Welcome to another episode of Suburban Burnout! Today, we're diving deep into the world of genetics and health with Katy Kapustinski. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare, Katy's journey is one of transformation and innovation. Katy shares that she had always been proud of providing patients with the best care. However, after experiencing a professional epiphany, Katy's eyes were opened to a new paradigm of medical practice and the importance genetics play in our health.
As a physician assistant in New York City, Katy worked for over a decade in various surgical specialties. However, everything changed when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Katy and her husband decided to trade their cramped 900 sq ft apartment for the wide-open spaces of Dripping Springs, TX. While treating COVID patients in urgent care, Katy had a revelation: merely treating symptoms wasn't enough. There had to be a focus on prevention to truly combat illness. This realization led Katy to formal training in functional medicine, aiming to address the root causes of disease. She now owns Thriving Springs Wellness, which allows her to focus on patients' metabolic and cellular health. This approach aligns perfectly with the mindset promoted at their CrossFit gym.
Central to Katy's method is understanding cellular-level issues through DNA testing. By identifying gene mutations, Katy can tailor biohacking techniques to optimize each patient's health. Biohacking involves working with a patient's unique biology to help their body function optimally. Personalized plans encompass nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations. The nutrition component emphasizes whole foods and addressing deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, or amino acids. Lifestyle adjustments include improving sleep habits and incorporating strength training.
While the significance of sleep for bodily growth and repair is widely acknowledged, it remains a challenge for many individuals. Katy advises against the use of melatonin supplements for several reasons. Firstly, melatonin is a hormone that can potentially disrupt puberty in adolescents. Additionally, its regulation is inconsistent, with tests revealing significant variations in labeled dosage, ranging from 15% to 400%. Instead, Katy suggests alternatives such as magnesium, L-theanine, or adaptogens like ashwagandha.
Katy underscores the importance of strength training to cellular health and longevity because of the role muscle plays in metabolic function. An endocrine organ that houses the body's metabolism, muscle is also one of the largest organs in the body. By strength training, one isn't only increasing lean muscle to protect their bones but also boosting their bone density.
Katy's journey exemplifies the power of blending traditional medicine with innovative approaches for longterm health and vitality. For more on this fascinating and empowering discussion, including her thoughts on hormone replacement therapy and much more, tune in to this episode of Suburban Burnout.
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Meet Our Guest:
Katy Kapustinski is a nationally board-certified Physician Assistant with over 15 years of dedicated service in the field of healthcare. Katy's education began at the University of Connecticut, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. She then pursued her Physician Assistant medical degree at Hofstra University in New York. Katy went on to practice in various surgical specialties, including general surgery, orthopedics, and urology with a focus on robotic surgery.
However, after relocating to Dripping Springs, Texas, and working during the pandemic with acutely ill patients in the urgent care setting, Katy realized that merely treating the symptoms of disease was no longer sufficient. People needed more than just treatment; they needed prevention. Motivated by this realization, Katy pursued training in functional medicine and resolved to help people in a different way by opening her own wellness clinic, Thriving Springs Wellness.
At Thriving Springs Wellness, the convergence of lifestyle medicine, metabolic and cellular health, biohacking, root cause medicine, fitness and nutrition forms the foundation of her approach. Katy's clinic stands as a beacon of holistic well-being, where patients receive comprehensive and personalized care that delves deeply into the root causes of their health issues. In addition to her medical practice, Katy and her husband own CrossFit Second Wave in Dripping Springs, where they share their enthusiasm for fitness and well-being with the local community.
Thriving Springs Wellness: https://www.thrivingspringswellness.com/
IG: @thrivewithkatykap
Crossfit Second Wave: https://crossfitsecondwave.com/
IG: @crossfitsecondwave
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