Q: What is Functional Nutrition?
A: Functional Nutrition emphasizes the importance of high quality foods and phytonutrient diversity to address clinical imbalances and move individuals toward the highest expression of health. Advanced nutrition assessment and a thorough Functional Medicine based history leads to a personalized therapeutic intervention created to promote optimal health and prevent diet- and lifestyle-related disease.
Nutrition is the core modality of Functional Medicine, an integrative approach to health. As defined by The Institute for Functional Medicine,
Functional Medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
Functional Medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and evaluating the
interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic
disease. In this way, Functional Medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.”
Q: Why do we need Functional Nutrition?
A: 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.
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.
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.
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.
Q: What distinguishes a Functional Nutrition Practitioner?
A: The Functional Nutrition Assessment offers an ABCD organizational approach to support the clinical analysis, and it allows
for nutrition-related findings and clinical patterns to emerge. From the medical history, physical and laboratory exams, and
a diet and lifestyle review, the Functional Nutrition Assessment improves the identification of insufficiencies/imbalances:
- Anthropometrics help to identify altered body composition patterns and abnormal vital signs
- BioMarkers and functional laboratory findings uncover PFC-MVP nutrition insufficiencies and physiologic patterns linked to clinical imbalances
- Clinical Indicators from the physical exam identify signs related to nutrition abnormalities that can be further explored through laboratory and functional assessments
- Diet, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Journals explore daily or weekly food intake, PFC-MVP assessment, patterns of eating, cravings and habitual foods, and stress eating associations
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Q: Do I have to see you in person?
A: No, consults can be done in person or over the phone, Zoom, Skype, or Face Time.
Q: How do you know what is going on with my body?
A: The correlation of a patient's health/medical history, current state of health, lifestyle habits, and baseline diagnostic labs give me a picture of how your body is functioning. All body systems are interdependent; therefore if something isn’t functioning properly, it is causing other systems to mal-function. Symptoms may or may not be connected to the mal-functioning area, but provides clues to the investigation. With chronic conditions, your body has been compensating for a long period of time for symptoms to appear.
Q: Are you taking my blood?
A: No, if there is a lab that requires a blood draw, you will be referred to LabCorp or you can go to your local hospital lab to have it done.
Q: Do I have to take my clothes off?
A: No, I do an observational nutrition physical examination.
Q: Where are the labs done?
A: Many of the labs are done in the privacy of your own home (saliva, urine, and stool); blood draws are done at LabCorp or at your local hospital lab. Lab kits are sent directly to the patient's home. It is the patient's responsibility to send the lab, with payment, directly to the lab (mailers and instructions are provided). The benefit is that as your practitioner, I will pass on the wholesale cost of the lab to the patient.
A: No, consults can be done in person or over the phone, Zoom, Skype, or Face Time.
Q: How do you know what is going on with my body?
A: The correlation of a patient's health/medical history, current state of health, lifestyle habits, and baseline diagnostic labs give me a picture of how your body is functioning. All body systems are interdependent; therefore if something isn’t functioning properly, it is causing other systems to mal-function. Symptoms may or may not be connected to the mal-functioning area, but provides clues to the investigation. With chronic conditions, your body has been compensating for a long period of time for symptoms to appear.
Q: Are you taking my blood?
A: No, if there is a lab that requires a blood draw, you will be referred to LabCorp or you can go to your local hospital lab to have it done.
Q: Do I have to take my clothes off?
A: No, I do an observational nutrition physical examination.
Q: Where are the labs done?
A: Many of the labs are done in the privacy of your own home (saliva, urine, and stool); blood draws are done at LabCorp or at your local hospital lab. Lab kits are sent directly to the patient's home. It is the patient's responsibility to send the lab, with payment, directly to the lab (mailers and instructions are provided). The benefit is that as your practitioner, I will pass on the wholesale cost of the lab to the patient.
Q: Where do our sessions take place?
A: Sessions can take place face-to-face or via telephone, Skype, or Face time.
Q: How many sessions will I need?
A: The number of sessions is dependent on what work needs to be done. Reaching optimal health is a journey and requires lifestyle changes. A minimum time frame would be 6 months.
Q: Do you take insurance?
A: I do not handle insurance due to there being so many types of plans. It is up to the patient to work with their insurance company for reimbursements.
Q: Will I have to take supplements forever?
A: The main role of supplements is to support the body’s function while systems are trying to recover or heal. It may be that one may choose to take certain supplements for maintenance after the healing processes are complete. The ultimate goal is staying healthy by eating the right foods.
Q: What is a Health Empowerment Plan?
A: This is the customized protocol for a patient; a plan to follow over a period of time to work towards reaching optimal health. This includes diet/nutrition and lifestyle changes to address the whole person--mind, body, and soul.
Q: How do I know if my Health Empowerment Plan is working?
A: Retesting will occur to provide data on how your body is responding to your customized protocol. It will also depend on how you are feeling as you work through your plan. Tweaking a plan is part of the process—that is why follow-ups are so important.
A: Sessions can take place face-to-face or via telephone, Skype, or Face time.
Q: How many sessions will I need?
A: The number of sessions is dependent on what work needs to be done. Reaching optimal health is a journey and requires lifestyle changes. A minimum time frame would be 6 months.
Q: Do you take insurance?
A: I do not handle insurance due to there being so many types of plans. It is up to the patient to work with their insurance company for reimbursements.
Q: Will I have to take supplements forever?
A: The main role of supplements is to support the body’s function while systems are trying to recover or heal. It may be that one may choose to take certain supplements for maintenance after the healing processes are complete. The ultimate goal is staying healthy by eating the right foods.
Q: What is a Health Empowerment Plan?
A: This is the customized protocol for a patient; a plan to follow over a period of time to work towards reaching optimal health. This includes diet/nutrition and lifestyle changes to address the whole person--mind, body, and soul.
Q: How do I know if my Health Empowerment Plan is working?
A: Retesting will occur to provide data on how your body is responding to your customized protocol. It will also depend on how you are feeling as you work through your plan. Tweaking a plan is part of the process—that is why follow-ups are so important.
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Q: How long will it take me to heal?
A: It takes your body a long time to get to chronic state, so it will take a while, depending on the issues that have to be addressed. Healing protocols can be a few weeks to a year, maybe more. Healing times are also dependent on your commitment to heal. The more committed you are the greater results you will experience.
Q: How much should I budget for your services?
A: My focus and my passion is to take care of my patients. After the initial consultation, patients can become a concierge member of the practice for a monthly fee that will vary based on whether it is an individual or family plan, and the desired level of service. There is also an a la carte option for non-members. Supplements and diagnostic testing are all additional costs to consider. For more details, please see the SERVICES page.
Q: How often are the tests run?
A: Generally, follow-up testing is done every 3-6 months, or as needed.
Q: What is the Program Agreement?
A: Program Agreement is a legal terms of service document that lets you know that I am a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN) and FDN Practitioner, not a medical doctor and gives the details of my services. I use diagnostic information to educate and recommend nutritional/lifestyle changes to reach optimal health. I do not diagnose disease.
Q: What is the Living Matrix?
A: It is important to get a thorough understanding of a patient's health history. The Living Matrix is a HIPAA-compliant tool especially designed for Functional Medicine to gather data that will help identifying the root cause of ones major complaints and symptoms.
Q: Should I consult my family doctor before working with you?
A: If you are under the care of a doctor, absolutely. It is important to always check with your physician before making any changes to your physical activity and diet.
A: It takes your body a long time to get to chronic state, so it will take a while, depending on the issues that have to be addressed. Healing protocols can be a few weeks to a year, maybe more. Healing times are also dependent on your commitment to heal. The more committed you are the greater results you will experience.
Q: How much should I budget for your services?
A: My focus and my passion is to take care of my patients. After the initial consultation, patients can become a concierge member of the practice for a monthly fee that will vary based on whether it is an individual or family plan, and the desired level of service. There is also an a la carte option for non-members. Supplements and diagnostic testing are all additional costs to consider. For more details, please see the SERVICES page.
Q: How often are the tests run?
A: Generally, follow-up testing is done every 3-6 months, or as needed.
Q: What is the Program Agreement?
A: Program Agreement is a legal terms of service document that lets you know that I am a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN) and FDN Practitioner, not a medical doctor and gives the details of my services. I use diagnostic information to educate and recommend nutritional/lifestyle changes to reach optimal health. I do not diagnose disease.
Q: What is the Living Matrix?
A: It is important to get a thorough understanding of a patient's health history. The Living Matrix is a HIPAA-compliant tool especially designed for Functional Medicine to gather data that will help identifying the root cause of ones major complaints and symptoms.
Q: Should I consult my family doctor before working with you?
A: If you are under the care of a doctor, absolutely. It is important to always check with your physician before making any changes to your physical activity and diet.
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Q: What type of foods will be recommended?
A: There is no one food plan that is right or healthy for everyone; there are no good or bad foods except in terms of one’s individual metabolism. Getting the right macronutrient ratios at each meal is just as important as getting the right foods. The Standard American Diet is highly inflammatory due to all the processed, refined, and genetically modified foods. I recommend customized modifications of an anti-inflammatory diet which includes fresh, organic, whole vegetables and fruits, lean grassfed proteins, and healthy fats.
Q: Where can I get the supplements that you recommend?
A: Supplements are recommended to you through my professional dispensary, FullScript, this ensures that you are getting high-quality, medical-grade supplements for your healing process.
Q: Do you work with kids, or just adults?
A: I work with anyone, any age.
Q: What if I am already taking prescription drugs for my symptoms?
A: It is important to continue to take your medication and continue to follow-up with your doctor as you work on your customized health empowerment plan. One goal might be to become healthy enough to reduce or eliminate the medications.
A: There is no one food plan that is right or healthy for everyone; there are no good or bad foods except in terms of one’s individual metabolism. Getting the right macronutrient ratios at each meal is just as important as getting the right foods. The Standard American Diet is highly inflammatory due to all the processed, refined, and genetically modified foods. I recommend customized modifications of an anti-inflammatory diet which includes fresh, organic, whole vegetables and fruits, lean grassfed proteins, and healthy fats.
Q: Where can I get the supplements that you recommend?
A: Supplements are recommended to you through my professional dispensary, FullScript, this ensures that you are getting high-quality, medical-grade supplements for your healing process.
Q: Do you work with kids, or just adults?
A: I work with anyone, any age.
Q: What if I am already taking prescription drugs for my symptoms?
A: It is important to continue to take your medication and continue to follow-up with your doctor as you work on your customized health empowerment plan. One goal might be to become healthy enough to reduce or eliminate the medications.
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