New Blog Post

Dr. Dena Varela

Published on: 02/09/2025

Hair growth is influenced by a complex interplay of nutrients, hormones, and metabolic processes. When something disrupts that balance, hair is often one of the first areas to show the impact. Unfortunately, many conventional evaluations for women’s hair loss stop at a quick glance, a suggestion to take a multivitamin, or reassurance that “it’s normal.” What often gets missed are three of the most common yet under-recognized root causes: iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, and androgen excess.

Hair Thinning in Women

New Blog Post

Dr. Dena Varela

Published on: 02/09/2025

Ongoing bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal discomfort may point to underlying issues like dysbiosis, inflammation, infections, or malabsorption. These troubles often motivate functional-minded clinicians to recommend stool testing as a window into root causes, not just symptoms.

Stool Testing

New Blog Post

Dr. Dena Varela

Published on: 01/08/2025

Have you ever wondered if all those antibacterial soaps, sanitizing gels, and disinfectant wipes are actually doing more harm than good? It might sound surprising, especially after years of being told to scrub, spray, and sanitize constantly. But research suggests that going overboard with sanitizers could be disrupting something incredibly important: your body’s microbiome. And that has serious consequences for your immune system.

Over Sanitizing

New Blog Post

Dr. Dena Varela

Published on: 01/08/2025

Have you ever wondered why your skin seems to rebel after a weekend of pizza, soda, and sweet treats? Or why acne sometimes stubbornly sticks around, no matter how carefully you wash and moisturize? While we often think of acne as just a skin problem, many breakouts start much deeper, rooted in how your body manages blood sugar and insulin.

Acne