Integrative and Functional Nutrition: A Holistic Approach to Healing

Integrative and functional nutrition is revolutionizing the way we approach health and wellness. As a registered dietitian and CEO of Grounded Root Nutrition, I’ve seen firsthand how this holistic method can uncover the root causes of symptoms and create personalized healing plans. In this post, we’ll explore the principles of integrative and functional nutrition, why it’s so effective, and what you can expect from this approach.

What is Integrative and Functional Nutrition?

Integrative and functional nutrition is a whole-body approach to healing that goes beyond traditional dietary advice. Here’s what makes it unique:

• It seeks to uncover the root cause of symptoms rather than just treating them superficially.
• It allows for a highly personalized plan that targets the true issues and brings resolution.
• It aims to optimize all systems of the body, recognizing their interconnectedness.

This approach recognizes that each system in our body is linked to digestion, which inherently influences nutrition. As a GI specialist, I find it crucial to explore all bodily systems to get a complete picture of a person’s health.

The Comprehensive Assessment: A Thousand Questions

When you work with a functional nutrition provider, you might be surprised by the depth and breadth of questions we ask. This thorough assessment is crucial for understanding the origins of your symptoms. Here are some of the key areas we explore:

Environment

We delve into your living conditions to understand potential exposures that could affect your health:

• Mold exposure (past or present)
• Allergens
• Toxins
• Pests (like ticks or bedbugs)

Lifestyle

Your daily habits and routines provide valuable insights into your overall health:

• Movement patterns: We look beyond traditional exercise to understand how you move throughout the day, on weekdays versus weekends, and what types of movement you enjoy.
• Electronic use: We explore your relationship with electronics, from daytime to bedtime, and everything in between.
• Sleep habits: Share your bedtime and wake-up time, plus rate your quality of sleep.
• Social factors: We consider who you live with, your living area, and your eating companions. Yes, these all matter!

Eating Habits

Your relationship with food is a crucial part of the assessment:

• Preferred foods and cravings
• Eating routines (eating out, cooking at home, using convenience foods)
• Time schedule
• A detailed food journal or 24-hour dietary recall

Birth and Early Life

Early life experiences can have long-lasting effects on your health:

• Birth method (vaginal or cesarean)
• Feeding method as an infant (breastfed or bottle-fed)

These factors affect your microbiome and provide insight into your health’s starting point.

Health History

We take a comprehensive look at your past and present health status:

• Current symptoms
• Longstanding symptoms that may have eluded diagnosis
• Medical diagnoses (formal and informal)
• Previous test results
• Family health history

Emotional Health

While we don’t delve into deep psychological territory, we do consider the impact of emotional factors on your health:

• Past traumas (on a high level)
• History of counseling
• Current stressors and stress management techniques

Oral Health

Your mouth health is closely linked to your overall health:

• Dental cleaning frequency
• Presence of fillings, crowns, or implants

Medications and Supplements

We need a complete picture of what you’re taking and why:

• Prescription medications
• Supplements
• Dosage and frequency
• Reasons for taking each item

Functional Lab Testing

After the comprehensive assessment, we often turn to functional lab testing for deeper insights. Some common tests include:

• Nutrigenomics: Identifying specific genes that can be influenced by diet, lifestyle, and environment
• Stool testing
• Breath testing or SIBO testing
• Food sensitivity testing
• Hormone testing
• Organic acids testing
• Micronutrient testing
• Mold or tick-borne illness testing

Creating a Personalized Healing Plan

With all this information, we create a tailored plan to optimize your health:

• Optimize cellular function
• Identify whole foods that nourish your body
• Explore “gene whispers” - specific foods or flavor enhancers that positively influence your genes
• Create an environment that supports healing
• Utilize supplements for healing and restoration as needed

Integrating with Conventional Medicine

Integrative and functional nutrition doesn’t replace conventional medicine - it complements it. Many patients benefit from a combination of approaches. I encourage collaboration with your current medical team to provide the most comprehensive care possible.

Why Functional Nutrition Providers Often Don’t Accept Insurance

Many functional nutrition providers, myself included, choose not to accept insurance. This decision allows us to:

• Provide the highest level of service possible
• Avoid restrictions on the materials covered or time spent with patients
• Maintain flexibility in our approach to symptom resolution
• Focus entirely on the patient’s needs without external constraints

Conclusion

Integrative and functional nutrition offers a comprehensive, personalized approach to health and healing. By addressing the root causes of symptoms and considering all aspects of a person’s life and health history, we can create targeted, effective healing plans. If you’re struggling with persistent health issues or simply want to optimize your wellbeing, this approach could provide the answers and results you’ve been seeking.

For more information on integrative and functional nutrition or to start your own healing journey, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your path to optimal health begins with understanding the whole picture - and that’s exactly what integrative and functional nutrition provides.

Resources

Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine. https://www.integrativerd.org/about-us/what-is-difm. Accessed October 7, 2024.

Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy. https://www.ifnacademy.com/what-is-functional-nutrition/. Accessed October 7, 2024.

Zorfass N. What is Functional Nutrition? https://www.integrativenutrition.com/blog/what-is-functional-nutrition Published June 3, 2024. Accessed October 7, 2024.