American’s have some of the highest dissatisfaction rates with health care in the developed world.
It’s no secret that poor nutrition is a driving factor for ill health and disease. Yet conventional medicine treats symptoms rather than the underlying causes. This means American’s are becoming increasingly dependent on medications, yet still staying sick.
That’s where integrative and functional nutrition can help. This method of treatment seeks to understand the whole picture and treat illness at its source. It’s a holistic method that can have you feeling better, for longer.
Read on to learn about how functional medicine can help you.
- Holistic Approach
One of the key aspects of integrative and functional nutrition is its holistic approach. Rather than presenting with ‘symptom x’ and being given ‘treatment y’, your practitioner evaluates your whole situation.
Expect them to ask about other aspects of your health, your lifestyle, and your relationships. Then, watch them link it all together and draw complex maps that indicate why you may be suffering from specific symptoms.
- Personalized Treatment Plans
Once your consultations are complete, an integrative medicine practitioner can start putting your treatment plan together.
A cornerstone of this approach is understanding that we are all unique and have individual needs. So, your treatment plan will be carefully curated and personalized to give you the best chance of recovery.
- Preventative Care
Comparative to conventional medicine, this approach can be preventative. Consultations will provide insight into what your risk factors are for developing further health complications.
From these insights, your practitioner will teach you about the risks and how to look after yourself to prevent diseases in later life.
- In-Depth Analysis
In-depth testing is hard to come by in conventional medicine – it’s more common to be treated for your current symptom and then released.
Nutritional deficiencies are a common occurrence that is often left undiagnosed. A functional medicine practitioner may suggest you get a nutrition blood test to get a clearer picture of what’s going on.
Functional nutrition lab results from these blood tests are evaluated on a case-to-case basis to see whether they are in a healthy range.
- Conventional and Complementary Medicine
Choosing integrative and functional medicine is not a limiting choice; if you need conventional treatment, you can get it alongside this approach.
Practitioners understand that there is a time for the holistic approach; sometimes, conventional medical care is more appropriate. Your practitioner will guide you through this and support you on your journey without judgment.
Integrative and Functional Nutrition for Good Health
That’s a brief guide to the benefits of integrative and functional nutrition. It’s a method that can be used to treat a range of health ailments and diseases. There’s no need to fear; if your condition requires conventional medicine, it can be used alongside this approach.
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