Dr. Donna Kulp - Functional Medicine

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Dr. Donna Kulp - Functional Medicine ✨Helping You Achieve Optimal Health & Well-being.
🥗 Personalized Nutrition and Chiropractic Care.

A hobby I am passionate about is my Bee keeping which I have been doing with one of my sons since 2019! I am the Vice President of the Clinical Board of Chiropractic and Nutrition since April of 2022, Member of the CBCN since 2016, Science Based Nutrition Foundation Laboratory Analytics & Diagnostic Testing November 2015, Certified Practitioner The Institute of Functional Medicine 2020, Functional Oncology 2023.

Stress doesn’t always feel like stress.Sometimes it looks like:- You’re tired all day but suddenly wide awake at night.-...
10/23/2026

Stress doesn’t always feel like stress.

Sometimes it looks like:
- You’re tired all day but suddenly wide awake at night.
- Your digestion starts acting differently.
- You need more caffeine to function.
- Your muscles are constantly tense.
- You’re craving foods you normally wouldn’t.

And eventually, you start thinking:
“What is wrong with me?”

Chronic stress can affect multiple systems in the body, including sleep, digestion, appetite, muscle tension, mood, and energy.

But here’s the part I want people to understand:
Not every symptom should automatically be blamed on “high cortisol.”

Fatigue can also be related to sleep disorders, anemia, thyroid issues, nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar changes, medications, hormonal shifts, and other health conditions.

Digestive symptoms can have many causes too.

That is why I look at patterns.

What changed?
When did the symptoms begin?
What makes them better or worse?
How are you sleeping?
What are you eating?
What else is happening in your body?

The goal is not to simply say:
“You’re stressed.”

The goal is to understand how your body is responding—and whether something else is contributing too.

Because if you’re constantly running on empty, feeling uncomfortable in your body, and struggling to recover, that deserves more than being dismissed as “just stress.”

Save this post if your body has been trying to get your attention lately.

And share it with someone who keeps saying, “I’m fine… I’m just tired.”
[Women's Health, Chronic Stress, Stress Levels, Gut Health, Functional Medicine, Healthy Aging, Reading Pennsylvania]

10/21/2026

Ladies, if you are over 50 and still eating the way you did at 25, your body may be asking for a different strategy.

One of the biggest shifts to pay attention to is protein.

As we age, maintaining lean muscle becomes more important for strength, metabolism, mobility, and healthy aging.

And after menopause, that becomes even more important.

If protein intake is too low, especially early in the day, you may notice:

Less muscle.
Lower energy.
Slower recovery.
More difficulty maintaining your metabolism.
Changes in body composition.

That is why I encourage women over 50 to make protein a priority throughout the day.

A practical place to start:

Aim for around 30 grams of protein at breakfast.

Spread your protein intake across your meals.

And for many women, roughly 90 to 120 grams per day may be an appropriate target, depending on body weight and individual needs.

Your nutritional needs change as you age.

So instead of eating less and pushing harder, focus on giving your body what it needs to stay strong.

You may not be 25 anymore.

But you can still build strength, energy, and resilience for the decades ahead.

If you want guidance on an effective nutrition plan tailored for you,
Give Us a Call On 📞 (610) 208-0404 to Book Your Appointment.
[Protein for Women, Nutrition Support, Women's Health, Functional Medicine, Healthy Aging, Reading Pennsylvania]

f you’re constantly tired, inflamed, bloated, or foggy…Your food may be quietly driving it.One of the biggest mistakes I...
10/19/2026

f you’re constantly tired, inflamed, bloated, or foggy…
Your food may be quietly driving it.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people trying to “supplement away” inflammation while continuing to eat foods that constantly trigger it.

Inflammation is not just joint pain.
It can show up as:
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Hormone imbalance
• Weight resistance
• Gut dysfunction
• Poor sleep
• Skin issues

And some of the biggest drivers are foods many people eat every single day.

Functional medicine always asks:
- What is feeding the inflammation?
- What happens when we remove the trigger?

Because healing often starts with what’s on the plate.

You do not need perfection.
But your body will always respond to what you repeatedly give it.

If you’re struggling with inflammation, fatigue, or gut issues, it may be time to take a deeper look at your nutrition and overall health patterns.

Give Us a Call On 📞 (610) 208-0404 to Book Your Appointment.
[Inflammation, Root Cause Healing, Nutrition, Functional Medicine, Gut Health, Immune Health, Healthy Aging, Reading Pennsylvania]

10/16/2026

Struggling to get enough protein?

You may not need a complicated diet,
you may just need to build it into your day more intentionally.

One of the easiest places to start is before noon.

Instead of trying to make up for a low-protein day at dinner, spread quality protein across your meals.

A few simple upgrades:
🥚 Add extra egg whites to your breakfast
🥤 Choose a quality protein shake without excessive added sugar
🥚 Keep hard-boiled eggs ready for a quick snack
🌾 Swap some rice or pasta for higher-protein options like quinoa
🐟 Add fish, seafood, chicken, turkey, or lean beef
🥛 Include cottage cheese, dairy, or cheese if tolerated
🫘 Use lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas, or edamame
🥜 Add nuts, seeds, and nut butters

Protein can help support muscle maintenance, satiety, recovery, and healthy aging and your needs may change as you get older.

The goal is not to eat a massive amount in one sitting.

Aim to distribute protein throughout the day and choose a variety of sources that work for your body.

And if you have kidney disease or another medical condition that affects protein intake, talk with your healthcare provider before significantly increasing it.

Not sure how much protein you actually need?
Call Us On (610) 208-0404
and let’s create a nutrition plan based on your age, lifestyle, and health goals.
[Protein, Muscle Health, Eggs, Quinoa, Protein Shake, Healthy Aging]

Ladies, not everything you feel after 40 can be blamed on your hormones.Perimenopause and menopause can absolutely affec...
10/14/2026

Ladies, not everything you feel after 40 can be blamed on your hormones.

Perimenopause and menopause can absolutely affect sleep, mood, body composition, energy, and how you feel day to day.

But one mistake I see is looking at every midlife symptom through the hormone lens alone.

Your body doesn’t operate as a collection of separate systems.

Blood sugar regulation can influence your energy and appetite.

Poor sleep can affect hunger, mood, and metabolic health.

Digestive problems can influence how well you absorb certain nutrients.

Chronic stress can affect sleep, digestion, and how you feel throughout the day.

And nutritional deficiencies, medications, thyroid disorders, anemia, and other medical conditions can sometimes produce symptoms that overlap with those associated with perimenopause and menopause.

That’s why the question shouldn’t always be:
“Which hormone is causing this?”

Sometimes the better question is:
“What else could be contributing to how I feel?”

That is where a more comprehensive evaluation becomes valuable.
Your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, medications, nutrition, sleep, stress, and appropriate testing can all provide pieces of the puzzle.

Hormones may be an important piece.

They just may not be the only piece.

Save this post if you’re navigating health changes after 40, and share it with another woman who needs to hear this.

Persistent or new symptoms deserve appropriate medical evaluation rather than being assumed to be hormonal or simply part of aging.
[Women's Health, Hormone Health, Functional Medicine, Healthy Aging, Reading Pennsylvania]

10/12/2026

Your neck pain may have more to do with your screen habits than you realize.

Hours spent looking down at your phone, laptop, or tablet can place increasing mechanical stress on the muscles, joints, and tissues of your neck.

This pattern is often called “tech neck.”

Your head already weighs roughly 10–12 pounds. The farther it moves forward and downward, the harder your neck has to work to support it.

Now multiply that by several hours a day.

Over time, repetitive forward-head posture can contribute to:
• Neck and shoulder tension
• Headaches
• Reduced neck mobility
• Muscle fatigue and stiffness
• Increased stress on the joints and discs

And while an adjustment may help restore movement and reduce mechanical stress, what you do between appointments matters too.

Bring your phone closer to eye level.
Adjust your computer screen.
Take regular movement breaks.
Pay attention to your posture.
And stop spending hours with your head hanging forward.

Your daily habits are either helping your neck recover or continuing to overload it.

If persistent neck pain is interfering with your day, call our office to schedule an evaluation and find out what may be contributing to it.
[Neck Pain, Tech Neck, Spinal Health, Healthy Aging]

10/09/2026

Ladies, what worked for your body in your 20s may not work the same way in your 40s.

And in some cases, it may actually backfire.

After 40, your hormones, metabolism, recovery, muscle mass, stress response, and sleep needs begin to shift.

That means your workouts, diet, supplements, and lifestyle may need to shift too.

Heavy lifting without proper recovery can increase the risk of joint irritation, tendon strain, or injury.

High-intensity workouts while fasting may spike stress hormones and leave you feeling more depleted than energized.

Drastic calorie cutting can slow your metabolism and make it harder to preserve lean muscle.

Chronic sleep deprivation can affect recovery, hunger hormones, focus, and energy.

And cutting out all carbohydrates may leave your workouts feeling harder than they need to be.

Your body is not failing you.

It is asking for a smarter approach.

If you are over 40 and feel like your old health habits are no longer working, it may be time to personalize your nutrition, movement, recovery, and supplements for the season of life you are in now.

Give us a call on 📞 610-208-0404 to schedule your functional medicine consultation..
[Women's Health, Wellness Over 40, Healthy Aging, Dr. Donna Kulp, Functional Medicine, Root Cause Healing, Reading Pennsylvania]

One of the biggest nutrition mistakes I see women make after 50...They keep eating like the goal is simply to eat less.L...
10/06/2026

One of the biggest nutrition mistakes I see women make after 50...

They keep eating like the goal is simply to eat less.
Less food.
Fewer calories.
Smaller portions.

But there is something else I want women thinking about as they get older:
Protecting their muscle.

Muscle isn't just about looking toned.

It supports strength, mobility, balance, metabolic health, physical independence, and your ability to keep doing the things you love as you age.

And maintaining muscle becomes more challenging with age.

That's why I pay attention when someone tells me breakfast is coffee and toast, lunch is a salad with very little protein, and most of their protein doesn't show up until dinner.

Instead of only asking:
“How can I eat fewer calories?”

Start asking:
“Does this meal give my body what it needs to stay strong?”

That doesn't mean everyone needs enormous amounts of protein or needs to start drinking protein shakes.

It means making protein an intentional part of your meals alongside vegetables, fiber-rich carbohydrates, healthy fats, and nutrient-dense whole foods.

Eggs.
Greek yogurt or cottage cheese.
Fish.
Chicken or turkey.
Lean meats.
Beans and lentils.
Tofu and other soy foods.

The right choices depend on the individual.

And if you have kidney disease or another condition that affects your nutritional needs, your protein intake should be discussed with your healthcare professional.

After 50, the goal isn't simply to become smaller.

It's to stay strong enough to keep living the life you want.

Save this post for your next grocery trip, and share it with a woman who needs to rethink what “eating healthy” means after 50.
[Women Over 50, Women's Health, Protein, Functional Medicine, Healthy Aging]

10/02/2026

Your cholesterol numbers may not be telling you the whole story.

Most people know their LDL and HDL.

But fewer know their ApoB.

ApoB, or apolipoprotein B, is a protein found on cholesterol-carrying particles in the bloodstream. Measuring it can help show how many potentially harmful particles are circulating.

If ApoB is elevated, it can point to a greater number of cholesterol-carrying particles that may contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries.

This is why looking beyond a basic cholesterol panel can be important, especially if you have a family history of cardiovascular issues.

Sometimes, the standard numbers are only part of the picture.

Ask your healthcare provider whether an advanced lipid panel and ApoB testing may be appropriate for you.

Knowing your numbers gives you more information to make better decisions about your heart health.

If you want a deeper look at your cardiovascular risk factors,
give us a call on 📞 610-208-0404 to schedule your appointment.
[Cardiovascular Health, ApoB, Heart Test, Hearth Health, Functional Medicine, Healthy Aging, Reading Pennsylvania]

Address

52 Morgantown Road
Reading, PA
19611

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+16102080404

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