Metabolic Disorders:
Obesity, Cardio, Diabetes and Thyroid Health
Including a Special Focus on The Thyroid Tract

All sessions are recorded for review and for those who miss live sessions. All other course materials are available for download to your permanent files. Certificate of Completion CPE earned after passing self-study quizzes for each unit.

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 cardio metabolic conditions, as well as discover many other underlying factors that increase risk. Participants will dive deep into many of these factors, as well as discovering a vast number of tools available for promoting cardio metabolic health. A special focus on thyroid health, since it greatly influences metabolic function, will be included as a simultaneous tract.

There has been a shift in thinking among functional and integrative practitioners that CVD is more about oxidized lipids then the total cholesterol itself. This reinforces the need for more detailed analysis and testing. Participants in this learning will discover a vast number of testing and specific biomarkers options commonly utilized in Functional Medicine for deeper assessment than what may be offered routinely in standard care. They will also explore a vast variety of clinical applications in the form of dietary recommendations (food and supplement), as well as other lifestyle factors.

Inflammation is at the root of many cardio metabolic and related conditions. In this module participants will 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 plays a role in inflammation as well, either exacerbating or reducing inflammation. For best patient outcomes, it is imperative clinicians are up to date on their assessment and recommendations regarding fatty acids.

Weight control, once thought to be calories in vs. calories out, has become much more complex. The quality and composition of food is 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. It’s important for clinicians to understand that what we eat, breathe, and are exposed to play a significant role in cardio metabolic health so they can address underlying causes and more target their intervention and support.

Genomics are increasingly important to our understanding of health and nutrition, especially as the application of nutrition becomes more individualized. Therefore, genomics will be presented in every component of this module. The savvy clinician will marry Genomic information and functional nutrition to most 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 out patient care and ensure patients reach their goals for optimal health!

Learning Objectives:

After completion of this CardioMetabolic module, participants will be able to:

Practice Exercises:

• Using a food-first approach, provide dietary recommendations to decrease inflammation and increase nitric oxide.
• Using results of your own lipid testing (preferably advanced lipid profile), write a rational for expanded testing and provide a list of recommended tests that go beyond the traditional lipid panel.
• Assess the cardio metabolic risk of two patients/family members/friends and recommend any two dietary approaches that best addresses their cardio metabolic issues. List reasons for choosing each diet. (Examples of dietary approaches include Mediterranean diet, keto diet, paleo diet, intermittent fasting, are listed in the slides.)
• Using genomic testing results from a patient/family member/friend/yourself, identify the cardio metabolic genes of concern and explain the potential health risks.
• With a particular patient in mind, research a cardio metabolic supplement, using a supplement company website, and list the pros and cons of the supplement for this patient.

Course Modules