Robert Krochmal, MD
Woodland Hills, California

A little bit about me:

I am passionate about the practice of Integrative Medicine not only because of the power it has to optimize health, but also because it promises a lifetime of learning and surprises for me. There is no better feeling as a physician than to see a client feel rejuvenated, to be filled with energy and enthusiasm for life, and to see chronic symptoms finally disappear. This is the power of Integrative Medicine. Prior to my medical training, I studied paleobiology, and it is my curiosity for how life evolves and survives that is at the heart of my passion to improve the way medicine is practiced. My training includes a Board Certification in Family Medicine, a field that embraces all the life stages and ventures to understand all sides of an individual’s health- emotional, spiritual, and physical. In addition, I completed a research fellowship in Nutrition and Botanical Supplements at the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, and am one of the few Board Certified Physician Nutrition Specialists in California. Where have I learned the most? Through my patients. While striving to empower my patients with the information and tools they need to achieve optimal health, I am constantly learning from them. I have found the most important quality in giving good medical care is listening- it is only after listening and understanding that that a truly healing treatment plan can be developed. And it is because of listening that I am fulfilled in my practice- knowing that each individual is different keeps me on my toes and continuing to learn something new every day.

My Philosophy:

I have always been skeptical of conventional wisdom. Because of my background in paleobiology, I have approached the practice of medicine from the point of view of a scientist, evaluating information critically rather than simply memorizing what is taught in medical school. This is why I find the Paleo Diet so compelling compared with, for example, the “low fat” diet. At one point, I was one of the many doctors that bought into the low fat idea- it is easy- but wrong- to think that eating too much fat is what clogs your arteries. But when you realize that the food environment humans evolved in was low in carbohydrates, not low in fat or protein (even the fruits and berries were sour and small compared with today’s hybridized and sugary sweet varieties), you realize that low fat doesn’t make sense. It is amazing to me that the low fat diet not only does not prevent illness, that it is actually the cause of illness. Low fat is by definition higher in carbohydrate- when you lower fats you replace them with carbs. And carbs- particularly sugars and refined “white” flours- lead to insulin resistance and the inflammation cascade and all the steps along the way to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. So I find that my patients respond the best to treatment when they have first shifted to a Paleo Diet low in carbohydrates and rich in anything from nuts and avocado (vegans) to cheese (if not dairy allergic), eggs, and meat, along with plenty of leafy vegetables and low carb fruits such as berries. Or even better- it is wonderful when the need for additional treatment is minimized because the Paleo Diet itself has taken care of the problems- belly fat gone, aches and pains disappeared, mood and energy improved. The Paleo Diet makes sense because it is built on the idea that the human body will function optimally when it is given the nourishment it evolved with. And I have found that my patients find it to be easier than expected to shift to this diet, because they feel so much better, and because I support individual variations on the diet that make it satisfying and the right fit for each person. When given the additional support for hormone balance when needed, holistic treatment for specific concerns, and a rational supplement plan that supports an already healthy Paleo Diet, this approach becomes a powerful way to reverse illness.

Robert Krochmal, MD

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Telephone: (818) 999-9960

22030 Clarendon Street
Suite 103
Woodland Hills, California 91367