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Functional Medicine in Boulder

Alive and Well stands as Boulder’s leading choice for Functional Medicine, where we reimagine health care through tailored, all-encompassing strategies. Our method aims to resolve the underlying issues of health complications.

Nestled in the vibrant Boulder, CO, we offer a revolutionary healthcare experience, prioritizing your journey towards complete well-being. Transition to a healthcare system that recognizes your individuality, and embark on your route to a more energetic and fulfilling life starting now.

Boulder’s Functional Medicine Experts

At Alive and Well, we recognize that each person in Boulder possesses distinct health requirements and aspirations. That’s why our comprehensive Functional Medicine approach is curated with your unique health needs in mind. We initiate detailed health evaluations to pinpoint your body’s precise needs. Our team of functional medicine practitioners devises a custom health plan potentially encompassing nutritional advice, lifestyle adjustments, and innovative treatments.

Experience the transformation with our integrative and holistic medicine services and deepen your connection with your wellness and healing journey.

Benefits Of Functional Medicine

Opting for Functional Medicine at Alive and Well in Boulder, CO, welcomes numerous health advantages. Our clients frequently report increased vitality, better sleep quality, and a notable decrease in chronic illness symptoms. By focusing on your body’s distinct requirements, we aim to harmonize your physical, mental, and emotional health, fostering a richer quality of life. Our patient centered approach not only tackles current health problems but also empowers you with the knowledge and tools for ongoing healthy living.

Applications Of Functional Medicine

The Functional Medicine offerings at Alive and Well in Boulder, CO, have demonstrated significant success across a range of health challenges.

Allergies

A common reason clients visit us is to find relief from persistent allergies. Our strategy is to uncover the fundamental causes of these allergic responses, which frequently include diet, environmental elements, and immune system imbalances. Through customized dietary adjustments, treatment plan, and specific nutritional supplements, our healthcare professionals have enabled clients to greatly diminish or entirely rid themselves of allergic symptoms.

Brain and Mood Health

At the core of our Functional Medicine philosophy is the belief that mental health is linked with physical health. For those battling mood fluctuations, anxiety, brain fog, depression, or other mental health issues, we investigate gut health, nutrient deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances. Custom nutritional plans, integrative medicine, lifestyle modifications, and stress management techniques have been crucial in improving our clients' mental well-being. These measures often result in better mood consistency, clearer thought processes, and an overall more optimistic life perspective.

Weight Loss

Our approach to weight loss goes beyond the conventional diet and exercise regimen. Acknowledging the complexity of weight management, influenced by factors like metabolism, hormonal equilibrium, and emotional health, we provide personalized nutrition guidance, address hormonal imbalances, and suggest lifestyle adjustments. Our clients have not only achieved their weight loss objectives in a healthy and sustainable manner but also report enhanced vitality and a deeper understanding of their body's requirements, leading to lasting health improvements beyond mere weight reduction.

Areas of Emphasis

 Functional medicine seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease, and views the body as one integrated system, rather than a collection of symptoms.

Gut Health

Microbiome balance is vital for physical and mental health, immunity & general wellness.

Hormones

Hormonal imbalance is often at the root of inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, obesity & diabetes.

Allergies

Identify triggers & boost immune health to help your body fight allergies naturally.

Thyroid

Thyroid hormone disparity is often at the root of fatigue, weight gain, depression & thinning hair.

Weight Loss

Exploring metabolic & hormonal factors can expose fundamental reasons for weight issues.

Adrenals & Stress

Chronic stress can lead to low energy, weight gain, mood swings & autoimmune issues.

Cardiovascular

Conventional medicine often focuses on symptoms of heart disease rather than the root cause.

Brain & Mood

The brain is resilient to heal to achieve optimal mood, memory & concentration.

Pediatric Care

Children can heal behavioral and biochemical conditions, given the right tools.

Our Providers

Make sustainable and impactful changes to your lifestyle that support your overall health goals and quality of life with the help of our providers.

Lauren Colletti, FNP

IFM Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Meg McElroy, PA-C

Board-Certified Physician Assistant

Daniel Chege, FNP

IFM Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Melanie Shafranek, FNTP

Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner

Jenny Cohodes

Certified Health Coach

Kristina Rea

Personal Fitness Trainer

Sports Nutrition Specialist

Health Coach

Functional Medicine Pricing

Find the perfect Functional Medicine package that aligns with your specific health aspirations at Alive and Well. Our varied pricing structure is designed to provide personalized, top-tier healthcare.

Adults

Select from our extensive care package tailored for a range of health needs, from chronic conditions to enhancing overall wellness or choose our membership (12-month agreement) for steady, cost-effective health care solutions.

Medical Weight Loss

A holistic, peptide-driven program aimed at lasting weight management, integrating the use of GLP-1 medications, nutritional counseling and lifestyle modification support.

Functional Lab Testing

Go beyond traditional diagnostics to uncover hidden imbalances and dysfunctions. Our comprehensive analysis of biomarkers and hormones provides personalized insights, guiding targeted treatment approaches for optimized well-being.

Testimonials From Our Satisfied Clients

FAQs

The time frame to observe improvements varies with each individual’s situation and adherence to the treatment strategy. Some may notice benefits in a few weeks, while for others, it may take several months to perceive gradual progress. This approach focuses on achieving sustained health rather than quick solutions.
No referral is required. Clients are welcome to book an appointment directly with us, facilitating straightforward access to our Functional Medicine offerings.
Following your appointment booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email detailing the next steps. Please complete all necessary forms and medical questionnaires via your Patient Portal at least 48 hours before your appointment. This allows our providers to review your information in advance. Upload any recent medical records to your portal or fax them to our office at (737) 225-8927. Include current medications or supplements and any medication allergies.
Nutrition and lifestyle are pivotal in Functional Medicine. We often customize dietary suggestions to meet each client’s specific needs, playing a crucial role in managing and improving health issues.
Functional Medicine is highly effective in managing and ameliorating chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and hormonal imbalances by tackling the underlying causes and advocating lifestyle modifications.
We operate on a direct payment basis and do not accept insurance at the time of service. A super-bill will be provided for you to seek reimbursement from your insurance, if desired. Contact your insurance provider for details on out-of-network benefits. While some tests may be billable through insurance, we strive to prioritize testing with insurance-friendly options wherever possible.
We use a variety of advanced testing techniques, including comprehensive blood panels, thyroid panels, genetic profiles, hormone evaluations, and analyses of the gut microbiome. These tests are instrumental in creating a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique health profile.
Yes, Functional Medicine is safe and effective for people at any stage of life, from children to the elderly. Our treatments are customized to address the specific health needs and considerations of each age group.

Lauren Colletti, FNP

IFM Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Megan (Meg) McElroy PA-C

Board-Certified Physician Assistant

Megan (Meg) McElroy is a board-certified Physician Assistant with more than a decade of experience in functional and integrative medicine. She began her journey in functional medicine as a patient with chronic health issues. She believes there are 2 general approaches to the practice of functional medicine: lots of testing/treatments all at once (i.e. the most expensive approach), and the more methodical approach (the approach she currently utilizes).  

‘’After over 12 years of experience in Functional Medicine, I have learned that simple steps are often most effective at improving health. We are intended to thrive, but we don’t have to have “perfect,” strict diets and a long list of supplements to do so! There is so much information at our fingertips—I see my role as being able to filter out the “noise” and simplify the overwhelm. It may take time and patience, but I never give up on finding ways to help my patients feel better.”

Clinical expertise: Thyroid health, autoimmune conditions, gastrointestinal health, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, health optimization and longevity, fertility and hormone optimization

Daniel Chege, FNP

Family Nurse Practitioner

Daniel Chege, a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, brings a wealth of experience in integrative medicine to his practice. With a background in computer and mechanical engineering, his journey into healthcare was sparked by a passion for finding lasting solutions to health challenges. Originally from Kenya, Daniel pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Mountain State University in West Virginia upon relocating to the USA in 2008.

After gaining invaluable experience in critical care within the surgical ICU, Daniel continued his education, earning a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio in 2013. He further solidified his expertise by obtaining certification through the ANCC.

During his tenure at UPMC Pinnacle, where he initially worked in urgent care before transitioning to family practice, Daniel developed a keen interest in integrative approaches to medicine. He has dedicated himself to integrative medicine, focusing on personalized treatment plans that incorporate  nutraceuticals, essential oils, peptides and IV therapies. His gentle bedside manner coupled with his high success rates in managing hormones, Thyroid dysfunction, PCOS and adrenal fatigue, explain his large and loyal female patient base.

 

Melanie Shafranek, FNTP

Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner

Melanie Shafranek is a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified through the Nutritional Therapy Association. After years of struggling with her own autoimmune journey, she found powerful tools to successfully keep her autoimmune in remission and maintain the lifestyle changes that saved her life. She loves sharing and offering guidance with others who are seeking optimized health.
 
She wants people to know that healing is possible and healthy food doesn’t have to be boring! Over the past decade she has healed from mold toxicity, SIBO, Epstein-Barr virus, and symptoms like chronic fatigue, bloating, and consistent pain. Since healing, she’s been able to help clients all over the world put their puzzle pieces together to find freedom from unwanted symptoms without sacrificing what they love about their life. She feels is if her experience with chronic illness has led her down this path to help others and that it is her true calling on this earth.
 
Outside of the world of nutritional healing, Melanie has immense passion and experience as a photographer – she even had the honor of photographing pictures in Michelle Hoover’s AIP Comfort Food Cookbook! She also loves spending time recording her podcast (Sick & The City), making paleo travel guides for her blog, and taking her dog on long walks!

Jenny Cohodes

Health Coach

Jenny Cohodes, resides in Austin, Texas, where she serves as a Certified Health and Nutrition Coach. Her personal experiences with food sensitivities, mold, Lyme, EBV, and more have ignited a passion within her to guide others through similar challenges on their wellness paths. Beyond aiding those dealing with chronic illness, Jenny is also passionate about educating individuals on optimizing their health using the latest holistic methods available.
 
Originally trained as an elementary teacher at the University of Texas at Austin, Jenny’s career path took an unexpected turn when she decided to leave teaching to pursue her newfound passion for nutrition and holistic health. Through countless hours of research, experimentation, and self-education, Jenny honed her culinary skills and developed a keen understanding of the connection between diet and well-being.
 
Driven by her desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, Jenny furthered her education by obtaining certification in health and nutrition coaching from Precision Nutrition and began leading groups of people through health coaching containers to help them eat, move, and live better lives.    Beyond mere dietary guidance, Jenny loves delving into topics such as nervous system regulation, self-care practices, and cultivating a holistic approach to wellness.
 
However, Jenny’s journey took an unexpected turn in 2022 when she discovered her own health challenges. Living in a mold-infested environment, she experienced a myriad of symptoms, including the reactivation of a dormant Lyme disease and EBV.  Undeterred by adversity, Jenny embarked on a journey of healing, immersing herself in research and adopting detoxification practices to support her body’s recovery.
 
Today, Jenny approaches her work with empathy, compassion, and a deep understanding of the profound impact that nutrition and lifestyle choices can have on overall well-being. Outside of her professional sphere, she immerses herself in cooking, developing new recipes, hiking, and exploring new destinations alongside her husband, Dave, and their three children: Madison, Max, and Maverick.

Kristina Rea

Personal Fitness Trainer | Sports Nutrition Specialist | Health Coach

Kristina is a certified Sports Nutritionist and former Personal Fitness Trainer through the Athletics and Fitness Association of America, with an extra certificate in Blood Sugar Management. She has a decade of experience in optimizing athletic performance and recovery through science-backed dietary strategies. Kristina grew up a competitive gymnast and always had a passion for physical fitness and nutrition, so it was a no-brainer she would end up in health and wellness. Throughout her time, training clients in commercial gyms, she became highly aware of the impact sleep, stress and nutrition had on each person. Optimizing mental, emotional and physical well-being in her clients helped to move the needle further toward their goals. She found herself coaching clients on circadian rhythm, nervous system regulation and instilling distraction-free meal time.
 
From early adulthood, Kristina always felt an innate intuition and gravitational pull toward functional medicine, functional nutrition, adhering to a low-tox lifestyle and clean ingredients; a “Natch girly,” if you will. Kristina’s expertise extends beyond traditional Sports Nutrition, incorporating functional food, supplements and wellness practices that enhance both physical and mental performance. Like many of us, she has dealt with her own health obstacles, and continues to be fascinated at the healing capacity the body has, when it’s given what it needs.
 
With a commitment to continuous learning, Kristina stays at the forefront, ensuring clients receive the most effective guidance, and harness the power of nutrition to reach their full potential. When she’s not studying, doing independent research, or working, you can find her with her husband, Thomas, and their large (but very cute) zoo! They have 3 cats, 4 dogs – all rescues (saving animals is another huge passion!). You can also find them bike riding, hiking, lifting, doing ropes courses and watching movies at IPIC.
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Cindy Nilson DOM, LAc

Acupuncturist