Fortify Health Insights

Written by: Meredith Paci, Functional Health Coach

H. pylori is a common yet potentially troublesome and harmful bacteria. Testing for H. pylori involves several methods, each with its own advantages and limitations. Today, we will review several common testing methods, limitations to each, who ord...

Written by: Meredith Paci, Functional Health Coach

There is a phrase I have heard for years. From families, from friends, from well-meaning professionals who should know better.

"Well, he hasn't wandered off yet."

As if that is the line. As if a grown man (or woman) standing confused on the shoul...

Written by Sarah Bishop, MS Exercise Science, Functional Health Coach

Struggling to reduce your caffeine? Maybe it’s not a discipline thing

Fatigue can stem from digestive dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, cortisol dysregulation , hormone imbalances ….Just to name a few things.

It can also be t...

Written by: Meredith Paci

My father was diagnosed with vascular dementia February 14th 2026. I watched risk factors go unaddressed for years and it changed how I think about everything I do in this practice, how I educate, how I show up for every person I support, and why the work we do at Fortify ...

Written by: Meredith Paci and Sarah Bishop

The holidays are back, and yes, we are absolutely inviting you to have fun with this. Think less perfection, more “this is our kitchen and we’re rolling with it.” Some traditions stay, some get remixed, and some become their own thing entirely. That mix is...

Written by: Meredith Paci, Functional Health Coach

The holiday season is a paradox. It’s supposed to be joyful, but for many, it’s anything but. The calendar fills up with social events, gift exchanges, and family obligations, leaving many feeling like there is no time to settle in and be in the...

Written by Sarah Bishop, MS Exercise Science, Functional Health Coach

When you think thyroid, what is the first thing you think about?

For many, it’s metabolism. One of the thyroid gland's main jobs is controlling metabolic rate. However, keep in mind - metabolism is the sum of all reactions in...

Written by: Meredith Paci, Functional Health Coach

You’ve probably seen headlines warning that protein powders contain dangerous levels of lead. Sounds scary, right? What most people don’t realize is that the same kind of testing has also flagged chocolate for similar concerns and you don’t see any...

Written by: Meredith Paci, Functional Health Coach

The goal here is to use food strategically as “medicine.” It brings a whole new meaning to that statement ‘fuel for the soul’. Supplements are limited during breastfeeding, so we lean on rotation and diversity to get therapeutic benefit. That sa...

 Written by Sarah Bishop, MS Exercise Science, Functional Health Coach

As coaches, heck, as females with goals and timelines you’re excited to act on, it’s tempting to want to tackle everything at once: nutrition, training, supplements, lifestyle, testing…

Clients often arrive with a laundry li...

Written by: Meredith Paci, Functional Health Coach

Annoyed — that’s probably the most accurate way to describe how many women feel when their body starts to change in midlife and nothing they try seems to make a difference. Open up social media and you’ll see the pushback:

“Metabolism doesn’t s...

Written by: Meredith Paci, Functional Health Coach

Cholesterol is yet another misunderstood substance in health and nutrition. For years, it has been painted as the villain—solely responsible for clogged arteries and heart attacks. But cholesterol, like most things, is far more dynamic and absol...