The Power of Functional Nutrition

Written by Nicole Nyerick RD, LDN

Edited by Sarah Criscuolo MS, RD, LDN, CSN, CPT

 

Functional nutrition is a whole-body approach that looks to address the root cause of illness to promote optimal health and wellbeing. It encompasses all factors that impact and determine our health, including diet, environment, stress levels, and activity.

Sometimes called holistic nutrition or integrative nutrition, this speciality in nutrition is becoming more popular as new research emerges on its benefits for long-term health and wellbeing.

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Functional vs. Standard Nutrition

Practitioners utilizing functional nutrition look for a root cause(s) that might be contributing to your symptoms and/or health conditions, and use diet, supplementation, and lifestyle strategies to eliminate or reduce this root cause. They also consider cultural, genetic, family dynamic, and lifestyle factors to personalize nutrition to you as an individual.

Sometimes, our bodies or health can be impacted by different factors around us, like ongoing stress, frequent antibiotic use, dental health, or food sensitivities. Functional nutrition explores your health history in order to find what could be contributing to your symptoms or conditions.

Determining your root cause helps to create a specific nutrition or lifestyle plan based on your needs. Some examples of possible root causes are:
– Chronic inflammation
– Nutrient deficiencies
– Poor gut motility or bacterial overgrowth
– Hormonal imbalances

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Functional Nutrition in Action

Say you’re feeling bloating and more gassy than usual, to the point where it’s uncomfortable or painful. Instead of recommending that you eat more probiotic rich foods or that you cut out XYZ food, functional nutrition explores what’s causing your symptoms.

Is it imbalanced (low or high) bacterial levels in your GI tract? Is it slow gut motility or low digestive enzyme output? Is your mind or body experiencing higher stress that  could be throwing off digestion? These are some examples of questions a functional dietitian may help you answer in order to implement the proper nutrition for you.

Instances where functional nutrition may be beneficial is if you have dealt with…
– Thyroid conditions like hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s
– Chronic digestive issues like bloating or constipation
– Recurring joint pain, skin rashes, fatigue, or migraines
– Irregular or painful periods

Functional nutrition is not meant to replace traditional medicine, medications, or a balanced diet, but rather complement them and put you in more control of your health.

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Focuses of functional nutrition

1. Incorporating variety and whole foods – optimal health is built on a foundation of getting essential nutrients, found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, quality protein, and healthy fat. When we say “eat the rainbow”, we really mean it! The more variety and color in your day, the more balance of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants you’re getting in. At Karuna, we promote diversity and inclusivity – it’s about what you can ADD to your plate, not take away, to increase your nutrient intake while enjoying all foods!

2. Taking care of your gut microbiome – with over 70% of your immune system housed in your gut, supporting healthy digestion is of the utmost importance. Today, there are many factors that can negatively impact our gut microbiome, like medications, environmental chemicals, stress, etc., that can lead to a host of health issues, such as bloating, gas, indigestion, brain fog, and chronic inflammation. Ways to support your gut can include eating plenty of fiber, staying hydrated, managing stress, and being physically active.

3. Supporting a healthy life off the plate –areas of your life, such as the quality of your relationships, stress levels, and even sleep routine, all impact the way your body processes the food you eat. If you don’t sleep well and you experience high stress, you’re not setting your body up for success to utilize the quality nutrients you’re feeding it. A lack of sleep in combination with stress can also cause blood sugar alterations, which can quickly cause a cycle of mood and energy crashes.

With functional nutrition, we embrace your uniqueness and use it to tailor your individualized nutrition recommendations along with additional functional lab testing or lifestyle changes to accelerate your health journey.

Sometimes, your body’s “ecosystem” can be disrupted. Functional nutrition, including nourishing each and every aspect of your health, can help you bring it back into balance while also supporting your health for the future you. Use this link to schedule an intake call and get started with your journey into functional nutrition with a Karuna dietitian!

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Sources:

1. https://www.rupahealth.com/post/what-is-functional-medicine-nutrition-the-link-between-diet-and-health
2. https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/021313p26.shtml