Functional Medicine Institute

Anxiety, immune health, and nutrition are often treated separately, but what if they're all connected? In this episode, Amber Warren, PA-C is joined by Tessa Hart, PA-C, a physician assistant specializing in pediatric functional medicine, to break down how anxiety, immune resilience, and nutrition show up together in kids and what parents can actually do about it.
Tessa explains how to tell the difference between normal back-to-school nerves and true anxiety, walking through the physical symptoms, avoidance behaviors, and duration that signal something more than developmentally normal stress. She shares practical, non-supplement tools like unstructured play, square breathing, and her "brave ladder" approach to gradual exposure, along with her top three supplement picks, magnesium L-threonate, L-theanine, and cod liver oil, and why the timing and form of each one matters.
The conversation also moves into cold and flu season, where Tessa breaks down the immune-boosting and sick kits used at Functional Medicine of Idaho, including vitamin D3/K, zinc, and liposomal vitamin C, and explains clear guidelines for when a sick child should stay home versus go to school. Amber and Tessa also discuss the importance of protein and clean, whole-food nutrition for growing kids and teen athletes, and why paying attention to each child's individual food sensitivities can uncover the root cause of symptoms that seem unrelated to diet.
Whether you're navigating a newly anxious child, prepping for cold and flu season, or just want a clearer, more natural framework for raising healthy kids, this episode offers practical insight from a provider seeing these issues every day.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why back-to-school nerves and true anxiety are not the same thing, and how to tell them apart
Non-supplement tools like square breathing, unstructured play, and gradual exposure for anxious kids
Why magnesium L-threonate, L-theanine, and cod liver oil are top picks for childhood anxiety and mood
How to build an immune-boosting and sick kit with vitamin D3/K, zinc, and liposomal vitamin C
Why low zinc after illness can change a child's sense of taste
Clear guidelines for when to send a sick child to school versus keep them home
Why protein matters for teens and student athletes, and simple ways to add it to their diet
How individual food sensitivities can drive symptoms seen at well-child and acute visits
Why an organic, whole-food, non-GMO diet is the foundation Tessa recommends for every family
Stay tuned for more conversations on functional medicine, pediatric health, immune support, nutrition, and raising healthy kids from the inside out!

Testosterone is often thought of as a male hormone, but what role does it actually play in women’s health, healthy aging, and overall vitality? In this episode, Amber Warren, PA-C is joined by Heather Lucas, FNP-C, a family nurse practitioner specializing in hormone optimization, peptide therapy, sexual wellness, metabolic health, and longevity, to break down why testosterone is one of the most overlooked hormones in women.
Heather explains why women need testosterone just as men do, how levels naturally change throughout life, and why symptoms like low motivation, fatigue, brain fog, low libido, poor recovery, and changes in body composition can sometimes be connected to low testosterone—but may also have other underlying causes. They also explore why comprehensive testing matters, including the importance of evaluating free and total testosterone, SHBG, thyroid function, nutrient status, and metabolic markers.
The conversation also dives into testosterone replacement therapy for women, including topical creams and pellet therapy, what the current research tells us about testosterone and cardiovascular and breast health, and why more research is still needed. Heather and Amber emphasize the importance of shared decision-making and empowering women to become active participants in their healthcare rather than having their symptoms dismissed.
Whether you're experiencing changes in energy, motivation, libido, muscle mass, sleep, or overall well-being, or you're simply curious about the role testosterone plays in women's health, this episode offers practical insight into hormone testing, optimization, and healthy aging.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why testosterone is an essential hormone for women, not just menHow testosterone levels change throughout a woman's lifeThe symptoms that may be associated with low testosterone in womenWhy both free and total testosterone should be evaluatedHow SHBG, thyroid function, stress, and other factors can influence available testosteroneWhy women may require more sensitive testosterone testing than menHow testosterone can influence muscle mass, recovery, motivation, libido, brain fog, sleep, and bone healthWhat the current research says about testosterone, cardiovascular health, and breast cancer riskThe different approaches to testosterone replacement therapy, including topical creams and pellet therapyWhy shared decision-making and individualized hormone care are essential for women's health
Stay tuned for more conversations on functional medicine, women's health, hormone optimization, healthy aging, longevity, and optimizing your health from the inside out!

Are prevention-focused labs and early screening actually catching disease before conventional medicine would, and is anyone doing enough of it? In this episode, Amber Warren, PA-C is joined by Michael Orloff, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant who spent over a decade in emergency and trauma medicine before transitioning to functional medicine, to explore how cardiometabolic testing, early cancer screening, and lifestyle-first care can help patients stay out of the healthcare system altogether.
Mike shares what he's seeing after his first year at FMI, coming from years of treating end-stage disease in the ER, and breaks down why he focuses on ApoB and lipoprotein(a) instead of relying on standard cholesterol panels alone, how zone-based training and lactate threshold testing let him build truly individualized cardiovascular prescriptions, and why insulin sensitivity sits at the center of long-term metabolic health. He also discusses why cancer screening guidelines often lag behind what he sees clinically, why radon exposure is an overlooked cancer risk in the Treasure Valley, and how simple, low-effort movement, like walking after meals, can meaningfully shift blood sugar and body composition.
Whether you're trying to make sense of your cholesterol labs, curious about CGMs, thinking about weight loss, or just want a clearer picture of what proactive, data-driven prevention actually looks like, this episode offers practical insight from someone treating these issues every day.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How ApoB and lipoprotein(a) provide a more complete cardiovascular risk picture than LDL alone
How zone two training, lactate threshold, and VO2 max testing personalize exercise prescriptions
Why insulin sensitivity is central to cardiometabolic and metabolic health
Practical levers for sustainable weight loss: dietary restriction, meal timing, and portion control
How a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) reveals real-time, individualized blood sugar patterns
Why early cancer screening, including colonoscopies, PSA, and CA-125, may need to start earlier than conventional guidelines suggest
How environmental factors like radon exposure raise cancer risk in the Treasure Valley
Why time, not motivation, is often the biggest barrier to aging well, and how to work around it
Stay tuned for more conversations on functional medicine, cardiometabolic health, cancer prevention, longevity, and optimizing your health from the inside out!

 
Peptide therapy and PRP are gaining popularity, but are they being used correctly, and are they enough on their own? In this episode, Amber Warren, PA-C is joined by Andy Bacal, a former orthopedic provider now practicing functional medicine at FMI, to explore how regenerative therapies, hormone optimization, and lifestyle foundations work together to help patients heal faster, avoid unnecessary surgery, and build long-term resilience.
Andy shares what he's seeing in his practice, largely a male population focused on getting proactive about their health, and breaks down how treatments like PRP and peptide stacks such as BPC-157 and TB-500 are helping patients recover from injuries, avoid surgery when possible, and bounce back faster when surgery is necessary. He also discusses why so many hormone clinics and med spas fall short by treating symptoms in isolation instead of addressing gut health, inflammation, and diet, and why resistance training, consistency, and nutritional lab work remain the true foundation of longevity.
Whether you're managing an old injury, considering regenerative treatments, curious about peptides, or simply want a clearer picture of what real, sustainable healthy aging looks like, this episode offers practical insight from someone treating these issues every day.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How PRP works and how it compares to cortisone injections
When peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500 can support healing and recovery
Why regenerative treatments work best alongside diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes
What's missing from many hormone clinics and med spas
Why resistance training is a key pillar of long-term health, especially for men
How nutritional lab testing can reveal hidden deficiencies affecting energy and longevity
Real patient outcomes from combining functional medicine with regenerative therapies
Stay tuned for more conversations on functional medicine, regenerative health, peptides, and optimizing your health from the inside out!

Nutrient deficiencies are often treated with supplements alone, but what if the real problem begins with digestion? In this episode, Tom Malterre, MS, CN, IFMCP joins Amber Warren, PA-C, to explore why poor nutrient absorption has become increasingly common and how gut health, stomach acid, food sensitivities, and mitochondrial function all work together to influence overall health.
Tom explains why many people struggle with chronic fatigue, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, and digestive symptoms despite eating a healthy diet. He also discusses the surprising role of stomach acid in nutrient absorption, how medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can impact long-term health, and why restoring proper digestive function is essential for healing at the root cause.
Whether you're dealing with digestive issues, unexplained nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, or simply want to optimize your health and longevity, this episode provides practical, science-based insights to help you better understand how your body absorbs—and utilizes—the nutrients it needs to thrive.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why nutrient deficiencies are becoming more common
How stomach acid supports digestion and nutrient absorption
The connection between gut health, food sensitivities, and autoimmune disease
Why mitochondrial health is essential for energy production
How proton pump inhibitors may contribute to nutrient deficiencies
The role of elimination diets in identifying hidden food triggers
Functional medicine strategies for improving digestion, reducing inflammation, and restoring long-term health
Stay tuned for more conversations on functional medicine, gut health, nutrition, longevity, and optimizing your health from the inside out!

Episode 85 Part 2/2.Cardiovascular disease is often thought of as a heart problem, but its effects reach far beyond the cardiovascular system. In this episode, Dr. Gavin Guard explores the root causes of cardiovascular disease through a functional medicine lens, breaking down how chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, nutrition, and lifestyle choices influence long-term heart health.
You'll learn how cardiovascular disease develops, the warning signs to watch for, and the connection between factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol imbalances, insulin resistance, and overall wellness. Dr. Holthouse also discusses evidence-based strategies for reducing risk and improving healthspan through personalized care and preventive medicine.
Whether you're looking to better understand your cardiovascular risk, support a loved one, or take proactive steps toward a healthier future, this episode provides practical insights and actionable takeaways grounded in current science.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What cardiovascular disease is and why it's so common
How inflammation contributes to heart disease
The relationship between cholesterol, blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk
Why metabolic health plays a major role in heart health
Functional medicine approaches to prevention and treatment
Lifestyle strategies that support a healthy cardiovascular system
Steps you can take today to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke
Stay tuned in for more conversations on functional medicine, preventive healthcare, longevity, and optimizing your health from the inside out!

Cardiovascular disease is often thought of as a heart problem, but its effects reach far beyond the cardiovascular system. In this episode, Dr. Gavin Guard explores the root causes of cardiovascular disease through a functional medicine lens, breaking down how chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, nutrition, and lifestyle choices influence long-term heart health.
You'll learn how cardiovascular disease develops, the warning signs to watch for, and the connection between factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol imbalances, insulin resistance, and overall wellness. Dr. Holthouse also discusses evidence-based strategies for reducing risk and improving healthspan through personalized care and preventive medicine.
Whether you're looking to better understand your cardiovascular risk, support a loved one, or take proactive steps toward a healthier future, this episode provides practical insights and actionable takeaways grounded in current science.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What cardiovascular disease is and why it's so common
How inflammation contributes to heart disease
The relationship between cholesterol, blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk
Why metabolic health plays a major role in heart health
Functional medicine approaches to prevention and treatment
Lifestyle strategies that support a healthy cardiovascular system
Steps you can take today to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke
Stay tuned in for more conversations on functional medicine, preventive healthcare, longevity, and optimizing your health from the inside out!

In this episode, Amber Warren, PA-C, sits down with Dr. Brian Hauser, MD, a board certified functional and integrative family medicine physician specializing in autism spectrum disorder, to explore what a root-cause approach to autism actually looks like. They discuss why autism is not a purely genetic condition, how environmental factors, diet, gut health, and mitochondrial dysfunction play a central role in its development, and what emerging research on folate receptor antibodies, folinic acid, and targeted supplementation is revealing about reversible pathways in autism care. This conversation offers practical, hope-filled strategies for families navigating an autism diagnosis and for anyone looking to understand the biology behind neurodevelopmental health.

Could the "weight-loss shots" everyone is talking about actually be the next big breakthrough in cancer prevention?
In this week’s episode of the FMI podcast, I’m joined once again by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Holthouse. While Dr. H is a world-renowned expert in hormone health and cardiometabolic medicine, today we are diving into a topic that is reshaping the future of longevity: the direct link between obesity-related cancers and GLP-1 medications.
We recently learned that colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death for men and women under 50. It’s a sobering statistic, but there is hope in the evolving science of metabolic medicine.
In this episode, we discuss:
The "Four Horsemen" of Aging: Why cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, and insulin resistance are all driven by the same cellular pathways.
GLP-1s Beyond Weight Loss: How medications like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide work at the cellular level to potentially reduce tumor volume and progression.
The "New Kid on the Block": A deep dive into Retatrutide, the experimental triple-agonist showing even more dramatic results in preclinical models.
Obesity-Related Cancers: Why fatty liver, chronic inflammation, and nutrient-sensing pathways (like mTOR) create a "pro-cancer milieu."
The "Foundational Four": Why, despite all the medical breakthroughs, sleep, clean eating, stress management, and exercise remain the ultimate levers for health.
Dr. Holthouse also shares his "minimalist" approach to detoxification and why he’s more interested in "reining patients in" from expensive gadgets to focus on what actually moves the needle.
Whether you are interested in the latest longevity science or simply looking for ways to lower your family's risk of chronic disease, this conversation is packed with "root cause" insights you won't want to miss.

Leaders often underestimate how much their health drives performance. Amber Warren, PA-C, sits down with Matthew Tucker to explore how migraines, sleep, and nutrition affect energy, focus, and leadership capacity. Learn practical strategies to align your health with work, family, and long-term impact.
Listen now to discover how functional medicine can help you lead at your best.