Consumer Empowerment in the Digital Age of Health and

WellnessA functional approach to optimal health

By Dr. Craig Brandman @EmpowerYouDoc

@StepOneHealth

The Current Healthcare Environment

•Reactive versus Proactive consumers of health resources• Patients have limited ability to track results over time•Difficulty integrating patient education and data

with action

The Current Healthcare Environment

• Limited access to personal health information • Fragmented care with multiple health providers• Lacking cost effective alternatives to traditional care

An Ideal Healthcare Environment

Unique People Require Unique Attention

• A “one-size-fits-all” approach is no longer relevant, nor was it ever!

• Everyone is unique and has their own optimum nutrition and supplementation requirements

• Genomic Medicine now plays a central part in understanding human pathophysiology and remedies

• New genetic identification of polymorphisms provides valuable insights for many tried and true interventions (e.g. lipid management)

Wellness Has Become Broader and More Granular

Traditional • Focus on lipids, weight and fitness remain

critical

“Focus of Passion”• Central challenges like thyroid health, autism

etc. must be supported with vibrant focused communities and holistic solutions

Genomics

• Populations with newly discovered genetic risks must be supported, e.g.:oAltered fatty-acid desaturase 1 means dietary

treatment can’t work ( unresponsive to therapeutic doses of Omega-3 FA).

oMethylation challenges

Methyl-what?

Methylation

• One of the most basic organic processes occurring continually, defined simply as the addition of a methyl group to a substrate

• Plays a key role in gene expression, neurotransmitter creation, hormone breakdown and many other biochemical processes

• A down-regulated or up-regulated methylation cycle yields profound effects throughout the body

Methylation Example:MTHFR

• MTHFR is one of the most common genetic SNPs affecting up to 45% of the population • MTHFR is both a gene and an enzyme playing an

instrumental role in folate metabolism

Methylation Example:MTHFR

• Properly functioning folate cycle absolutely key to optimizing health and wellness• Heavily influences vitamin B12 sensitivity• MTHFR testing is recommended in everyone (pre-

conception)

What Are My Patients Eating?

What Are My Patients Eating?

• The gut is superb at acting as a general health barometer

• Candida overgrowth yields profound downstream effects on the body and is highly sensitive to the all-too-common overconsumption of sugar

• New research suggests a whole-food diet rich in grass fed beef, wild caught seafood, organic produce and an abundance of healthy fats

What Are My Patients Eating?

• Current consensus suggests avoiding sugars and grains promotes better gut flora and a reduction in inflammation

• Long-lasting change requires a longitudinal, multi-faceted approach

How Do We Get There?•Consumer Empowerment – Put tools and resources at the

consumer’s fingertip•Connection – Instill a sense of connection via passion for new and

innovative wellness concepts•Education – Demonstrate value through education and

understanding•Convenience – Make certain to meet the consumer where he/she

lives• Integration – Enable seamless integration of personal technology

via health monitoring devices•Efficiency – Efficient processes assure the consumer’s time is being

optimized

Provide a Consumer Destination

A Truly Portable Consumer Centric Health Record

• Consumer Centric puts the Patient at the Center

• Provide Tools to Track and Trend for a Lifetime

• Provide Health Products and Services Shopping

• Build Integration with Consumer Health Devices

• Forge Alliances with Like-Minded Health Professionals

Keep a Focus on Mobility•Meet your patient where they

live, work and play•Arm patients with tools on

desktop, tablet and mobile• Fully integrate and make health

data truly portable• Empower your patients to “own”

their data and act!

Establish a Connection to Health Professionals

Contact: Craig Brandman Email: Drbrandman@StepOneHealth.com