Posts

Functional Nutrition Therapy: Your Path to Vibrant Health

Functional Nutrition Therapy isn’t a fad. It’s a timeless, powerful approach to health used for  thousands of years. Ancestral humans have understood that the food we eat has the power to fuel our bodies and minds, and supports long-lasting vitality. But in the last century food was industrialized, we lost that connection.

The good news? You can reconnect.

Functional Nutrition Therapy empowers you to take control of your health. By understanding how your body responds to the foods you eat and how your lifestyle choices impact your well-being, you can unlock a new level of health and energy.

A Personalized Approach to Health

As a Functional Nutrition Therapy Practitioner (FNTP), I take the time to truly listen to your unique story. We’ll look at your history and how factors like genetics, environment, and lifestyle have shaped your current health. Together, we’ll uncover the root causes of any imbalances and create a tailored plan that works for you—one that supports your natural vitality and long-term wellness.

At the heart of Functional NutritionTherapy is the belief that you have the power to heal by reconnecting with the wisdom of your own body and nourishing it with the right foods. It’s not just about eating; it’s about eating in a way that supports your unique health needs.

The Five Foundations of Health

The key to lasting wellness lies in balancing the five core pillars of health:

  1. Digestion and Gut Health
  2. Blood Sugar Regulation
  3. Fatty Acid Balance
  4. Stress Resilience
  5. Sleep Practice

When these pillars are in balance, your body can return to its natural state of health. Nutritional Therapy works to bring your body’s chemistry into harmony by focusing on nutrient-dense foods that support these foundations. It’s about restoring balance, so you can feel vibrant, clear-headed, and energized.

Your Bio-Individuality: The Secret to Lasting Health

Every person is unique. Your body’s nutritional needs are shaped by your genetics, lifestyle choices, environment, and more. This is called bio-individuality, and it’s the cornerstone of Functional Nutritional Therapy.

By honoring your unique needs and providing personalized nutritional guidance, we can support your body’s ability to heal, grow stronger, and thrive. No one-size-fits-all solutions here—only what works for you.

Transform Your Health—For Good

The modern diet can contribute to a range of imbalances. But Functional Nutritional Therapy can help reverse the negative effects and correct nutritional deficiencies.

It’s not about diagnosing or treating disease—it’s about empowering you to balance your body, nurture your mind, and protect your health for the long term.

Are You Ready to Feel Your Best?

Here are some signs that it’s time to take a deeper look at your nutrition and lifestyle:

  • Lack of energy or feeling wired and tired. Constant fatigue or hyperactivity is not normal and can be a sign of nutritional imbalance.
  • Frequent illness, headaches, or disrupted sleep. These are clear indicators that your body is out of sync.
  • Digestive issues. Bloating, gassiness, heartburn, or irregular bowel movements are all signs that your digestive system is asking for help.
  • Blood sugar imbalances. High cholesterol, hypertension, and blood sugar issues (like pre-diabetes or diabetes) can be reversed with proper nutrition.
  • Weight concerns. Whether you’re underweight or overweight, your body may not be getting the right balance of nutrients.
  • Mental fog or emotional stress. Anxiety, irritability, depression, brain fog, or memory issues often point to nutritional deficiencies or imbalances.
  • Chronic skin issues. Skin problems like acne or eczema can be linked to internal imbalances, and real food can help address the root cause.
  • Autoimmune conditions. When your immune system attacks itself, it’s a signal that your body needs support and healing.

A Comprehensive Plan for Lasting Wellness

Functional Nutritional Therapy is not a quick fix. It’s a holistic, empowering journey toward lasting health. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan that includes:

  • Nutrition guidelines designed specifically for your bio-individual needs
  • Coaching to help you adopt a nutrient-dense, real food diet
  • Recommendations on which foods and habits to avoid for optimal health
  • Guidance on stress management, including building resilience to stress—an essential pillar of brain health
  • Support for better sleep, rest, and relaxation, which are foundational for healing and energy
  • Daily movement to keep your body strong, healthy, and vibrant

Take the First Step Toward a Healthier You

If you’re ready to stop settling for feeling “okay” and start thriving, Functional NutritionTherapy is the right approach for you. Together, we’ll help you feel your best—today and for years to come.

Updated January 2025.Originally posted February 2021

Seeds of this Blog

Does food affect our brain? How does what we eat affect our health? Those questions are the seeds that have grown the content of colormyfood. They’re the cornerstone of my eating lifestyle and why I cook the way I do.

My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2008. This disease causes the brain to stop producing dopamine (a neurotransmitter) that helps regulate movement and ultimately affects common daily activities.

After going through shock, denial and grief, I launched into an all-out effort to learn about Parkinson’s, its prognosis and treatment. My dad is my friend and mentor. His life is the stuff books are written about and movies are made of — fighting the Communists at the height of the Cold War when Cuba sent Che Guevara into Bolivia to overthrow the government and use our country as the base for the Communist take over of all of Latin America. My childhood was interspersed with dad going into hiding because there was a price on his head for planning revolution, a brief exile, a bomb thrown at our house until finally after tremendous sacrifice, the tide turned and in 1979 my dad became an architect of Bolivia’s democracy. He served as Congressman, Senator and Ambassador in his passion for building a better country. But that’s a different story.

Back to Parkinson’s; we found a world-renowned Parkinson’s expert in Houston and for the next 7 years, my dad followed Dr. X’s prescriptions of continuously increased dosage. Every checkup, I asked if nutrition mattered. The doctor’s only diet recommendation was to reduce animal protein because it interferes with the absorption of Parkinson’s medications.

My blind faith in the world-renowned expert eroded as I witnessed my athletic, handsome father’s brisk walk convert to a shuffling gait, his hands freeze and handicap his ability to use his beloved camera or the computer so instrumental to his prolific writing. Reaching beyond “what the doctor said”, we sought additional alternatives: consistent exercise, physical therapy, acupuncture, and yes — food.

The more I researched, the more I kicked myself for not doing so earlier. Obviously diet has a direct impact on our health. Duh. But what I didn’t know is how much diet can impact the health of our brain.

I wish I knew in 2008 what I now know. Would it have made a difference in the progression of my father’s disease? I’ll never know. But I do believe what I’ve learned can help slow further progression. I have faith it will help my brain’s health. And I’m keenly motivated to share what I’ve learned with hope it may help others.

I’ve chewed through more books than I can recall, spent innumerous hours on the Internet seeking and digesting credible information and made endless notes.

Now I’m streamlining what I’ve learned into weekly blog posts on food and health.

Join me on this empowering discovery of food as a path to wellness. Jump in with your own experiences and lessons learned, with your questions or comments.

And on colormyfood you’ll also find recipes to incorporate knowledge into what you eat.

Next week’s blog post will be on food and brain health.

For Further Empowerment

Dr. Hyman: 7 Steps to a Super Brain

Dr. Amen: 10 Steps to Brain Healthy Eating

Dr. Greger: Treating Parkinsons with Diet

Plant-based diets in general, and certain plant foods in particular, may be used to successfully treat Parkinson’s disease.

The Healthy Mind Cookbook

More than a cookbook of colorful, flavor-bursting recipes, this wonderful resource show us how nutritional and culinary science can help us to live healthier.