Nutrition

Functional nutrition is one of the core components of integrative medicine. Many complex, chronic health issues of the twenty-first century can benefit immensely from a holistic nutritional approach that looks at genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors and provides a systems-based framework for treatment. The application of functional nutrition in the clinical setting involves discussion about dietary changes along with suggestions for nutritional supplementation and specific foods that can help to alleviate a patient’s individual health challenges. Functional nutrition is particularly helpful for improving patient outcomes involving gastrointestinal issues, metabolic syndrome, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.