Do you ignore the messages your body is giving you?
Do you put up with niggling health issues, thinking they’re normal? Things like:
bloating and/or abdominal pain;
belching after eating;
diarrhea or constipation;
sugar cravings;
skin issues;
joint pain and/or stiffness; and
feeling less energised than you would like?
Although it may be common for people to experience one or more of these issues, it’s not normal at all. The body uses these symptoms to tell us that something is wrong. If we listen to these important messages instead of ignoring them and soldiering on, we can often restore proper function to our body’s systems and prevent more serious health issues from developing in the future.
Using over the counter or prescription medication to suppress symptoms may offer relief in the short-term, but generally don’t address the root cause and therefore won’t facilitate true healing. Long-term use of medications may also contribute to further health issues down the line.
Taking the time to really understand your individual symptoms gives us clues about what systems are out of balance and what nutrients are needed to bring the body back into balance. Addressing the "Foundations" – nutrition, digestion, blood sugar regulation, fatty acid balance, mineral need and hydration – can have a huge impact on bodily function and how well you feel as a result.
A nutrient-dense, whole foods diet that is tailored to the individual, is always at the core of any effective healing protocol. Like it or not, you can’t supplement your way out of a bad diet.
Unfortunately, simply improving your diet is quite often not enough. You will have heard of the saying, “you are what you eat”. However, it’s more accurate to say that “you are what you eat, digest and can actually absorb”. All too often, our digestive function is compromised, meaning that we don’t get the full benefit of the nutrients we are eating.
So how do we know if digestion is compromised? The gold standard in assessment tools is to use specific laboratory testing, such as the Complete Microbiome Mapping and the ALCAT (food sensitivities) tests, to provide objective information to assess the following questions:
Is digestion compromised?
Are pathogens present?
How healthy is the microbiome?
The information gained from these lab tests and other clinical tools can then be used to craft healing protocols that address the specific needs of the individual. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to health!
Working with a functional nutritional therapy practitioner can help you ensure you have the building blocks necessary to rebuild your health from the “ground up”.