920 Wellness Studio - Appleton

🎂🤍 **Help us wish Dr. Mikhaila a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!** 🤍🎂

Today we’re celebrating the woman behind Fox Valley Functional Medicine — practitioner, business owner, wife, mom, woman of faith, and someone who pours so much of her heart into caring for others. 🌿

Dr. Mikhaila’s passion has always been about more than labs, supplements, or nutrition. It’s about helping people feel heard, finding the *why* behind their symptoms, and helping women and families feel like themselves again.

FVFM has grown from a dream into a beautiful community, and so much of that comes from her genuine love for her patients and her belief that God placed her in this work for a reason.

This next year brings another chapter of growth, faith, family, big dreams, and hopefully a little more time to slow down and enjoy all that she has worked so hard to build. 🤍

We are so grateful for every patient, family, friend, and follower who has supported Dr. Mikhaila and Fox Valley Functional Medicine along the way. Being able to serve this community is one of the greatest gifts.

So today, drop a little birthday love for Dr. Mikhaila below! 🥳🎉🎂

**“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24**

Happy Birthday, Dr. Mikhaila! Here’s to another year of doing what you love, loving your people well, and following where God leads. 🤍🌿

What I’m doing to support + heal my gut 🤎

Gut healing doesn’t have to mean 15 different supplements and a complicated morning routine. These are a few of the staples I’ve been using consistently to support my gut while also making sure I’m getting enough protein and nourishment.

✨ GlutaShield® — I use this to support and soothe the GI lining and intestinal barrier. Think of this as helping provide nutritional support for the gut lining while I work on the bigger picture.

✨ SBI Protect® — contains serum-derived bovine immunoglobulins that can help support intestinal immune function and a healthy gut barrier. This has been one of my go-to tools when focusing on GI health.

✨ Be Well by Kelly Chocolate Protein — because gut healing also requires adequate protein! I love that this has a short ingredient list and makes it easy for me to get a protein-rich meal or snack in, especially on busy mornings.

✨ Unsweetened Califia Organic Almondmilk — just 3 simple ingredients and no added sugar. I use this as the base of my shake to keep things simple.

I’ll blend these together for an easy chocolate gut-supporting protein shake. 🤎

But here’s the important part: a supplement or shake alone doesn’t “heal” your gut. Gut health is also about what you do consistently — eating whole foods, getting enough protein and fiber as tolerated, supporting regular bowel movements, managing stress, sleeping well, and addressing the reason your gut is struggling in the first place.

As a Functional Medicine provider, I’m a big believer in test, don’t guess and creating a plan based on the individual rather than throwing every “gut healing” supplement at the problem.

Small daily habits + targeted support + consistency. 🌿

Bloating, constipation, or sluggish digestion often get blamed entirely on what you ate, but your thyroid plays a huge role in how well your whole digestive system runs.

Thyroid hormone influences gut motility, enzyme production, and even bile flow, so when your thyroid is out of balance, your digestion often feels it first.

How your thyroid affects digestion:
🦋 Thyroid hormone helps regulate the speed at which food moves through your digestive tract, known as motility
🦋 An underactive thyroid slows this process down, which is why constipation is one of the most common and underrated symptoms of hypothyroidism
🦋 Slower motility gives bacteria more time to ferment food in the gut, which is a major contributor to bloating that has nothing to do with what you just ate
🦋 Thyroid hormone also supports healthy production of digestive enzymes, so low thyroid function can mean food is not being broken down as efficiently
🦋 Your thyroid influences bile flow from the gallbladder, and bile is essential for breaking down fats and keeping things moving through the digestive tract. Sluggish bile flow can contribute to bloating, fat malabsorption, and discomfort after meals

Common digestive symptoms linked to thyroid imbalance:
🦋 Constipation, especially if it is a new or worsening pattern
🦋 Bloating that happens regularly, regardless of what you eat
🦋 Feeling overly full after small meals
🦋 Nausea or discomfort after fatty foods, which can point towards sluggish bile flow
🦋 Alternating constipation and loose stools, which can also occur in hyperthyroidism due to sped up motility

Why this gets missed
Digestive symptoms are usually the first thing people try to fix with diet alone, cutting out gluten, dairy, or FODMAPs, without ever considering the thyroid connection. While food sensitivities are real and worth investigating, if digestive symptoms persist despite dietary changes, it is worth asking whether an underlying thyroid imbalance is the actual driver.

Nutrients and steps that support digestive function alongside thyroid health:

🦋 Fibre
Supports healthy motility and feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut
Daily requirement is around 25 to 30 grams for most women
Food sources include vegetables, legumes, chia seeds, and whole fruit
Increase fibre gradually if motility has been slow for a while, since a sudden large increase can worsen bloating short term

🦋 Magnesium
Supports healthy bowel motility and can gently ease constipation
Daily requirement is around 310 to 320 mg for women
Food sources include leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and dark chocolate

🦋 Zinc
Supports digestive enzyme production and gut lining integrity
Daily requirement is around 8 mg for women
Food sources include oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and chickpeas

🦋 Bitter foods
Traditionally used to stimulate digestive enzyme and bile release before meals
Food sources include rocket, radicchio, lemon water, and apple c***r vinegar diluted in water
A small amount before meals can support digestion, particularly if bile flow feels sluggish

Action steps
🦋 If digestive symptoms have appeared alongside other thyroid symptoms such as fatigue, hair changes, or weight shifts, mention this pattern to your practitioner rather than treating it as a separate issue
🦋 Get your thyroid panel checked, including TSH, free T4, and free T3, if digestive symptoms are ongoing and not responding to dietary changes
🦋 Support motility with adequate fibre, hydration, and movement throughout the day, since sitting for long periods further slows digestion
🦋 Consider bitter foods or drinks before meals if bloating after fatty foods is a pattern for you
🦋 Track whether digestive symptoms improve as thyroid treatment is adjusted, since this can be a useful clue in itself

Your gut and your thyroid are in constant communication. If digestion has been a frustrating, unresolved piece of your health puzzle, it is worth looking upstream at thyroid function rather than assuming it is only about food.

We spend so much time waiting for the “water to stir.”

We wait for the perfect doctor, the right season, or for someone else to finally give us a hand up.

But when Jesus stood before the man at the pool of Bethesda, He didn’t address the water or the 38-year wait.

He addressed the will.

“Do you want to be made well?”

It’s one of the most uncomfortable questions in Scripture because it removes our excuses.

Healing, growth, and transformation often start with a decision to stop explaining why we’re stuck and start obeying what God is telling you.

Don’t let your “because” keep you from your “becoming.”

👇 This is just the beginning… get our Bible Health newsletter.

💬 Comment “SUBSTACK” and we’ll send you the link.

We’re praying for you. 🙏

A little **out-of-office + family time** before the school year begins! 🏕️🌲🤎

Starting **Thursday afternoon**, I’ll be heading out of town for a camping trip with my family and will have **limited to no cell service**.

I’ll be unplugging, soaking up time with my family, and making some memories before school starts. 🤍

If you send an **email, text, or message** while I’m away, please know I’m not ignoring you! I’ll respond to all messages when I’m back **Monday**.

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. Grateful for a few days to slow down, unplug, and enjoy this time together. 🌿✨

Dr M