The Functional Medicine Approach to Menopause

The functional medicine approach to menopause includes lifestyle supports.

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Tracy McCubbin, MD
personalized medicine
diet + lifestyle education
infrared Sauna 💦
📍 Denver, CO + Telemedicine

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Jun 13

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Most people assume they’re getting “enough” protein…

Until they actually track it. 👀

Here’s the thing:

🔹 Feeling full after a meal? Doesn’t mean you got enough protein.
🔹 Eating “healthy” doesn’t always equal protein-dense.
🔹 Throwing in a boiled egg or scoop of hummus? Likely not enough.

So what does “enough” actually mean?
✅ For most adults, that’s around 1.2–2.0g of protein per kilogram of body weight (and often higher if you’re active, over 35, or healing).

That means if you weigh 150 lbs (~68 kg), your baseline need could be 80–130g per day—not 40g.

(Spoiler: the average woman gets way less.)

Why does this matter?
Protein is the foundation for:
✨ Steady energy
💪 Lean muscle mass
🔥 Metabolic health
😴 Better sleep
🍽️ Fewer cravings
💆‍♀️ Hormone + neurotransmitter production

This isn’t about numbers for the sake of numbers.

It’s about giving your body what it actually needs to thrive.

🎯 Not sure if you’re hitting the mark?

Start by tracking one full day. You might be surprised.

📌 Save this post for later—and stay tuned for a breakdown of what 100g of protein really looks like (no shakes required).

#protein #macros #hormonehealth #hormones #hormonebalance #hormonalhealth #coloradofunctionalmedicinedoctor ...

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Jun 2

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You’ve likely heard that high estrogen can increase the risk of certain cancers—like breast, ovarian, and uterine.

But the real issue isn’t just how much estrogen you have…
It’s how well your body processes and eliminates it.

Here’s how it works:
🧬 Estrogen is detoxed in two main phases in the liver:
➡️ Phase 1 breaks estrogen down into different metabolites.
➡️ Phase 2 packages those metabolites so they can be excreted safely (via bile, urine, or stool).

Not all estrogen metabolites are benign.
Some—like 4-OH and 16-OH—can be more damaging and promote abnormal cell growth if not cleared properly.

If your detox pathways are sluggish, backed up, or undernourished, those harmful metabolites can build up—and re-circulate through the body.

Functional medicine focuses on supporting your detox system, not suppressing hormones:
✔️ Nutrients like B6, B12, folate, magnesium, and glutathione
✔️ Cruciferous veggies (hello, broccoli sprouts!)
✔️ Fiber to bind and eliminate excess estrogen
✔️ Liver-supportive herbs like milk thistle and dandelion
✔️ Gut health, because poor elimination = reabsorption

And when it comes to cancer prevention, this isn’t optional.

It’s essential.

Especially when paired with proactive tools like the Galleri® multi-cancer early detection test—which screens for signals across 50+ types of cancer, including many with hormonal links.

Your body’s ability to process estrogen is cancer prevention.

Questions? Let me know in the comments!

#hormonehealth #earlydetection #cancer #cancerprevention #coloradofunctionalmedicinedoctor #hormonebalance #hormonalhealth #hormones ...

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May 30

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We often think of stress as a mental or emotional issue.

But your body sees it differently.

To your biology, stress is a physiological event—one that impacts every system, including your immune defense and cancer risk.

Here’s what the research is showing us:
🧠 Chronic stress dysregulates your nervous system.
When you’re stuck in fight-or-flight mode, your body diverts resources away from deep repair and immune surveillance.

🛡️ Your immune system plays a crucial role in identifying and eliminating abnormal cells.
But under prolonged stress, that surveillance weakens—allowing potentially cancerous cells to go unchecked.

🔄 Stress also drives inflammation, blood sugar dysregulation, and hormone imbalances—all of which increase the likelihood of DNA damage and tumor development over time.

And here’s the kicker:

You don’t have to feel stressed to be affected.

👉 Overtraining, under-sleeping, perfectionism, never-ending to-do lists—they all quietly drain your system.

At our clinic, we don’t just ask how you’re eating or supplementing.

We ask:
🧘‍♀️ How is your nervous system coping?
🌀 Is your body getting the signal that it’s safe enough to repair?

Because prevention isn’t just about what you do.

It’s about what your body believes is possible.

And when paired with early detection tools like the Galleri® multi-cancer blood test, this becomes a complete, proactive strategy.

✨ What’s your favorite way to reduce or offset stress?

#hormonehealth #hormonebalance #earlydetection #cancerprevention #coloradofunctionalmedicinedoctor #cancer ...

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May 28

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If you’ve ever thought, “Cancer doesn’t run in my family, so I’m not worried…”
—this one’s for you.
👉 Only about 5–10% of cancers are purely genetic.

That means up to 90–95% are influenced by lifestyle, environment, and internal imbalances—not your DNA.

So while genetic screenings (like BRCA) can be valuable, they don’t tell the full story.

And they certainly don’t mean you’re in the clear.

Because risk isn’t just about what you inherit.

It’s about:
🧬 how your body handles toxins
🥦 how you metabolize hormones
🔥 how much chronic inflammation is present
🩸 and whether changes are happening beneath the surface—before symptoms show up.

That’s why we now offer the Galleri® multi-cancer early detection test at our clinic.
It screens for over 50 types of cancer—including many with no current routine screening available.

No symptoms needed. No family history required.

This is proactive care, not panic.

It’s a chance to detect what you can’t feel yet—and do something about it early.

🩺 Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, or just want to be thorough—this tool is a powerful addition to your prevention strategy.

Tag someone who might be curious to know about this test!

#coloradofunctionalmedicinedoctor #earlydetection #cancer #hormonebalance #cancerprevention #hormonehealth ...

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Dr. Tracy is an incredible listener and diagnostician. I have seen so many doctors, Naturopaths, and Nutritionists regarding issues with my digestion and no one had figured out what the issue was but Dr. Tracy did. She is thorough, experienced, caring and a first-rate Dr. Her staff are wonderful and efficient as well. I have recommended over five people to Dr Tracy already!

Colleen A

“I have experienced the highest level of functional medical concierge care from Dr. Tracy. The personalized treatment plan that she designed for me has eliminated the symptoms that I was previously experiencing. I have never felt better! The entire staff goes above and beyond in every area. They are always to respond to any question or request that I may have and are an absolute delight to work with. I have never experienced this level of professional and personalized care!”

Julie A

“I’m so thankful to have found Dr. Tracy as my functional medicine doctor. My skin is not flaring up with eczema anymore even when I don’t have the best diet! Since working with Dr. Tracy, I feel much healthier and can tell a huge difference in my skin! Definitely recommend her if you’re looking for a more holistic approach to your health!”

Katie W

Appreciate the thoughtful and focused time I get with Dr. McCubbin. She answers my questions and explains the why behind how I was feeling. In just a few months my energy levels completely turned around.” –

Amanda K

Dear Dr. McC – I am constantly grateful that you are in my life.

Sharon

“Thank you so much for the holiday recipe booklet, so anxious to try your recipe for Thumbprint cookies, Shari! Such fun the other night, you two are amazing. Thanks for your knowledge and wisdom.”

Mary L