The Institute for Functional Medicine

Autoimmune diseases and autoantibody detection both continue to increase in the United States. While the direct economic cost of autoimmune disease to the healthcare system is difficult to determine, annual estimates are at more than $100 billion. What cost-effective treatment options are available to improve quality of life for patients living with autoimmune disease? Read more in the following article: https://hubs.ly/Q039yf-C0

A mutually empowering patient-practitioner relationship is a key element in functional medicine and is enhanced by the use of the functional medicine timeline along with an empathetic approach. Learn more about the power of the therapeutic partnership during IFM’s Annual International Conference (AIC). Register to join us at https://hubs.la/Q039kh1c0!

IFM has been a proud partner of IM4US-Integrative Medicine for the Underserved since 2017, working together to improve the quality of care provided to underserved populations. IM4US is hosting their 15th annual conference this August 14th-16th, and they are currently accepting presentation proposals for this year's conference. You can learn more about the conference and submit a proposal here: https://lnkd.in/gxuc4hyV If you are interested in presenting but unsure where to start, join the IM4US team for an informational session via Zoom this Wednesday, March 5th. Details are in the post below.

As we have just concluded our first Cardiometabolic Advanced Practice Module (APM) self-paced cohort, we would like to thank a minute to thank the sponsors who helped make the program possible. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we rely on the generous support of our partners to continue expanding the reach and impact of functional medicine worldwide. Thank you to Genova Diagnostics., Integrated Connections, and Vibrant Wellness for supporting this program.

What are the connections between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and environmental risk factors such as smoking? Research studies continue to clarify how the body’s immune response to toxicant exposures influence an individual’s RA risk and disease progression. How can personalized, lifestyle-based approaches to treatment and preventative care help? Read more in the following article: https://hubs.la/Q038Hg1W0

Personalized nutrition is a powerful preventive and therapeutic tool for improving health outcomes that serves as a fundamental component of many functional medicine strategies. The 2025 Annual International Conference (AIC) will spotlight the role of nutrition in enhancing health, healing, and well-being. A curated selection of concurrent sessions at AIC will explore how optimizing nutritional status can be one of the most important and effective lifestyle-based interventions. Get a preview of the upcoming presentations by swiping through these graphics, and register to join us at https://hubs.la/Q038tJR20!

Did you know that if you have just 15 minutes and 10 simple ingredients, you can make a delicious, heart-healthy flax muffin in a cup? This recipe and many others are available in IFM's Cardiometabolic Food Plan within the IFM Clinical Toolkit, available to active IFM members. The Cardiometabolic Food Plan allows people to use food to treat the common underlying causes of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. It is part of IFM's suite of therapeutic food plans, and we offer a course to help clinicians develop mastery over these food plans and to be able to quickly and effectively design a personalized nutrition plan. A new cohort of the Therapeutic Food Plans course has just begun this week, and there is still time left to register at https://ifm.org/tfp. Save this recipe for later! A full list of its simple ingredients are in the comments.

Worldwide, an estimated 4% of children have food allergies,* and other adverse food reactions such as intolerances and sensitivities are even more common. What are the known risk factors for pediatric food allergies and intolerances, what are the concerning health consequences if these conditions are not addressed, and how can the functional medicine approach help? On this episode of "Pathways to Well-Being," we welcome Dr. Rebecca Carey, a pediatric gastroenterologist who is also certified in functional medicine as well as clinical nutrition, to talk about food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities from a pediatric perspective and how these issues experienced in childhood may impact not only pediatric health but also health and wellness later in life. Listen to the episode here: https://hubs.la/Q0380T7K0

There is persuasive evidence that even low-level toxic exposures contribute to the development of a variety of chronic health conditions, including fatigue, endocrine disruption, and chronic degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. Given the ubiquitous nature of chemicals in the environment, it is likely that the single exposure model of toxicology is more the exception than the rule. It is critical to not only assess each patients total toxic burden, but also their capacity to effectively biotransform and eliminate these toxins for optimal health. At IFM’s Environmental Health Advanced Practice Module (APM) Europe, happening this 25-27 April, you’ll learn the latest evidence-based strategies for optimizing the biological pathways responsible for the biotransformation and excretion of toxins. Attend this online rebroadcast with live Q&A's to gain these essential skills. Learn more about the program and enroll here: https://hubs.la/Q037Q85p0