This interview is with Dr. Jonathan Spages, Doctor, Author at Advanced Natural Health Center.

Dr. Jonathan Spages, Doctor, Author, Advanced Natural Health Center

Dr. Jonathan, could you introduce yourself and tell us about your area of expertise in the health field?

I'm Dr. Jonathan Spages, a functional medicine practitioner with a deep focus on reversing Type 2 diabetes and chronic conditions by addressing their root causes—specifically metabolic dysfunction and inflammation. Unlike the traditional approach of simply managing symptoms with medication, I developed a proprietary system called the BMO Method (Biome, Metabolism, and Organs), which helps identify the hidden imbalances keeping people stuck in cycles of weight gain, fatigue, and blood sugar instability. My expertise bridges advanced lab testing, nutritional science, and personalized care plans that go far beyond "eat less, exercise more." I've worked with thousands of patients, many of whom were told their only options were more medication or surgery, and helped them reclaim their health naturally and sustainably.

What inspired you to pursue a career in functional medicine, and how has your journey shaped your approach to healthcare?

What inspired me to pursue a career in functional medicine was watching my grandmother, Mary, suffer a devastating decline due to Type 2 diabetes. She went from playing two rounds of golf a day to becoming bedridden on a couch for two years. She was put on one medication after another, each one seeming to do more harm than good. Her decline wasn't just heartbreaking—it was preventable. That experience lit a fire in me to find a better way.

In my early years practicing conventional medicine, I became increasingly frustrated by how often patients were told to "manage" disease rather than resolve its cause. I knew there had to be a smarter approach—one that treated the root, not just the symptoms.

In your book 'The Wellness Approach,' you mention '5 factors to health often overlooked in our sick care model.' Could you share one of these factors and explain how it has transformed a patient's life?

In my book "The Wellness Approach," one of the most overlooked but transformational factors I highlight is toxicity—specifically, the hidden burden of environmental toxins on our metabolism and immune system. Many patients don't realize how much their liver, gut, and overall cellular function are weighed down by years of exposure to things like pesticides, plastics, processed foods, and even some medications. One patient in particular, Christina, came to me exhausted, overweight, and frustrated after trying countless diets and being told her labs were "normal." She felt anything but normal.

Once we addressed this hidden toxic load—using a guided liver and gut detox protocol as part of the BMO Method—things began to shift. Within one week, during the week of Christmas and while on a cruise, Christina lost 3 pounds without restricting food or exercising. That blew her mind, and it redefined what she thought was possible for her body.

Toxicity isn't about "cleansing" in the trendy sense—it's about giving the body a break from what's constantly inflaming it and overwhelming its detox systems. Once we removed the interference, her metabolism began to function again. Her energy returned, sleep improved, and her inflammatory markers dropped.

This experience reflects a core truth: You can't heal in the same environment that made you sick. Until we address root causes like toxicity, all the diets and medications in the world are just temporary bandages. Christina's story is proof that when you fix what's really broken, the body has an incredible ability to heal.

You've mentioned using digital platforms like Healthie to support patients with chronic illnesses. Can you share a specific case where this technology led to a breakthrough in a patient's treatment?

One patient with Type 2 diabetes had been struggling with blood sugar swings for years. By using Healthie, we were able to track her food, symptoms, supplements, and labs in real time. This helped us identify a pattern of inflammatory food triggers and stress-related spikes. Adjustments were made quickly, and within weeks, her blood sugar stabilized—something she hadn't achieved in years. The accountability and real-time insights Healthie provided were game-changing.

As a functional medicine practitioner, how do you approach the challenge of integrating traditional medical knowledge with newer, holistic approaches to health?

As a functional medicine practitioner, I approach the integration of traditional and holistic methods by starting with the best of conventional diagnostics: labs, imaging, and clinical history. Then, I layer in a deeper exploration of root causes like gut health, inflammation, blood sugar dysregulation, and environmental exposures. I respect what traditional medicine offers in acute care and disease identification, but I go further by asking why the imbalance is there in the first place. By combining evidence-based protocols with nutrition, lifestyle, stress management, and targeted supplementation, I create personalized care plans that restore function, not just manage symptoms. This synergy allows patients to experience real healing, not just temporary relief.

You've optimized the use of electronic health records in your practice. Can you describe a situation where this optimization directly improved a patient's outcome?

One case that stands out involved a patient with Type 2 diabetes and chronic inflammation who had been on multiple medications without much improvement. Through our optimized electronic health record (EHR) system, I was able to track her blood sugar trends, supplement compliance, lifestyle logs, and lab history in one centralized dashboard. The system flagged a pattern showing her glucose spiked every time she reported poor sleep and elevated CRP levels. With that insight, we adjusted her evening routine, added targeted magnesium and B1, and supported her liver with a non-inflammatory diet. Within a few weeks, her blood sugar stabilized, inflammation markers dropped, and we successfully reduced her medication load. Without the EHR integration, we might have missed the sleep-inflammation connection entirely.

In your experience, what's the most common misconception about functional medicine that you encounter, and how do you address it with new patients?

The most common misconception I encounter about functional medicine is that it's "just vitamins" or unscientific. New patients often come in skeptical, thinking it's not as rigorous as conventional medicine. I address this by explaining that functional medicine is actually a root-cause, systems-based approach grounded in advanced lab testing and clinical research. I show them how we use data like blood work, stool, saliva, and DNA tests to map out exactly why they're experiencing symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, or blood sugar issues. Once they see that we're not guessing, but using evidence to personalize their care, they understand that it's not alternative, it's advanced.

You've emphasized the importance of personalized care. Can you walk us through your process of developing a tailored treatment plan for a patient with a complex chronic illness?

When treating a patient with a complex chronic illness, I begin with a deep dive into their full health history, including childhood health, family background, stress levels, environment, and lifestyle factors. We then run a series of advanced lab tests (blood, saliva, stool, and sometimes DNA) to identify hidden drivers like inflammation, hormonal imbalances, gut dysfunction, or toxicity. From there, I use my BMO Method, which helps by Balancing Metabolism, Minimizing Inflammation, and Optimizing Function to create a clear, customized roadmap. This includes nutrition, targeted supplementation, sleep and stress strategies, and often detox or gut-healing protocols. We also leverage technology like Healthie to track symptoms, food logs, and progress in real time. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach—it's precision and custom care designed to address the root causes, not just suppress symptoms. That's where long-term healing begins.

Looking ahead, what emerging trend or technology in healthcare excites you the most, and how do you think it will impact the future of functional medicine?

One of the most exciting emerging trends in healthcare is the integration of AI-powered diagnostic tools with advanced lab testing and wearable tech. This combination allows functional medicine to become even more precise and proactive. By using continuous glucose monitors, HRV trackers, gut microbiome analysis, and real-time nutrient tracking, we can catch dysfunction before it turns into disease.

In my practice, this means patients don't have to wait months or years for symptoms to "get bad enough." Instead, we can make data-driven decisions that personalize care in ways never possible before. The future of functional medicine is rooted in this shift from reactive to predictive, and that's a game-changer for long-term health.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

What I'd like to add is hope. So many people with chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes are told they'll be stuck managing symptoms forever, simply because that's the model they're given. But there is another way. When you get to the root cause, whether it's inflammation, poor gut health, insulin resistance, or unmanaged stress, you can begin to actually reverse the disease process, not just mask it.

I've seen patients go from being exhausted, medicated, and discouraged... to energized, empowered, and medication-free. The truth is, your body is designed to heal. It just needs the right plan and support. There is always hope, even for the most complex cases.