Imagine a situation where you have a health concern – say digestive issues are causing extreme discomfort, brain fog is affecting your personal and work life, or anxiety and depression are taking their toll. Your doctor or other care provider looks at the symptoms, matches them to a pre-determined diagnostic code, then prescribes the protocol medication(s). Maybe they recommend minor adjustments to diet or exercise. Sound familiar? This is your health getting the same treatment that works (at least on the surface) for 80% of those with similar symptoms. 

How – when each body is unique – does this address your unique self? Here’s when working with a Functional Nutrition Counselor can make a difference.

Known as the Pareto principle, the 80/20 rule means that “for many events, roughly 80% of the results come from 20% of the efforts made.” Now, to apply that definition to the health sector and typical treatment, if you’re one of the 80% that responds well to that 20% effort from traditional medical protocols, that’s awesome. If not, what do you do? Where do you turn for help with your health concern?

Flipping the 80/20 Rule in Your Favor

How listening to your whole self – body, diet, lifestyle, habits – will lead the way.

More and more, we hear of people who simply cannot find relief, much less healing. Maybe you see countless specialists, feel like a pincushion from pokes and blood tests, take meds that mess with your system, and still feel like crud. What needs to change? The approach.

Understand that your entire body system needs to be considered. And that’s what functional nutritionists do. We look at the whole body – not only the part that’s exhibiting the illness or discomfort. Going deeper to find the root cause of the problem, not simply tackling the symptom, is only one way the holistic practitioner goes beyond the 20% effort.

The bioindividualized healthcare approach.

As practitioners, we call this approach “bioindividualized” healthcare. It’s care that’s tailored to what’s going on with your body systems – and it’s far from a cookie-cutter solution.

That means that there isn’t one magic bullet that’s going to fix everything. Not one standalone supplement or one “superfood” will suddenly propel you to 100% holistic health. To believe that is to fall into the very path that brought you to see me in the first place – the one that relies on that old 80/20 rule.

For example, as someone who looks at what you put into your body from a holistic nutrition standpoint, I’m going to ask “Why” you feel the way you do. I’m also going to discuss your environment, activities, and more. And keep digging until we get to the root of the issue. 

When you work with me as a Functional Nutrition Counselor, our goal is to heal you, not just provide temporary relief. You’re an active participant in rebuilding your health. We begin with a free, no-risk, telephone discovery session, then build from there. Are you ready to not only feel temporarily better but to be in overall better health? Let’s get started! Call 425-449-6458 or email me via the website today.

Christopher Horan is a Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC) through the Functional Nutrition Alliance, as well as a longtime Certified Rolfer (CR). His practice offices are in Tacoma and Bellevue, Washington. Functional Nutrition counseling is offered via online video, as well.

Reference: Inspired by “Field Guide to Functional Nutrition” by the pioneering Andrea Nakayama, Functional Medicine Nutritionist, Educator, and Speaker. 

“Health is Wealth.” I’ve always liked that quote because it’s true. As a Rolfer, and now as a certified Functional Nutrition Counselor, I’m really internalizing the concept. And a number of my Rolfing clients are asking a lot of questions about Functional Nutrition and want to dive in (thank you!). Let’s explore some of the essential framework, in hopes of driving more conversations with you – and potentially, counseling sessions in addition to our Rolfing work together.

First, know that your story is original. Unique. How you’ve come to feel the way you do, whether occasionally not-so-good or perpetually not-well, happened over time. As a different way of approaching healthcare, Functional Nutrition looks at the whole you. How you got where you are, and the way your body has responded. After all, we are not statistics – our thyroid number or blood count or cholesterol and so forth do not define our overall health. My job? To help uncover the source(s) of your dis-ease or illness. Of course, you have good ideas about that, but some things can hide from you, even in your own body. We’ll discover the root of the issue together.

Secondly, there is no magic pill. Would that there were! But only treating the symptom, or even an overarching symptom, dismisses the complexity of whatever health challenge you’re experiencing. Working with me as your Functional Nutrition Counselor will be a steady path, a process vs a cookie-cutter diagnosis. This goes back to #1: your story is original.

Thirdly, framework beats out formula every time. Again, because your story is unique, we need to understand the history and physiology that is yours alone. The functional nutrition framework hangs on a detailed intake form and associated tools that help draw the picture of your specific situation. We meet, discuss the answers, delve deeply into the why, where, when, and how, and then create an accurate representation.

Now, we examine the evidence. Not the typically touted evidence that’s based on what works for 80% of the population, but your evidence in your situation. For instance, almond butter upsets your stomach but every single dietary formula you’ve ever followed says it’s great. But it’s not for you. We’ll look at the evidence and its answers that help map your personal path to whole health.

Lastly, ideal health is not a fixed situation. You don’t reach it and just hang out there. (Although that would be way cool.) We’re all constantly responding to our situation. One day our life is cruising along, minimal bumps, feeling healthy, steady, and good. The day after, not so much. Health, like life, is dynamic. It changes all the time – and that’s a good thing! In Functional Medicine, this natural phenomena is known homeodynamics, our ongoing response to food, rest, and physiological changes (hormones, etc.).

Essentially, Functional Medicine is specific to you.

It’s a personalized, holistic approach. Unlike traditional Western medicine, it’s not an A-to-B quick fix, but a deeper dive into your needs. As your Functional Nutrition Counselor, I’ll uncover and help to resolve your chronic illness much like as your Rolfer, I uncover and resolve your pain source.

Christopher Horan is a Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC) through the Functional Nutrition Alliance, as well as a longtime Certified Rolfer. His practice offices are in Tacoma and Bellevue, Washington.

Source: paraphrased from Functional Nutrition 101 by Andrea Nakayama, FNLP, MSN, CNC, CNE, CHHC, founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance.