about Functional medicine & NUTRITION
Heal your gut, reduce inflammation and balance hormones
At Apto Physical Therapy we believe body function and health are dependent upon appropriate nutrition. Your provider will take a functional approach to improving your health by addressing the root cause of your illness and considering how food and lifestyle factors are affecting the physiology of your body systems.
Functional medicine is an approach to health and wellness that focuses on the relationship between diet, lifestyle and overall health, with an emphasis on addressing the underlying causes of imbalances or health issues. It recognizes that each person is unique, and nutrition plays a pivotal role in optimizing one’s well-being.
Unlike conventional nutrition, which often focuses on individual nutrients or macronutrients, functional nutrition takes a more comprehensive and holistic view. It considers factors such as genetics, lifestyle, environment, and personal health history to develop personalized nutrition plans.
Your provider will aim to identify and address imbalances within the body that may contribute to health problems. They view the body as an interconnected system, with various organs and systems influencing each other's function. For example, they may consider the impact of gut health on immune function, hormonal balance, and inflammation.
The process of functional medicine involves a thorough assessment of your individual health history, current symptoms, dietary habits, and lifestyle factors. This information is used to identify potential root causes of health issues, rather than merely treating symptoms. Functional providers often use tools like detailed questionnaires, laboratory tests, and specialized assessments to gain deeper insights into your unique biochemistry and physiology.
Based on the assessment findings, a personalized nutrition and lifestyle plan is developed. This plan may include specific dietary recommendations, such as emphasizing whole, nutrient-dense foods and minimizing processed foods, while considering individual dietary preferences and restrictions. It may also involve targeted nutrient supplementation, lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, and other interventions tailored to your needs.
The goal of functional medicine coaching is to optimize the body's natural healing mechanisms, support proper nutrient absorption and utilization, and restore balance within the body. By addressing underlying imbalances and deficiencies, functional medicine aims to promote overall health, prevent chronic diseases, and improve specific health conditions.
Use of functional lab tests allow your provider to gain insights into your unique biochemistry, physiological imbalances, and potential underlying causes of health issues. These tests go beyond standard laboratory tests commonly performed in conventional medicine and provide a more comprehensive assessment of your health.
Functional medicine labs are designed to assess various aspects of health, including hormonal balance, digestive function, immune system health, detoxification capacity, and inflammatory markers, among others. These tests help identify potential imbalances or dysfunctions that may be contributing to an individual's health concerns.
Some common types of functional medicine labs include:
Hormone Testing: These tests evaluate hormonal balance, including sex hormones, thyroid hormones, adrenal hormones (such as cortisol), and insulin levels. They can help identify imbalances related to reproductive health, metabolism, energy levels, stress response, and other hormonal functions.
Gut Health Assessment: Tests for gut health assess the composition of the gut microbiome, identify the presence of pathogenic bacteria or parasites, evaluate gut permeability, and measure markers of inflammation in the digestive system. These tests are crucial for understanding the role of gut health in overall well-being, as imbalances in the gut can impact digestion, immune function, and systemic inflammation.
Food Sensitivity Testing: These tests identify food intolerances or sensitivities by measuring specific immune markers or antibodies in response to certain foods. They can help identify trigger foods that may be contributing to symptoms such as bloating, headaches, skin issues, or digestive disturbances.
Comprehensive blood work: This panel includes tests that assess organ function, such as liver and kidney function, blood glucose levels, electrolyte balance, and indicators of metabolic health. Comprehensive blood work also assesses levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fatty acids in the blood to help identify deficiency. This panel measures cholesterol levels, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. It provides information about cardiovascular health and lipid metabolism. This panel also measures markers of systemic inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or pro-inflammatory cytokines. Comprehensive blood work also detects specific antibodies associated with autoimmune diseases and measures the levels of red and white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin, which helps to identify conditions such as anemia, infection, or immune system dysfunction.
Functional medicine labs are part of a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing the root causes of health issues, helping individuals optimize their health, prevent chronic diseases, and support overall well-being.
It's worth noting that functional medicine coaching is a complementary approach that can work alongside conventional medical treatments. It does not replace medical interventions but rather seeks to enhance overall health and well-being through a comprehensive understanding of nutrition and its impact on the body's functioning.
*Please note that we do not diagnose or treat illness.