Strong on Health

07/28/2026

Have you ever wondered how flexible your brain really is?

One of the simplest ways to appreciate the incredible complexity of the human brain is to challenge it.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison (Go Wisconsin Badgers) has made one of the world's most recognized cognitive exercises available online...the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.

(Being a UW grad, I must admit I am feeling proud of this one )

It measures skills such as:

🧠 Cognitive flexibility
🧠 Problem solving
🧠 Learning from feedback
🧠 The ability to adapt when the rules change

It's not a medical diagnosis, but it is a fascinating reminder that brain function can be observed, challenged, and - most importantly - supported.

As I travel the country teaching my Urgency of Brain Health seminars (thanks to the support of Standard Process Inc.), one message continues to grow louder:

We shouldn't wait until memory problems appear before we become interested in protecting our brains.

Brain health is about far more than Alzheimer's disease. It influences our focus, decision-making, emotional resilience, creativity, relationships, and ultimately the quality of our lives.

If you're curious, go to the comments to find the link and take a few minutes to try the challenge:

Then I'd love to hear from you...

What surprised you most about the experience?

If you'd like to learn the nutritional, lifestyle, and clinical strategies we're using to help people support their brains for the decades ahead, I invite you to join me at one of my upcoming Urgency of Brain Health seminars.

Because the best time to protect your brain isn't someday.

It's today.

07/27/2026

For anyone interested in why we spend so much time talking about constipation...

We highly recommend this fascinating historical article shared by Selene River Press. It was originally written by Dr. Royal Lee in 1965, and while some of the science reflects its era, one central idea has stayed with us throughout our years in practice:

Constipation is rarely the real problem. It's a signal that something deeper deserves our attention.

When someone comes into our office with fatigue, brain fog, hormone concerns, skin issues, inflammation, or joint pain, one of our very first questions is surprisingly simple:

"How often are you having a bowel movement?"

Personally, we consider constipation our first target with nearly every client.

In fact, we don't think it's wise to spend much time chasing other symptoms until we change that. Our goal is usually at least one healthy bowel movement every day before we start celebrating improvements elsewhere.

Years ago, Dustin Strong, Holistic Nutritionist & Wellness Specialist's friends joked that they were going to make him business cards that read:

💩 Dustin Strong
"I Make $ Happen."

As funny as that is...they weren't entirely wrong.

Our bodies were designed to eliminate waste every day. When they don't, we shouldn't simply ask, "What laxative should I take?"

We should ask, "Why has my body stopped doing something it was designed to do?"

That's where the real conversation begins.

Thank you to Selene River Press for preserving and sharing these historical writings. Whether you agree with every conclusion or not, they challenge us to think beyond symptom management and to keep asking better questions.

If you're curious, here's the article:
https://www.seleneriverpress.com/historical/applied-trophology-vol-9-no-6-june-1965-constipation-syndrome-calcium-influence-of-vitamin-e-on-glucose-metabolism-money-collected-for-research/

I'd love to hear your thoughts after you read it.

Contents in this issue: “The Constipation Syndrome,” “Calcium,” “Influence of Vitamin E on Glucose Metabolism,” “Money Supposedly Collected for Research?” The following is a transcription of the June 1965 issue [...]

07/22/2026

We ♥ True Grace and are so excited to carry their delicious ElectroMag electrolyte powders! Can't decide which yummy flavor you want to try (watermelon, grapefruit, lemon-lime, or pink lemonade)?? Pop in to the clinic through the end of the month for an ElectroMag Variety Pack to try them all - AND receive 2 sticks of ElectroMag plus Creatine for FREE!

07/21/2026

What if the story we've been told about cognitive decline isn't the whole story?

Over the past several years, I've had the privilege of meeting individuals, families, practitioners, and researchers who refuse to accept that hope has an expiration date.

That's why I'm honored to be part of an upcoming documentary alongside Sally Fallon Morell, Zen Honeycutt, Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, and many others who are asking important questions and exploring meaningful solutions.

This project isn't about promising miracles.

It's about shining a light on possibilities.

It's about reminding people that they are not powerless.

And it's about bringing hope to those who may feel like they've run out of options.

If you've ever wished more people knew there was another side to the conversation, this documentary was made for you.

We are not just making a film.

We are helping build a movement of education, courage, and hope.

Thank you,
Renegade Nutrition for making this happen. And thank you to all of you have supported this or will be supporting this in the future, this is possible because of you.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/20/2026

A fascinating new study found that creatine may do far more than support muscle performance. Researchers discovered that certain immune cells use creatine as part of their energy system, helping them activate, communicate, and participate in the body's response to cancer.

That is exciting news.

But our biggest takeaway may be a little different than what you'll hear from most people.

The human body was designed with remarkable intelligence. Under normal circumstances, it doesn't simply wait for creatine to arrive in a supplement bottle. It makes creatine from amino acids such as glycine, arginine, and methionine.

This raises an important question:

If creatine is helping the body, should we also be paying attention to whether we're providing the building blocks needed to make it?

Rather than becoming hyper-focused on a single nutrient, we often find ourselves asking whether the body is receiving the complete nutritional support it needs to do what it was designed to do.

The exciting part of this research isn't that we've discovered a magic bullet.

It's that we're continuing to uncover just how hard the body is already working on our behalf.

Your immune system is constantly trying to protect you.
Your cells are constantly trying to repair you.
Your body is constantly trying to adapt and survive.

Our job is to give it the support it needs.

Creatine may prove to be one more valuable tool in that process, but it also serves as a reminder that healing is rarely about one thing. It is about providing the body with the raw materials, energy, and environment it needs to express the intelligence it already possesses.

That, to us, is the most encouraging part of this research.

07/17/2026

24% more clearance pumps.
42% less amyloid-beta.
44% better memory performance.

Those were the results reported in a recent Alzheimer's mouse model after treatment with a copper-containing compound called Cu(ATSM).

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, this was not a human clinical trial, and it certainly does not mean Alzheimer's is a copper deficiency disease.

What fascinated us was something else entirely.

Most Alzheimer's research focuses on the toxic proteins themselves. This study asked a different question:

What if the problem is not only that waste is accumulating, but that the brain's ability to remove that waste has become impaired?

Researchers found that Cu(ATSM) appeared to increase the abundance of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) pumps at the blood-brain barrier. These pumps act like part of the brain's waste-removal system, helping transport amyloid-beta out of the brain and into the bloodstream for disposal.

As Dustin Strong, Holistic Nutritionist & Wellness Specialist prepares to travel to Austin this weekend to teach "The Urgency of Brain Health: A Call to Action for Lifelong Vitality," we find this research particularly timely.

Not because we believe there is one nutrient, one supplement, or one intervention that explains Alzheimer's disease.

Quite the opposite.

The longer we study brain health, the more convinced we become that cognitive decline is rarely about a single variable. It is usually the result of multiple systems gradually losing efficiency over time.

That is why our conversations must include:

• Sleep and glymphatic drainage
• Blood flow and vascular health
• Mitochondrial energy production
• Inflammation and immune regulation
• Nutrient sufficiency and mineral balance
• Social connection and cognitive engagement

And yes, research like this reminds us that minerals such as copper...working in balance with zinc, iron, and other essential nutrients...may play important roles in systems we are only beginning to fully appreciate.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons from this study is that the future of brain health may not be about finding better ways to attack plaques.

It may be about understanding why the body's natural maintenance systems stopped working as efficiently in the first place.

The science continues to evolve.

Our responsibility is to keep learning alongside it.

07/13/2026

What if one of the most powerful things you could do for your health... also happened to be one of the most enjoyable?

Join me LIVE as we take a look at tomorrow evening's Longevity Happy Hour and the incredible menu our team is preparing.

🥗 On the menu:
• Wild Salmon Patties with Avocado Crema
• Colorful Asian Slaw Salad
• Blueberry Chia Pudding topped with Fresh Berries & Walnuts

If you've attended one of our wellness retreats, you already know the reputation our meals have earned. We believe healthy food should be nourishing, beautiful, and something you genuinely look forward to sharing with others.

This isn't just dinner—it's an opportunity to connect with people who are committed to living well, asking great questions, and discovering practical ways to support longevity.

The best part? This is now a monthly tradition.

Whether you're already part of our Strong On Health family or simply curious about what we're building, we'd love for you to join the conversation.

Bring your questions, invite a friend, and come see why so many people say our food is worth the trip all by itself.

📍 Strong On Health
🕠 Friends at 5:30 – Longevity Happy Hour

Because longevity isn't just about adding years to life.
It's about adding life to those years.

07/10/2026

Some reviews mean more than five stars.

They remind us why we do this work.

Recently, Nicholle shared these kind words after years of walking through life's many seasons together...from infertility and pregnancy to postpartum recovery, hormonal health, and supporting the unique needs of her children.

One sentence especially stands out:

"When doctors dismiss and label things as 'within normal,' Dustin listens to your concerns and addresses them."

That isn't a criticism of anyone. It's a reminder that every person deserves to be heard.

"Within normal" doesn't always mean you're feeling your best.

Our mission has never been to replace conventional care, it has always been to expand the conversation. To ask better questions. To look for overlooked variables. To partner with people who want to understand why they feel the way they do and what they can do to support their health.

Whether you're trying to start a family, navigating pregnancy, recovering postpartum, struggling with hormone imbalances, supporting a child with unique challenges, or simply wondering if there's another piece of the puzzle, we want you to know that you don't have to figure it out alone.

Thank you, Nicholle Pierce Vavra, for trusting us with your family's health journey.

If you've ever been told everything looks "normal," but you still don't feel like yourself, we'd love to hear your story.

Sometimes, the next step toward better health begins with someone simply taking the time to listen.

07/10/2026

One of the greatest frustrations we have in healthcare is how many options people never get told about.

If you are struggling with fatigue…
If you are interested in longevity…
If you feel like you have been told, “Everything looks normal,” but you still don’t feel like yourself…

We think you should know this research exists.

New research involving Thymus PMG® is opening an important conversation around spermidine, a naturally occurring compound receiving significant attention in healthy aging and cellular resilience research.

And this is exactly why we share studies like this.

Not because one study is “the answer.”
Not because every option is right for every person.

But because you cannot make an informed choice about an option you were never told existed.

For those of us interested in helping people move beyond simply “getting through the day” and toward protecting vitality for the years ahead, this is a conversation worth having.

Research summary here:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40924744/

There are more options than most people realize. And people deserve to know about them.

07/09/2026

🦟 Want fewer mosquito bites this summer?

You may want to skip the beer.

Yes, really.

A small human study found that after drinking beer, participants became more attractive to mosquitoes.

The study was limited, and we should be careful not to make more of it than the research allows.

But we find it fascinating.

Especially because newer research suggests mosquitoes may be responding to far more than we once realized, including:

Your breath.
Your skin chemistry.
Certain compounds on your skin.
Possibly your blood type.
Even the colors you wear.

We became curious about this after Dustin Strong, Holistic Nutritionist & Wellness Specialist took a recent trip to the North Woods.

Some people were getting bitten.

Some were not.

Same place. Same evening. Same mosquitoes.

Someone mentioned blood type.

We started digging.

And what we found was far more interesting than we expected.

So, for now, here is one simple thing you can try:

If you are heading into nature and mosquitoes love you, consider reducing or skipping the alcohol.

🍺 The research is limited.

🦟 But the question it raises is fascinating:

What are mosquitoes detecting about us that we have not yet learned to detect about ourselves?

We are still learning.

And we have a feeling this story is just getting started.

We will share more in the comments!