FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION
Functional Nutrition may be done over the phone or in person. Some functional nutrition may be offered during an acupuncture appointment but for patients who want to do a thorough inventory of their health I recommend that they schedule some extra appointments outside of acupuncture. A great place to start is to schedule a first appointment with or without acupuncture and then we can discuss an ideal treatment plan for your lifestyle. I am also happy to schedule a complimentary 15 minute consultation to see if my services are a good fit for you.
Functional nutrition advice may consist of customized dietary advice to improve your health and/ or support with supplements. Whenever possible it is ideal to receive most nutritional support from real food. However, in some cases this is not enough and supplements may be needed.
Nutritional supplements can consist of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, probiotics, glandular (from animal products) and herbal medicine. Some supplements may be therapeutic in nature to treat a specific condition: for example eradication agents may be necessary to eradicate H. Pylori if a lab test shows that it is present in the GI tract. Supplements may provide functional support: for example, you may be given digestive enzymes if lab tests show that the pancreas is not able to adequately support a person’s digestion. Other supplements are meant to supply nutrients that you may not be absorbing from your diet.
Why change your diet? If your body feels out of balance or if your digestion is uncomfortable it could be a sign that your current diet is not working for you or it needs to be adjusted. Different people thrive on different types of diets. Working with a health care professional to try something new can be helpful.
What you eat can affect insulin levels, hormones, the condition of your gastrointestinal tract and levels of inflammation. This is important is important for a wide array of conditions from fertility to autoimmune to chronic pain disorders. Alicia has an educational background in both functional nutrition and Traditional Chinese Dietary Therapy. In addition to having a Bachelor’s of Natural Health Sciences and Masters of Science in Acupuncture she is a Level 2 Restorative Wellness Practitioner. This is a great approach if you’d like to take a look at what may be some root causes of your health issues. She takes a practical, non-judgmental approach to dietary advice. Her philosophy is that food should be something that brings nourishment and joy into your life.
