What is Functional Nutrition?

You are probably already aware that you will have your own genetic make up from your family lineage, along with your own personal health history and that you live a particular lifestyle.

Therefore, would it not make sense to have your own nutrition plan? One that is suitable for your own body and that can help to address or alleviate any of your personal symptoms?

Hippocrates stated “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” He also said “Just as food causes chronic disease, it can be the most powerful cure”.

These wise words from Hippocrates sum up the essence of functional nutrition. But we also need to recognize the complexity behind his words because you will have a particular body type, your own health issues, be exposed to certain environmental toxins, and have different stressors in your life.

It would make sense then that your nutrition habits should be unique to your own individual body, after all you are individually unique!

Using Food as Medicine

So based on Hippocrates quotes above, and to ensure that you get all the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and more that your body requires you should choose only nutrient-rich foods for your diet. This would be a whole food, plant based diet rich in fruits and vegetables. You should be consuming minimal packaged or processed food.

You also need to consider the source of your food. Given the state of our environment today, it is important to know where your food comes from. It is important to source your foods locally and choose foods free from pesticides, herbicides and fungicides that will all have a very detrimental effect on your gut microbiome.

The helpful bacteria in your gut are vital to the proper processing of the foods you eat and your immune system.

If you consume meat, then you should choose grass fed animals vs factory farmed animals to avoid the GMO feed and hormones they are given.

And, since you are a unique individual, you may often require many more specific dietary interventions in order to address the underlying symptoms behind your own personal health issues.

Functional Nutrition vs Functional Medicine

Functional Nutrition is actually based on the Functional Medicine approach. So what is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine was created in 1990 by Jeffrey Bland, a biochemist who was familiar with integrative medicine. Integrative medicine is a form of healthcare which treats the “whole person” by using both conventional and alternative approaches. He combined this integrative approach with molecular medicine to form what is called “Functional Medicine”.

Functional Medicine doctors will continue to ask “WHY” you have symptoms. They will address ALL body systems (not just what is causing symptoms) because the entire body is connected. They will help to restore balance by addressing factors such as nutrition, movement, stress, sleep, and relationships.

Functional Medicine addresses the root causes of chronic disease by working with mind, body and spirit through diet and lifestyle approaches.

Conventional medicine on the other hand only masks the symptoms of chronic disease with drugs, leaving the root causes in place which are most often caused by your diet and lifestyle habits.

Today, the terms Functional Medicine and Functional Nutrition can be referenced interchangeably. They are both becoming highly recognized as an effective approach to healing a variety of chronic health issues by using a “root cause” approach.

We are seeing more and more Functional Medicine doctors today who are forming Functional Medicine clinics and being recognized in medical journals for this incredible new approach to health and healing. And many Functional Medicine doctors rely on Functional Nutritionists or Health Coaches to help them work with their clients diet and lifestyle needs.

Now lets look at Functional Nutrition which addresses imbalances in the body by restoring function through food, lifestyle and supplement interventions.  Functional Nutrition also asks “WHY” symptoms are occurring and operate from the principal that all disease begins in the gut. Interestingly, this is another one of Hippocrates quotes!

Therefore through a Functional Nutritional approach, an imbalance of the body can be returned back to its optional function. This is accomplished by using food as a natural medicine to help restore balance, replete nutrient deficiencies, heal the gut, and so much more.

A Personalized Approach

A personalized approach is the main difference between a conventional nutritionist and a Functional Nutrition coach or practitioner.

Because a Functional Nutritionist focuses on the individual client and not just their symptoms, there is not one generic approach used but rather one that caters to each unique client and their individual needs.

Functional Nutrition actually embraces your uniqueness and uses that in order to customize a nutritional and lifestyle approach that will best serve you.

A Functional Nutrition practitioner does not diagnose but will recommend, then track and continue to assess as they work to restore optimal functionality back to your body.

Functional Nutrition is so much more than just addressing the food you eat. Clients are educated to understand that there is so much more to achieve in order to be able to maintain optimal health. A Functional Nutritionist will track how food actually “functions” in your body. What you eat each and every day will have different effects on your biochemistry.  

A Functional Nutrition practitioner will look at your “story”, to determine your dietary habits, sleep habits, relationships, stress levels, the environment you live and work in and much more. Each of these factors will play a very large role in your overall health and can actually  in turn affect your eating habits and how your food will be metabolized and assimilated in your body.

The Process

First you must recognize and understand that a Functional Nutrition practitioner cannot heal you. While they will sit with you, listen to your story, look at your history and then create a program for you, it is important to understand that YOU have to be the one who does the work.

Through a therapeutic partnership, the practitioner and the patient work together to achieve goals, often working in tandem with other health care providers.

Functional Nutrition practitioners will use several tools and strategies to organize your information, assess that information, and create a personalized program for you from that information. This is definitely NOT a one-size-fits-all approach.

One of their key tools is the Functional Nutrition matrix. This document is organized in a way that helps the practitioner to organize all the information obtained about the client in order to determine the systems of the body being affected.

They will look at the clients’ antecedents, triggers and mediators. The antecedents are genetic or environmental factors that will have an effect on the body and mind. Triggers will be any triggering events that would have affected the client. Mediators will be things like hormone disruption, and certain thoughts and beliefs the client may have.

They will look at all lifestyle factors such as sleep and relaxation, exercise and movement, nutrition and hydration, stress and resilience, as well as relationships and networks.

Then finally they will map all this out in the center of the matrix into the areas or systems of the body that may be affected by all these relevant factors.

This matrix is an ongoing process as the practitioner continues to assess and track how things are going for the client.

When it comes to protocol, this can include a myriad of different approaches, but most often the practitioner will begin with what is known as a modified version of the 5-R approach. The five R’s are to Remove, Replace, Repopulate, Repair and to Rebalance.

Firstly it is highly suggested to remove all known key inflammatory foods from the diet, including those the client is allergic, intolerant or sensitive to (all chronic disease today stems from chronic inflammation in the body). Next they will replace these foods with more nutritional foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, digestive enzymes, etc.

Third they will have the client repopulate their gut with healthy gut bacteria by using both probiotics and fermented foods as tolerated. Next any damage to the gut lining is repaired using certain supplements to assist this process. And finally they will help the client see where their current diet and lifestyle practices can be rebalanced.

This beneficial protocol provides a unique framework to address the many complex issues that often require several different nutritional interventions.

The Benefits

The benefits of Functional Nutrition are many. It is an extremely flexible and individualized approach based on each clients’ unique needs and current situation.

Working with a Functional Nutrition practitioner helps to uncover the underlying causes and triggers of the symptoms and begins to find the root causes of those symptoms.

You are treated as a whole person and not just as your symptoms.

You will be both educated and empowered as to why these changes will become a means to help you return to a functional state.

With the help of a Functional Nutrition practitioner you will form a lasting partnership that will finally help you to reach your desired goals around optimal health and wellness.

And from becoming empowered you will learn and understand the importance of listening to your own body as you continue on your own health journey. Listening to any messages or symptoms and recognizing that these are signs or clues that something may not be working for you.

In Conclusion

I believe that Functional Nutrition is the future of healthcare. It is a powerful means to restore and enhance optimal health for each and every client.

It is a dynamic process that will transform and empower clients to begin to take control of their own health journey.

The philosophy behind Functional Nutrition is to focus on bridging the gap between a patient and their doctor. While conventional doctors see things through a scientific and clinical lens, a Functional Nutrition practitioner will look through a functional lens, and the patient is the one who will reap the many benefits.

In the words of my mentor, Andrea Nakayama from the Functional Nutrition Alliance; 

“Everything is connected. . . . . We are all unique. . . . . All Things Matter”

If you would like to know more about this approach, or if you would like some help making changes to your own diet, I would be more than happy to help. As a Mind Body Nutrition Coach and graduate of Functional Nutrition, I coach my clients to find what works best for them. I help to empower you to reach your own personal health and lifestyle goals.

I offer a FREE 30 minute Nutritional Strategy Session to see if we might be a good fit to work together. Just click the button below to email me and I will find a spot in my calendar for you!

Your Nourishing Nutritionist,

Lynne Bowsher

Nourishment for body, mind and spirit

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