Functional Medicine Taking On The Fairway…
Safe golfing - glutathione to get rid of chemicals!
When Functional Medicine Takes on the Fairway
What a day at the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing taught us about living life... and protecting your health.
Yesterday was one of those days that reminded me why I absolutely love what we do.
The Lyday Center had the privilege of sponsoring Hole #2 at the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Outing at beautiful Northbrook Golf Club, and we had an absolute blast meeting so many incredible people.
Our entire TLC crew was there—Gio, Rhonda, Autumn, Alina, Aaron, and me—armed with bag toss, axe throwing, methyl B shots, lots of laughs, and enough energy to keep golfers smiling between swings.
Even better?
We had four of our own warrior patients out enjoying an afternoon in the sunshine, making memories, laughing with friends, and simply living their lives.
And that's exactly what functional medicine is supposed to accomplish.
Not keeping you in a bubble.
Not making you afraid of the world.
Helping you get back into it.
But... can we talk about golf courses for a minute?
I know.
This may not be the blog you expected.
Golf courses are gorgeous.
Rolling green fairways.
Perfect landscaping.
Fresh air.
Birds chirping.
What could possibly be wrong?
Well...
How do you think they keep that grass SO DAMN GREEN?
It's not magic.
It's chemistry.
Golf courses often rely on fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and other chemicals to keep every blade of grass looking like it belongs in a magazine.
In fact, occupational and environmental exposure to certain pesticides has been associated in research with an increased risk of some neurologic diseases, including Parkinson's disease. Research has also explored possible links with multiple sclerosis, although that evidence is less consistent and many factors likely contribute to disease risk. These findings don't mean that spending a day golfing causes these conditions, but they are one reason to be thoughtful about cumulative environmental exposures.
Then there's my sweet Autumn...
She looked at that beautiful grass and said she wanted to go lay down in it.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
I may have looked like the fun police for a minute...
...but sometimes the doctor has to doctor.
Then there's the water...
Those beautiful ponds.
The ones waiting to swallow your golf ball after what you knew was the perfect shot.
Those picturesque water hazards?
Many can develop cyanobacterial ("blue-green algae") blooms, especially during warm weather. Some blooms produce toxins, while others do not. Contact with or accidental ingestion of water containing harmful blooms can cause illness, so it's wise to avoid swimming in or drinking from water that appears to have a bloom.
Here's a fascinating piece of medical history.
One of the earliest clues that eventually helped Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker develop his work on Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) came from patients who became ill after exposure to cyanobacterial blooms along the Maryland coast.
As he studied those patients, he noticed that many of the inflammatory pathways activated after exposure to cyanobacterial toxins looked remarkably similar to those seen in susceptible people exposed to water-damaged buildings.
That observation became one of the stepping stones that helped shape the Shoemaker Protocol used today for patients with CIRS.
Different toxins.
Very similar inflammatory response.
Does this mean you should never golf again?
Absolutely not.
If you've been around me for more than five minutes, you know I am not about living in fear.
I don't want my patients sitting inside wrapped in bubble wrap.
I want you traveling.
Boating.
Golfing.
Hiking.
Going to concerts.
Playing with your grandkids.
Living.
Because what's the point of getting your health back if you're too afraid to enjoy it?
Functional medicine isn't about eliminating every possible exposure.
It's about becoming more resilient and making smart choices that reduce your overall toxic load.
My golfer's survival strategy
If you're planning a day on the course, especially if you're someone recovering from mold illness, Lyme disease, long COVID, or chronic inflammation...
A little preparation goes a long way.
✔ Before you head out
Take your favorite binder (away from medications and supplements), if it's part of your treatment plan.
Consider additional glutathione or NAC if your clinician has recommended them.
Bring a refillable water bottle filled with clean drinking water.
✔ While you're golfing
Stay hydrated throughout the day.
If you choose to enjoy an adult beverage...enjoy it.
Then follow it with water.
Your liver will appreciate the teamwork.
✔ When you get home
Shower before bed.
Wash your clothes.
Give your body a chance to recover after a day of sunshine, fun, and environmental exposures.
TLC Golfer's To-Do List ⛳
Before your round:
☐ Take a binder if recommended for you, such as:
Activated charcoal
Bentonite or other medicinal clay
Chlorella
Modified citrus pectin
☐ Support detoxification if part of your plan:
NAC
Liposomal glutathione
During your round:
☐ Drink plenty of clean water (your Yeti counts!)
☐ Alternate alcoholic beverages with water if you choose to drink.
☐ Avoid direct contact with pond water or visible blue-green algae.
After your round:
☐ Shower before bed.
☐ Wash your golf clothes.
☐ Celebrate the memories you made.
Because life isn't about avoiding every exposure.
It's about understanding the risks, making informed choices, and building a body that's resilient enough to enjoy the moments that matter most.
Yesterday wasn't just about sponsoring a golf hole.
It was about watching our warriors reclaim their lives.
And that's a win far bigger than anything that happens on a scorecard. ⛳❤️