What is functional nutrition?
Functional Nutrition (FxN) is about finding the right way for each of us as individuals to eat—using food to maximize the potential for health and reverse disease. We all want to be healthy, but most of us haven’t figured out just how to make food and dietary patterns serve that goal. Nutrition encompasses multiple theories, concepts, cultures, and ideologies and in the present information overload era- there is always a trending diet adding to the confusion of what to eat? And since all of us are unique that makes a one-size-fits-all diet difficult to work for all. FxN developed out of a desire on the part of healthcare providers to change that picture.
What are the basic elements that provide nutrition?
Macronutrients
Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates which are the building blocks of all food.
Micronutrients
Vitamins and minerals “are essential nutrients that body require in small amounts”
Phytonutrients
Plant-derived chemical compounds that have a positive effect on health
How has changes in our food supply affected our health?
We have relied on the food supply as a source of energy, health, and connection. However, in the last six or seven decades, changes in the food supply have contributed strongly to the growing epidemic of chronic disease.
Processed and ultra-processed foods involve alterations to the basic elements of food. Hence we have foods that have a longer shelf-life or look prettier or appeal to our sweet tooth with the help of practices such as hydrogenating oils, adding sugar and sweeteners, processing the life out of grains, applying toxic agricultural chemicals, or using trans fats. These practices may make the food but, have also made us sick.
Michael Pollan explores socio-cultural impacts of food with his work and offers some back to basics fundamentals
“Don’t eat anything your great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.”
He also says- “When you pick up that box of portable yogurt tubes or eat something with 15 ingredients you can’t pronounce, ask yourself, “What are those things doing there?”
Don’t eat anything with more than five ingredients, or ingredients you can’t pronounce.
Why do we need functional nutrition?
The prevalence of complex, chronic diseases is escalating globally, from heart disease and diabetes to irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, mental illness, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune conditions. Chronic diseases are essentially food and lifestyle-related diseases and so require dietary and lifestyle solutions. Nutrition, exercise, and stress management can no longer be considered alternative medicine. They are essential medicine! Food has the power to heal or harm and our goal in FxN is to identify and eliminate poor quality foods responsible for creating disease. And then use the power of healing foods, nutritional supplementation, and lifestyle changes to maximize the potential for creating health and reversing disease. The goal of FxN is to provide a therapeutic, personalized plan based on a thorough history and nutritional assessment.
How does functional nutrition work?
Changing eating behaviors isn’t easy, even after you are well informed about what to do. There will be ups and downs. Diet can be followed for weeks or months but if you make it a part of your lifestyle, you can follow it indefinitely into vitality. But, unlike a diet, these changes are not harsh, short-term restrictions on your eating and they do not involve counting calories or depriving yourself of delicious, satisfying food. They are scientifically sound approaches that can benefit you for a lifetime! In fact, if you begin with a few basic concepts, you will already be on your path: eat fresh, eat color, eat texture, and eat real food.
I cannot wait to show you the power of FxN to help you...
- Release excess fat
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve sleep quality
- Balance hormones and increase energy
- Reduce signs of aging
- Strengthen immune system
- Reduce allergies
- Eliminate sugar craving
- Improve mental clarity and focus
Welcome to Functional Nutrition—the most effective way to harness the energy, information, and connections of food to create health and reverse disease!