Functional Nutrition: An Emerging Health Field
What is Functional Nutrition?
Functional Nutrition (FN) is defined as the analysis of the molecular way in which food affects the human body. Functional nutrition aims at addressing the imbalances in the body by restoring function through food, lifestyle and supplement interventions.
FN transforms dysfunctioning bodily systems into optimal, functional health. While Functional Nutrition uses food as medicine, Functional Nutrition is not just about food. Instead of prescription of drugs, functional nutrition addresses the root cause of the problem.
What does Functional Nutrition address?
Firstly, let us look at what nutrition means. Nutrition is the intake of food, in consideration of the body’s dietary needs. Good nutrition – adequate, balanced diet, enough intake of water, protection from toxins and toxic thoughts and a proper exercise regimen – all contribute to a healthy body.
When it comes to caring for our body, we focus on masking the symptoms than treating the root cause. For example, if a person is overweight, he or she will usually go join a gym for an external weight loss regimen rather than treating the root cause, which is dietary glycemic overload, food sensitivities, inflamed intestine, intestinal permeability or a chronic hormonal disorder like metabolic syndrome, thyroid or diabetes most of the times. Functional Nutrition addresses the root cause of the problem rather than trying to artificially mask the symptoms.
In conclusion
Functional Nutrition is the future of healthcare, not because it’s new or fancy, but because it brings us back to the foundation of what healthcare should be about — the needs of the patient.
