Nutrition care is not only about eating the right foods, but it is also about community, and how through our unique community of people we support each other and provide equitable access to fresh, healthy, balanced food.   Supporting the Current Community This month I will be hosting a FREE – Open to the Public - educational event at Colorado Mountain College about proper nutrition for outdoor winter recreation! In addition to providing some critical information about hydrati

Direct Primary Care is designed to make health care simpler—and more accessible—than many people are used to. Let’s take a moment for a refresh on the services available at Rocky Mountain Family Practice of Leadville. Your DPC membership covers much more than quick office visits. Members can schedule same-day or next-day appointments, communicate directly with their care team by text or phone, and enjoy longer, unrushed visits. Your membership also includes care such as: Well

In today’s health care system, many patients are used to rushed visits—quick checklists, short conversations, and feeling like there wasn’t enough time to fully explain what’s going on. When medical providers have the time to listen, care becomes more thoughtful, more accurate, and more effective. At Rocky Mountain Family Practice, we have time to listen – this unhurried approach leads to better outcomes in these ways: Time Leads to Better Understanding Unrushed visits allow

Feeling more tired in the winter is incredibly common. Shorter days, colder weather, and changes in routine can all affect energy levels. But if fatigue feels persistent, overwhelming, or different from your usual “winter sluggishness,” RMFP can help you take a closer look. There are several common—and treatable—health issues that can contribute to ongoing fatigue: Anemia: Low iron levels or anemia can leave you feeling drained, weak, or short of breath. A simple blood test c

Happy New Year and welcome to peak citrus fruit season! In addition to being a popular football tradition, did you know the New Year’s Day Orange Bowl tradition was originally designed to advertise the peak harvest of Florida navel oranges? Here are a few other citrus fruit stats you may not know. One single orange is a powerhouse of nutrients – packing ¾ of your daily vitamin C. A fresh, whole orange also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, vitamin E, potassium, mag

Sometimes the healthiest resolution is simply starting the conversation. Every January, people feel pressure to completely reinvent themselves—to eat perfectly, exercise every day, lose a certain amount of weight, or never miss a workout. While those goals often come from a good place, they can also be overwhelming and hard to sustain. Let’s make it simpler. What are your healthy goals for 2026? Do you know the values of your key health metrics like blood pressure, fasting gl

Life gets busy — work, family, errands, appointments — and it’s easy to push your own health to the bottom of the to-do list. But your annual physical  is one appointment that truly pays off. Think of it as a yearly investment in your long-term well-being. A Preventive Check-In An annual physical gives you and your care team the chance to step back and look at the “big picture” of your health. Even if you feel perfectly fine, these visits can catch small issues before they be

¿Por qué mi dietista me pregunta sobre el ejercicio? La respuesta es porque la condición fisica va de la mano con la nutrición, y para tener una salud óptima necesitas ambos. Cualquier objetivo de composición corporal que implique ganar músculo o fuerza requiere tanto una nutrición equilibrada como ejercicio. Piensa en la fórmula como nutrición (macronutrientes) + ejercicio = resultados. Las mujeres, en particular, necesitan entrenamiento de fuerza durante toda la vida para m

La vida se vuelve ocupada: trabajo, familia, recados, citas, y es fácil dejar tu propia salud al final de la lista de tareas. Pero tu examen fisico anual es una cita que realmente vale la pena. Piensa en él como una inversión anual en tu bienestar a largo plazo. Un chequeo preventivo Un examen físico anual te da a ti y a tu equipo de atención médica la oportunidad de dar un paso atrás y mirar el “panorama general” de tu salud. Incluso si te sientes perfectamente bien, estas vi

Why does my dietitian ask me about exercise? The answer is because physical fitness goes hand in hand with nutrition – and in order to have optimal health span you need both.   Any body composition goals that involve gaining muscle or strength requires both balanced nutrition and exercise. Think of the formula as nutrition (macros) + exercise = results. Women, in particular, require strength training – for life - in order to maintain proper bone and muscle mass. Some of the a

Karen Casey, MS, RDN Some of my patients have heard me say – nutrition science is a young science! New discoveries are happening every day – changing the recommendations for which foods and nutrients we use to treat and prevent disease.    There are entire classes of very complex metabolic diseases that are treated by restricting certain vitamins or nutrients – similar to how Type 2 diabetes is treated by restricting sugar. In the last 10 years, groundbreaking research in foo

The holidays can bring true moments of joy and contentment – or they can feel heavy with obligations. Is your calendar jam-packed? Are you feeling pressure to please everyone? Maybe I can help by sharing how I prioritize my health during this season. Check in with myself  - you may feel calm today and stressed tomorrow. If I am stressed, I breathe in for four, out for six. It’s a nervous system reset button. Move  – I take stretch breaks, park a little farther away from the s

“Can I eat a cupcake, or is that a bad food? Carrots are good for me, right?” These are great questions—and the answer isn’t as simple as good or bad. It really depends on what your body needs.

I know – we all became savvy germ avoiders during COVID-19, but it is a worth a reminder as we enter our winter season.

By Claudia Vargas, MA Practice Manager As a medical assistant, I see every day how a little preparation can make a big difference in the...

By: Karen Casey MS,RDN Indoor Season is Upon Us! Pumpkin Patch This is the time of year when people start to spend more time indoors –...