Cost of Functional Medicine

Can we address the elephant in the room? Our transparent price of our functional medicine programs. Why do we do this, and is functional medicine really expensive?

After 5 years of helping people solve their health issues at the Root cause in our Root Membership Program, we have optimized our approach. We’ve seen the most meaningful lab testing that people need; we’ve seen how working with both doctor and dietitian consistently gives the best results; and we’ve seen how important it is to avoid the stress of the unknown in bills, next steps, and what to expect.

The simple answer is that we want people to have what they need when they sign up for our programs. We care about transparency and authenticity (it’s one of our core values!). We don’t want to just get you in the door and then order thousands of dollars of testing with no real idea if any of it will be covered by insurance. (It’s actually impossible for your practitioner to know what is covered because every person has a different insurance plan, different deductibles, co-insurance and other nuances.) In our experience, when people have used “good insurance” for the labs we order in our Root wellness panel, they end up with bills of over $2000-$3000. Yikes. 

Gut health is a cornerstone of overall wellness, influencing everything from digestion to immune health. One of the lesser-known but critically important players in gut health is a bacteria called akkermansia. In this article, we will explore what Akkermansia is, why its levels are significant, how you can nourish it through food, and other tips for maintaining a healthy gut environment.

Akkermansia is a beneficial bacteria that lives in the human gut. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the gut's mucosal layer, which serves as a barrier protecting the intestinal lining. High levels of Akkermansia are associated with a healthy mucosal layer, which can help prevent conditions like leaky gut. Learn more about top to bottom digestion. 

Conversely, low levels of this bacteria can compromise the mucosal barrier, potentially leading to digestive issues, widespread inflammation, and other chronic diseases. For example, studies suggest that low levels of Akkermansia are associated with a greater risk of inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and diabetes (1). 

We use a comprehensive stool test called GI Map to examine the levels of Akkermansia in many of our members. This stool test provides valuable insights into the composition of gut bacteria, allowing us to tailor dietary and lifestyle recommendations to support optimal gut health.