What is Functional Nutrition?

Functional Nutrition comprises understanding the interaction between all body systems, establishing interventions to restore the physiological and biochemical balance of each individual. Its application seeks to balance the basic functioning systems of the human body which, when in balance, expresses a state of "positive vitality" – which is completely different from the "absence of disease". It is the search for integral health, modulating, through nutrients and phytochemicals, all the biochemical reactions involved in this process.

We are unique. We have our own genetic makeup, health history and lifestyle. Our nutrition plan must also be unique respecting our biochemical individuality too!

I use Functional Nutrition as a key part of treating the cause of your symptoms. Functional Nutrition is a powerful pillar of Functional Medicine. It uses food as a natural medicine to help restore balance, address nutritional deficiencies, modulate the gut, and much more."

We Embrace Your Uniqueness

With Functional Nutrition, we embrace your uniqueness and use it to tailor your individualized nutritional recommendations. We can use custom lab tests, genetic tests, functional foods as medicine and lifestyle interventions to promote your healing process. I will work closely with you to find a realistic nutrition plan for your lifestyle, while reducing unwanted symptoms and restoring balance to the body.

Functional Nutrition is Personal

Personalization is the main difference between Functional Nutrition and conventional nutrition. Functional Nutrition focuses on the patient and not the disease. It's a personalized method of optimizing your health based on your individual genetics, blood tests, lifestyle and more. There are no meal plans or generic brochures, because each person is different. A functional nutritionist may order personalized laboratory tests, genetic testing and/or food sensitivity testing to learn, for example, how your immune system is reacting to specific foods, which foods you should include in your diet, and which foods you should avoid ( and maybe it's those foods you eat every day but don't know are harmful to your health). In addition, it helps to pay special attention to the need for vitamins and minerals. From all the information obtained in the anamnesis, and the exams, I can develop a personalized diet for you.

Functional Nutrition Uses Food as Medicine

A diet that contains fruits, vegetables, whole foods and minimally processed foods is excellent. However, some patients require more targeted interventions with specific foods, micronutrients, and macronutrients proportions to address the underlying cause of their health problems. Functional nutrition honors the fact that food is not only "fuel" for your body, but also an extremely useful tool to help us deal with the underlying cause of your condition.

Functional Nutrition Is Not Just About Food

While Functional Nutrition honors the powerful nature of healthy foods, it also respects that there is more to health than what you eat. For example, a functional nutritionist might ask about your stress levels, symptoms (e.g., pain), sedentary behavior, sleep habits and physical activity. These factors not only play a huge role in your overall health, but they also have a two-way effect on your nutrition. For example, chronic stress can worsen the symptoms of a person suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. Additionally, your sleep habits and stress levels affect how food is digested and absorbed in the body. A functional nutritionist can help you establish a stress management routine to further reduce your symptoms. We can recommend various foods or nutritional supplements to help your body deal with the added stress.