04 Apr Functional Nutritionist NYC –

What is a functional nutritionist?

A functional nutritionist goes deeper than symptom relief. We ask WHY. People’s health and wellness aren’t linear, instead a confluence of many factors: genetics, family history, environment, stress, lifestyle, and nutrition. As functional nutritionists, we use a combination of nutrition science, diagnostic testing, and personalized interventions to optimize wellness and manage and prevent disease. 

What is functional nutrition?

Functional nutrition is an approach to health and wellness that focuses on addressing the root causes of health issues rather than just treating symptoms. It emphasizes the importance of holistic, individualized care considering genetics, environment, lifestyle, and personal health history. This approach views the body as a complex system of interconnected parts, to restore balance and promote overall well-being.

What are functional tests in nutrition?

Before your functional nutritionist comes up with dietary interventions, they might recommend diagnostic tests. These tests can measure everything from your gut health to hormone health, giving your dietitian the information they need to help you reach your wellness goals.

Here are some of the tests we can offer at NYC Nutritionist:

Gut Zoomer:

The Gut Zoomer sensitivity test is a stool test that can assess bacteria, yeast, viruses, and parasites in the gut microbiome, alongside relevant digestive and inflammatory markers. The panel measures hundreds of species of microbes at once. At this time, it is the most comprehensive digestive health test on the market.

It can provide answers for our patients and give us the information we need to tailor nutrition interventions to help improve uncomfortable symptoms related to autoimmune conditions, IBD, IBS, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory symptoms, and SIBO, among other serious conditions.

Dutch Hormone Test

The DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) is a technology developed by Precision Analytical Inc. based in Oregon. It consists of a person collecting four urine samples over 24 hours (at home). It measures basic hormones, cortisol metabolites, estrogen metabolites, androgen metabolites, free cortisol pattern, melatonin, 8-OHdG (oxidative stress), and neurotransmitter metabolites. 

Currently, this is the most comprehensive hormone testing on the market (testing 47 markers). Using this test, we can better understand what is happening in our patients’ bodies to develop individualized, targeted diet plans. Hormone imbalances are a combination of genetics, stress, exercise, sleep, environmental toxins, and diet. 

As functional nutrition therapists, the why of what our patients are experiencing is the crux of any nutrition therapy. Many women come to us who struggle with fertility, irregular and painful periods, endometriosis, chronic fatigue, weight imbalances, and more. This test can be good for both women and men who find themselves struggling with hormone health, including fertility, menopause, PCOS, abdominal weight gain, depression, and more. 

Nutrigenomix DNA Test

Nutrigenomix offers a genetic test analyzing over 66 genes to understand how your genes affect your diet, metabolism, fitness, and risk for metabolic syndromes. Based on strong scientific evidence, this test provides personalized nutrition insights through four report formats. It examines 70 genetic markers related to nutrient metabolism, heart health, weight management, food intolerances, eating habits, and physical activity. Simply provide a saliva sample with a cheek swab, and results are emailed within weeks. Personalized recommendations from your dietitian will be made once results are available.

Implement Functional Nutrition Practices Today:

Here are some tips to implement functional nutrition practices – or food-as-medicine – in your diet plan. 

• Prioritize whole, nutrient-rich foods over processed options, focusing on items found along the perimeter of the supermarket. (Steer clear of those shiny packages!)
• Become a fan of the farmer’s market, and consume seasonal foods for optimal freshness and nutrition. (This is also really eco-friendly.)
• Go for colors! The more colors on your plate, the more phytonutrient diversity from plants. Plus, it’s pretty.
• Practice mindful, intuitive eating, paying attention to how different foods affect your body. Turn off the TV, your phone, and distractions when eating. Make mealtime a sacred place to share with friends and family or be mindful of your body. 
• Analyze your eating behaviors and how your eating habits change, depending on stress, boredom, sadness, and more. Understanding triggers to eating (or not eating) can help you adopt healthier eating habits.

By working with a functional nutritionist, you can have the extra support to get to the WHY of your symptoms. Moreover, we can help identify nutritional gaps and develop a plan to address them through diet and supplements.