RENEW Functional Medicine & Anti-aging

Fasting insulin can be a helpful piece of the puzzle. But it is still only one snapshot. Metabolic health is bigger than a single fasting number.

Blood sugar patterns, triglycerides, HDL, blood pressure, waist circumference, activity levels, sleep, muscle mass, family history, and how your body responds after eating can all add important context. Research also suggests that combining fasting insulin with other metabolic markers can give a more complete picture than looking at fasting insulin alone.

So if your fasting insulin comes back “normal,” that can certainly be reassuring. It just does not automatically tell us everything about insulin sensitivity or your overall metabolic health.

Your labs are pieces of information. The value comes from understanding how those pieces fit together.

Renew Functional Medicine and Antiaging
2 Club Centre Ct, Suite 6, Edwardsville, IL
618-651-6303
www.renewmedicine.net

We tend to think of bones as something fixed, but they are constantly remodeling. They respond to the demands we place on them.

So when you lift weights, climb stairs, walk, or do appropriate impact-based movement, you are giving your bones a reason to stay strong.

And no, this does not mean you need to start doing intense workouts every day.

For most people, the bigger picture is consistency. Strength training a few times a week, regular weight-bearing movement, enough protein and nutrients, and giving your body time to recover can all support bone health over time.

This becomes especially important as we age, particularly through perimenopause and menopause when changes in hormones can affect bone density.

Think of bone health the same way you think about saving for retirement. The goal is to build and protect it early, not wait until there is a problem.

Renew Functional Medicine and Antiaging
2 Club Centre Ct, Suite 6, Edwardsville, IL
618-651-6303
www.renewmedicine.net

Comprehensive stool testing can provide valuable insights, but it's one piece of the puzzle, not the whole picture.

Depending on the test, it may provide information about:
✔️ Digestion and nutrient breakdown
✔️ Markers of gut inflammation
✔️ The balance of certain gut bacteria
✔️ Some parasites or pathogens
✔️ Digestive enzyme function

But a stool test doesn't diagnose every digestive condition, and not every abnormal finding needs to be treated. The most meaningful results come when they're interpreted alongside your symptoms, medical history, diet, medications, and other laboratory findings.

Renew Functional Medicine and Antiaging
2 Club Centre Ct, Suite 6, Edwardsville, IL
618-651-6303
www.renewmedicine.net

You don’t “just get bloated sometimes.” You’re not “just tired from being busy.” And no, your anxiety, breakouts, or brain fog aren’t just part of being a woman.

Your symptoms are whispers. And the longer they’re ignored, the louder they’ll get.

We look at your symptoms as signals, not annoyances to be numbed, silenced, or pushed aside.

✨ That bloat after lunch? Could be SIBO or low stomach acid.
✨ That 3PM crash? Blood sugar imbalance.
✨ That low mood before your period? Hormonal shifts that can be supported, not suppressed.

Your body is trying to get your attention. The sooner you listen, the less it has to yell. Book your consultation and get to the root.

Renew Functional Medicine and Antiaging
2 Club Centre Ct, Suite 6, Edwardsville, IL
618-651-6303
www.renewmedicine.net

Estrogen supports a healthy brain!

If you're feeling exhausted, losing more hair than usual, or finding your workouts harder than they used to be, ferritin may be worth talking to your healthcare provider about.

Ferritin measures your body's stored iron. While it's often checked when someone is anemic, low iron stores can sometimes contribute to symptoms before anemia develops.

Low ferritin may be associated with:

• Fatigue
• Hair shedding
• Reduced exercise tolerance
• Restless legs
• Brain fog

For women, especially those with heavy periods or in perimenopause, iron stores can gradually decline over time.

If you're experiencing persistent symptoms, we'd be happy to help you explore the possible causes and develop a personalized plan.

Renew Functional Medicine and Antiaging
2 Club Centre Ct, Suite 6, Edwardsville, IL
618-651-6303
www.renewmedicine.net

Your hormones change. Your skin changes too.

If you’ve looked in the mirror lately and thought, “Why does my face suddenly look different?”—you’re not imagining it.

During perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen can affect collagen, elasticity, hydration and skin thickness. You may begin noticing more dryness, fine lines, laxity, changes in texture, or a face that simply looks more tired than it used to.

At RENEW, we look at aging differently. We can address what’s happening on the inside with individualized hormone and wellness care, while our aesthetic treatments can help improve what you’re seeing on the outside—including neuromodulators, filler, microneedling, chemical peels and other skin-rejuvenation options.

Our goal isn’t to make you look like someone else.

It’s to help you feel like yourself again—and look like the healthiest, most refreshed version of you.

They’re one sign of the physiologic changes happening throughout the body during the menopause transition—including changes involving vascular function, metabolism, hormones and cardiovascular health. Not every woman gets hot flashes.

The goal isn’t simply to “put up with” symptoms. It’s to understand what your body is telling you and have an informed conversation about your health, your individual risks, and whether hormone therapy may be appropriate for you.

Midlife deserves proactive care—not just symptom management.

Hormone therapy is individualized and is not appropriate for everyone. Schedule a consultation to discuss your personal history, symptoms and treatment options.

Feeling wiped out in the summer heat? It could be low B vitamins!

These water-soluble nutrients power your energy metabolism, support adrenal function, and help you recover from heat-related fatigue. But they’re easily depleted through sweat, stress, and poor absorption.

Signs of low B vitamin levels can include low energy, poor heat tolerance, mood swings or brain fog

A high-quality B-complex, especially with methylated forms, can boost cellular energy and keep your system running strong when temps rise.

Always check with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

Renew Functional Medicine and Antiaging
2 Club Centre Ct, Suite 6, Edwardsville, IL
618-651-6303
www.renewmedicine.net

Most people associate testosterone with muscle, energy, and libido. But did you know it also plays a role in cognitive function?

Testosterone receptors are found throughout the brain, and healthy testosterone levels help support processes involved in memory, focus, learning, and mental clarity.

Of course, testosterone isn't the only factor that affects cognitive health. Poor sleep, chronic stress, thyroid dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, medications, depression, and metabolic health can all influence how your brain functions.

If you've noticed changes in your memory, focus, or mental sharpness, a comprehensive evaluation can help identify the factors that may be contributing.

Renew Functional Medicine and Antiaging
2 Club Centre Ct, Suite 6, Edwardsville, IL
618-651-6303
www.renewmedicine.net