WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION?
Functional Nutrition emphasizes the use of nutrients from high quality foods as the foundational building blocks to address clinical imbalances. Advanced nutritional science knowledge is used to develop personalized therapeutic interventions to not only prevent dis-ease, but treat chronic health issues.
“Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.” — The Institute of Functional Medicine
WHAT DISTINGUISHES A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER?
Longer consultation sessions which are used to get a FULL picture of medical history as well as gather information regarding symptoms, current goals, lifestyle, habits, mental and emotional struggles, past trauma, family dynamics and much more
Nutritional assessments to identify imbalances in Macro and Micro nutrients
Advanced laboratory panels to look for answers beyond standard blood tests
Visual physical assessment (looking at hair, skin, nails, facial features etc) to identify signs related to nutrition abnormalities
Identifying Environmental exposures. The air you breathe and the water you drink, the particular diet you eat, the quality of the food available to you, your level of physical exercise, and toxic exposures or traumas you have experienced all affect your health.
Connecting the Mind and Body. Psychological, spiritual, and social factors all can have a profound influence on your health. Considering these areas helps the functional medicine practitioner see your health in the context of you as a whole person, not just your physical symptoms.
Genetic makeup. Although individual genes may make you more susceptible to some diseases, your DNA is not an unchanging blueprint for your life. Emerging research shows that your genes may be influenced by everything in your environment, as well as your experiences, attitudes, and beliefs. That means it is possible to change the way genes are activated and expressed.