Science Based Nutrition

05/29/2026

I met a woman years ago, she was in a wheelchair. Her MS progressing so fast it seemed like no hope. But today? She’s walking, dancing, and living fully in her 70s.

How often do we underestimate the power of consistent care? Proper testing and personalized care made all the difference. This isn't just about MS, it's about the power of targeted treatment and resilience.

She’s proof that with the right support and a little resilience, we’re capable of much more than we think.

Worth thinking about.

www.ScienceBasedNutrition.com

05/27/2026

Healthcare Shouldn’t Be Guesswork

Patients today are looking for more than temporary solutions, they want answers.

At Science Based Nutrition, we help practitioners go beyond symptom management through:
✔ Advanced blood testing
✔ Personalized nutritional analysis
✔ Functional health insights
✔ Targeted lifestyle and supplement recommendations

Because every patient is different, and true prevention starts with understanding the body’s unique physiology.

Whether practitioners are looking to:
• Support energy and metabolism
• Address inflammation
• Optimize cardiovascular health
• Improve patient outcomes

Having the right data can make all the difference.

Our mission is simple:
Help practitioners combine clinical insight with practical nutritional strategies to support long-term wellness.

Because better health outcomes begin with better understanding.

Test. Analyze. Personalize.

www.ScienceBasedNutrition.com

05/26/2026

Lab Marker of the Week: Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is commonly viewed as a marker related to liver or bone health, but from a functional perspective, it can provide insight into much more.

ALP is an enzyme found primarily in:
• The liver
• Bones
• Intestinal tissue

Because of this, abnormal levels may reflect changes in multiple physiological systems.

Low ALP levels may sometimes be associated with:
• Zinc deficiency
• Poor protein intake
• Impaired digestion or absorption
• Low metabolic activity

Elevated ALP levels may be seen with:
• Increased bone turnover
• Liver or gallbladder stress
• Inflammatory processes

What makes ALP especially valuable is that it should always be interpreted in context.

From a clinical perspective, practitioners often evaluate ALP alongside:

• AST / ALT
• GGT
• Zinc status
• Calcium and Vitamin D markers

To better understand whether patterns may be related to nutrient status, detoxification pathways, or bone metabolism.

Even routine markers like ALP can provide important insight when viewed through a broader clinical lens.

At Science Based Nutrition, we believe prevention starts by identifying subtle physiological patterns before they progress into larger concerns.

Because the details matter.

05/22/2026

Did You Know? Stress Can Deplete Nutrients

When people think about stress, they usually think about mental or emotional strain.

But physiologically, stress also creates a significant demand on the body’s nutrient reserves.

During periods of chronic stress, the body may burn through higher amounts of nutrients such as:

• Magnesium
• B vitamins
• Vitamin C
• Zinc

These nutrients play critical roles in:
Energy production
Nervous system balance
Hormone regulation
Immune function

Over time, depletion can contribute to symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• Poor sleep
• Brain fog
• Increased cravings
• Difficulty recovering from stressors

This is one reason why two people exposed to similar stress levels can feel very differently. Nutrient status matters.

At Science Based Nutrition, we believe understanding these underlying physiological patterns helps practitioners create more targeted nutrition and lifestyle strategies.

Stress doesn’t just affect the mind, it affects the entire body.

05/20/2026

Struggling with digestion? Here's the biggest mistake almost everyone makes and how you can help.

Most of us eat fast, lay down right after, or snack late at night. Bad habits that mess with your gut. When you eat too quickly, chew poorly, or then flop into bed, you're asking for bloating, heartburn, and indigestion.

Instead, try this:

Chew thoroughly and take small bites
Stay upright for at least 20-30 minutes after eating
Take gentle walks, no running!
Your stomach needs time to do its job, and rushing or lying down sabotages it all.

Simple, but so effective. Worth a shot, right?

What's your biggest digestion challenge? Drop it below!

05/18/2026

Lab Marker of the Week: Vitamin D

Vitamin D is commonly associated with bone health, but its role in the body goes far beyond that.

Optimal Vitamin D levels support:

• Immune system regulation
• Mood balance
• Hormone signaling
• Muscle function
• Inflammatory response

Many individuals are surprised to learn their levels are lower than expected, especially during winter months or if they spend limited time outdoors.

Factors that may contribute to low Vitamin D levels include:
• Limited sun exposure
• Poor absorption
• Higher body fat levels
• Certain medications

While supplementation is common, the right approach depends on understanding current levels.

That’s why measuring Vitamin D through bloodwork can provide important insight for both patients and practitioners when developing a personalized health plan.

05/15/2026

Our body adapts to dysfunction faster than you think.

One of the biggest challenges in preventive health is that the body is incredibly good at compensating. Patients often normalize symptoms like:

• Afternoon fatigue
• Poor sleep
• Brain fog
• Low motivation
• Digestive discomfort
• Feeling “off”

Because those symptoms developed gradually over time.
What starts as occasional fatigue becomes “normal.”
What starts as mild bloating becomes expected.
What starts as inconsistent energy becomes daily life.

But adaptation does not equal optimal health. In clinical practice, these subtle symptoms are often early indicators that the body is under stress. Nutritionally, metabolically, or hormonally.

The good news is that these patterns can often be identified long before more serious dysfunction develops.

That’s why proactive testing and deeper nutritional insight matter.

At Science Based Nutrition, we believe prevention starts with paying attention to the subtle signals the body gives long before disease is present.

Because the earlier we identify imbalance, the greater the opportunity to improve long term health outcomes.

What’s one symptom people commonly dismiss that you think deserves more attention?

— Dr. Merkle

Send a message to learn more

05/13/2026

Experience an extraordinary journey of healing! From a CEA level of 114 to just 3 in eight months, all without traditional medical treatments. Discover how a special diet and vitamins led to a remarkable recovery from stage four cancer. This inspiring story shows the power of alternative healing.

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05/12/2026

Lab Marker of the Week: Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

RDW is a marker included in a standard CBC (Complete Blood Count), yet it’s often overlooked in clinical interpretation.

RDW measures the variation in size of red blood cells, and subtle elevations can provide insight into underlying physiological stress.

Elevated RDW has been associated with:
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Chronic inflammation
• Oxidative stress
• Cardiovascular risk
• Poor oxygen delivery to tissues

Clinically, RDW may become elevated when the body is struggling to produce healthy, uniform red blood cells.

Common contributing factors can include:
• Low iron or ferritin
• Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
• Inflammatory burden
• Impaired metabolic health

What makes RDW especially valuable is that it may shift before more obvious abnormalities appear in other blood markers.

From a functional perspective, practitioners often evaluate RDW alongside:
• Ferritin
• Hemoglobin and hematocrit
• B12 and folate
• CRP and inflammatory markers

…to gain a broader understanding of nutrient status and systemic stress.

At Science Based Nutrition, we believe small changes in routine markers can reveal important physiological patterns when viewed in context.

Because better clinical insight often comes from looking deeper at the details.

05/06/2026

Your Body's Daily Battle

Did you know your body fights cancer every day? It's incredible how resilient we are. Even when faced with daunting odds, many find hope and healing. Let's focus on getting healthier, no matter the name of the disease. 💪