About Me
How I came to find Functional Nutritional Therapy
Like many others, my journey into the field of nutrition and health began with my own health challenges. Acne, puffiness, digestive issues and general inflammation in my early teens were a constant struggle, and I was desperate for change, yet the pills and prescriptions the modern health system offered seemed to get me nowhere, often creating further issues.
This led me to try alternate health avenues, taking an overall more holistic approach to wellness.
My parents and upbringing largely influenced me to go down the holistic health path as we have always been skeptical and generally veered away from mainstream ideas. My mum specifically has utilised alternate health modalities while trying to support her own health, especially in preparation for pregnancy. Proper nutrition with wholefoods was a key factor and played a significant role in improving her health and fertility.
This is primarily what inspired me to utilise nutrition to support my own health. The relief from my past symptoms and overall improved quality of life made me eager to continue learning more about the holistic health space, especially the incredible, and often overlooked, impact of nutrition.
With some research, I came across the NTA (Nutritional Therapy Association), whose values in health and nutrition deeply resonated, and through their online course became a diploma-certified FNTP.
My intention as a practitioner
I would love to help others on their own journeys towards achieving true health and vitality and breaking free from hindering symptoms.
I understand this frustration and the feelings of helplessness and confusion when it comes to finding a solution. Though we have access to so much information nowadays, it can be very overwhelming and hard to decipher what the ‘right’ thing is to do.
However, the truth is that each individual is unique, and what works for someone else may not work for you. I want to help you achieve real, long-term results by working with your body, not against it, using nutrition and other strategies curated for you.
In the big scheme of things, my hope is that I can contribute to creating a healthier community that will share their stories, passing on their knowledge and creating a ripple effect on society today, therefore improving the livelihoods of future generations.
The importance of nourishing food and how FNTP’s use it to support health
Nourishing food can be traced back thousands and thousands of generations.
Nutrient dense, seasonal, locally sourced, properly prepared, minimally processed foods were the basis of our hunter-gatherer ancestors' diets. They shared a deep connection to their food, environment and each other, living largely free from disease.
Today, however, we find ourselves in a highly industrialised predicament where people are less healthy and more disconnected than ever before. Our ancestors did not experience the same degree of widespread diseases we see today, including diabetes, cancer, obesity and heart disease, among others. These are now commonly referred to as ‘Diseases of Civilization.’
These ‘Diseases of Civilization’ do not have to be our fate; our behaviours and environment can change the expression of our genes. This can be defined by the term epigenetics. Our genes are like the blueprint, while epigenetics is the contractor. By changing how we eat and live by providing our bodies with the right nutrients and care the way we did traditionally, we can change this genetic expression to work in our favor, and that of future generations.
As stated in Nourishing Traditions (Fallon, 1999) “With traditions forgotten, the tool that allows modern men and women to regain their health and vitality is knowledge-knowledge of the fruits of honest scientific inquiry as well as renewed familiarity with culinary customs of the past.”
Through understanding the structure and function of our bodies, we know that our food provides us with the nutrients necessary to sustain life. But beyond just the physical aspect of eating food to survive and be healthy, FNTP’s also consider the importance of having a meaningful and deep connection to our food that allows us to truly appreciate it, allowing our whole being to thrive.
Slow down, take a deep breath and express gratitude for nourishing food that has been lovingly prepared. As simple as it seems, it makes a world of difference.
FNTP’s are also all about the ‘why’ as well as bio-individuality, looking at what each individual body needs, as there is no one-size-fits-all. Instead of the modern-day allopathic approach, where band aid solutions are given to treat a symptom, we work holistically, prioritising balance of the foundations of health, as well as searching for the root cause of an issue.
Through utilising the right tools and our knowledge of nourishing food and traditions, FNTP’s strive to help our bodies and communities to thrive, sowing seeds of change towards creating a better world.
References:
-Fallon, 1999, Nourishing Traditions.
