Functional Nutrition Therapy Services

What is Functional Diagnostic Nutrition®?

Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN) Practitioners are like health detectives. We use specialized tests and your personal health history to determine what may be contributing to your health issues.

FDNs help you understand the underlying reasons for your symptoms. They gather information from your lab results and health history to determine what's stressing your body. The goal is to help you improve your health through personalized diet and lifestyle changes without making medical diagnoses or providing treatments.

I Have Tried it All...Can You Help Me?

Your body is meant to work at its best, and a functional approach helps it get back on track. If you're struggling with issues like fatigue, depression, or unexplained weight gain, this approach focuses on finding the root cause of your problems rather than just treating the symptoms. Many people get stuck in a cycle of trying different treatments without finding relief. Instead, the functional approach aims to identify and address the underlying stressors on your body, helping you achieve overall balance and feel better.

Complex Chronic Illness

We support people who are navigating life while living with complex chronic illnesses, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. While we do not address the diagnosis itself, we can optimize our lifestyle and environment to accommodate it. Life looks different when you have a complex chronic illness, and we have to do things a bit differently. We assist people living with conditions like:

How We Think About Autoimmunity

We use the "three-legged stool" concept to explain autoimmune disease, a theory developed by researcher Dr. Alessio Fasano. This concept suggests that three key factors must be present for autoimmune issues to develop:

Stressors/Triggers: The right genes aren't enough to cause an autoimmune disease. Research shows that genes need to be triggered by environmental stressors. These stressors can cause the immune system to react inappropriately due to your genetic makeup. Finding and addressing these stressors through functional testing and lifestyle changes is crucial when living with autoimmune conditions.

Genetics: There isn't just one gene responsible for autoimmune diseases. Instead, several genetic variations can make the body more prone to autoimmune conditions. These genes might affect how the body processes nutrients, breaks down hormones, or removes toxins. At-home tests, like those from Nutrition Genome, can help reveal these genetic predispositions.

Microbiome: The health of your gut bacteria (microbiome) is crucial. When the gut is not functioning correctly, it puts extra stress on the immune system. A damaged gut lining can lead to chronic immune activation and difficulty absorbing essential nutrients. Vitamin D is necessary for immune health.

Ketogenic Metabolic Therapies

The Ketogenic Diet is well-known for treating epilepsy and may also support people living with conditions like cancer, metabolic diseases, mental health issues, and chronic migraines. When suitable, we offer personalized ketogenic diet recommendations and coaching for children and adults.

Nutrigenomics Precision Nutrition

Everyone's body is different, so different treatments work for people with the same autoimmune condition. We'll work together to:

• Assess and address your microbiome issues, which may extend beyond leaky gut.
• Examine your genes to understand your unique genetic vulnerabilities and develop a tailored management plan.
• Use lab data to identify all the factors that are causing stress on your body and create a plan to restore balance naturally.

What You Can Expect

Here's a general overview of what will happen during our time together:

1. Receive Lab Kits and Forms: You'll start by receiving lab kits to collect samples and several intake forms to complete online. You'll also keep a food and mood journal.
2. Collect Lab Samples: Follow the instructions provided with your kits to collect samples like hair, urine, saliva, stool, or blood. Send these samples back as directed.
3. Initial Results & Recommendations: Once we get your lab results and other documents, we'll prepare an initial plan for you. We'll schedule a 90-120-minute session to review your results in detail and discuss a personalized diet and lifestyle plan. Supplement recommendations, if needed, will be provided at discounted rates through Fullscript.
4. Follow-Up Sessions: Depending on your package, you'll have several 60-minute follow-up sessions over the next 3-12 months. These sessions will help track progress, address issues, and offer ongoing support. Sessions are held via Zoom, but you can join without video. You can also contact me directly through the PracticeBetter chat feature between sessions.