What is Functional Nutrition?
Functional nutrition considers your whole body, including your unique nutritional needs, lifestyle, and health status, rather than simply providing general dietary guidelines.
My goal a functional nutritionist is to identify the underlying causes of health issues—such as chronic diseases, inflammation, and epigenetics—and create an individualized nutrition plan that address those root causes. With functional nutrition, I take a holistic view of health that centers around the interplay between different systems in the body, such as the digestive, immune, and endocrine systems. As we work together, we’ll look for any imbalances in one system that might be affecting the functioning of other systems—which can lead to a range of health issues.
My approach to functional nutrition also emphasizes the importance of high-quality, nutrient-dense foods, as well as the need for proper digestion and absorption of those nutrients. We may also look to incorporate targeted supplementation, lifestyle changes, and other therapies as needed to support your optimal health.
Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene function and expression that occur without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. It refers to changes in the chemical modifications of DNA and associated proteins that regulate gene activity, without altering the DNA sequence itself. These modifications include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and other regulatory molecules.
Research in epigenetics is rapidly expanding, and it has significant implications for our understanding of human health and disease, as well as the potential for new therapies and interventions.
What is epigenetics?
Epigenetic changes can be influenced by environmental factors such as diet, stress, and exposure to toxins, and can be passed on from one generation to the next. They can play a role in the development of diseases such as cancer, as well as in the normal processes of development and aging.