Part I of the Functional Lifestyle Journey
Today I am celebrating my graduation from holistic nutritionist to official Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). The education I received through my FDN-P certification has opened my eyes to the importance of lab tests.
And now, I will be able to offer my clients with more precise, effective remedies that use science and consider their unique body needs. Since I began coaching clients in their lifestyle journeys, the notion of a one-size-fits-all program approach has been shattered every time.
Our bodies are unique in the ways they manage our metabolism, hormones, gut functions and other systems. It does not make sense to treat them all the same and that’s why I prefer the functional medicinal approach to wellbeing.
What is the functional medicinal approach?
Functional medicine providers are like private detectives for your body. They take the time to listen to your health experience and hardships, do some digging on your history of symptoms, correlate your symptoms and health conditions with lab test results, and analyze the evidence to get to the root-cause of your discomfort.
Root-causes are often referred to as stressors, which can be a combination of nutrition, stress, toxins, allergens, genetics or intestinal health. The remedies we create together will depend largely on the stressors affecting your body.
But where and why do these stressors develop?
Why do people become ill?
Functional medicine believes that your body already has all of the resources within it to heal itself, but that certain stressors can irritate or inflame symptoms.
Illnesses develop from our experiencing stress. Stressors can be external or internal and may include: life traumas, busy lifestyles, abusive relationships, pain, inflammation and disorders such as allergies or food sensitivities, plus many more.
Modern life is full of quick fixes for almost any problem out there. Don’t get me wrong, modern medicine is extremely valuable, but for more chronic adverse effects or symptoms, a quick fix can only go so far.
By identifying and eliminating stressors from our bodies, we give our bodies the opportunity and help to correct and nourish itself.
Who can benefit from a Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist (FDN)?
Anyone can benefit from working with a FDN-P to better improve and assess their wellbeing. However, if you are currently experiencing a wide range of chronic symptoms - such as extended fatigue, debilitating headaches, hormone imbalances, sleep problems, allergies, auto-immune conditions, and digestive problems - you’re likely a good candidate.
Remember, though, that a FDN-P does not diagnose or treat disease. Instead, we help determine what biological factors have caused the internal imbalances responsible for the symptoms you are experiencing.
We do this by ordering lab tests that can give us a wide look at your overall condition. The results of these tests will inform our approach to your specific nutrition, lifestyle, and fitness regiment.
Curious about what these lab tests are?
Read & learn more about Functional Lab Tests in Part II of the Functional Lifestyle Journey.
Ready to learn more?
Schedule now a free consultation with me and explore if Functional Medicine approach is right for you.