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Functional Nutrition Coaching

What is Functional Nutrition?

Functional nutrition evaluates the complex interactions between lifestyle, genetic and environmental factors that influence chronic health issues.  It aims to address the imbalances in the body by restoring function through food, lifestyle, and supplement interventions.  In this model, an advanced nutrition assessment and thorough Functional Medicine-based history is utilized for a personalized therapeutic approach to prevent diet- and lifestyle-related disease and promote optimal health.

How is it different than conventional nutrition?

The main difference between functional and conventional nutrition is personalization.  Functional nutrition focuses on the patient, instead of the symptoms or disease.  It is a science-based personalized model of optimizing health based on individual diets, genetics, lab values, health history, lifestyle, emotional profile, and more.  Functional nutrition changes the focus from population-based to personalized nutrition, and from disease care to authentic health care.

Why do we need Functional Nutrition?

  • The prevalence of complex, chronic diseases is escalating globally, from heart disease and diabetes to irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, mental illness, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune disorders.
  • The current healthcare system fails to take into account the unique genetic makeup of each individual or the ability of food, toxins, and other environmental factors to influence gene expression. The interaction between genes and environmental factors is a critical component in the development of chronic disease and plays a central role in the Functional Nutrition approach.
  • Chronic diseases are diet- and lifestyle-related diseases and require dietary and lifestyle solutions. A major strength of functional nutrition is its focus on the molecular mechanisms that underlie disease, providing the basis for targeted, innovative solutions that can restore health.
  • Most nutrition professionals are not adequately trained in integrating nutrition assessment at the molecular and cellular levels with emerging research in nutrition and nutritional genomics. These advanced practice skills are essential for preventing and managing today’s chronic disorders.

Start Working with Kate Sword Today

Kate Sword, M.S.H.N.F.M., is our Functional Medicine Nutritionist at Sparkle Health.
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How can a visit with a Functional Nutritionist help you on your path to healing?

We can help make your plan nutritious and do-able!  You will receive personalized help in achieving your goals, such as:

  • Understanding how diet and lifestyle can affect your symptoms
  • Personalized food plans with recipes
  • Setting goals and tracking progress
  • Guidance on how and when to reintroduce foods into your diet
  • Recommendations for further reading
  • What to do when you have food cravings
  • How to reduce exposure to toxins in food
  • What foods to buy organic and how to choose safe meats and fish
  • Overcoming plateaus in your progress
  • How to enjoy food in a way that is supportive of your health!

*This material has been modified from the Institute for Functional Medicine

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