Functional Medicine
Functional medicine is a dynamic process allowing your practitioner to assess, prevent and advise on aspects of your health, with the perception we are all biochemically individual with our health based on the concepts of our genetic and environmental uniqueness.
In Nutritional Therapy each person is seen as representing a unique, complex and interwoven set of influences on intrinsic functionality, which set the stage for your level of health. Unlike western medicine, which is focused on disease specific, we use a person-centred approach to discover the root cause of your symptoms, and help you find a dynamic balance with all aspects of your health – body, mind and spirit.
The factors which influence our health are not a straightforward cause and effect approach, it is a complex web of interconnections. Health should be the presence of positive vitality, not just the absence of disease.
Core Clinical Imbalances
Your practitioner will identify your core clinical imbalances and will guide and support you in reasserting balance in these areas. Core clinical imbalances include …
- Assimilation from your digestive secretions to motility to digestive hormones and microbiota.
- Structural integrity including cell membranes health, skin, bones, teeth and joints.
- Communication between hormones and endocrine system, neurotransmitters and the nervous system, intracellular messages and circulation.
- Defence and repair of inflammation, immunity, infection, microbiota or hormonal imbalances.
- Energy production, biochemical imbalances, mitochondrial integrity and oxidative damage.
- Biotransformation and elimination with liver, kidney, bowel, skin, immune function and biochemical pathways.
- Mental/emotional/spiritual with cognitive function, emotional regulation and purpose.
Nutrition
Nutrients are substances which provides nourishment essential for growth and maintenance of life.
Nutrition is the process of providing/obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.
Nourishment is the food/substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.
- Food is any nutritious substance which people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth.
- Whole Foods are foods which have not been processed or refined and are free from additives or other artificial substances.
- Organic Foods are food free of fertilisers, pesticides, irradiation, GMOs, growth hormones and livestock feed additives.
- Superfoods are highly nutritious foods containing all, or nearly all, the vitamins, minerals and trace elements a body needs eg algae, sprouts, wheatgrass. Superfoods incorporated into a wholefood diet are fundamental for human health.
- Junk foods’ are substances which are not natural, which have been altered, or are not suitable to maintain health and growth for eg GMOs, trans-fats, sweeteners, pesticides, artificial colourings. Junk foods hinder cell communication therefore, detrimental to health and wellbeing.
* Superfoods do not work in isolation, but as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Your Body
Body cells continually renew themselves thereby allowing the body the power to restore itself to health, once we allow it to do so, and don’t suppress it with medications and non-natural products.
Your body is always trying to heal itself, supporting it with a healthy diet and natural therapies will allow this to occur.
What To Do
- Know your symptoms – Understand your body’s call for help.
- Manage your environment – Be aware of stressful situations which may impact your health and reduce these as much as possible, ensuring to include rest periods during your day,
- Digestive Health – Balance and support your digestive system to maintain overall health through nutrition and lifestyle.
- Seek advice – We often don’t see the triggers in our daily lives, speaking with professionals specialised in these areas will help to determine the root cause for your symptoms.
Conclusion
If you have any questions or concerns, or would just like further information about positive vitality, don’t hesitate to reach out and get in touch with us here at Health 4 U. Or you can also book an appointment with Sinéad through our online booking platform, and together we will help you understand and take control of your digestive health.
