What is Functional Nutrition?
Functional nutrition is an integrative, systems-oriented approach that considers the impact of diet and lifestyle on overall health. This practice focuses on food, sleep, lifestyle, stress management, mind-body considerations, genetic factors, environment, and potential root cause issues. All of these factors have a significant influence on wellness and can be optimized specifically to support mental health. In this approach, food is more than a source of fuel and pleasure. It can be leveraged as a tool to address imbalances and build ongoing physical, mental, and emotional health. This is an optional service that is available as part of your counseling therapy. Not everyone wants or needs to incorporate a functional nutrition plan, but it can be an effective support tool when talk therapy alone is not enough to access desired results.
How Nutrition Impacts Mental Health
There are many factors that influence mental health including genetic predisposition, environment, developmental history, family and social contexts, life experiences, chronic stressors, and lifestyle. An often-overlooked factor that can impact or exacerbate mental health functioning is nutrition. When this is out of balance or deficient, the systems of the body can work less efficiently, including systems involved in cognitive and emotional regulation. Nutrients in the foods we eat directly modulate a range of different physical processes including brain functioning, hormones, mood regulation, and energy levels. In the psychotherapy world, a lot of emphasis is placed on a one-directional view of how thoughts and emotions impact physical health. However, the systems of the body are fully bi-directional. Therefore, it is also important to consider how our physiology and current state of physical health directly impacts our thoughts and emotions. Mental health is not cut off from the rest of the body. It is interconnected with physical health, and it can be optimized and supported by restoring the body’s balance.
