Prosper Direct Primary Care

06/05/2026

🦵 Do your legs feel like they have a mind of their own at night?

You finally crawl into bed, exhausted after a long day, only to feel an irresistible urge to move your legs.

You stretch them.
You shake them.
You walk around.

But the sensation keeps coming back.

Many people are told they have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), but few are told to investigate one of the most common root causes:

🩸 Iron deficiency.

Iron is essential for dopamine production and proper nerve function. When iron stores are low, especially ferritin levels, restless legs can develop or worsen.

Other clues that iron deficiency may be present:

▪️ Fatigue
▪️ Brain fog
▪️ Hair shedding
▪️ Shortness of breath
▪️ Frequent headaches
▪️ Ice cravings
▪️ Feeling cold all the time
▪️ Poor exercise tolerance

The problem?

Many people are told their iron is "normal" because only a basic CBC was checked. A normal hemoglobin does NOT always mean your iron stores are adequate.

At Prosper DPC, we look deeper. Sometimes the symptom isn't the diagnosis—it's a clue.

💚💛💚 If your legs won't let you sleep, it may be time to check your iron stores, not just reach for another medication.

06/04/2026

⚖️ Gaining weight despite eating less? The problem may not be calories alone—it may be insulin resistance.

Many people think insulin resistance only comes from eating too much sugar. The truth is more complicated.

Insulin resistance is often fueled by a combination of:

🍞 Excess carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods
🥩 Not enough protein
🥬 Nutrient deficiencies
😴 Poor sleep
😰 Chronic stress
🏃‍♀️ Lack of muscle mass and movement

When your body is deficient in key nutrients such as magnesium, chromium, vitamin D, B vitamins, and other micronutrients, it struggles to process carbohydrates efficiently. Over time, the pancreas produces more and more insulin to keep blood sugars normal.

The result?

▪️ Increased fat storage
▪️ Constant hunger and cravings
▪️ Fatigue after meals
▪️ Difficulty losing weight
▪️ Elevated triglycerides
▪️ Prediabetes and eventually Type 2 Diabetes

The answer isn't always eating less.

Sometimes the answer is nourishing your body with the nutrients it needs, building muscle, improving sleep, reducing inflammation, and addressing the root cause of insulin resistance.

At Prosper DPC, we don't just ask how much you're eating—we ask WHY your body is storing it.

💚💛💚 Weight gain is often a symptom. Let's find the cause.

06/04/2026

😴 Taking Ashwagandha for sleep but suddenly growing chin hair? Here's why.

Ashwagandha is often recommended for stress, anxiety, cortisol regulation, and sleep. But one thing many people don't realize is that it may also increase testosterone levels.

For some people, that's a benefit.

For others—especially women with PCOS, acne, facial hair, hair loss, or already elevated androgen levels—it can become a problem.

If you've noticed:
▪️ New chin hairs
▪️ Increased facial hair
▪️ Acne breakouts
▪️ Oily skin
▪️ Scalp hair thinning
..and it started after beginning Ashwagandha, the supplement may be contributing.

Ashwagandha has been shown in some studies to increase testosterone levels, particularly in men and individuals under stress. While higher testosterone may improve energy, muscle recovery, libido, and motivation, too much testosterone in susceptible women can worsen androgen-related symptoms.

This doesn't mean Ashwagandha is bad. It means supplements should be matched to the person taking them.

The right supplement for one person can be the wrong supplement for another.

If you're taking Ashwagandha and suddenly growing chin hair, your body may be trying to tell you something about your hormone balance.

💚💛💚 Don't guess—test. Your hormones deserve more than trial and error.

'sHealth

06/03/2026

Did your joints suddenly start hurting... and nobody can tell you why? 💚💛💚

One of the most overlooked symptoms of perimenopause and menopause is joint pain.

Women often tell me:
👉 "I feel like I've aged 20 years overnight."
👉 "Everything hurts when I get up."
👉 "My knees, hips, shoulders, and hands ache all the time."

They get X-rays.
They get labs.
They get told everything looks "normal."

But what many women don't realize is that declining estrogen levels can affect:
✔ Inflammation
✔ Joint lubrication
✔ Collagen production
✔ Muscle recovery
✔ Pain perception

Hormones are not the only cause of joint pain, but they are often an overlooked piece of the puzzle.

At Prosper DPC, we take a deeper look at the factors that may be contributing to symptoms, including:
💚 Hormones
💚 Inflammation
💚 Nutrition
💚 Sleep
💚 Stress
💚 Thyroid function
💚 Metabolic health

Because sometimes the problem isn't that you're getting older...

Sometimes the problem is that nobody has connected the dots.

If you've been told everything is normal but you still don't feel normal, it may be time for a different conversation.

06/01/2026

💚💛💚 Dr. K's 2 Cents: Your Hormones Are Talking... Are You Listening?

Many women are told their labs are "normal" while their bodies are screaming for help.

Hormone imbalances don't always show up as a single diagnosis. They show up as symptoms.

🌸 Estrogen Imbalance

You may notice:
• Heavy or painful periods
• Breast tenderness
• Fibroids
• Mood swings
• Weight gain around the hips and thighs
• Migraines

🦋 Thyroid Imbalance

You may experience:
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Constipation
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Feeling cold all the time
• Brain fog

🌙 Low Progesterone

Common signs include:
• Anxiety
• PMS
• Difficulty sleeping
• Short menstrual cycles
• Spotting before periods
• Feeling overwhelmed or irritable

🍩 Insulin Resistance

Often shows up as:
• Belly fat
• Sugar cravings
• Fatigue after meals
• Skin tags
• Darkening of the skin around the neck or underarms
• Difficulty losing weight despite doing "everything right"

😰 High Cortisol (Stress Hormone)

You may notice:
• Weight gain around the midsection
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling wired but tired
• Anxiety
• Cravings for sugar and salt
• Burnout

💪 Testosterone Imbalance

Women may experience:
• Acne
• Facial hair growth
• Hair thinning on the scalp
• Irregular periods
• PCOS symptoms
• Increased muscle mass or difficulty conceiving

⚠️ The problem is that many people treat symptoms while ignoring the root cause.

Hormones don't become imbalanced overnight. Stress, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies, gut dysfunction, inflammation, environmental toxins, insulin resistance, and thyroid dysfunction can all contribute.

If your body has been trying to get your attention, stop ignoring the signals.

Your symptoms are not random.
Your body is communicating.

💚💛💚 Dr. K's 2 Cents: Don't just ask, "What's wrong with me?" Ask, "What is my body trying to tell me?"

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is not simply a long weekend—it is a sacred pause.

A pause to remember the men and women who laid down their lives in service to something greater than themselves.

John McCrae, a soldier and physician during World War I, captured this sacrifice in words that still echo today:
“To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high.”

Their lives remind us that freedom is not free—it is carried forward by courage, duty, and selfless love.

Today, we remember not just their service, but their humanity:
sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors—who answered a call knowing the cost.

May we honor them not only with words, but by how we live:
with gratitude, responsibility, and a commitment to care for one another.

We remember.
We honor.
We hold the torch high.
With solemn gratitude,
Dr. Elizabeth Kolawole, MD

05/23/2026

New blog: The Hidden Health Crisis in the American Food Supply — how emulsifiers, ultra-processed foods, and pesticides may be driving chronic disease. Read insights from a primary care and functional medicine perspective, learn what to watch for, and practical steps to protect your family.

Read more: https://wix.to/vuj4edL

As a primary care and functional medicine doctor, I truly believe very few people understand the deep connection between human health and what we consume daily. Few people truly understand the relationship between nutrition and chronic illness. Fortunately, I believe America is finally starting to w...

05/16/2026

💚💛💚 Preeclampsia is more than “just high blood pressure in pregnancy.” It is a potentially LIFE-THREATENING condition that can affect the brain, kidneys, liver, placenta, and baby.
In America, Black women are disproportionately affected and are significantly more likely to experience severe complications and maternal death related to pregnancy. Awareness, advocacy, and EARLY recognition matter.

🚨 Know the Risk Factors:
• First pregnancy
• History of preeclampsia
• Chronic high blood pressure
• Obesity
• Diabetes or insulin resistance
• Autoimmune disease
• Kidney disease
• Multiple pregnancy (twins/triplets)
• Age under 20 or over 35
• Family history of preeclampsia

⚠️ Warning Signs & Symptoms:
• Severe headaches
• Vision changes/blurry vision
• Swelling of hands, feet, or face
• Sudden weight gain
• High blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Right upper abdominal pain
• Nausea/vomiting later in pregnancy
• Decreased urine output
• Feeling like “something is wrong”

Too many women are dismissed, ignored, or told their symptoms are “normal.” Listen to women. Believe women. Check the blood pressure.
Today we walk to raise awareness, support mothers, honor those impacted, and fight for better maternal health outcomes for ALL women. 💚💛💚

05/16/2026

Let's go!!!!!

05/15/2026

Healthcare was never supposed to feel this cold. 💚💛💚

So many patients today walk into appointments and feel:
❌ rushed
❌ unseen
❌ unheard

The provider is overwhelmed.
The schedule is packed.
The system is pushing volume over connection.

Sometimes they barely know your name.
Sometimes they never even look you in the eye.

Not because they don’t care…
but because the system no longer gives them the time to.

That’s one of the reasons Prosper DPC was created.

We believe medicine should still feel human.

✔ Time to listen
✔ Time to think
✔ Time to build a real relationship
✔ A doctor who actually knows YOU

Because healthcare should not feel like a conveyor belt.

You deserve to be seen, heard, and cared for—not rushed through a system 💚