Atomus Health

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Atomus Health Functional medicine focused on gut health, nutrition, hormone balance. Restoring your inner health

What is more exciting than seeing REAL RESULTS from clients!! This is an example of someone who is putting in the work.
She started with Atomus in the fall and has a lifelong issue with cholesterol and heart disease runs in the family. Recommendations are made to clients and ultimately up to the individual to do the work!! This is remarkable though!

This was me two years ago! I had no idea why my run speed had dropped significantly, lost 20 watts on the bike in less than a year and felt like garbage!!
Blood work, cortisol , nutrient optimization and hormones if needed can work wonders.

Do you wake up in the morning wishing you could just stay in bed? There’s likely a good chance something in the body is not in balance.
Testing is the only way to determine what could be going on.

Sound familiar? This is not just for the females out there. Men experience some of the same issues. We know our bodies better than anyone and know when something isn’t quite right.
A deeper dive can most of the time reveal insight.

New Blog Post: How Does Semaglutide Work and Its Benefits For Weight Loss

Link in Bio

New Year and New Beginnings!! If you are interested in a deeper dive into your health please reach out.

Atomus Health will be sharing space with .physio starting next week! Jen is an amazing PT specializing in pelvic floor health.
145 Governors Sq, PTC

For most, the goal of using Semaglutide is weight loss with two sources involved.

FAT vs SKELETAL MUSCLE

Why does this matter?

In looking at the 2nd picture you will see the patient lost 9lbs overall, but almost 40% was from skeletal muscle!!! This is not ideal especially in the post menopause clients who are already vulnerable for up to 10% loss of muscle mass due to hormone shifts. As we age muscle atrophy becomes a problem and increases risk for injury and mortality.

A guided health journey is much more effective than just getting a shot and sending you on your way.

➡️ Goal is fat loss
➡️ Minimize muscle mass
➡️ Eating protein and resistance training are key

Sprouts are the most efficient and nutritious part of a plant.
Add to salads, sandwiches, smoothies or just eat them plain
Few Benefits:
➡️ Cancer protective properties
➡️ High in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants
➡️Potential for up to 500% increase in vitamin and nutrient density compared to protein powders
➡️ Relatively inexpensive
➡️ Anyone can do it, grown at home in 2-3 days

Stayed tuned for details on a fun event soon in conjunction with who have perfect sprouts

SLEEP!! How important is it? This is how the body and mind recover and recharge. The pictures are from the past year of my sleep patterns. There is one thing I’m very consistent about and that is my sleep.
Here are numbers per the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Children 6-12 yr old: 9-12hrs
Teenagers 13-18 yr old: 8-10 hours
Adults: 7-9 hours per night
Unfortunately, a good number of clients I work with do not get enough sleep and quite often it is the teenage population. Make sleep a priority and see what happens in your daily life.

One of my daughter’s favorite treats…banana bread. She has learned different textures means different ingredients.
Normally 1 cup of sugar but instead I use 1/2 apple sauce and half sugar.
2 scoops of plain whey protein plus flour
Some added flax for fiber.
Carbs: 24g
Protein: 8.4g
Fat: 11g (butter) some people can use the extra
230 calories per slice which is ideal for a young athlete especially one who struggles to eat early in the morning.

Pumpkin protein pancakes for the win! Super easy to make, filling and tasty.
Per pancake:
13g carbs
3g fat
9.5g protein

Gluten free pancake mix, 1 egg, 1 scoop of pumpkin protein powder and water. No syrup for me. Plain with coffee

Thyroid: a small gland found in the neck which is part of the endocrine system. The main job is to control the bodies metabolism but also breathing, heart rate, temperature, fertility, digestion, brain health, skin and bones.
What can cause dysfunction:
▪️Stress (cortisol testing is important)
▪️ Fluoride as it inhibits iodine which the thyroid needs
▪️Trauma, infection, radiation, certain medications
▪️ Environmental toxins

Zinc is one nutrient which is vital to proper function.
▪️ Found in red meat, chicken, legumes, seeds to name a few
▪️ Low zinc can have an impact on concentration of thyroid hormones

Starting thyroid medication is not always the first choice! Assessing cortisol function and nutrients can shed light on thyroid dysfunction. Correct the underlying issue.

People ask who are my ideal clients?

Athletes! My definition of an athlete is if you are moving with a purpose regularly you are an athlete!! We are all at different points in our journey so don’t discount your current position.

The overall goal is LONGEVITY! How can we optimize health and wellness well into our later years.

Had the privilege to speak last weekend to a group of athletes. A very brief talk on Relative Energy Deficiency. One question I asked was…how many of you exercise without eating prior especially females? Of course, I’ve done this in the past and learned it isn’t the best idea. Some might be able to get away with doing such but most can’t. Unfortunately, with the testing I do I see the problems that can result when this one simple thing becomes habit.
▪️Cortisol imbalance
▪️Hormone imbalance
▪️Increased illness/injury

Looking for to presenting at this local sports clinic . My part will be on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S).

There are a lot of great presenters, so if you are a local athlete or parent of an athlete this will be beneficial.

Neat way to get EVERYONE eating more fruits and vegetables. The girls and I started this last week except I started a few days late. It really makes you think throughout the day about what you’re eating and still need to get in.

RELATIVE ENERGY DEFICIENCY IN SPORT (RED-S)
🔺Insufficient caloric intake and/or excessive energy expenditure
🔺Low energy availability, hormone disruptions, bone health impairment

What to watch for:
▪️Females: menstrual cycle changes
▪️Males: decrease testosterone, plateau performance
▪️Mood changes, impaired sleep patterns
▪️Increase in injuries or recurrence of illness
▪️Fatigue, inability to recover
▪️Decrease In performance
▪️GI issues especially irritable bowel
▪️Body weight changes

This is not limited to our young athletes. Peri-menopausal women can mistake it for hormonal changes in general or can be a combination.
Testing is helpful and can prevent problems before they arise. If you have noticed any of the above please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ve been there, and it isn’t a fun place to be!

Low Energy Availability or Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports:
▪️Intentional vs unintentional
▪️Increase in training but caloric intake doesn’t meet the demand
🔹Leading to physiological changes. In females better known as Female Triad
🔹Low energy availability, menstrual cycle disruption and low bone density
🔹Males can have similar with decrease in testosterone levels, bone density

McIntosh High School XC team will be hosting an athlete sports clinic with focus on nutrition, strength, sports psychology, run mechanics and therapeutic techniques. I will be presenting on the above
- Aug 12th
- stay tuned for more information

How easy can our sleep get derailed?
1st: away for a lacrosse tournament with an early start the following morning
2nd: drank 1 beer and in bed a bit later than normal
3rd: typical night sleep

🔹Being away from home can have an impact and ultimately will be cumulative
🔹Alcohol does impact sleep especially when consumed later in the day
🔹7-9 hours is ideal for adults; adolescents 8-10 and children 9-12
🔹Be mindful of sleep habits and allow the body the rest it needs

Food sensitivity panels on both of my girls.
Both with grain issues. One with pretty significant dairy and egg issues. The dairy was not unexpected as most dairy initiates cramping almost immediately.
Don’t discount your kids having issues. If they have abdominal pain, cramping, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, headaches, sleep disturbances, rashes amongst other symptoms then they could be sensitivities.

Low Energy Availability
A few slides from the presentation.
It isn’t as simple as calories in vs calories out!
The ramifications of a caloric and nutrient deficiency can be profound. The health risks are important to consider.

Under stress (caloric deficit), our body goes into survival mode. We become at risk for:
🔹adrenal fatigue
🔹hormone imbalances
🔹sleep disturbances
🔹mood issues
🔹injuries/illness

Spent part of the afternoon yesterday with athletes discussing low energy availability. A very important topic for all athletes but especially our high performers!! Loved the engagement from athletes and parents. “Food is Medicine”
To stay at the top we need to focus on the little things!
This team is led by USAT Coach of the Year Lisa Marshal and has produced multiple National Champions in triathlon!! Keep pushing and all the best to the team as the season ramps up!
💥💥💥

Food sensitivity testing: sometimes it is important to look at more than one panel. Yes it adds to the cost, but this client is an example of why! If only the typical IgG panel was done it would have completely missed the significant egg issue. This person is highly sensitive to eggs and needs to eliminate for at least 3 months and potentially longer.
If someone has known Irritable bowel disease or Eosinophil esophagitis then these 2 panels are appropriate.
We use a few key supplements to help heal the gut while removing the triggers then slowly reintroduce one food at a time.

Happy Mother’s Day to all!! Couldn’t ask for any greater gift than being a mom!
Remember you spend your life taking care of them, but who takes care of you?

20 years as a nurse and 17 as a nurse practitioner! My journey started in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic and here I am 20 years later with my own practice focusing on optimizing health and wellness.
In honor of nurses week and my 20 years, I’m offering any new clients $200 off initial packages this week!
UCF nursing pin, a graduation picture with my mom who was also a nurse.

Insulin Resistance:
The body's cells become less responsive to the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is responsible for regulating the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. It helps move glucose into the cells where it can be used for energy.

When the body becomes resistant to insulin, it requires more insulin than normal to maintain normal blood sugar levels. This will ultimately lead to high blood sugar levels, which can cause damage to organs and tissues over time.

Insulin resistance is commonly associated with obesity, physical inactivity, and a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugars. It will increase the risk factor for the development of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke.

What to look for:
🔹Fasting Glucose ideally want less than 85
🔹Fasting insulin less than 7
🔹Hemoglobin A1C 5.4 or better
Yes, these numbers are a bit lower than most would recommend. The idea is on prevention vs being reactive to disease.

Treatment:
🔹client specific
🔹Take a look at nutrition, gut health
🔹Exercise regimen which will change as we age
🔹Supplements

Flatten the curve!
This demonstrates simple changes can yield big changes. In 1 week, we’ve noticed drastic improvements in the glucose trend. I really like to have all my clients utilize a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for at least 2 weeks as it is simple and feedback can be empowering!

Most females cannot get away with fasted workouts. This is an example of such. On the left is a fasted workout, the right no fasting.
🔹Spikes cortisol➡️ Spikes glucose
🔹Building insulin resistance, increased cortisol levels and ultimately leads to imbalance of hormones
What did we change:
🔹Added protein and some carbs before workout
🔹Making sure to replace calories post workout within short timeframe

Adding a CGM is a great tool while we wait for other results to come back. It keeps clients engaged and can focus on small changes before we dive deeper!

Super excited for the results to come for this client

Estrogen dominance:
Does this picture resonate with anyone?
The peri and post menopausal years can be a nuance, but they don’t have to be. There is help! Signs of estrogen dominance…
🔹Hot flashes
🔹PMS symptoms
🔹Headaches
🔹Brain fog
🔹Weight gain in hips/waist
🔹Hair loss
🔹Anxiety
🔹Depression
🔹Fatigue
There are factors that can definitely exacerbate these symptoms such as stress, diet habits, medications, liver dysfunction, excess weight.
There are simple solutions! But first and foremost get tested and know what is happening.

Big thank you to and everyone who spent their evening with us! A great crowd, lots of good questions, some tasty tea and snacks made with fresh farm products.