February FMP Essentials Mastermind Member Newsletter

In This Edition:

• What’s New at FMP Essentials: Stay updated on upcoming courses, practitioner meet-ups, and exciting announcements, and new educational content.
• Public Podcast Announcement: The FMP Essentials Show is live! Episode 2 is out now—subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple to help us grow!
• AI Imaging in Cardiology: Discover how AI is transforming cardiovascular risk assessment by analyzing both hard and soft plaque.
• Private Mastermind Podcast Spotlight: Tune in to our latest episode on the Functional Medicine approach to Rheumatoid Arthritis with Rajka Milanovic Galbraith, MD. 
• Blog Feature: Adrenal Fatigue? It's Time to Move On—Discover why HPA axis dysregulation offers a more accurate, evidence-based approach to stress-related symptoms.

Stay informed, engaged, and ahead of the curve with this month’s updates!

What's New At FMP Essentials?

• Functional Fertility Podcast Episode: Dr. Elyaman recently joined Kalea Wattles, ND, IFMCP for an engaging conversation you won't want to miss! They dive into the connections between PCOS, uric acid, and inflammation. Check out the episode here!

• Xymogen Xperience: Save the date for April 12–13, at the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District in Dallas, TX! Dr. Elyaman will be speaking on the functional medicine approach to dementia in his talk, "Cracking the Dementia Code: Functional Medicine Strategies for Cognitive Health and Resilience." Haven't purchased a ticket yet? Use code FMP25 at checkout for $95 off. Learn more and purchase your ticket by clicking here.
  • Attendees will gain insights into:
    • ✅ Key biomarkers and clinical assessments for cognitive function.
    • ✅ The role of inflammation, mitochondrial health, and metabolic balance in brain aging.
    • ✅ Nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted interventions to support cognitive wellness.
    • ✅ Practical, actionable strategies to integrate into clinical practice.
  • We're also excited to have our first FMP Essentials booth at the event—we hope to see you there!
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• Dr. Terry Wahls' Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Summit: Dr. Elyaman will join Dr. Wahls and 40+ world-leading experts at her upcoming summit, running April 29 – May 5. Learn more about the event by clicking here. 

• Mastermind: We continue to work on our Silver and Gold memberships which are set to launch in mid-2025, offering advanced clinical content and leadership development tools. Click here to join the waitlist!

🎙 Public Podcast Launch: The FMP Essentials Show

We're excited to announce the launch of The FMP Essentials Show publicly! The podcast is now available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, featuring expert insights into functional medicine topics to support practitioners and their patients. Episode 2 on hypertension with Ellie Campbell, DO is now available. Please help us increase our Youtube subscribers. Listen or share this episode with a practitioner friend or someone who is interested in functional medicine: YouTube.

💡 Help Us Grow!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay updated on new episodes and help expand our reach in the functional medicine community.

Mastermind Members, Enjoy Early Access!

As a valued mastermind member, you get early access to episodes. While the public podcast is currently on episode 2, episode 5 is already available exclusively to you with your membership! This is just one of the many benefits of being part of the Mastermind community. This topic was on the functional medicine approach to Rheumatoid Arthritis with Dr. Rajka. Learn more about episode #5 in the Private Mastermind Podcast Spotlight below!

AI Imaging in Cardiology: Advancing Soft Plaque Detection

Following our podcast episode on coronary artery disease (CAD) with Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, we received many questions about AI imaging in cardiology. We’re planning a follow-up discussion soon, but in the meantime, we wanted to dive deeper into the topic of soft vs. hard plaque detection and how AI-guided coronary CT angiography (AI-QCT) is changing cardiovascular care.

Soft vs. Hard Plaque: 

• Soft Plaque: Non-calcified, lipid-rich, and prone to rupture, leading to acute events like myocardial infarction. Critical for short-term risk assessment.
• Hard Plaque: Calcified and more stable, less likely to rupture but can cause narrowing (stenosis) of arteries, leading to symptoms like angina. It serves as an indicator of long-term cardiovascular risk and overall plaque burden.

Beyond Calcium Scoring: The Power of AI-QCT

Traditionally, coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring has been used to assess long-term risk by measuring calcified plaque. However, AI-QCT takes this further by detecting and quantifying soft plaque, which poses a greater risk for rupture and acute events.

A recent long-term study of 536 patients highlighted the prognostic value of AI-QCT in cardiovascular care.

• Patients with high soft plaque burden (non-calcified plaque >7.5%) had a 3- to 4-fold increased risk of MACE during a 10.3-year follow-up.
• AI-QCT significantly improved risk prediction models, correctly identifying patients at risk for cardiac events 82% of the time, compared to 73% for CAC-based models over a 10-year follow-up.
• This demonstrates the critical role AI plays in detecting both soft and hard plaque for comprehensive risk assessment.

Check Out This Month's Podcast Episode

We’re thrilled to bring you this month’s podcast episode, now available for early access to our Mastermind community!

In this exciting episode of the FMP Essentials Show, Dr. Elyaman sits down with Dr. Rajka, a functional medicine MD specializing in longevity, hormone replacement, and nutrigenetics. Dr. Rajka shares her personal journey of overcoming decades of fatigue and her extensive experience treating complex autoimmune cases.

Here’s a glimpse of what they discuss:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Dr. Rajka’s unique approach to identifying root causes like genetics, gut health, and inflammation.
• Key Lab Insights: The importance of ordering and interpreting biomarkers such as vitamin D, omega-3 index, zinc-copper ratios, and homocysteine.
• Gut Microbiome and Diet: How targeted gut health strategies and personalized food plans (including triggers like gluten, dairy, and nightshades) can transform patient outcomes.
• Clinical Gems: Real-world strategies for addressing autoimmune conditions and the important connections between nutrient deficiencies, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

This episode is full of actionable insights and expert strategies to help you tackle autoimmune conditions. Don’t miss it!

How to watch/listen: Log into your account, select the Bronze Mastermind, and scroll down to the "Expert Interviews, Insights & Podcasts" section to find the episode.

Check Out This Month's Blog Post

Moving Beyond "Adrenal Fatigue"
Chronic fatigue, brain fog, and stress-related dysfunction are common issues seen in practice. For years, terms like "adrenal fatigue" and "cortisol steal" have been used to explain these symptoms, but they don't align with current scientific understanding.

It’s time to focus on HPA axis dysregulation—a more accurate, evidence-based explanation of stress-related hormonal imbalances. This blog explores why the adrenal fatigue theory falls short and offers actionable strategies for practitioners, including the importance of salivary cortisol testing, stress management techniques, circadian rhythm support, and key nutrients.

Click here to view the article!

Help Us Grow Our Community!

Know a colleague who would benefit from being part of this Mastermind? Feel free to invite them to join us! 

Thank you for being part of our community!

-The FMP Essentials Team