Functional wellness

The Wellness Way Centennial Blog

Articles on hormones, thyroid, gut health, functional lab testing, nutrition and chiropractic - written for the patients standard care missed.

Your Morning Coffee Might Be Working Against You
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Jul 23, 2026

Your Morning Coffee Might Be Working Against You

Pesticides, mold, and mycotoxins hide in most cups of coffee. A functional wellness take on what to look for on the bag - and why decaf is the riskiest cup in the house.

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How to Choose a Functional Wellness Clinic in the Denver Metro
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Nov 26, 2026

How to Choose a Functional Wellness Clinic in the Denver Metro

Not every clinic that uses the words functional wellness works the same way. Here are the questions worth asking before you spend money on testing.

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Heavy Metal Testing: When It Matters and What We Look For
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Nov 19, 2026

Heavy Metal Testing: When It Matters and What We Look For

Lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and aluminum accumulate quietly. Here is who should be screened, how testing works and what a safe protocol looks like.

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Holiday Stress, Blood Sugar and Your Hormones: A Survival Guide That Is Not About Willpower
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Nov 12, 2026

Holiday Stress, Blood Sugar and Your Hormones: A Survival Guide That Is Not About Willpower

The holidays disrupt sleep, blood sugar and cortisol at the same time. Here is how those three interact and the small adjustments that actually protect you.

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Why You Get Sick Every Winter: Immune Testing and Vitamin D at Altitude
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Nov 5, 2026

Why You Get Sick Every Winter: Immune Testing and Vitamin D at Altitude

Colorado sunshine does not guarantee healthy vitamin D levels, and frequent winter illness is a signal worth testing rather than accepting.

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The First 90 Days: What Working With Our Clinic Actually Looks Like
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Oct 29, 2026

The First 90 Days: What Working With Our Clinic Actually Looks Like

From the first conversation to your results review and restoration plan, here is exactly what to expect, what it involves and how long each step takes.

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IgG vs IgE Food Testing: What the Difference Means for Your Symptoms
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Oct 22, 2026

IgG vs IgE Food Testing: What the Difference Means for Your Symptoms

Two immune pathways, two very different reactions, and two very different reasons to test. Here is how to read food allergy panels without eliminating everything you love.

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Mold and Mycotoxins in Colorado Homes: Symptoms, Testing and Next Steps
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Oct 15, 2026

Mold and Mycotoxins in Colorado Homes: Symptoms, Testing and Next Steps

Colorado is dry, so mold is not a problem here. Except it is. Here is why water damage in a dry climate still creates mycotoxin exposure, and how we test for it.

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Building Muscle and Losing Fat After 40: The Labs Men Should Actually Run
Paul Berens · Oct 8, 2026

Building Muscle and Losing Fat After 40: The Labs Men Should Actually Run

Training hard and eating clean but the body composition will not move? These are the markers that explain why, and what to do about each one.

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Chronic Inflammation: The Markers Worth Testing Beyond CRP
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Oct 1, 2026

Chronic Inflammation: The Markers Worth Testing Beyond CRP

Joint pain, brain fog and stubborn weight often trace back to measurable inflammation. Here are the markers we run and what each one points to.

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Perimenopause in Your Late 30s: What Is Actually Happening to Your Hormones
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Sep 24, 2026

Perimenopause in Your Late 30s: What Is Actually Happening to Your Hormones

Shorter cycles, heavier periods, new anxiety and 3 AM wakeups can start a decade before menopause. Here is what to test and why timing your labs matters.

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Cortisol and the 4 PM Crash: What a DUTCH Test Reveals
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Sep 17, 2026

Cortisol and the 4 PM Crash: What a DUTCH Test Reveals

Wired at night, dragging at 4 PM, running on caffeine? A DUTCH test maps your cortisol curve across the whole day instead of guessing from one blood draw.

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Bloating After Every Meal: What Comprehensive Stool Testing Actually Finds
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Sep 10, 2026

Bloating After Every Meal: What Comprehensive Stool Testing Actually Finds

Daily bloating is not normal, and it is not a fiber problem. Here is what a Genova Comprehensive Stool Analysis reveals about digestion, bacteria and inflammation.

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TSH Normal But Still Exhausted? What a Full Thyroid Panel Actually Shows
Dr. Jacqueline Berens · Sep 3, 2026

TSH Normal But Still Exhausted? What a Full Thyroid Panel Actually Shows

A normal TSH does not mean your thyroid is working well. Here is what Free T3, Reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies reveal that a single number never will.

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Low Testosterone Has Nothing to Do With Age: Here’s What’s Really Going On
Paul Berens · Jun 5, 2026

Low Testosterone Has Nothing to Do With Age: Here’s What’s Really Going On

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Recurring UTIs? Here's What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You
Paul Berens · May 20, 2026

Recurring UTIs? Here's What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You

A woman sits in discomfort in a bathroom, illustrating the frustration and pain of recurring UTIs. Learn what's really causing chronic urinary tract infections and how to break the cycle for good.

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Hormones, Menopause, and the Weight That Won't Budge: Three Centennial Women Who Stopped Guessing and Got Their Bodies Back!
Paul Berens · Apr 28, 2026

Hormones, Menopause, and the Weight That Won't Budge: Three Centennial Women Who Stopped Guessing and Got Their Bodies Back!

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Steps to Prioritizing your Heart Health
Paul Berens · May 2, 2025

Steps to Prioritizing your Heart Health

Your heart works tirelessly to keep you going, but heart disease remains a leading health concern in the United States. Fortunately, by understanding the risks and taking proactive steps, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing cardiovascular issues.

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Your Guide to Healthier Sugar Alternatives
Guest User · Jan 15, 2025

Your Guide to Healthier Sugar Alternatives

Craving something sweet but want to stay on track with your health goals? Whether you're taking on a no-sugar challenge or just looking to reduce sugar intake, the good news is there are plenty of healthier, natural alternatives to sugar.

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Water Contaminants and Filtration Options
Guest User · Dec 24, 2024

Water Contaminants and Filtration Options

Water is essential for life. We rely on it for hydration, cooking, cleaning, and more. But have you ever stopped to consider the quality of the water you’re drinking? With an increasing number of contaminants in our water sources, water filtration has become a crucial aspect of maintaining optimal h

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Choosing Food as Medicine
Guest User · Dec 11, 2024

Choosing Food as Medicine

In today's fast-paced world, the choices we make about what to eat can have a profound impact on our overall health and well-being. The food we consume has the potential to serve as a powerful form of medicine or, conversely, become a destructive force against our health. Understanding this concept

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The Importance of Spinal Alignment for Brain Health
Guest User · Oct 29, 2024

The Importance of Spinal Alignment for Brain Health

The spine is often referred to as the body's central pillar, supporting our structure and allowing for mobility. However, its role extends far beyond mere physical support; it also serves as a crucial conduit for communication between the brain and the rest of the body. When spinal alignment is comp

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5 Protein Powder Breakfast Ideas
Guest User · Oct 25, 2024

5 Protein Powder Breakfast Ideas

Having an intense focus on the amount of protein you eat, such as tracking, planning, and maintaining an awareness of your intake, is a great way to start tracking your health in general. But how can eating more food in the form of increased protein help you lose weight?

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The Differences Between Beef Protein and Collagen
Guest User · Oct 15, 2024

The Differences Between Beef Protein and Collagen

As the nutrition landscape evolves, beef protein powders have surged in popularity, following the earlier trend of collagen supplements. While both come from beef, they serve different purposes in our diets. In this post, we'll explore the distinctions between beef protein isolate and collagen, thei

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Understanding the MTHFR Gene and Its Impact on Health
Guest User · Oct 9, 2024

Understanding the MTHFR Gene and Its Impact on Health

The MTHFR gene, which stands for 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, is a crucial component in our body that encodes the enzyme responsible for processing folate (vitamin B9). This enzyme plays a vital role in converting folate into its active form, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, through a process

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9 Signs of PCOS
Guest User · Aug 7, 2024

9 Signs of PCOS

Check out these 9 Signs of PCOS. The first step is to get the big picture of how your cycle is transitioning through the month through getting proper testing done.

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Complete Thyroid Testing
Guest User · Aug 3, 2024

Complete Thyroid Testing

When it comes to thyroid health, many individuals are familiar with the basic thyroid tests like TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) and T4 (Free Thyroxine). These tests are often the first step in diagnosing thyroid conditions, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. However, relying solely on the

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Why is your Cholesterol High
Guest User · Aug 3, 2024

Why is your Cholesterol High

Cholesterol has often been vilified as the culprit behind heart disease and other health issues. However, it's crucial to recognize that cholesterol is a vital substance in the human body, serving essential roles in various physiological processes. In this article, we'll delve into why your choleste

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How to Support Digestion
Guest User · Aug 3, 2024

How to Support Digestion

Stomach acid, or gastric acid, plays a pivotal role in the digestive process, breaking down food and facilitating nutrient absorption. However, there's a common misconception that if you experience acid reflux, it means you have too much stomach acid. In reality, many individuals suffer from reflux

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Tips for a Healthier Period
Guest User · Aug 3, 2024

Tips for a Healthier Period

Periods are a natural part of a woman's life, but for many, they come with challenges like severe pain or discomfort. Understanding the intricate hormonal dance our bodies perform each month is crucial to address these issues and promote overall well-being. In this blog, we'll explore some essential

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5 Reasons to Test Your Gut Health
Guest User · Feb 2, 2024

5 Reasons to Test Your Gut Health

Your gut health plays a pivotal role in your overall well-being, affecting everything from digestion to immune function. While gut issues can often go unnoticed, they can have a significant impact on your health. Testing your gut health is a proactive step towards understanding your body better and

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