FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE BRIEF
ISSUE #6: September 25, 2026
Mitchell's Pick
Ferritin's "normal" range has changed: new ASH guidelines raised the threshold used to identify iron deficiency in adults, including pregnant and menstruating women*.
My reaction? It’s a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t change much for us. We’ve never used “normal” lab ranges as the definition of optimal health. Plus, we’d never interpret ferritin alone. It reflects iron storage, but it can also rise with inflammation, infection, liver dysfunction, and other conditions.
So, this is a better threshold for identifying iron deficiency in conventional medicine, but context still matters more than whether a number gets flagged.
Kate's Pick
I saw the graphic below from Momentous this week and had to laugh. Apparently 67% of Americans think they eat enough fiber, while somewhere around 5% of us actually do.
And honestly, this tracks with what I see all the time. Fiber is one of those things people assume they’re getting because they eat vegetables or have some berries with breakfast. But when we actually tally it up? Usually not even close.
You don’t need to obsessively track fiber, but it’s worth doing the math for a day or two. Fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and whole grains all count. See where you're at, then push towards a more optimal daily minimum.
Fiber on the brain, I guess... I saw a suggestion for Pure Cinnamon Fiber+ combined with Vanilla Whey Protein to make a "healthy horchata" and now I can't wait to try it out for myself. 😋
Enjoy your weekend,
—Mitchell & Kate
*shoutout to Dr. April Dominick for asking about my opinion on this and bringing it my attention! It's a special thing to have curious coworkers who are eager to learn.