First, let’s clarify some vocabulary. “Integrative medicine” and “functional medicine” can be used interchangeably. Some organizations and individuals use “integrative and functional medicine”. It’s really a matter of preference.
So, what is it, exactly? On the surface, integrative or functional medicine is an approach to practicing healthcare that essentially bridges the gap between Western medicine and alternative medicine. This approach is predominantly used to address chronic illnesses more so than acute problems, like a broken bone or the flu. Several core values of integrative medicine make it unique and effective.
Core values of integrative medicine:
- Patient-centered: the patient is a key member of the healthcare team and a partner with their healthcare provider in achieving health and wellness. Treatments are individualized to each specific patient.
- Evidence-based use of both conventional and alternative healing practices, based on the patient’s individual needs. Integrative medicine emphasizes natural and minimally invasive treatments when appropriate to support the body’s ability to self-heal and maintain longterm wellness.
- Systems-biology: The body is not made of isolated compartments but rather a complex network of interconnected systems. Integrative medicine looks at the whole person – genetics, digestion, metabolism, lifestyle, environment, and more. It’s all connected.
- Holistic: Mind, body, spirit – Health is more than just physical symptoms. It is influenced by our beliefs, mental state, social interactions, stress levels, environment, and more.
- Addressing the root causes of poor health: As Dr. Mark Hyman likes to say, “Depression is not a Prozac deficiency.” Integrative medicine asks “why?” and digs deep to address core imbalances that may be contributing to illness. Poor gut health? Nutrient insufficiencies? Exposure to environmental toxins? Genetics? All of the above? Integrative therapies focus on treating those deeper problems to bring the body back to a state of wellness.
It’s worth noting that integrative healthcare doesn’t work unless the patient is willing to participate. Integrative medicine places a huge (well-warranted) emphasis on nutrition and lifestyle. These require much more effort on the patient’s part than popping a pill every morning. This is one of many reasons why it’s so important to view the dietitian-patient relationship as a partnership.
Check out these videos by Dr. Mark Hyman that explain the difference between integrative/functional and conventional medicine.
This first video is short and sweet:
This Ted Talk is a little longer:
So, what does an integrative dietitian do?
As you might guess, nutrition is a core component to integrative medicine. You really can’t have a body that functions well without good nutrition. What we eat can have significant impacts on our bodies, both short and long-term, in everything from digestive health to hormonal balance to auto-immune disease and headaches.
An integrative dietitian works with patients to remove or reduce foods that may be causing damage (i.e. promoting imbalances in the gut microbiome, contributing to inflammation, increasing oxidative stress, promoting poor blood sugar regulation, and more). We help patients implement eating patterns that promote balance and health.
Overall healthy eating (lots of veggies!) is important, but that alone may not be enough to address some chronic health problems. An integrative dietitian can use targeted nutrient therapy to give the body the specific boosts it needs to come back into balance. For example, if you’re low in selenium, you might need to eat more brazil nuts. If your hormones are imbalanced, you may need to eat more cruciferous vegetables and flax seeds. You may need dietary supplements like fish oil or vitamin D. This is all based on an in-depth assessment of your nutrition and health, based on a detailed health history, labs, genetics, symptoms, and lifestyle.
Here’s a video from Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (DIFM) that explains what integrative and functional dietitians do:
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