ve been making for years just haven’t been good enough. Maybe it’s time we re-think what we know. Like, for instance…

• Calories in, calories out – old news and in so many cases, just plain not true!

• GLP-1 drugs – a saving grace or a very expensive trap?

• Statins for anyone with a stroke says the drug company funded trial. Not so fast say other unbiased researchers looking at the exact same data – yet it’s still standard therapy no one questions!

• HbA1c and fasting insulin is for diabetics only – well, not if you really want to uncover a true underlying root-cause BEFORE the train falls off the track! 

• Craving control is all about willpower – Rubbish! Imbalanced hormones and neurotransmitters are often to blame – do you know which ones and what to do about it? 

If we expect things to change, we’ve got to start thinking differently! 

Series Overview:

Cardio Metabolic disease, encompassing related conditions including Hypertension, Diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and more, is on the rise and continues to be a serious health concern. The individual and societal costs are staggering. Obesity, for example, now surpasses the global cost of smoking.

This module will cover the environmental and genomic factors related to cardiometabolic conditions, as well as discover many other underlying factors that increase risk. Participants will dive deep into many of these factors, as well as discover a vast number of tools available for promoting cardiometabolic health. 

Cardiovascular Health is a primary part of this training.

While primary prevention and intervention are still heavily focused on cholesterol-lowering medication, there has been a shift in thinking among functional and integrative practitioners that CVD is more about oxidized lipids than the total cholesterol itself. This reinforces the need for more detailed analysis and testing. In this course, we’ll explore underlying causes and genomic influences that increase one’s risk of developing CVD. We’ll also explore the latest research that seemingly undermines much of what is considered standards of care. Participants in this learning will discover a vast number of testing and specific biomarker options commonly utilized in Functional Medicine for deeper assessment than what may be offered routinely in standard care. We’ll detail a variety of clinical applications in the form of dietary recommendations (food and supplements), as well as other lifestyle factors that all bring successful outcomes. 

Inflammation is at the root of many cardiometabolic and related conditions. In this training, you’ll learn about the sources of inflammation such as infections in the gut or mouth, oxidative stress, diet, etc. The balance, quality, and type of fatty acids in one’s diet play a role in inflammation as well, either exacerbating or reducing inflammation. For best patient outcomes, clinicians must be up to date on their assessment and recommendations regarding fatty acids. Will make sure you’re on this leading-edge!

Weight control, once thought to be calories in vs. calories out, has become much more complex. The quality and composition of food are being studied as it relates to obesity. We’ll dive into multiple aspects that factor into metabolic function, such as hormone balance, thyroid function, microbiome health, and more. So many of our patients struggle with overeating, even when they know it’s not healthy. We’ll also discuss aspects of craving control that go beyond willpower so you can truly understand the root of this challenge.

We’ll explore lifestyle factors such as stress and sleep in disruption of leptin, the hormone that tells the brain that the body has had enough to eat. Further, we’ll examine the obesogen hypothesis, which looks at the role of environmental contaminants contributing to metabolic disorders. Clinicians need to understand that what we eat, breathe, and are exposed to plays a significant role in cardiometabolic health so they can address underlying causes and more target intervention and support.

Genetics is increasingly important to our understanding of health and nutrition, especially as the application of nutrition becomes more individualized. Therefore, the risk associated with genomic polymorphisms will be connected to every component of this module. The savvy clinician will marry genomic information and functional nutrition to target their approach to patient support.

Nitric oxide is another factor that can prevent or reverse heart disease. Insufficient nitric oxide can also lead to diabetes. Nitric oxide has a protective role in the optimal function of endothelial cells. In this module, we’ll explore Genomics, dietary, and lifestyle factors that promote increased nitric oxide production.

A functional nutrition perspective will be covered in depth from quality and balance of macro and micronutrients, including specialty diets like the Ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting regimens through to evidence-based supplement recommendations to use responsibly in practice. Lastly, we’ll probe into several lifestyle factors and some alternative therapies one might refer to as a means to fully round outpatient care and ensure patients reach their goals for optimal health!

Learning Objectives:

After completion of this Cardio-focused Metabolic module, participants will be able to:

• Explain risk factors (genetic and environmental) that lead to cardiometabolic disease (including weight challenges and diabetes).
• Recommend appropriate tests and identify biomarkers used to assess cardiometabolic risks in individuals (including weight challenges and Diabetes).
• Apply individualized clinical approaches that support cardiovascular health, diabetes, and weight management issues through food, dietary supplements, and lifestyle modifications.
  

My Promise to you…At the end of this module, your toolbox will be packed full of support for Metabolic Health. Your confidence will most certainly be boosted to work with any of your patients challenged metabolically. From a Functional Nutrition specialty perspective, you’ll maximize client outcomes and grow your practice to new heights!
                                                              …. Susan Allen-Evenson, RDN, LDN, FMNS