Upper airway disorders, sleep disturbances, obstructive airways, and other sleep disorders are more common than we once thought. Most people are familiar with the role that sleep disorders play in metabolic health and heart health, but many are not aware of just how great the link is between sleep disorders and mental health. There is no denying that there is indeed a mental health stigma, and this often impedes people from getting the help they need. We believe that if we can shed light on biological mechanisms that cause or contribute to poor mental health, then we can give people the information they need to make informed decisions to better their health and improve the mental health crisis in the US.

Where should we start when addressing sleep disturbances and overall health? Firstly, it is good to know the signs to look for if there are no obvious signs of sleep issues (such as snoring, waking in the night gasping, jaw clenching/TMJ). Some of the seemingly unrelated but...

Mind-body medicine has played a vital role in the healing journey of many of our patients, addressing underlying emotional concerns and expressing belief systems in a non-judgmental environment. Mind-body medicine sessions offered in the clinic are more than just learning tools such as breathing, meditation, and movement; they're about discovering how to incorporate them into our lives in order to manage our emotions and triggers differently. Mind-body medicine is about embodying self-awareness so that we can genuinely transform our minds and regulate our emotions. The mind-body skills practiced in group sessions give us the opportunity to become aware of ourselves on a deeper level and learn how to manage our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Here is what one can expect when attending a mind-body group visit in the clinic or virtually:

1. Leave your judgments toward yourself and others at the door! Mind-body medicine is all about creating space to feel, release, and discuss...

Are you looking to improve your nutrition and discover how to eat a balanced, healthy diet but don't know where to start? We know how challenging and lonely a chronic healing journey can be. Whether you struggle with an invisible but challenging illness, desire to lose weight, are seeking to reverse diabetes, or simply want to lead a healthier life, it is very challenging to walk along a health journey by yourself. Therefore, group coaching visits with Ruben Lespron, Registered Dietitian, may be the perfect opportunity for you.

Group coaching visits provide an interactive way to learn about nutrition and how different food groups can be balanced for one's specific needs. As a society, we tend to over complicate nutrition. Most of us have tried various fad diets in order to resolve our health issues or in an attempt to find a quick fix for our metabolic issues. While short-term dietary changes may be beneficial to some degree, we know that it is the lasting and consistent...

Get to know Melissa Talwar, our compassionate and dedicated health coach who leads the virtual Trasformational Group Coaching Programs at TCLM. Melissa is a National Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, Certified in the Wahls Protocol, Keto Nutritionist, and Certified ReCODE 2.0 Health Coach. She recently completed her Master's in Neuroscience and is currently enrolled in the Clinical Master's Program at the Kharrazian institute. After multiple concussions and a sports injury in high school, she was left in chronic debilitating pain. Melissa would spend 20 years in declining health, homebound, and living with no hope of addressing her fibromyalgia and "autoimmune something" diagnoses. Using Functional and Integrative Medicine principles she was able to reclaim her health and is now on a mission to empower patients to find wellness again through health coaching. Melissa wants to make sure no one has to fight alone!

She is passionate about sharing the tools that...

Are you looking for ways to improve your nutrition and meal planning? Do you need help implementing new and creative ideas to ensure you're eating nutritious AND delicous meals? Sign up for our kitchen behavior training sessions and discover tips, tricks, and more from a lifestyle medicine chef and registered dietitian!

Curious about what to expect? At this week's session, we discussed several tips on how to ensure that you don't go to bed hungry or impede your ability to get a good night's sleep! We discussed meal timing tips and strategies from a culinary and scientific perspective. We were able to learn to plan our meals in such a way that we support or digestion, especially before bedtime and nutrition strategies that will allow us to get the most out of our food. In our cullinary group visits, we enjoy discussions where we share practical tips, cooking strategies and deliver nutrional guidance that is specific to the needs of the group. Each group is centered around a...

Amazing things are happening this month in our community here in Houston! If you have not been keeping up with the events going on within the FitHouston health and wellness initiative, here is your chance to get plugged in to a wonderful fitness movement! This wellness initiative seeks to bring community together in taking part in a fabulous health program designed to better the physical, mental, and social health of our community. Leaders in Houston determined that a wonderful way to do so is to promote walking together as a community, as exercise is a free, transformative resource that everyone may take part in to improve their health.

February is the perfect time to take part in this fantastic wellness initiative. Fit Houston has partnered with an all star group of Houston Leaders including the Texas Heart Institute, HPD, Rice University, University of Houston, and more! This health initiative is encouraging us to pull together as a community to work toward improving metabolic...

Introducing Carla Moss, one of our passionate Health Coaches for our Transformational Group Coaching Programs! Carla Moss is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach who has been health coaching since 2012. She is the founder of Being Well Aware, her functional medicine health coaching practice based in Berkeley, California. Through her practice, Carla coaches women navigating cardio-metabolic issues, gut issues, and autoimmune conditions, along with hormone imbalances such as PCOS, adrenal dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, estrogen dominance, peri-menopause, and menopause.

Carla received her health coaching training and certification from The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, a collaboration with The Institute for Functional Medicine, the Institute of Transformational Nutrition, and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She also received specialty certifications in Hormone Health and Emotional Eating...

Creating and maintaining healthy habits is essential for physical, mental, and emotional health. Group coaching visits can be a great way to get support while establishing healthy habits that will stick with you in the long term. Group visits provide an opportunity to learn from other like-minded individuals in a safe and non-judgmental environment.

With Transformational Group Coaching Visits at TCLM, patients are provided with evidence-based lifestyle education and group support as they work to make meaningful lifestyle changes, such as adopting healthy eating habits, learning how to manage stress better, or improving sleep quality. The educational content has been designed by experts, health coaches, and medical providers. Group members have the opportunity to share their successes, struggles, and stories with one another; this helps to hold everyone accountable for their goals.

Group support also provides an opportunity to build relationships with individuals who...

If you have ever struggled to get to the root of your mental or health struggles, know that you are not alone. Many people are unaware that their mental health can be closely related to their physical well-being. Therefore, they are left to guide themselves through their wellness journey alone or through trial and error, which can feel extremely frustrating and hopeless. Lifestyle medicine serves as a powerful bridge to achieve lasting health and wellbeing. It does this with an integrative approach, guiding individuals through behavioral changes, sleep hygiene tips, nutritional advice, and precise testing to get down to the core of any medical issue one may have. With lifestyle medicine’s highly influential methods for restoring balance in mind and body alike – it is no wonder why so many are turning towards it for optimal health solutions!

Lifestyle medicine takes into account your habits related to nutrition, sleep, exercise, and stress in conjunction...

Transformational Group Coaching Programs are transforming disease prevention and improving chronic illness outcomes. We have seen within our medical care system, a huge need for community support, patient- driven care, health education, emotional support, and real time dedicated to attending to patient's needs concerns. Unfortunately, providers often do not have the tools and resources required to deliver such care and are unable to dedicate time required to listen to patients deep needs and address holistic aspects needed for healing. This involves addressing the physical, mental, and emotional facets of health that most healthcare practices are not equipped to deliver.

Most people who suffer from chronic illness have been through several different physicians, specialists, and facilities before ever receiving a diagnosis. Even when they know what illness they are facing, they often complain of receiving very little background information regarding the causes of their disease, and...