Relevant, focused articles designed to help you live your healthiest life.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It is characterized by the growth of small cysts on the ovaries and a hormonal imbalance that leads to a range of symptoms, including irregular menstrual cycles, acne, hirsutism (excessive hair growth), obesity, and infertility. The exact cause of PCOS…

Good nutrition is essential for a healthy life and can have a profound impact on our physical, mental and emotional well-being. While many people know the importance of good nutrition, making changes to your diet and eating habits can be challenging. This is where a nutrition coach can help. At Empowered Health, we treat food…

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health conditions that increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. The syndrome is characterized by a combination of metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, central obesity, high blood pressure, and abnormal lipid metabolism. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the…

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas. Despite its prevalence, the exact cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown, and there is no cure. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include: Fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed or overlooked because its symptoms are…

Diverticulitis is a condition that affects the digestive system, specifically the colon. It occurs when small pouches or pockets, called diverticula, form in the lining of the colon and become infected or inflamed. In this blog, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of diverticulitis. Causes of Diverticulitis: The exact cause of diverticulitis…

Anemia is a common blood disorder characterized by a reduced number of red blood cells (RBCs) or a decrease in hemoglobin levels, resulting in a decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Anemia can be caused by a variety of factors, such as a lack of iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid, blood loss, chronic disease,…

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can lead to severe physical and emotional harm. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) defines eating disorders as “serious and often fatal illnesses that cause severe disturbances to a person’s eating behaviors.” Eating disorders can take many forms, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.…

Fat has long been demonized in the health and wellness industry as the villain behind weight gain and a host of health problems, but the truth is, our bodies need fat to function properly. From providing energy to supporting cell growth, fat plays a vital role in keeping us healthy and strong. Here are some…

National Nutrition Month is an annual nutrition education and awareness campaign that takes place in March. The purpose of this month-long campaign is to promote the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits. What is National Nutrition Month? National Nutrition Month is an initiative created by the Academy of Nutrition and…

Thyroid function is one of the standard health assessments at Empowered Health. Why? Thyroid health affects energy levels and metabolism. Various factors can negatively impact thyroid function resulting in fatigue, weight gain, anxiety and hair loss (to name a few). For those unfamiliar with the thyroid gland, it sits in the anterior portion of the…

Hypertension is a multifactorial illness. Hypertension is the most common primary care diagnosis in the United States and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke or renal failure when not detected early and treated appropriately. The American Heart Association estimates that approximately 45% of Americans have hypertension. Over 90% of cases have…

Do you know what the largest organ of the human body is? It’s not your brain, your stomach, or even your intestines. It’s your skin! We often don’t think of our skin as an organ, but it is just as important – if not more – than some of your “hidden” internal organs. Skin helps…

Haley Scellick, ARNP at Empowered Health, shares her most frequently asked questions she hears in her role as a healthcare provider. 1. How can I eat healthier? At Empowered Health, we individualize nutrition plans to fit a personalized approach. We pair the person’s health goals, biometrics, labs and a few other items. The short answer…

Vitamin D is a unique vitamin that is very important to our overall health and wellness. It is valuable in reducing inflammation and promoting cell growth, glucose metabolism and immune function. It also helps regulate calcium and phosphate in the body, both nutrients we need to keep muscles, bones and teeth in tip-top shape. Without sufficient…

While there’s no one perfect temperature or recommendation for everyone, we have a few things to keep in mind while you go out for your cold weather movement. One of the benefits of working out in the cold is that endurance is often increased. Because of the cooler temperatures the heart does not have to…

We all know the importance of proper hydration. Water aids in just about every biological process and therefore hydration affects everything from digestion and skin health to brain function and physical capability. It’s recommended that the average adult drink half their weight in ounces every day in order to help with your body’s everyday functions.…

There are a myriad of reasons you may be experiencing digestive pain or discomfort. It could be bloating, constipation or gas from a recent meal or something more serious, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome or ulcerative colitis. (We always recommend speaking with your health care provider about any lingering symptoms or concerns.) One way to reduce…

Insulin resistance defines a person’s tolerance to glucose. As the insulin levels rise, the cells can become resistance and alter the signaling that leads to less glucose uptake and a further elevation of glucose which further perpetuates the cycle. Insulin acts as the key that no longer fits into a lock (the receptor on glucose).…

Quality sleep is one of the most critical components of feeling and living well. Most adults (over 60%!) will experience some kind of sleep disorder at some point in their lifetime. If you have struggled to fall asleep or stay asleep, it can be a frustrating and exhausting (literally) cycle. One simple way to help…

We have all experienced the unexpected emotion of being scared. Whether you purposefully seek it out by watching a horror movie or inadvertently encounter a mountain lion while on the trail – the physical reaction playing out in your body is the same. Let’s breakdown what happens in our brains during those moments, whether it…

The autumn season is book-ended by the carefree warmth of summer and the looming stress of the holiday season. The fall colors, cooler temps and pumpkin-spice everything are hallmarks of this transition that many people look forward to with anticipation. But for others, this shift in the seasons can also trigger stress and anxiety. This…

Hormones affect everything, from blood sugar to blood pressure, growth/fertility, sex drive, metabolism, and even sleep. Their influence goes as far as changing the way we think and act day to day. At least 80% of us will struggle with a hormone problem in our lifetime, significant enough to cause disruption in our life quality,…

Our guts are host to millions of bacteria of multiple different species and functions. In fact, there are so many bacteria in our gut that they outnumber the amount of cells in our body. This may sound a bit unsavory, especially when we are brought up believing that bacteria equals disease, but the bacteria in…

Summer eating is full of poolside popsicles, juice boxes, barbeque cookouts, easy snacks for road trips and dining out while on vacation. With back to school is just around the corner, it is a perfect opportunity to recalibrate your child’s nutritional habits to help them feel good and perform well at school. The Committee on…

Fuel Your Movement The Empowered Health Team What to eat, how much to eat and when to eat it are all important components of your workout regimen. The other factor that figures into this equation is what kind of workout you are doing. It can be challenging to navigate all this information. Feeling overwhelmed, many of…

“Fasting is the greatest remedy-the physician within.” -Paracelsus, 16th Century Physician What is intermittent fasting?  Fasting is one of the oldest remedies in human history and has been part of the practice of virtually every culture and religion on earth. Fasting is the voluntary absence from food for spiritual, health or other reasons. It may be…

Looking for something to fill your time this summer that will help you maintain social distancing but boost your immune system and get you out of the house? Starting an herb garden might be just the thing for you! There are a few options to consider when you decide to grow your own herbs. Will…

Proper hydration is important all year long, but especially in the summer when the days are longer and hotter. With the abundance of outdoor activities available to us in the Tri-Cities, many of us are spending long hours in the sun and the heat. How Your Body Uses Water An adult human’s body can contain…

At Empowered Health, we offer many precision medicine advanced testing tools that include a deeper awareness to provide the most educated medical decisions for the persons’ individual health journey. Psychotropic genetic testing is another advanced test that we utilize across all age groups. GeneSight psychotropic testing analyzes how your genes affect medication outcomes by important…

A natural way to regulate your mood and increase your overall sense of well-being is to increase your body’s production of a group of hormones that are often referred to as the “feel good” hormones. This quartet includes:  Dopamine – Linked to the brain’s reward system and involved with reinforcement of behaviors   Serotonin – Related…

Metformin has been a mainstay and frontline medication for treatment of type 2 diabetes for decades. It is now gaining popularity in the longevity field and studies are underway with prevention of certain cancers too. Current studies are showing a reduction in cancer risk and mortality particularly for tumors of the lung, colon, pancreas and…

Menopause is a significant milestone in every woman’s life. It can look and manifest differently for each woman which is why the individualized nature of a precision medicine approach can be so beneficial in navigating this stage of life.   What is menopause?  Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of a woman’s menstrual cycle, which…

At Empowered Health, we offer many precision medicine advanced testing tools that include a deeper awareness to be able to make the most educated medical decisions for the persons’ individual health journey. One advanced test that we offer is the cortisol awakening response test (CAR). Cortisol levels naturally begin to rise by an average of…

Healthy Exercise Habits We’ve talked about Intuitive Eating and the benefits of moving away from diet culture towards a practice that is more focused on eating with an intention of self-care and trust in your body. There is another lifestyle area that diet culture has a negative impact: Exercise.  As with nutrition, diet culture can…

Signs & Symptoms of Eating Disorders by Haley Scellick, ARNP Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that are more common than often diagnosed. Although the term eating is in the name, eating disorders are about more than food. In the United States alone, an estimated 20 million women and 10 million men have had…