Shows
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 14- Save Your Brain! A Functional Look at Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer's.Brittany and Tom have an overview conversation about the mitigation, prevention and possible reversal of cognitive decline using functional medicine. They discuss the scope of the issue and how many people are being affected by Alzheimer's and related diseases. What are some of the early signs and symptoms of MCI (mild cognitive impairment) versus Alzheimer's? What are some of the new diagnostic techniques being used? Who is at risk? Based off the work of Dr Dale Bredesen and Dr Richard Isaacson (the pioneers of Alzheimer's prevention), what are the steps...2025-07-1547 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 13: Was it Something I Ate? Food Allergies, Sensitivities and Intolerances.Brittany and Tom review the extremely relevant topic of adverse food reactions.Are you or your child having a reaction to something in your diet? This episode takes a Functional Medicine look at the differences between more classic food allergies and anaphylaxis, and other immune and non-immune reactions to foods. They answer frequent parent questions such as:What are the most common foods that you might be allergic to?Will my kid outgrow their food allergies? What are the benefits and limitations of food allergy testing?What is EoE (eos...2025-06-2457 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 12- A Functional Medicine Look at Pregnancy NutritionBrittany and Tom discuss pregnancy nutrition from a functional medicine perspective. Not enough attention is being paid to the importance of proper nutrition during the First Thousand Days of a child's life, including pregnancy. To increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy, good nutrition should be a priority for the mother!We cover the importance of key nutrients like iron, zinc, choline, omega-3 and prebiotic fiber to feed mother and baby brain and gut microbiome. Much of the information discussed was drawn from Dr Flass' books "Feeding Our Children" and "Eating For Two". ...2025-06-1046 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 11- Our Take on a Functional Medicine Clinic VisitIn this episode Brittany and Tom go over what a visit to the functional medicine provider might look like for a patient wanting a more holistic "check up".We discuss how a functional medicine visit differs from a traditional visit, with emphasis on extensive history and contributing upstream causes for the patient's potential health issues. We also go over our take on useful labwork that can alert someone of future health risks and catching things early before full blown disease takes place. This is a helpful episode for anyone curious about the potential be...2025-05-2750 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 10: Taking the BS out of IBS- What You Should Know About Irritable BowelIn this episode, Tom and Brittany review "irritable bowel syndrome" and how the mainstream diagnosis and management of IBS leaves a lot to be desired. IBS is an area where Functional Medicine and Integrative Gastroenterology really outshine the conventional approach by focusing on root causes and personalized approaches. We discuss how "IBS" which is really just a list of symptoms, can be caused by many factors including dysbiosis and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), celiac, food intolerances and sensitivities, stress and disrupted nervous system of the gut. IBS falls under a category of conditions getting rel...2025-05-1348 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 9: A Functional Medicine Look at PerimenopauseIn this episode, Tom interviews Brittany on her Functional Medicine approach to Women's Health, more specifically looking at Perimenopause and Menopause. We review the hormonal changes that are occurring with estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, and what symptoms and biological effects this may have and how she approaches this as a Functional Medicine and DPC primary care provider.This period of life can affect every body system of a woman, and she explains why it is important to work with a provider that understands the process and how best to support their body during this time. R...2025-04-2944 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 8: Full of it- Constipation and the Five Things You Need for a Good Number 2.Brittany and Tom review constipation from a Functional Medicine perspective.They discuss their experiences as healthcare providers treating poop issues- Brittany from a Women's health perspective as well as Tom's experience as a Pediatric Gastroenterologist treating LOTS of cases of constipation. What defines constipation and how big of a problem is it? How often should we be pooping and what does it mean when things aren't "coming out right"?This episode covers the basics of what we need to have good daily BM, known as "The 5 Things for a Good Number Tw...2025-04-0137 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 7: The Impact of Sunlight, Nature and Environment on Human Health (Pillar 6)In this episode of the Aware Families Podcast, Brittany and Tom discuss the sixth and final Pillar of Health- Sunlight, Nature and Environment. It is becoming evident that our modern lifestyle is out of synch with how we evolved in many ways. Yet another example of this is our drastically reduced level of exposure to sunlight and nature. All the while our exposure to artificial light, toxic chemicals and EMF are skyrocketing. How can we think that this doesn't affect our health? How does exposure to sunlight or lack of sunlight impact human health and wh...2025-03-1856 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 6: The Power of Community and Connection for HealthIn this episode Brittany and Tom discuss the 5th Pillar of Health- how human connection, community and a sense of purpose have a major impact on the health of both adults and kids. For more information find us at www.functionalmedassociates.com2025-02-2636 minThe Aware Families PodcastEpisode 5: An Integrative Review of Stress and Mental Health for Kids and ParentsIn this episode, Brittany and Tom take a look at one of the Pillars of Health that seems to be crumbling in America right now: Stress Management and Mental Health. Especially since COVID, we have been experiencing a mental health crisis in the US, with rising rates of depression, anxiety and suicide. This episode reviews the extent of the problem, and goes over some alarming statistics. Unfortunately our children are suffering the worst of this crisis, which underscores the importance of systemic action to try and reverse this trend. This episode goes over the potential up...2025-02-1156 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 4: The Third Pillar- Exercise and Physical ActivityIn this episode Brittany and Tom talk about the importance of exercise and activity for physical and mental health. They discuss what the current exercise recommendations are for kids and adults and how far off the mark we are in America, leading to physical and mental decline. They differentiate between the benefits of cardiovascular exercise, zone 2 versus HIIT training, as well as the dangers of neglecting strength training especially for women. There is a brief discussion of HRV- Heart Rate Variability and the impact of exercise on vagal tone. This is an overview of the to...2025-01-2852 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 3: SleepIn this episode, Tom and Brittany discuss the importance of sleep as one of the foundational Six Pillars of Health for kids and adults. They cover why sleep is important, how much we all need based on age, and the potential ramifications of under-sleeping for both adults and kids. Also reviewed are some medications and supplements for sleep and which ones are not recommended because of health concerns with regular use. For more information find us at www.functionalmedassociates.com2025-01-1447 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 2: Nutrition From a Functional Medicine PerspectiveIn this episode, Tom and Brittany give their "10,000 foot view" on basic functional medicine nutrition principles. The touch on issues with population studies of nutrition versus personalized "N of 1" approach, and how there has been some bad science in the past that sent us down the wrong path from a health policy standpoint. They discuss the importance of dietary protein for overall health and metabolism and taking both protein quantity and quality into account. The vital role of fiber in our health is also reviewed, as well as the damaging effects of excessive sugar. They mak...2024-12-3145 min
The Aware Families PodcastEpisode 1: Introduction to Functional MedicineIn this episode, you meet the hosts of the podcast and hear their stories and backgrounds and get an overview of the podcast and the topics we will cover. We give our view on what Functional Medicine is and how it can apply to families and their goal of improving the health of the ones they love. We discuss upstream versus downstream medicine and how there is a shift occurring. We touch on the six pillars of health and focusing on the fundamentals of nutrition, sleep, mental health, exercise, connection and environment. We try...2024-12-1736 minThe Aware Families PodcastTrailer: The Aware Families PodcastThis is a brief introduction to the Aware Families Podcast. Outlines the subject matter and gives a brief bio of your hosts, Brittany Coburn NP-C and Tom Flass MD. For more information find us at www.functionalmedassociates.com2024-12-1101 min