Integrative & Functional Nutrition Therapy and Wellness

What is Integrative & Functional Nutrition Therapy?

Integrative and functional nutrition is a component of functional medicine, a healthcare practice that identifies and resolves underlying dysfunction in the body contributing to the individual’s poor health, rather than just treating symptoms. This field combines evidenced-based nutrition science with a deeper understanding of how food, lifestyle, and environment impact health to create a comprehensive plan consisting of various healing modalities to address the individual’s unique needs. These plans break down the foundations of health including diet, exercise, stress, sleep, functional breathing, and more in order to set you up for a successful and sustainable journey towards optimal health.

What is the difference between functional medicine and conventional medicine?

The conventional healthcare model is very good at saying you have a particular disease but rarely asks the question: WHY are you having these issues in the first place? Functional medicine asks these difficult questions so that health issues can be addressed from the root cause, so that we can do more than manage our adverse health symptoms…we can heal from them.

A key difference between the conventional and functional healthcare models is that the conventional approach is designed to identify pathology and disease. When running tests and looking at results, reference ranges are looking for indications of late stage disease development. Looking through this conventional lens, you either have a disease or you do not. If you do not have a disease, then you are considered healthy. This is why so many people are told by their conventional healthcare providers that their health is “normal” despite battling ongoing symptoms. They are then given medications to manage their “unexplainable” or “normal” symptom(s).

The functional approach, by comparison, believes that everything happens for a reason, meaning illness does not just occur without any explanation, therefore you can be unhealthy or deal with dysfunction in the body without having a diagnosable disease. Lab results are interpreted on a much more narrow scale compared to the conventional “normal”, to identify early signs of disease or imbalance to prevent onset of disease. Functional medicine often refers to these reference ranges as “optimal”.

Who is Nutrition Therapy for?

Anyone and everyone can benefit from it! Nutrition therapy can be great for:

• Generally healthy individuals looking to focus on longevity, further enhance their health, and “level up” on their current health habits
• Athletes looking to enhance their sport performance
• Individuals looking to address current health concerns:
• Arthritis
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Brain Fog
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Sinusitis
• Depression and Anxiety
• Disordered Eating
• Diabetes
• Digestive Disorders (gas, bloating, cramping, constipation, IBD, IBS, GERD/Reflux etc.)
• Dysautonomia (POTS, Vasovagal Syncope etc.)
• Elevated Cholesterol
• Environmental and Food Allergies
• Fatigue
• Female Disorders (PMS, painful and/or irregular periods, PCOS, perimenopause/menopause)
• Healthy weight and metabolism
• Heart health/Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Hormone Imbalances
• Unrestful Sleep, Insomnia, Sleep Breathing Disorders such as snoring or Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Metabolic Dysfunction, Pre-diabtetes, Insulin resistance
• Migraines/Tension Type Headaches
• Nutrient Imbalances
• Skin Issues, Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis
• Thyroid and Adrenal Disorders

From Practitioner to Client

My commitment to nutrition and functional medicine is deeply rooted in my own personal health experiences.  I am no stranger to chronic illness. I first started dealing with chronic symptoms at age 13. Multiple lab tests were run, almost all of which came back “normal”. One doctor suggested to my parents that I seek psychiatric help, because this was likely all in my head. By 20, multiple diagnoses had been tossed at me but ultimately, I was told there is really no solution to these conditions. I was left with the encouraging words: “hopefully you grow out of it”. I was put on multiple medications as the only course of treatment for my symptoms. Despite being medicated, I was still having fainting episodes, dizziness, migraines, tremors, blood sugar dysregulation, anxiety, depressive thoughts, fatigue, weight gain, disrupted sleep and more…

After years of chasing symptoms and feeling let down by our healthcare system, I finally became fed up and refused to accept that this was the quality of life I had to have moving forward. I decided to take it upon myself to find answers.

I attended Ohio University and here, I was introduced to a form of lifestyle medicine. I began adopting different lifestyle habits that led me down the rabbit hole of becoming a chronic dieter and over-exerciser. I became the most physically fit I have ever been in my life and received so much praise from those around me. Funny thing is, I felt even WORSE. I was still having all of the same symptoms on top of also developing chronic pain, digestive issues, panic attacks, disordered eating, and an extremely unhealthy relationship with myself.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biological Sciences on a pre-medical track, yet I did not feel like I learned anything to help me fix myself. This was when I decided to turn to alternative medicine to find answers. I immersed myself in the “unconventional” field of functional medicine. I learned how to truly listen to my body and to trust myself. I learned that everything happens for a reason, including all the symptoms I was experiencing. I didn’t have to fix myself–I was already whole. I learned I was not providing my body with the raw materials that it desperately needed to function properly.

I later attended Case Western Reserve University for graduate school, and have been awarded a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention, as well as a Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition. Currently, I am wrapping up certification as a Functional Medicine Practitioner through Functional Medicine University. Through functional lab testing, therapeutic foods, supplementation, exercise regimen, sleep support, functional breathing, and improving the relationship with myself and those around me, I began to heal. I am now medication free, have little to no symptoms, and feel better than I ever have before.

My own health struggles dramatically impact the way I work with clients. I see you. I hear you. You are not crazy and it is not all in your head. With an open and empathetic heart, I hope to help show you the light at the end of the tunnel.

Philosophies 

• Food is one of the most powerful tools for healing and maintaining health. By understanding the unique relationship between food and the mind and body, we can harness its potential to prevent, manage, even reverse chronic conditions while also supporting optimal health.
• Functional medicine views the body as one integrated system, not a collection of independent organs that should be isolated into various medical specialties. In effort to improve overall health from the root cause, it is necessary to not neglect the mind-body connection and role our environment is playing in our health.
• Treat the Individual, Not Just the Disease or Symptom: A one-size fits all strategy to manage a symptom or particular diagnosis is an ineffective and outdated approach to improving health in the long term. Two individuals that may present with the same condition and similar symptoms may each have a different root cause to their issues.  It is important to focus on patient-centered care and tailor treatment to address the individual’s unique needs and health concerns.
• Knowledge is power: This phrase embodies the idea that our understanding of our body and its needs will empower us to be equipped to make informed decisions necessary to support these needs. Health education is a key component  of successful nutrition therapy in the long term, as it empowers individuals with the knowledge and tools they will need to take control over their well-being beyond the clinical setting and into their own daily lives.
• There are no quick fixes. It has taken months, or even years, for your health to get where it is today. This means that your symptoms will not go away in a day or even a week. Improving your health and resilience takes time and requires YOU to put in the work. Ultimately, your success on your health journey is up to you.

Tools

• In depth initial consultation including intake forms and comprehensive look into your health history 
• Integrative & Functional Nutrition Therapy
• Lifestyle Medicine Intervention 
• Function Lab Testing (such as Blood panel analysis, Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis, Salivary Hormone testing, Organic Acids testing, GI Map and stool testing and more.