Overview

Have you been anxious of late and more stressed out than normal? Or are you experiencing an increase in digestive issues and are ready to get back to feeling better? An integrative nutrition and diet appointment with us might be just what you need for overall wellness. Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of diet and nutrition for functional medicine.

What is Integrative Nutrition and Diet?

Integrative nutrition and diet is the practice of applying various functional medicine therapies to improve a patient’s well-being. Having the right diet is key to not only managing several symptoms of disease or illness, but it can also be integral in improving your mood and emotions.

Recent studies have shown a direct correlation between mood disorders, like anxiety and depression, and diets high in refined sugars. A certified integrative nutritionist looks at patients as whole, interconnected individuals and uses a personalized diet plan to restore balance within the body. Examples of integrative nutrition include:

• Ayurvedic diet plans
• Traditional Chinese medicine diets, which may also include the use of herbal supplements
• Anti-inflammatory diets
• Raw food nutrition plans
Plant-based diets

What Are the Benefits of Nutrition and Diet?

An integrative approach to nutrition and diet can provide multiple benefits. This includes:

• Improvements in mood and emotion
• Better digestion
• Reduction in chronic pain and inflammation, especially in patients with migraines and osteoarthritis
• Decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol
• Improvement of food allergies

Depending on the personalized nutrition plan, integrative diets can also be effective in patients with diabetes, cancer, and kidney disease. Your integrative nutritionist can recommend diet plans that involve dietary changes, the inclusion of specific foods, eating at particular times, an increase in the amount of physical activity, and even use of herbal and nutritional supplements.

What to Expect During a Nutrition and Diet Appointment

If you’ve never been to an integrative nutrition and/or diet appointment, you might be wondering what to expect during your session. A trained nutritionist at Chris Strickland will typically ask for a complete multiple-day food record, including any medications and supplements you might be taking, as well as a comprehensive overlook into your physical and mental health.

From there, your nutritionist will make recommendations that are personalized to you. This can include the gradual introduction of new food habits or removal of certain trigger foods from your diet, use of a food journal to track your eating habits and how you feel after certain foods, or even exercises like mild yoga and tai chi to help balance and clear out any energy blockages that may affect your gastrointestinal tract. Following a specific nutrition plan is recommended for at least three weeks before your health can be re-evaluated and new recommendations made by your nutritionist.

For more information about nutrition and diet for functional medicine, contact Chris Strickland at (706) 769-9779.