Health Insights
Evidence-based articles and clinical insights written by Dr. Sam Lavis — rooted in functional medicine and ancestral nutrition.
NutritionVegetable Oils as a Major Cause of Chronic Disease
Could you eat 98 ears of corn in one sitting? That is essentially what you are doing when you consume 5 Tbsp of corn oil. Seed oils entered the human diet about 100 years ago — and chronic disease has tracked with their rise ever since.
NutritionNutrient Density – A Key to Thriving
The diet wars are filled with dogma. I prefer to think about nutrition in terms of nutrient density — what foods give your body everything it needs to function at a cellular level. The answer might surprise you.
NutritionThanksgiving Without the Bloat
Thanksgiving is one of my top 3 favorite times of the year — and yes, you can enjoy it without derailing your health. Here's how to navigate the holiday table with intention.
Functional MedicineAll About Autoimmune Disease and How to Fix It
Autoimmune disease affects 8% of the US population — 78% of whom are women. Conventional medicine rarely addresses the root cause. Here's what I've found actually works.
Thyroid HealthNutrition for a Better Thyroid
Women are 5–8 times more likely to develop thyroid dysfunction than men. I break down the key nutrients your thyroid needs — and why animal foods are the best source of all of them.
Gut HealthHippocrates Was Dead On
"All disease begins in the gut." Hippocrates said it thousands of years ago, and the more I get into functional medicine, the more I realize it's true.
Family HealthInfant Nutrition – How to Build a Whole Foods Diet for Your Little One
Transitioning your baby to food is one of the most important steps in raising a healthy child. Here's how I fed my own son Hank — and why animal foods are the perfect first foods.
Family HealthPrenatal Nutrition – First Step Towards a Healthy Baby
The second I found out Suz was pregnant, I became obsessed with how to grow the strongest, healthiest baby possible. Here's exactly what we did — and why.
Family HealthOptimal Nutrition for Breastfeeding
Breast milk is only as good as what mom eats. I break down exactly how my wife Suz nourished our son Hank through breastfeeding — and why animal foods are non-negotiable.
About FHSThe Origins of Functional Health Solutions
Why did I leave the traditional medical system to start Functional Health Solutions? The answer starts in residency, and ends with a dream that finally came to life.
NutritionProtein Optimization – The Secret to Better Body Composition
99% of patients I've worked with are protein deficient. Here's exactly how much you need, when to eat it, and why animal protein wins every time.
Functional Medicine With Dr. Sam Lavis
Dr. Sam Lavis, DO joins host Dr. Dawn Ipsen, PharmD of Kusler's Compounding Pharmacy — a trusted local Snohomish pharmacy Dr. Sam works with for his patients — for an in-depth conversation on functional medicine. Topics covered include Dr. Sam's three pillars for healthy living, mold toxicity and treatment, testosterone and environmental estrogens, and how Direct Primary Care changes the doctor-patient relationship.
Guest: Dr. Sam Lavis, DO
Host: Dr. Dawn Ipsen, PharmD — Kusler's Compounding Pharmacy
Dr. Sam's Top Recommendations
Products Dr. Sam personally uses and recommends to his patients — vetted for quality, sourcing, and alignment with real-food principles.
Nourish Food Club — Low PUFA Eggs
These are the eggs I personally eat. Corn and soy free, pasture-raised, with 74% less linoleic acid than conventional eggs. In a world drowning in omega-6 seed oils, getting your eggs right is one of the highest-leverage food changes you can make.
Shop Nourish Food Club
Mangones — Organic Dried Mango
Single ingredient, nothing added — just organic dried mango. No seed oils, no added sugar, no preservatives. Regeneratively grown and dried on-site. If you want a clean, real-food snack you can feel good about giving your kids, this is it.
Shop Mangones
Carnivore Snax — Meat Chips
Two ingredients: 100% grass-fed meat and Redmond Real Salt. That's it. These melt-in-your-mouth meat chips are the cleanest animal-based snack I've found. No fillers, no seed oils, no junk — just pure protein and fat the way nature intended.
Shop Carnivore Snax
MASA Chips — Seed Oil Free Tortilla Chips
Three ingredients: organic corn, grass-fed beef tallow, and sea salt. MASA are the tortilla chips I actually feel good recommending. Cooked in tallow instead of seed oils — the rare chip that tastes exactly like you remember without the inflammatory fats.
Shop MASA Chips
Lineage Provisions — 100% Grass-Fed Beef Sticks
Founded by Paul Saladino MD and Anthony Gustin DC, these are the cleanest meat sticks I've found. 100% grass-fed beef, air-dried for five days with no preservatives, seed oils, sugar, or fillers. Available in Classic (beef only) and Ancestral (beef + organs) recipes. Third-party tested for heavy metals, glyphosate, mold, and pathogens — exactly the standard I hold all food recommendations to.
Shop Beef Sticks