What is Functional Nutrition?

Functional nutrition is an approach to nutrition that focuses on addressing the underlying causes of health issues rather than merely managing symptoms.

It involves personalized assessments of an individual's unique physiological and biochemical makeup, considering factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and environmental influences.

Functional nutrition adopts a holistic approach to dietary choices, considering various lifestyle factors that can influence one's food preferences, including activity levels, environment, and the presence of chronic diseases.

Key features of functional nutrition include:

Holistic Perspective: Functional nutrition looks at the body as a whole, recognizing the interconnectedness of various systems and how they impact overall health.
Individualized Approach: The approach tailors nutritional recommendations to each person's specific needs, taking into account their unique biochemistry, dietary preferences, and lifestyle factors.
Root Cause Analysis: Instead of solely treating symptoms, functional nutrition aims to identify and address the root causes of health issues. This often involves understanding how factors like nutrition, stress, and environmental influences contribute to imbalances.
Use of Functional Testing: Practitioners may employ specialized laboratory tests to gather information about a person's nutritional status, digestive health, hormonal balance, and other relevant factors. This data helps in creating personalized and targeted recommendations. Explore Functional testing here.
Emphasis on Prevention: Functional nutrition emphasizes preventive strategies, focusing on lifestyle and dietary interventions to promote long-term health and well-being.
Integration with Other Modalities: Functional nutrition can be integrated with other complementary therapies and conventional medical treatments to provide a comprehensive and collaborative approach to health.

Practitioners in functional nutrition, often called functional nutritionists, work closely with individuals to develop customized nutrition plans, incorporating dietary changes, nutritional supplements, and lifestyle modifications to support optimal health and address specific health concerns.

In Functional Medicine, treatment is not standardized; therefore, even if you and a friend share similar symptoms or conditions, your treatment plans will differ. This is because each individual's journey is entirely unique, necessitating personalized approaches tailored to their specific needs and circumstances.

The goal is to empower individuals to take an active role in their health and well-being by making informed and personalized choices.

My areas of expertise

Digestion

Irritable bowel syndrome
Heartburn/GERD/Reflux
Abdominal pain
Constipation, diarrhea, bloating or gas
Hidden bacterial, fungal, parasite infections
Dysbiosis and microbiota imbalances
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Crohn’s disease
Colitis
Coeliac
Food Intolerances/Allergies

Mood, Energy & Sleep Disorders

Fatigue
Insomnia
Anxiety and panic attacks
Depression
Stress
Poor memory and concentration
Cognitive impairment
Attention and focus issues
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Hormonal Balance

Adrenal hormones
Thyroid hormones
Sex hormones
Female disorders (PMS, Menopause, Infertility, PCOS, Amenorrhea, Endometriosis)
Acne
Prostatitis

Immune Health

Autoimmune Disease e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hashimoto’s / Grave’s Disease, Psoriasis
Frequent illnesses
Immune deficiency
Allergies
Restoration of immune balance