If you struggle with low energy, stubborn weight, digestive or hormonal issues, allergies or any other ongoing health concern, this article is for you.
Why is nutritional therapy special?
Everything that we put in our mouth, creates a chemical reaction in the body that directly impacts our health. This reaction not only depends on what we eat, but more importantly on our individual gut environment and food processing capacity. Plus if you have never had your gut assessed, how can you tell what your dietary optimum is?
People may not relate chronic conditions to nutrition, yet it is food that provides the raw materials needed to build cells, muscles, organs, hormones, neurotransmitters etc. In other words, the body can only manufacture these from the building blocks of food. And in order for this to happen, the nutrients must be extracted and absorbed. After all, we’re not so much what we eat but what we can absorb and what our gut can convert into beneficial or toxic substances. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to focus on nutrition as the key driver in creating good health and preventing disease.
What is Functional Nutritional Therapy?
It is an evidence-based approach that focusses on food to address clinical imbalances (dysfunctions). Advanced nutritional assessment, testing and thorough health history gathering leading to a comprehensive therapeutic plan.
Functional Nutritional Therapy is where ancient medicine and the latest research in health sciences meet. It looks at health in a holistic way, e.g. how tiredness and hormonal issues can be linked to blood sugar imbalance or how your digestive system can affect your thyroid. Underlying causes are then addressed with personalised dietary interventions.
What does ‘functional’ mean?
The term pertains to ‘function’ or ‘dysfunction’ in the body regardless of diagnosis. A functional disorder is a medical condition that impairs normal functioning of bodily processes that remain largely undetected under conventional examination. Signs and symptoms can be non-specific, therefore cannot be tagged with a medical label. But that doesn’t make them less important to treat. For example, fasting blood glucose may be within the clinical range, yet the person clearly expresses symptoms of insulin resistance. Functional medicine aims to catch these symptoms in time.
Functional Nutritional Therapy can support the following:
- Allergies and intolerances
- Digestive problems (abdominal pain, bloating, Chrohn’s, constipation, diarrhoea, gas, heartburn, Helicobacter Pylori, ulcerative colitis, ulcers)
- Anxiety, depression, low mood, neurodegeneration, poor concentration
- Addictions, compulsions, obsessions
- Eating disorders
- Low energy
- Respiratory issues like asthma, chronic cough, hay fever
- Cardiovascular issues
- Headaches and migraines
- Diabetes, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome
- Fibromyalgia and chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome
- Degenerative arthritis
- Autoimmune conditions (Celiac, Crohn’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Hashimoto Thyroditis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.)
- Recurring infections (herpes simplex, cystitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis)
- Skin conditions: (flaky scalp, rashes, cracks, athlete’s foot, acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, facial hair and balding in females)
- Underactive and overactive thyroid
- Hormonal matters (PMS, PCO, PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis, symptoms of menopause)
- Fertility
- Pregnancy
- Children’s health (immunity, picky eating, glue ear, behavioural issues)
- Recurring injuries
- Weight management
One man’s meat is another man’s poison
The nutritional needs of a healthy person and someone who is unwell are different. Even if a food is considered healthy, it may not suit one’s physiology. E.g. nuts and seeds can induce a flare up of ulcerative colitis, whole grains can spike blood sugar, and raw vegetables can contribute to the symptoms of IBS. Therapeutic plans are formulated specifically for those who want to address specific issues, which often means different recommendations than the traditional nutritional guidelines for the general public.
Welcome to GLOW
At GLOW, I put on a detective’s hat and investigate various health concerns which can successfully be supported with functional nutritional therapy and lifestyle medicine. The cornerstone of my work is uncovering and addressing the underlying causes. The purpose of the initial consultation is to get to know you, understand your priorities, symptoms and health history. Based on the information I have gathered, I formulate a plan for you and help you implement the changes with a big dose of encouragement and motivation.
The seven potential core imbalances that I investigate are as follows:
- Assimilation: digestion, absorption, respiration and the gut microbiome
- Defence & repair: immunity, inflammation and infections
- Energy: energy regulation and mitochondrial function
- Biotransformation & elimination: detoxification
- Transport: cardiovascular and lymphatic systems
- Communication: neurotransmitters, endocrine, and immune messengers
- Structural integrity: subcellular membranes to musculoskeletal structure
Maya Flynn – dip NT, cert GAPS
Fuctional Nutritional Therapy & Lifestyle Medicine
I take online appointments from any location, and yacht and villa visits are also available.
For more details, visit my website at www.welcometoglow.com
Should you wish to make an appointment, please email me at contact@welcometoglow.com
