Maintaining a healthy gut biome and one’s digestive health is a key part of staying well. The ability to absorb the nutrients we consume affects all the other systems of the body. However, achieving balance in the gut is often easier said than done given the array of factors that might impact each individual person. Things such as inflammation, gut microbiota imbalance, and more can lead to Leaky Gut Syndrome which could allow potentially concerning substances to pass through the intestinal wall.

In fact, recent research from the University of Maryland displays that stressors such as poor diet, genetic predisposition and more can affect what the researchers coined as the zonulin pathway, a key part of maintaining gut health. However, there is a common protocol, known as “the 4R protocol,” that can aide individuals in supporting gut healing and health if something is amiss. The four steps are as follows: remove, replace, reinoculated, and repair.

In step one, removing inflammatory triggers and pathogens commonly known to affect the gut will make way for other steps to be more effective. Examples of these triggers include alcohol, gluten, refined starches and sugar, and other food sensitivities. Generally, these are the foods and beverages known to be less healthy for you.

The second step, replacing, marks an effort to replace the triggers removed in the first step with more gut-friendly alternatives. High-fiber foods including vegetables, fruits, and nuts are an easy first choice. Other nutrient dense foods like omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, extra virgin olive oil, mushrooms, and anti-inflammatory herbs and spices can all aide in getting your gut back on track.

Step three, reinoculate is geared towards realigning the intestinal microbiota with beneficial bacteria. As such, probiotic supplements and fermented foods such as cultured dairy, fermented vegetables, fermented soy products, and beverages like kombucha are all incredibly helpful. The friendly bacteria residing in everyone’s gut need these probiotics to say in top shape.

The final step of repair strives toward repairing one’s intestinal lining with specific nutrients and herbs known to decrease intestinal permeability and inflammation. Depending on an individual’s diets, dietary needs, and supplement needs, this could look different for everyone. Common examples include zinc, Vitamin D, polyphenols, and more, but it is best to consult a health and wellness expert like the ones at Pria regarding your specific, individual needs.

These four steps, especially followed under the guidance of one of Pria’s health and wellness experts, can cure signs and symptoms of an unhealthy gut. If you suffer from an upset stomach, unintentional weight changes, sleep disturbances, or any other experiences you believe might be alleviated by reexamining your gut health, reach out today. Call our office at 410-565-6552 to speak with us today!



In taking a holistic approach to one’s health, good quality sleep is a key, if under-appreciated factor. When thinking about achieving a healthier lifestyle and shedding extra pounds, it is instinctual to think of the foods you’re eating and daily exercise. However, the quality of your sleep may be undermining results and ultimately become detrimental, as studies from the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin, and published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity present.

The recommended amount of sleep for the average adult is between seven and nine hours a night, as stated by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. In studies, when this average sleep pattern is altered, the effects are startling. For example, sleep-restricted participants in a study consumed 130% of their caloric requirements, doing a large part of this additional eating in the late evening following dinner. The on average 550 additional calories during the night hours resulted in the study’s sleep-restricted group gaining 1 kg (2.205 pounds) after just five nights. On the other side of things, for sleep-deprived obese patients who increased their nightly amount of sleep, effects such as a reduced body mass index, a greater willingness to exercise, and fewer cravings for sweet and salty foods were noted.

A third study conducted in 2016 featured ten overweight nonsmoking adults with an average age of 41. The intervention in this group featured a moderate caloric restriction, typical to most weight loss efforts, but with either 8.5 or 5.5. hours of sleep an evening. The results of this study were indicative: the curtailment of patients’ sleep decreased the proportion of weight lost as fat by 55% in the just 14-day study. The conclusions of the study note that results “shed new light on the paradoxical association of human obesity with loss of the most energy-efficient and sedentary human behavior: sleep.”

The illogical nature aside, the results due not lie. A crucial component to a healthy lifestyle, especially for an individual interested in losing weight in a healthy manner, is to get between the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep. By slipping into bed a few hours earlier or rising a few hours later, you can remarkably impact the present and future of your own health. Used to a nightly four hours and supplementing that with a cup (or four) of coffee? The experts at Pria Wellness can help put you on track. Book an appointment online or call today at 410-565-6552.



During trying times, especially ones framed by a global pandemic, it is only natural to contemplate one’s own personal health and well-being. Perhaps the global and national situation have prompted you to reconsider your own relationship with wellness, especially those who are at home.

Pria Wellness is still open and eager to serve you during this pandemic, whether you are reflecting on new goals, re-evaluating old habits, or anywhere in between. Read on to learn all the different ways Pria Wellness can guide you from home, specifically on our expert weight management and hormone balancing services.

Regarding communication with patients, Pria Wellness continues to strive for excellence. Tele visits are offered during regular office hours using HIPAA compliant video conference software. Or, communicate with us through messaging in our electronic medical record patient portal. Both ensure personal, private, and effective consultations.

Despite the current situation, progress and developments in your health goals are still more than possible. A convenient phone application allows patients to monitor their nutrition, weight, blood pressure, sleep, physical activity, water intake, and exercise from their own devices. Most of Pria Wellness’ nutritional products including meal replacements and supplements can be easily ordered online and shipped to your door. Additionally, lab work orders are sent directly to most labs electronically and electronic prescriptions are the norm. All of these combined efforts ensure the efficient and thorough care of your wellness needs.

If anything can be learned from this moment, it is that there is no time like the present to value your own personal health and well-being. Contact Pria Wellness for more information on any of our services or to book an appointment today. Reach our office at (410) 565-6552.



healthy meal prep
Preparing healthy meals is fun!

You’ve done all your shopping and preparation, now comes the fun part, cooking. Preparing healthy meals is fun! You get to use fresh ingredients with bright colors to make dishes with tasty flavors. What’s the best part? Not only is cooking healthy meals enjoyable, it’s also quite good for you!



Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program
A medically supervised weight loss program is the best plan to help you achieve your goals and live a healthier lifestyle!

Losing weight and getting healthy are common goals for many Americans. In fact, the CDC estimates that over one-third of American adults are struggling with obesity. This is a serious epidemic that needs to be addressed in a scientific manner. If you’ve decided to do something about your weight problems, a medically supervised weight loss program is the best way to tackle them. Here are a few reasons why it’s important to choose a medically supervised weight loss program like the one here at Pria Wellness Center.



Getting Enough Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep every night will help you achieve your weight loss goals!

When we talk about living a healthy lifestyle, most of the time we focus on the food we eat and the exercise we put in at the gym. Of course, these things are really important for anyone looking to lose weight. But there are other components of living well that many people don’t think too much about, like getting enough sleep every night. In fact, a good night’s sleep may be more fundamental to your weight loss efforts than diet or exercise. Here’s what happens when you don’t get enough shut-eye every night.



Weight Loss Center
A great weight loss and wellness center comes up with a personalized, complete plan.

There have been many approaches to weight loss over the last several decades. Some of them have proven themselves to be simply fads, while others have been demonstrated to work a lot better. But there does seem to be one thing that many of these programs have in common. The weight may come off for a time, but then it invariably comes back. Surgical interventions also exist which seem to be a more permanent fix, but these come with significant risks. There’s a chance of post-operative complications, including death, that could result from having surgery. Operations are also expensive to have performed and will cost you time away from work to recover.

It’s a safe bet that we all know someone – a loved one, a friend, or even yourself – who has tried to lose weight and keep it off. It can be really difficult to accomplish unless you are surrounded by a team of professionals.

Here at Pria Wellness Center, we have designed a new concept for weight loss and wellness, based on established science, that is guaranteed to work. Our team of professionals will personally supervise a program that is designed with the unique needs of your body in mind to help you lose the weight and keep it off for good! Your goals are our number one priority and your program will be continually tailored according to your needs. Here’s how Pria Wellness Center can change your life and help you achieve your weight loss goals.


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 724 Maiden Choice Lane, Ste. 202
Catonsville, MD 21228

Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:30am–5pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

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