Are You Ready to Set Your 2025 Health Goals?

The new year is right around the corner—a fresh start, a clean slate, and the perfect time to focus on you. But let’s be honest: how many times have you made health goals in January, only to feel overwhelmed or fall off track by February?

It doesn’t have to be that way.

This year, let’s approach your goals differently. Let’s make them achievable, sustainable, and most importantly, about progress, not perfection. You don’t have to tackle it all alone—we’re here to help you every step of the way.

The Secret to Achievable Health Goals

1. Make It Small, Make It Specific

Instead of saying, “I want to be healthier,” try something more tangible: “I’ll drink two more glasses of water each day,” or “I’ll take a 10-minute walk after dinner.” These small wins build momentum.

2. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

Life happens. You might skip a workout or indulge in dessert—and that’s okay. What matters is consistency over time. Give yourself grace and keep moving forward.

3. Track Your Wins

Write down your goals and your progress. Seeing how far you’ve come will inspire you to keep going.

4. Don’t Do It Alone

Having the right support can be the difference between giving up and reaching your goals. That’s where we come in.

We’re Here to Help You Succeed

At Clark Wellness, we know how hard it can be to stick to health goals on your own. That’s why we offer personalized support to help you not only set your goals but also achieve them.

Our certified nutritionist, Tressa Knapp, is here to walk with you through every challenge, every question, and every victory. Tressa provides functional health coaching that fits your life—not someone else’s. Paired with expert guidance from Angelica Clark, PA-C, IFMCP, we create a customized plan tailored to your body’s unique needs.

Imagine starting 2025 with a team cheering you on, helping you feel stronger, healthier, and more confident than ever.

Your Health, Your Goals, Your Time

This is your year. The year you stop wishing for better health and start taking small, manageable steps toward it. And you don’t have to do it alone.

Are you ready to make 2025 the year you finally achieve your health goals? Let’s start the journey together—one step at a time.

Reach out to us at (254) 227-5851 to schedule your personalized health coaching session or a New Patient visit. We can’t wait to see you thrive!

#2025HealthGoals #FunctionalMedicine #TeamSupport #clarkwellnesstx

Are You Hungry or Just Having Cravings? 🍽️ Know the Difference!

We all experience cravings, but learning to distinguish between true hunger and a craving is key to maintaining your health and wellness goals. Here are some quick tips to help you identify the difference:

🧁 Craving:

• You want specific comfort foods (sweets, fried chicken, etc.).

• Triggered by stress, boredom, or emotions.

• You seek food that makes you “feel good.”

• Can happen right after eating.

• Often passes with time or distraction.

🥗 Hunger:

• You’re open to any nutritious meal.

• Comes with physical signs like dizziness or a headache.

• Can be relieved with a balanced, healthy meal.

• Happens when you haven’t eaten for 3+ hours.

• Doesn’t go away and may lead to weakness if ignored.

✨ Listen to Your Body!

Mindful eating helps you stay in control, make healthier choices, and feel your best. Need help managing cravings and optimizing your nutrition?

We’re here to guide you at Clark Wellness!

📞 Call us today: 254-227-5851

🌐 Visit Our Website

Let’s work together to achieve your health goals!

Dry eyes, a functional medicine approach

Dry eyes can be a frustrating and uncomfortable condition, affecting many people worldwide. From the gritty, sandy feeling in your eyes to the constant need for eye drops, dry eyes can disrupt daily life. While conventional treatments often focus on masking the symptoms with lubricating drops or medications, a functional medicine approach takes a deeper dive into understanding and treating the root causes of dry eyes.

Here's a closer look at how functional medicine can help you manage and even alleviate dry eye symptoms.

1. Nutrition and Diet: Nourishing Your Eyes

What you eat has a direct impact on your eye health. In functional medicine, we believe that a nutrient-dense diet can play a critical role in improving dry eyes. Here are a few dietary strategies to support your eye health:

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Essential fatty acids, especially omega-3s, are crucial for reducing inflammation and supporting tear production. Omega-3s are found in foods like salmon, sardines, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. If you don’t consume these regularly, you might consider adding a high-quality fish oil supplement to your routine.

• Anti-inflammatory Foods: Chronic inflammation can exacerbate dry eye symptoms. Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, berries, turmeric, and ginger into your diet can help reduce systemic inflammation, which in turn supports healthier tear production.

• Vitamin A and Zinc: Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy tear-producing cells in the eyes. Zinc plays a role in immune function and is also important for eye health. Carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and eggs are rich in vitamin A, while zinc can be found in foods like pumpkin seeds, oysters, and beans.

• Hydration: Staying hydrated is critical for maintaining proper tear production. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day and consume water-rich foods such as cucumbers, watermelon, and celery.

  
  

2. Gut Health: The Link Between Your Gut and Your Eyes

Your gut health can influence inflammation throughout your body, including in your eyes. The balance of beneficial bacteria in your digestive system (known as your microbiome) can impact immune function, which is crucial for regulating eye health.

• Gut Dysbiosis: An imbalance in gut bacteria can contribute to systemic inflammation, which may affect tear production. Taking steps to support your gut health, such as consuming probiotics (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut) and prebiotics (garlic, onions, and leeks), can help manage this inflammation.

• Leaky Gut: Leaky gut, or increased intestinal permeability, can allow toxins and inflammatory molecules to enter the bloodstream, exacerbating inflammation in the eyes and elsewhere in the body. Functional medicine practitioners may recommend gut-healing protocols using supplements like L-glutamine, collagen, and zinc to support gut repair.

  
  

3. Hormonal Balance: Addressing the Impact of Hormones

Hormonal changes can also play a significant role in dry eye symptoms, especially in women experiencing menopause or those with thyroid imbalances.

• Menopause and Estrogen: As estrogen levels drop during menopause, many women experience a reduction in tear production, leading to dry eyes. Functional medicine may involve hormone testing to determine if bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) or other hormone-balancing strategies might help restore normal tear production.

• Thyroid Health: Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is another common factor linked to dry eyes. Functional medicine practitioners often look at thyroid hormone levels and may recommend dietary changes, supplements, or medications to support thyroid function.

  
  

4. Reducing Inflammation: A Key Component in Dry Eye Management

Chronic inflammation is often at the core of many health issues, including dry eyes. In functional medicine, reducing systemic inflammation is a key goal. Here's how you can tackle inflammation:

• Anti-inflammatory Supplements: Certain supplements can help reduce inflammation in the body and improve eye health. Omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin (from turmeric), and antioxidants like vitamins C and E can all help fight inflammation and support tear production.

• Mindful Lifestyle Choices: Chronic stress and poor sleep can elevate inflammation levels in your body. Stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises, along with prioritizing quality sleep, can help reduce inflammation and improve overall health.

  
  

5. Environmental and Lifestyle Adjustments

Sometimes, environmental factors play a significant role in dry eye symptoms. Functional medicine takes a holistic view of your surroundings and daily habits to help alleviate discomfort.

• Reduce Screen Time: Spending long hours in front of screens can exacerbate dry eyes. Make a habit of following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This helps reduce eye strain and improve tear production.

• Air Quality: Dry air can make dry eyes worse. Consider using a humidifier in your home or office to keep the air moist. Additionally, avoid air conditioning and heating systems that can dry out the air and your eyes.

  
  

6. Supplements and Natural Therapies

Several natural supplements may help improve dry eye symptoms. These include:

• Hyaluronic Acid: This compound can help retain moisture in the eyes and is often found in both oral and topical forms.

• Fish Oil or Algal Oil: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, these oils help reduce inflammation and improve tear production.

• Coenzyme Q10: This antioxidant may help combat oxidative stress and support overall eye health.

  
  

7. Comprehensive Testing: Understanding Your Unique Needs

One of the hallmarks of functional medicine is the use of personalized testing. Functional medicine practitioners may recommend testing to assess nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, gut health, or even food sensitivities. This allows for a more tailored approach to treatment and ensures you're addressing the root causes of your dry eyes.

If you're struggling with dry eyes and traditional treatments haven't worked for you, consider working with a functional medicine practitioner to explore a more personalized approach to healing and be sure to start making the suggestions given here. With the right plan in place, you can experience relief and regain comfort in your eyes.