Check out some facts about me, where it all started and learn more about what a Functional Nutritionist actually is.
I learned fairly early in my childhood the importance of eating healthy, nourishing food and that veggies were better for me than a cookie. I understood certain foods were nourishment for my body and others not so much. I can thank my mum for this, as she was always on top of the food side of things, allowing a treat only once I ate my veggies or had my fruit. In my teens I began to cut out added sugar and limit the consumption of processed foods. However at one point, I became underweight and lost my period. I burnt myself out by over doing cardio and obsessing over food. I even cut out nutrient dense foods like potatoes. This led to me losing my menstrual cycle for nearly a year. I went to multiple GPs who told me to go on the birth control pill to ‘regulate’ my period. I never felt comfortable with this, so I sought out a women’s health practitioner. She simply asked me to step on the scale. I was told I was underweight and she suggested gaining some weight to restore my menstrual cycle. No other doctor pointed out this simple fact! So I did just that. I used good quality, nutrient dense whole foods, especially fats in order to restore my period and provide the nourishment my body so desperately needed. You see when the body is missing out on nourishment, it’s survival instincts kick in and reproduction is the lowest priority on its list! I was depriving myself of enough nutrients throughout the day. Sometimes in order to heal, the body needs to gain weight and return to a place of safety. My body needed just that.
I have always had a passion for natural health because of my upbringing but I didn’t know enough, so I decided to study Functional Nutrition and become an FNTP. I wanted to share my passion for natural health and the idea of food as medicine and help empower as many people to take control of their health and thrive.
By using bio-individual nutrition and a root cause approach I can help you alleviate your health concerns such as fatigue, bloating, constipation, PMS, acne, anxiety, heartburn, weight loss or unexplained weight gain and so much more. Using food as medicine, along with other techniques can be so powerful to restoring balance in the body. I am passionate about helping you along your journey. I am still on my journey to truly healing my body through the use of nutrient dense foods, stress reduction and therapeutic supplements. So let’s go on this wonderful journey together. Your body is meant to heal from within.
Functional Nutritional Therapy is a foundational, holistic approach to wellness that focuses on supporting the body's natural healing processes through a properly prepared, nutrient dense, whole food diet and well balanced lifestyle. It centres on the individual needs and biochemistry of each person. Unlike traditional nutrition approaches that primarily focus on macronutrient and calorie intake, functional nutrition takes into account a person's medical history, symptoms, and lifestyle to develop a customised plan for optimal health. It acknowledges food is not simply a source of calories but also a powerful tool that can influence overall health and vitality. It considers the connection and interaction between various body systems and aims to identify deficiencies and imbalances within the body.
When the body becomes imbalanced and deficiencies arise, the first thing our body does is communicate with us through symptoms such as fatigue, bloating, weight gain, PMS, brain fog, heartburn, poor sleep, anxiety, constipation, the list goes on! The role of a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) is to look at the body from a whole, address imbalances and deficiencies, use bio individual nutrition focusing on nutrient dense whole foods and lifestyle modifications to support their client's journey to optimal health. This supports the body's ability to restore balance, supports optimal function and prevents disease. We do not heal you, we assist the body’s innate intelligence and ability to heal itself and as a result, you can thrive!
We can work together to investigate what these symptoms are signaling and address any dysfunction. The body is wonderful at communicating with us, we just need to listen.
Book in for a free 15min discovery call to see how you can get closer to understanding your body and achieving a ‘Thriving You’.
Working with an FNTP is a profound process, where you will begin to truly understand your body and learn to support its ability to heal. You can expect an extensive investigation into your current health status, health history, health goals and concerns. We take our time to really understand you. Prior to the initial consultation you will fill out:
In the last month of the 3 month package, you will have a session where we utilise what is called a Functional Clinical Assessment (FCA).
You will be asked to lay on your back on a massage table, and your Functional Nutritional Practitioner will request permission to touch you for the purposes of evaluation only. Using their knowledge of the innate connection between the nerve endings at skin level and the body's internal organs, your Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner will ask you to rate the level of tenderness as they palpate the reflex point*. Most reflex points are throughout the torso, on your abdomen and rib cage.
The aim is to understand which organs are under-functioning and contributing to your body's overall dysfunction, never to hurt you. Your Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner will encourage open communication at all times to ensure you are comfortable. If you are not comfortable with this part of the process, your Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner can simply just work with the information they have collected from the forms and initial interview and make general recommendations.
* Reflex points connect to the neuro-vascular and neuro-lymphatic pathways which surround every organ system in the body. When an organ is in stress, these pathways accumulate fluid around them (called venous or lymphatic congestion) to support healing. This congestion results in tenderness of the reflex point.