What Is Functional Medicine? How It Works and How to Find the Right Doctor

Functional medicine investigates the root causes of disease by examining how metabolism, gut health, hormones, inflammation, and environmental factors interact to influence chronic illness.

Functional medicine, Alternative Therapy, Hormone HealthMartina SturmDecember 19, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinefunctional medicine, root cause medicine, systems based healthcare, functional medicine doctor, chronic illness root causes, integrative medicine, personalized medicine, functional medicine approach, chronic disease prevention, systems biology health

Adult Acne Causes: Hormones, Gut Health, Inflammation & Root Drivers

Adult acne often reflects deeper physiologic drivers rather than surface skin problems alone. Hormonal signaling, gut–skin axis disruption, inflammation, metabolic stress, detoxification pathways, and nervous system regulation can interact to drive persistent breakouts and treatment-resistant acne patterns.

The Four Types of PCOS: Causes, Symptoms, and How They Differ

PCOS can arise from different biological drivers including insulin resistance, inflammation, adrenal hormone signaling, and hormonal suppression after birth control. Understanding the four types of PCOS helps explain why symptoms develop and why treatment responses differ.

Women's Health, Functional medicine, TCMMartina SturmNovember 23, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinetypes of pcos, four types of pcos, insulin resistant pcos, inflammatory pcos, adrenal pcos, post birth control pcos, pcos hormone imbalance, pcos causes, pcos diagnosis, pcos symptoms women

Mitochondrial Function: Why Cellular Energy Production Shapes Fatigue, Aging, and Chronic Disease

Mitochondrial function plays a central role in how the body produces energy, adapts to stress, and ages over time. This article explains how cellular energy regulation influences fatigue, metabolic health, and chronic disease—and why symptoms often appear long before standard tests detect a problem.

The Cholesterol Myth: Why Cholesterol Isn’t the Real Cause of Heart Disease

Cholesterol is often blamed for heart disease, yet cardiovascular risk is driven by inflammation, insulin resistance, lipoprotein particle behavior, and metabolic dysfunction rather than cholesterol levels alone.

Functional medicine, Cardiovascular HealthMartina SturmOctober 17, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinecholesterol myths, heart disease causes, cholesterol and heart disease, statins side effects, LDL particle size, ApoB cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), cardiovascular inflammation, insulin resistance heart disease, metabolic dysfunction heart disease, cholesterol testing, coronary artery calcium score, functional medicine cholesterol, endothelial dysfunction, cardiovascular risk factors

PMS Symptoms: Causes, Hormonal Imbalances, and Why Premenstrual Symptoms Happen

PMS symptoms such as mood changes, fatigue, bloating, and anxiety are often dismissed as a normal part of the menstrual cycle. Persistent premenstrual symptoms more often reflect hormonal imbalance, ovulatory dysfunction, stress physiology, and metabolic strain. A root-cause approach can help restore more stable, predictable cycles.

Functional medicine, Chinese medicine, Acupuncture, Hormone Health, Hormones, Women's HealthMartina SturmSeptember 15, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine PMS Symptoms, Premenstrual Syndrome, PMDD, Hormonal Imbalance, Luteal Phase, Ovulation, Estrogen Progesterone Imbalance, Menstrual Cycle

Red Light Therapy for Skin Health and Tissue Repair

Red light therapy for skin uses photobiomodulation to support collagen production, cellular repair, and inflammation regulation. Medical-grade treatments may help improve skin resilience, healing, and recovery.

Functional medicine, Alternative Therapy, Longevity, Anti-agingMartina SturmAugust 12, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinered light therapy, photobiomodulation therapy, red light therapy skin benefits, skin rejuvenation therapy, collagen stimulation therapy, regenerative skin therapy, red light therapy Denver, photobiomodulation Denver

Acid Reflux Causes: Why Heartburn Is Not Always Too Much Stomach Acid

Acid reflux is not always caused by excess stomach acid. Discover how low stomach acid, LES dysfunction, medications, stress, and diet contribute to GERD—and how a root-cause, natural treatment approach can restore digestive balance.

Functional medicine, TCM, Chinese medicine, Digestive Health, NutritionMartina SturmJuly 20, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine acid reflux, GERD, low stomach acid, hypochlorhydria, digestive health, gut health, heartburn, integrative medicine, natural GERD treatment, Denver functional medicine

Integrative Breast Cancer Care: A Terrain-Based, Whole-Systems Approach

Integrative breast cancer care takes a whole-systems approach to recovery, addressing metabolism, hormone balance, immune resilience, detoxification, and nervous system regulation to support long-term physiological stability after diagnosis and treatment.

Functional medicine, Women's Health, Cancer, Hormone Health, Alternative Therapy, Detox, Cancer CareMartina SturmJuly 5, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinebreast cancer, integrative breast cancer care, breast cancer recovery, holistic breast cancer support, terrain-based medicine, cancer survivorship support, hormone metabolism breast cancer, immune balance breast cancer, functional medicine oncology

Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies (Even With Normal Labs)

Nutrient deficiencies often persist despite normal lab results and adequate diet. This article explains the most common nutrient deficiencies, why standard blood tests may miss them, and how functional testing clarifies persistent symptoms.

Functional medicine, NutritionMartina SturmJune 15, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic MedicineMost Common Nutrient Deficiencies, Nutrient Deficiencies Normal Labs, Functional Lab Testing, Cellular Micronutrient Testing, Magnesium Deficiency, Vitamin D Deficiency, B12 Deficiency, Iron Dysregulation

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS): Symptoms, Triggers, Diagnosis, and Natural Treatment

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) causes multi-system symptoms including flushing, hives, digestive upset, palpitations, and brain fog. This article discusses diagnosis criteria, triggers, and evidence-informed stabilization strategies.

Functional medicine, Immune Resilience, Inflammation, Mold & MycotoxinsMartina SturmJune 7, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinemast cell activation syndrome, MCAS, MCAS symptoms, MCAS diagnosis, MCAS treatment, histamine intolerance, mast cell disorder, immune dysregulation, mold exposure, functional medicine denver

How to Reduce Chronic Inflammation Naturally: A Root-Cause, Systems-Based Approach

Chronic inflammation develops when immune activation fails to fully resolve. Identifying gut, metabolic, environmental, and stress-related drivers is essential to reduce inflammation naturally and restore immune balance.

Functional medicine, Inflammation, Nutrition, Digestive HealthMartina SturmMay 31, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinechronic inflammation, reduce inflammation naturally, root cause inflammation, inflammatory foods, gut inflammation, systemic inflammation, metabolic inflammation, inflammatory load, immune dysregulation, chronic inflammatory drivers

How to Detox From Mold Safely: Sequencing, Detox Reactions, and Recovery Timeline

Mold detox reactions often occur when toxin mobilization exceeds elimination capacity. This article explains safe sequencing, recirculation, detox flares, and realistic mold detox recovery timelines.

Functional medicine, Detox, Healthy Home & Lifestyle, Immune Resilience, Mold & Mycotoxins, ToxinsMartina SturmApril 20, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinemold detox, detox from mold safely, mold detox timeline, mold detox reactions, mold detox sequencing, mycotoxin detox, CIRS detox, mold detox symptoms

Why Vitamin D Deficiency Is So Common — And Why Supplements Don’t Always Work

Vitamin D deficiency is not always caused by low sun exposure. Absorption, activation, magnesium status, inflammation, and receptor signaling determine whether vitamin D can function properly—even when blood levels appear normal.

Functional medicine, NutritionMartina SturmApril 10, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinevitamin D deficiency, low vitamin D levels, vitamin D supplements not working, vitamin D absorption problems, vitamin D blood test interpretation, magnesium and vitamin D activation, vitamin D receptor function, fat soluble vitamin absorption, vitamin D cofactors, vitamin K2 calcium balance

How to Heal Your Gut After Antibiotics: Rebuilding the Microbiome and Preventing Long-Term Dysbiosis

Antibiotics can disrupt gut bacteria and intestinal barrier function, leading to bloating, dysbiosis, and immune imbalance. Restore microbial diversity and rebuild gut resilience with a structured recovery approach.

Functional medicine, Detox, Digestive Health, Immune Health, NutritionMartina SturmApril 5, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicineheal gut after antibiotics, restore gut health after antibiotics, antibiotic gut damage, gut dysbiosis symptoms, SIBO after antibiotics, intestinal permeability repair, microbiome recovery protocol, functional medicine gut health, gut microbiome restoration, post-antibiotic gut healing

What Causes Brain Fog? Root Causes Most Doctors Miss

You can be sleeping well, eating reasonably, and still struggle with brain fog—despite “normal” labs. This article explains why cognitive fatigue often reflects deeper issues with brain energy, inflammation, gut signaling, hormones, or environmental burden that routine testing misses.

Functional medicineMartina SturmMarch 19, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinebrain fog causes, brain fog root causes, functional medicine brain fog, brain fog normal labs, hormone imbalance brain fog, gut brain connection, mold brain fog, caffeine brain fog, blood sugar brain fog, mitochondrial dysfunction

Metabolic Syndrome Symptoms, Causes & Natural Reversal: A Root-Cause Approach to Insulin Resistance

Metabolic syndrome reflects systemic metabolic dysfunction driven by insulin resistance and inflammation. Identify early warning signs and restore metabolic regulation naturally.

Functional medicine, Cardiovascular Health, Longevity, Metabolic HealthMartina SturmFebruary 8, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinemetabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, visceral fat, fatty liver disease, metabolic inflammation, blood sugar imbalance, cardiometabolic risk, metabolic dysfunction, metabolic flexibility

How Added Sugar Disrupts Metabolic Health: Insulin Resistance, Hormones, Fatigue, and Inflammation

Added sugar is not just empty calories—it is a metabolic stressor that disrupts blood sugar regulation, hormones, energy production, and inflammatory balance long before disease appears on standard labs.

Functional medicine, Toxins, Longevity, Digestive Health, NutritionMartina SturmFebruary 8, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicineadded sugar and insulin resistance, blood sugar instability symptoms, metabolic dysfunction early signs, reactive hypoglycemia fatigue, sugar and inflammation pathways, hyperinsulinemia progression, fatty liver risk factors, metabolic flexibility loss, leptin resistance signaling, cortisol blood sugar connection, hidden added sugar foods, functional metabolic testing Denver

How to Read Food Labels Correctly: Nutrition Facts, Serving Sizes, and Misleading Claims Explained

Confused by nutrition labels and marketing claims? This guide explains how to read food labels correctly—serving sizes, Percent Daily Value, ingredient lists, fortified foods, and misleading packaging—so you can make confident, informed grocery decisions.

Functional medicine, NutritionMartina SturmJanuary 4, 2022Denver Sports and Holistic Medicinefood labels, how to read food labels, nutrition facts label, serving size manipulation, misleading food claims, ingredients list, percent daily value, fortified foods, ultra processed food awareness, grocery label literacy, metabolic health nutrition

Non-Hormonal Birth Control: Fertility Awareness & Cycle Tracking Explained

Non-hormonal birth control explained. Discover how fertility awareness, ovulation tracking, and hormone-free methods prevent pregnancy without suppressing your natural cycle.

Functional medicine, Fertility, Hormones, Women's Health, Hormone HealthMartina SturmDecember 9, 2021Denver Sports and Holistic MedicineNon-Hormonal Birth Control, Fertility Awareness, Cycle Awareness, Ovulation Tracking, Hormonal Birth Control Recovery, Hormone Balance, Women’s Fertility