Functional Medicine is a health care model that focuses on all systems of the body. In functional medicine, we want to know the cause of your symptoms. Our goal is to partner with you and optimize the function of each body system in order to improve health and vitality.
It is important to have a confident and trusting relationship with your primary care provider. In the ever-changing climate of health care today, this is more and more difficult to achieve. At Vibrant Health of Colorado, our providers spend time getting to know each patient, their symptoms, histories, and more. Extended visit slots enable us to listen to and address your health concerns thoroughly and truly get to know you as our patient.
Many women dread having a gynecological exam, but it is an important part of staying healthy and preventing disease. Whether it’s a pap smear, breast exam, or infection testing, it is crucial to take these steps to keep your body healthy. It’s also important to establish an open relationship with your GYN provider, someone with whom you feel comfortable talking honestly about this aspect of your health.
Hormone Replacement Therapy is an integral part of aging in a healthy way. When our hormone levels decline during menopause or andropause, our mind and body begin to change rapidly. We can experience challenges such as bone loss, cognitive impairment, insomnia, low sex drive, mood changes, fatigue, joint pain, and many other symptoms.
The gastrointestinal tract and its unique and complex microbiome play a central role in health and disease. Microorganisms in the gut influence various organs, including the brain, lungs, and heart, as well as body functions such as immunity, energy balance, and both fat and sugar metabolism. Optimizing the gut microbiome is often the first place to start when improving overall health.
Many people know that testosterone is important for men, but some people are unsure when we talk about testosterone for women. Women do make testosterone naturally, but it is typically less than men. It is hormone that is incredibly important for women’s health.
While the first step for evaluation of heart disease is to see a cardiologist, our main focus is prevention. Functional medicine focuses on prevention and root cause of diseases by considering various factors like lifestyle, nutrition, stress, and environmental influences.
We utilize many tools to help you lose weight and improve your health. We often start with dietary counseling or a referral to work with a registered dietician. We will review your lifestyle, stress levels, hormone balance, and other contributors to weight gain. When appropriate, we prescribe GLP-1 injections to help you on this journey.
View Melanie’s Bio
Melanie Cross NP-C, AFMC is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 24+ years of healthcare experience. Melanie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a minor in Anatomy and Neurobiology from Colorado State University in 2002. She completed the Accelerated Nursing Program at Regis University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2006. Melanie obtained a Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner from Regis University in 2010, graduating with Graduate Honors. She received certification in Functional Medicine from the School of Applied Functional Medicine in 2023. Melanie has experience across a range of healthcare environments, from her roles in ICU and ER nursing to her practice in Family Medicine, Refugee Care, ENT, Integrative, and Functional Medicine as a Nurse Practitioner.
Additionally, she served as Clinical Faculty for a post-graduate residency program for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. In 2019, Melanie established her functional medicine health consulting business. Melanie’s areas of clinical focus are optimizing sleep, energy, gut health, hormonal balance, and weight management. She works collaboratively with her patients to provide education and empowerment, enabling them to lead lives that are truly fulfilling. Melanie lives in Vail, Colorado, with her husband, daughter, and son. When she’s not schlepping across the state to watch her kids play hockey, she enjoys spending her time with friends and family outdoors hiking and skiing, traveling, and exploring. Melanie will be working in the Eagle office.
View Nicco’s Bio
Nicco is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who values building relationships with her patients and collaborating with them to make optimal, person-centered healthcare decisions. Her healthcare journey began in dentistry, where she specialized in preventative care and prosthodontics. Through her experiences, she observed how interconnected our body systems are and how they affect our overall health and quality of life. This realization inspired her to further her career in nursing. By blending Western and integrative medicine in her practice, she provides more meaningful and holistic care to her patients. Nicco earned her accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Spring Arbor University in Michigan. She has experience in multi-specialty clinics, including cardiology, pulmonology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynecology, internal medicine, and primary care. For the past 25 years, Nicco and her husband have lived in the beautiful rural mountains of Colorado, where they raised their three children. She is passionate about providing thoughtful, individualized care to those in her local community and the surrounding towns. When she isn’t helping her community stay healthy, Nicco enjoys yoga and meditation, gardening and cooking, hiking, creating art, and most of all, spending time with her family.
