Frequently Asked Questions & Concerns
Q: Have you ever really noticed how you feel after eating? Are you tired, bloated, angry, hot or sweaty, nauseous, still hungry or craving something sweet?
A: Your body can tell you a lot about what it is having trouble with simply by recognizing key symptoms after eating. We can teach you how to recognize & address what your body is trying to do so you can be better informed & make healthier choices when it comes to your personal diet!
Q: Do certain strong smells or cleaners give you head aches or migraines?
A: Many common household cleaners contain chemicals that can irritate your respiratory system, trigger allergies, and even disrupt hormone function. Even products labeled “green” or “natural” may hide harmful ingredients. We can teach you how to read labels on ordinary household products & recommend better / safer alternatives to help alleviate your symptoms!
Q: Do you often get sick, have a runny nose or experience allergy related symptoms?
A: If you are always sick, have a constant runny nose, or experience frequent allergy flare-ups, it’s important to consider both common and less common causes, including autoimmune-related inflammation. We can teach you how to lessen or manage your symptoms & prevent future allergy related flare-ups!
Q: How do I know what I should & shouldn’t be eating?
A: Labels! All food comes with labels. Most of them have very confusing long words that most people can’t pronounce. We can teach your how to read food labels in your local grocery store, so you know exactly what it is you're eating! Including produce!
Q: Do you find it hard to talk to your primary care physician about your issues or concerns?
A: We’ve all been there! Sometimes it feels like they just don’t understand. You go in complaining of headaches & they offer to write you an acetaminophen prescription, but they don’t address the root cause. Odds are you are coming into contact with a headache inducting chemical or allergy related trigger, but without addressing these products or getting the proper testing done you are simply just trying to put a fire out with an ice cube. We take a deeper look into your routine & question every single potential cause to address the issue & recommend natural alternatives! Kind of like a personal health detective with a plan!
Q: Do you have any other question or concerns?
A: Send me an email at christina@thatfunctionalcoach.com asking to book a FREE 20 minute “Faking Fine” consultation so we can talk about your questions or health concerns together!
Why You Should Get Your Gut Health Tested Before Your Hormones
Testing your gut health before hormone testing can help you identify root causes of hormonal symptoms that might otherwise be misattributed to endocrine glands or hormones alone. Your gut microbiome plays a direct role in hormone regulation. Beneficial bacteria help convert inactive thyroid hormone (T4) into its active form (T3), regulate estrogen metabolism, and influence cortisol and insulin balance. If your gut is imbalanced (dysbiosis), these processes can be disrupted, leading to symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, weight changes, and menstrual irregularities. Estrogen and hormone detox happen in the gut. The final phase of estrogen detox occurs in the gut. If you have low beneficial bacteria or high levels of the enzyme beta-glucuronidase, estrogen can be reabsorbed back into circulation, causing “estrogen dominance” symptoms such as heavy periods, bloating, and PMS. Constipation can worsen this by slowing hormone elimination. Gut inflammation can mimic or worsen hormonal issues. Chronic gut inflammation from poor diet, stress, or infections can send stress signals to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, contributing to adrenal fatigue, low progesterone, and blood sugar dysregulation. Nutrient absorption affects hormone synthesis. Hormones require specific nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins) for production. Poor gut health can impair nutrient absorption, indirectly affecting hormone balance. Gut health testing can reveal overlooked contributors.
A comprehensive stool test (e.g., GI-MAP) can detect bacterial imbalances, inflammation markers, digestive capacity, and hormone detoxification issues. This can guide targeted interventions — like diet, probiotics, or addressing constipation — before hormone levels are even measured.
Did You Know That Your body NEEDS Vitamin D to function properly?!
Not only does Vitamin D help your body absorb other vital vitamins & minerals, but it promotes a healthy cell growth & decay process which can help prevent a variety of cancer-causing illnesses. It also helps to reduce inflammation, increase immune function & regulate your metabolism which can be beneficial for weight loss, bloating, fatigue & a number of other symptoms that can indicate poor health. Yes, you can get Vitamin D through UVB sun exposure or by eating lots of Vitamin D rich foods, however, in the winter (or if you work indoors) it can be hard to get the recommended amount of daily sun exposure & if you have a restricted diet or don't like to eat a lot of fish or eggs, getting enough Vitamin D can feel next to impossible, but don't worry friend! I am currently offering a very popular Vitamin D3 product, in either liquid or capsule form, that can be absorbed more quickly & easily than the other over-the-counter vitamin options. If you would like to purchase this product or have any additional questions, please send me an email & I will get back to you as soon as possible!
Did You Know That Vitamin C Neutralizes Chlorine?!
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) acts as a reducing agent in a redox reaction. When it comes into contact with chlorine (in the form of free chlorine or hypochlorous acid in water), it donates electrons to chlorine, converting it into harmless chloride ions (Cl⁻) while itself being oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid. This reaction is rapid and effective, making vitamin C a common dichlorination agent. Vitamin C may also help lower blood pressure. High blood pressure puts you at risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease, the leading cause of death globally. Studies have shown that vitamin C may help lower blood pressure in both those with and without high blood pressure. It is an essential vitamin, meaning your body can’t produce it. It’s a water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, and spinach. Vitamin C can reduce your risk of chronic disease. It is a powerful antioxidant that can strengthen your body’s natural defenses. Antioxidants are molecules that boost the immune system by protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. When free radicals accumulate, they can promote a state known as oxidative stress, which has been linked to many chronic diseases. Vitamin C has also been known to help prevent iron deficiency; gout attacks & protect your memory as you age. Oranges do however contain a lot of natural sugar, but there are a variety of natural supplements available that can be purchased that do not contain a high amount of sugar. The recommended daily intake for Vitamin C is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men.