What is Functional Medicine?
Is your “check engine” light on? Our cars have a nifty way of telling us that they need attention by having a light that comes on to nudge us to bring the car in. In our bodies, we may also have signs that we need some attention. Those signs can be inflammation, chronic stress, thyroid problems, pre-diabetes, weight gain and/or chronic pain.
So let’s say you take yourself to the doctor. The doc may order some labs, do some bloodwork, ask you to watch your diet more carefully, or prescribe a pill. Will that path lead to getting to the root cause of the problem?
Diet and lifestyle factors are not addressed by general practitioners, in general. This does not mean that general practitioners don’t have our best interest in mind: they just have not been taught nutrition and lifestyle factors in their schooling. They are hustling between patients and simply do not have time to dig into all these areas. The course of action, generally, is a metaphoric bandaid to the problem, which is called symptom treatment.
I heard about Functional Medicine years ago. I am a restaurant trained chef, and have always lived a healthy, active lifestyle. When the term Functional Medicine entered my world, I became deeply inspired. Functional Medicine looks at how our bodies are functioning, and looks to root cause treatment, rather than symptom treatment.
For example, if you have stomach issues such as Gerd, IBS or acid reflux (a whopping 30 percent of our nation has stomach issues), you will most likely be given a pill to help calm the symptoms. You may feel relief immediately - but when you opt to stop taking the pill, the symptoms are right back.
What about your diet? Could fried foods, too much gluten, sugar, or not enough vegetables all play a part in your stomach issues? What would happen if the diet was looked at (first) and changes were made?
Lifestyle factors also come into play with our health issues. If people are not getting enough rest, if the stress level is too high, if they are not hydrating enough, if they are not eating the right balance of healthy foods… All of these factors cannot be overlooked!
I would like to say that we are more intricate, more delicately made than a car. We have an amazing brain, mind and will. Sometimes we get in our own way: we knowingly eat bad food, we don’t have a good exercise routine, we go to sleep with our phones in our hands.
Looking at life with an integrative approach, bringing in all the factors listed above, is the first best step. Have a good listen when your body’s “check engine” light is on. It most likely is due to many factors, not just one.
Janet Neustedter was raised in the Bay Area, in San Jose, CA. She moved to Tucson in 2002 with her family after her husband sold a business. She has been married for 32 years and has three grown children and 3 grandchildren.
The transition was to Tucson was bumpy for this native Californian, but she has adopted Tucson as her home! Janet loves to golf, hike, and exercise outdoors.
Janet worked in restaurants her whole life (with the exception of 10 years while raising her children)! She always made cooking a priority, and raised her children to be proficient in the kitchen. As she always has been active and healthy, her food has always reflected her passion for being healthy.
Her love for the outdoors and sports “landed” her in physical therapy after falling and breaking her shoulder on a bike ride. She very unexpectantly ended up being offered a job at the physical therapy office, and that started her path into the health care industry. She then went to work for a doctor in Tucson after 4 years at the physical therapy office. The doctor she worked for is a regenerative doctor, with specialization in functional medicine, and is a non-surgical orthopedic.
Hearing about Functional Medicine was a game-changer for Janet. Functional Medicine looks to the root cause of issues, rather than symptom treatment. It also looks at the relationship between food being a medicine, or food being a poison.
It was at that time she decided to get her health coaching certification and became a certified Functional Medicine Health Coach in 2018. Janet coaches’ people to reach their health goals, teaches cooking classes and helps people with pantry clean-outs! Janet is passionate about cooking, her family, golf and exercise!
You can find Janet at www.Here4Youhc.com FB at Here4You Health Coach, IG Here4You Coach, YouTube and LinkedIn.
