Welcome to functional medicine 411 where we focus on prevention, healing and empowerment to help you take control of your own health. After more than 25 years as a cancer expert, I have dedicated myself to helping prevent health problems from happening.
I have experienced first-hand the difficulty of balancing work, family, and health. Years ago, I was deeply involved in my medical practice. I cared for cancer patients and helped them recover. As I approached my fifties, I began to notice that my health was deteriorating. My blood pressure began to rise, I gained weight, and my general health was in a downward spiral. As many others, I was guilty of prioritizing my work over my health. It was having a negative impact on me.
When I discovered Functional Medicine.
From Cancer Care to Prevention of Health
As I sought to improve my health, my journey into Functional Medicine began. My extensive experience in allopathic medicine, the model for diagnosing and treating diseases, prepared me to deal with acute medical problems. But I quickly realized that the best way to maintain health was not just to treat illness when it occurs, but also by preventing it.
Functional medicine is an approach centered on the patient that focuses primarily on identifying and treating the root causes of diseases. Functional Medicine does not just treat symptoms. It looks at diet, lifestyle factors, genetics and the environment to see how they affect a person’s health. This holistic approach can prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Preventive Medicine: Its Importance in Medicine
Functional Medicine is based on prevention. As a cancer expert, I’ve seen the damaging effects of neglecting preventive care and poor health management. The lifestyle and other factors that can cause many of the conditions and diseases we treat today, from heart disease and diabetes to cancer, are often to blame.
Diabetes, for example, is usually diagnosed only after the body has suffered significant damage. The disease is usually too advanced to treat effectively and it becomes expensive. Functional Medicine, however, focuses on downstream prevention – identifying and treating early signs of illness before a formal diagnoses is made. This approach can stop the progression diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and chronic inflammation.
Functional Medicine: An Integrated Approach to Wellness
Functional Medicine doesn’t only focus on preventing diseases. It’s all about optimizing your life so that you can lead a healthy, happy one. Functional Medicine offers a personalized approach to wellness that addresses nutrition, exercise and mental health.
As I continued to study at the Institute for Functional Medicine I began incorporating tools such as Intermittent Fasting, Low-Carbohydrate Diets, and targeted nutrition interventions into my life. These methods helped me overcome my health challenges including digestive issues such as acid reflux. I felt the benefits almost instantly. What began as a personal experience soon turned into a passion to help others achieve similar success.
Functional medicine also stresses the importance of gut-health. The digestive system is a key component of overall health. It influences everything from immunity to mental clarity. We can improve our health by focusing on the food we eat.
Why choose Functional Medicine?
You are not only treating symptoms when you work with me, at functional medicine 411. Instead, you are addressing core issues that cause illness and discomfort. Functional Medicine considers the entire person, including genetics, lifestyle and environment, to develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
This method is especially effective in treating chronic conditions like:
- Diabetes : Early detection of diabetes and lifestyle changes can help prevent it from progressing.
- Heart Disease Functional Medicine emphasizes nutrition and exercise to maintain cardiovascular health.
- Chronic inflammation : By addressing the issue early on, we can avoid a number of health problems from developing.
- Cancer Prevention : Functional Medicine, through a combination targeted therapies and lifestyle modifications can reduce or eliminate the risk of cancer.
Progress in Functional Medicine
I am excited to be a part of the next generation of medicine, one that empowers people to take charge of their own health. My goal at functional medicine 411 is to prevent illness from occurring. You can improve your health and reduce your risk of illness with the right tools and education.
Remember, a pound saved by prevention is worth a pound spent on cure . Join me in this journey to better health and wellbeing. Together, we can develop a plan for you that will keep you healthy and thriving in the years to come.