Author: Dr. Kevin Quinn Ng The goal isn’t just more birthdays. It’s more years with power, presence, and purpose. When people think of aging, they often picture decline: stiffness, forgetfulness, dependence. But it doesn’t have to look that way. This gentleman came to me with a serious autoimmune condition (bullous pemphigoid) likely compounded by long COVID complications, food intolerances, and underlying gut dysfunction. We addressed root causes through immune regulation, microbial balance, and nutritional strategy. Over months, his symptoms resolved. His resilience returned and he’s doing what he loves: golfing.This is what it means to extend healthspan, not just lifespan¹⁻⁴. What Is Healthspan and Why Does It Matter? Most healthcare still focuses on lifespan — how long we live. But anyone who’s watched a loved one fade in their final decades knows: the quality of those years is everything⁵. Concept Definition Lifespan How many years you live Healthspan How many years you live free of disease and decline Think of lifespan as the length of the song — healthspan is how long it stays worth listening to. What Longevity Medicine Offers True longevity care doesn’t rely on guesswork or generic plans. It’s precise. It’s personalized. It’s built on measurable foundations⁵˒¹³˒¹⁶. 1. Precision Testing and Tracking Most people are aging according to the calendar — counting birthdays.But real aging isn’t just about chronology. It’s about function⁵. Your biological age is better measured by how well you move, think, recover, and adapt — not just how many years you’ve lived¹³˒¹⁵. Emerging research confirms that “inflammaging” (the chronic low-grade inflammation often seen in aging ) is not a universal phenomenon, but shaped by lifestyle, infection exposure, and environmentⁱ⁷ We assess this through a blend of functional testing, advanced biomarkers, and real-world performance indicators: Lab markers that reveal how your systems are truly aging: These are not just numbers — they are trajectory markers.They help us identify risks early, personalize interventions, and track your progress toward a longer, stronger, and more fulfilling life. 2. Root-Cause Optimization Symptoms like fatigue, inflammation, or early decline often start upstream: 3. Targeted Therapeutics Used judiciously, not as shortcuts — but as tools to enhance your foundation: 4. Longevity Lifestyle Design Healthspan is built daily, not just during checkups: Four Questions That Shape Every Longevity Plan These aren’t just good questions — they’re a map to a life that still feels like yours. Why This Work Matters to Me My father passed away in his 40s from cancer. My mother followed in her 50s.I watched what it meant for a life to be cut short — not just in years, but in memories, milestones, and presence. That experience imprinted something in me: a drive to understand how we can not only live longer, but live with strength, clarity, and dignity. As a father in my 40s, that drive has matured. Longevity isn’t just about extending time. It’s about protecting the people we love from becoming caretakers too soon — and ensuring we leave a legacy of freedom, not dependency. It’s about protecting what matters. References

By Abigail Oswari and Dr. Andrew Oswari In the case report discussed we present a patient who was making “healthy choices” which had a negative impact on his gout and metabolism. This led to a flare up of previously controlled symptoms. Dietary choices are powerful tools for reducing inflammation and reversing metabolic syndrome. At the Chung Institute, we have achieved success in reversing diabetes, insulin resistance, psoriasis, nephrolithiasis, gout, irritable bowel syndrome, and many other diseases related to inflammatory conditions. Case Report A 67-year-old male with a history of gout had successfully reversed his insulin resistance over the past two years, lost weight, and resolved his gout attacks. He presented at our office one month after experiencing a severe gout attack. On review of recent lifestyle changes, he reported incorporating a cup of “Mom’s Pomegranate juice” and an orange in his breakfast routine due to perceived antioxidant benefits. Further investigation revealed this juice contained 34 grams of sugar per cup—around 8 ½ teaspoons. Subsequent blood work results showed an increase in uric acid, insulin, triglycerides, and C-peptide (an insulin precursor). All in response to this drastic increase in fructose intake. Relevant laboratory results are shown below. The image depicts the patient described previously, showing severe inflammation in the left foot due to the gout attack. What is Gout? Gout is the most prevalent form of inflammatory arthritis, increasing annually and affecting over 40 million people worldwide [1, 6]. The most common symptom includes painful joint inflammation in the lower extremities, with a classic picture showing an inflamed, painful big toe [7]. The cause of gout is believed to be elevated serum uric acid levels that have crystallized in the joint space [2].  What is Uric Acid? Uric acid is a natural waste product your body creates when it breaks down certain substances, like purines (found in foods such as red meat, shellfish, and some fish) and fructose (a type of sugar in fruits, honey, sodas, and processed foods like fruit juices). Think of uric acid as the leftover “junk” after your body processes these foods.[2] Normally, it dissolves in your blood, gets filtered by your kidneys, and leaves your body through urine. Problems start when your body makes too much uric acid or your kidneys can’t remove it fast enough. This causes uric acid to build up in your blood, where it can form tiny, sharp crystals, especially in your joints. These crystals are what cause the intense pain, swelling, and redness of gout, often in the big toe or other joints.[2] High uric acid levels don’t just cause gout—they can also put stress on your kidneys, potentially leading to kidney disease, and may even affect your brain, increasing the risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s over time [4].  How does fructose fit in the picture? Fructose is found naturally in fruits, honey, and some vegetables, but it’s also added to many processed foods like sodas, fruit juices, candies, and desserts in the form of high-fructose corn syrup or table sugar. While natural sources are fine in moderation, too much fructose from processed foods can harm your health. Your liver processes fructose, producing uric acid, which can build up and cause gout. Studies link high fructose intake, especially from sugary drinks, to increased gout risk. Several studies suggest that the more fructose one eats/drinks, particularly fruit juice or sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), the higher the risk of gout [2, 3].  Fructose can also reduce insulin sensitivity, raising the risk of diabetes and weight gain, and increase blood fats (triglycerides), which can harm your heart. It can also increase fat in your blood (triglycerides), which increases your cardiovascular risk [5]. We observed this effect in the case study noted.  But doesn’t meat cause gout? Organ meats, shellfish, and canned fish are high in purines, which are often limited in gout management, but evidence on their impact is weak. [1]. Fructose, a sugar in many processed foods, can worsen gout by lowering energy (ATP) in the liver and increasing purine production, which leads to more uric acid buildup. This uric acid can trigger gout attacks, especially when high-purine foods are eaten with high-fructose foods like sodas, juices, or alcohol. However, more research is needed to confirm this connection. [2].  Why is it important to avoid high-fructose products? Fructose raises uric acid levels, which can cause inflammation, disrupt energy balance, and increase the risk of chronic diseases. [8] High uric acid can also cross into the brain, potentially causing inflammation linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. [4] Concerning the 67-year-old male patient, the sole dietary change was the addition of high-fructose fruit juice. Subsequently, uric acid levels, insulin, C-peptide, and triglycerides increased, shifting toward insulin resistance or a pre-diabetic state. This is extremely dangerous as it poses potential health risks. Keeping fructose intake low, especially from sugary drinks and processed foods, can help prevent these issues [2,4,5]. The key is to enjoy natural fructose from whole fruits in moderation but avoid processed foods and drinks loaded with added sugars. Choosing water, unsweetened teas, or homemade options can keep your body healthier. Fructose is found in numerous products. Here are some common foods and a healthy alternative: Fruit/Vegetable Juice Infused Water: Lemon, Strawberries, etc. Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Plain seltzers with LMNT electrolytes  Alcohol  Limit to one drink per week Salad Dressings/Condiments  Make them yourself…Homemade Sauces and Dressings 

Why Functional Medicine Matters Now More Than Ever Dr. Kevin Q. Ng Functional Medicine Is Having a Moment — And Patients Are Taking Notice Functional Medicine is no longer a fringe idea — it’s becoming a cultural force. Across headlines, podcasts, and policy discussions, we’re witnessing a significant shift in how people perceive health. From calls to ban ultra-processed foods and restrict harmful pesticides to bipartisan pushes for nutrition-based healthcare reform, the public appetite for root-cause care is rising.  Functional medicine practitioners are at the forefront of this conversation. On social media, Gary Brecka‘s podcast, The Ultimate Human, has gained substantial popularity ranking #1 on Spotify worldwide for health and wellness, reflecting the growing interest in functional health topics. Meanwhile, Dr. Mark Hyman, a leading Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)-certified physician, educates over 3 million followers on Instagram about nutrition, longevity, and systems-based medicine Perhaps most strikingly, Dr. Casey Means, an IFM-trained physician, was recently nominated for U.S. Surgeon General, highlighting the increasing recognition of functional medicine at the highest levels of healthcare policy. And patients are responding. At the Chung Institute of Integrative Medicine (CIIM), we’ve been honored to serve individuals who have traveled across the country seeking answers to their most complex and persistent health concerns. A common sentiment we hear: “I wish there were a provider like you near me… someone who could explain the why behind my symptoms, address the cause before they become dangerous and guide my healing — without it costing an arm and a leg.” That’s precisely why I chose to integrate IFM style care into our work at CIIM — to meet that need while complementing the holistic mindset we already offer as integrative medicine specialists. For some patients, Functional Medicine provides a familiar, evidence-based bridge — especially if they feel uncertain about starting with acupuncture, regenerative injections, or bioenergetic testing. Others prefer to blend both worlds: merging concrete labs and outcome-based protocols with holistic therapies for a truly personalized path to wellness. In either case, the goal remains the same: real answers, lasting results, and a healing process that finally makes sense. What Is Functional Medicine? Functional Medicine is a science-based, systems-oriented approach to healing. Rather than asking, “What drug matches this disease?”, it asks, “What’s driving this dysfunction — and how can we correct it at the source?” It looks upstream, investigating how genetics, environment, nutrition, mindset, toxins, infections, and lifestyle patterns interact to create disease or protect against it. Instead of compartmentalizing symptoms, it connects the dots across the entire system. As Gary Brecka aptly stated: “If a tree has a diseased leaf, a botanist doesn’t medicate the leaf — they test  the soil.” Functional Medicine operates on the same principle. It delves beneath the surface. This model is: Personalized – tailored to your unique biochemistry and history Participatory – involving you as a true partner, not a passive patient Proactive – focused on prevention, resilience, and lifelong health It’s the approach I now bring to my practice — one that prioritizes balance, function, and long-term restoration rather than short-term symptom suppression. How It Differs from Conventional Care Conventional medicine excels in emergencies, surgeries, trauma care, and acute infections. I continue to practice in that realm as a hospital-based infectious disease specialist. However, when it comes to chronic symptoms, unexplained fatigue, autoimmune flares, or the vague “everything is off, but my labs are normal” scenario — the toolbox often focuses on managing symptoms, not resolving them.  We choose a different path: Instead of isolated diagnoses, we explore interconnected systems. Instead of suppressing symptoms, we uncover the roots. Instead of settling for “It’s just your age,” we ask, “What’s changeable?” It’s care for the complex, the chronic, and the curious. Why CIIM, and Why Now After years of treating complex infections and chronic illnesses in hospital systems, I observed a recurring pattern: patients with persistent symptoms — fatigue, brain fog, gut issues, immune dysfunction, yet no one was addressing the deeper questions.  What drew me in wasn’t a trend. It was a shift in mindset. A move toward root-cause care: medicine that seeks to understand not just what’s wrong, but why it’s happening and how to restore balance across the body’s systems. At the Chung Institute, we’ve long embodied this philosophy through integrative modalities like acupuncture, bioenergetic testing, photobiomodulation, and regenerative therapies. My role is to build on that foundation with tools from functional diagnostics, systems biology, and emerging fields like quantum biology — including circadian alignment, mitochondrial health, and nervous system regulation. I also incorporate artificial intelligence-driven tools to help personalize nutrition planning, track lab trends, and empower patients with clear, actionable insights. This synergy of tradition and technology allows us to create care plans that are both deeply individualized and deeply human — blending intuition with information, and structure with soul. For some patients, this approach provides a more familiar entry point, especially if energetic medicine or injectables feel new. For others, it’s the structured clarity they’ve been craving: a way to see what’s happening, track what’s improving, and feel like an active participant in their recovery. This isn’t one-size-fits-all care. It’s adaptive, integrative, and outcome-oriented — designed to meet you wherever you are and guide you toward what’s possible. Who I Help If you’ve been told “your labs are normal”, but you still feel off… If you’re managing multiple diagnoses, but none of them explain the whole picture… Or if you’re proactive, health-literate, and ready for a smarter path forward… You’re the kind of patient this model was built for. I work with individuals who are: Navigating chronic symptoms or complex conditions like autoimmunity, fatigue, gut issues, and infections Struggling with food/environmental sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, or brain fog Seeking preventive care or optimization — energy, clarity, performance, and longevity Curious about combining data-driven diagnostics with a whole-person approach 🧭 What to Expect In our visits, we’ll look for patterns, not just problems and work together to uncover what your symptoms are truly indicating. We may use targeted diagnostics such as: