Fundamental principles of Nutritional Therapy Practice
In recent times modern society has been experiencing a sharp increase in the number of people who suffer from complex chronic conditions (1,2). Medicine systems are mainly orientated toward acute care, concentrating on diagnosis and treatment of trauma and acute illnesses by applying surgical and pharmacological interventions.
In their paper on chronic disease, Ruth DeBusk (3) state:
“Primary care training continues to be hospital-based and focused on acute care, yet today’s chronic disease patients are mostly community-based and struggling with multiple conditions (comorbidities). The acute care model is limited by its focus on organ dysfunction rather than being the whole person centred.”
To address this situation, a new approach known as Integrated Healthcare has been developed. This can be described as the combination of a range of therapies which take into account patient emotions and environment, as well as the use of conventional medicine, complementary therapies and lifestyle changes. The Integrated Healthcare approach is grounded in scientific evidence and concentrates on health and prevention of disease (4).
Similar to this approach, the Functional Medicine Model has been developed to address the underlying causes of disease, and to be able to establish therapeutic partnerships between patient and practitioner.
Functional Medicine is patient-centred and focuses on the whole person: mind, body and spirit. It takes into account a patient’s lifestyle, environment, genetics and emotions. The importance of biochemical individuality is one of its core principles, that is, acknowledging that each particular person has unique genetics and environmental needs. Functional Medicine aims to promote health, rather than concentrate on disease and symptoms alone. Likewise, health is seen as a positive vitality, not just the absence of illness. Practitioners of Functional Medicine take into account both integral and external factors that affect total body functioning and need to be familiar with the web-like interconnections of internal physiological factors. An organ reserve is promoted to enhance health span of each patient.
Nutrition is a key element of Functional Medicine’s treatment protocol. When food becomes energy, structural integrity is maintained, waste is eliminated, defence against invaders is mounted and nutrients are transported through the body, then health is achieved. However, when problems arise in the system, we experience clinical imbalances that may cross many different organ systems, resulting in poor health. Diagnostic testing needs to be undertaken to enable practitioners to identify these core clinical imbalances which can often be detectable long before the disease is diagnosable (5,6).
Nutritional Therapy has roots in naturopathy and is strongly supported by scientific findings. There is increasing supportive research in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology; however, when considering nutritional input for human health we need to take into account other key factors such as environmental and sociological influences. Social sciences like psychology, sociology, anthropology and economics help to explain what people choose to eat, and why they make those choices, even if they have been advised not to do so for health reasons.
There are two main areas of research in nutrition. One of them is essential nutrients: what they are, how they work in a body and from which food they can be obtained. Another area of study examines the possible delay or prevention of chronic degenerative conditions through a change of diet. Although there is a growing body of research in biological nutrition, more extensive study is needed in response to the increased awareness of connections between nutrition, food habits and diseases.
Holistic approaches enable us to address the unique genetic and environmental needs of each individual. In response to the increase of chronic conditions in modern society, we need to develop not only therapeutic but also prevention orientated models of healthcare. Nutritional Therapy as evidence-based practice, in conjunction with the Functional Medicine Model, plays an important role in addressing these issues.
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1.WHO 2013. Non-communicable diseases. Fact sheet. [Online]. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs355/en/index.html
2. KENNY, M.A., 2010. Chronic disease figures to increase by 2020. Irish Medical Times, 44(12), pp. 3-7.
3. DEBUSK, R., SIERPINA, V.S. and KREITZER, M.J., 2011. Applying Functional Nutrition for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management: Bridging Nutrition and Functional Medicine in 21st Century Healthcare. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing, 7(1), pp. 55-57.
4. REES, L. and WEIL, A., 2001. Integrated Medicine: Imbues Orthodox Medicine With The Values Of Complementary Medicine. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 322(7279), pp. 119-120.
5. BLAND J. S. , LEVIN B. , COSTARELLA L., LISKA D., LUKACZER D. , SCHILTZ B. , SCHMIDT M. , LERMAN R. , JONES D., 2004. Nutrition: A Functional Clinical Approach, 2nd edn., Gig Harbor, Washington: Institute of Functional Medicine.
6. INSTITUTE OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE 2014. What is Functional Medicine? [Online]. Available at: http://www.functionalmedicine.org/about/whatisfm/
* DISCLAIMER: The content of this article is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in any media published by myself.
