I was trained to work as a Nutritionist and Nutritional Therapist using a Functional Medicine approach – so this model forms the basis of how I work. When I ask people if they have heard of this, or know what it is, most people haven’t – so here is a brief explanation!
Functional medicine is a type of healthcare that focuses on finding the root causes of health issues, instead of just treating symptoms. This means that those who practice functional medicine look at a person’s overall health, including their genetics, environment, and lifestyle, to figure out what might be causing their health problems.
One of the things that functional medicine doctors and nutritionists focus on is nutrition. They believe that what you eat and how your body processes food is really important for your health. Functional medicine practitioners might suggest changes to a person’s diet, like eating more of certain foods or avoiding others, to help improve their health. They might also test a person’s blood or urine to see if they have any nutrient deficiencies or imbalances, and suggest supplements to help address these issues.
Lifestyle factors are a crucial aspect of functional medicine, as they play a significant role in overall health and wellbeing. Functional medicine practitioners recognize that factors like sleep, exercise, stress management, and social support can all have a significant impact on a person’s health.
Functional medicine practitioners may work with clients to develop personalized lifestyle plans that take into account their unique needs and circumstances. For example, they may recommend specific types of exercise that are appropriate for a patient’s health condition, or suggest stress reduction techniques like meditation or deep breathing. The importance of creating healthy habits and routines that support overall health is emphasised.
Overall, functional medicine is a personalised, patient-centred approach to healthcare that focuses on understanding each person’s unique health situation and finding ways to help them achieve optimal health. By looking at the whole picture of a person’s health and addressing nutrition as a key component of treatment, functional medicine practitioners can help people feel their best.