Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
What is it and why I chose this program
“There is no one-size fits all when it comes to optimal wellness for individuals”
When I started becoming more interested in functional nutrition and medicine, I knew I wanted to expand my knowledge even further. This meant working to acquire a certification or degree or some sort. I started researching and looking at the various types of programs for nutritional studies. Some of these being master’s programs in nutrition or dietician, the Integrated Institute of Nutrition (IIN), Nutritional Therapy Association (NTA), and other online certification programs/health coaches. I started researching about 2-3+ years prior to finally taking the plunge (I understand making big decisions often can take time!)
How and why did I decide on the NTA program to become a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner instead of the others? Well, for a couple reasons, but the first being the information and beliefs being taught. Since I was already very interested in the functional medicine and ancestral health realm of nutrition, I had my beliefs and some basic understanding of nutrition. I also knew I wanted to learn more of the science behind nutrition instead of just learning about different types of diet trends out there or the current, general government ‘MyPlate’ recommendations. I also wasn’t sure I wanted to commit to a full 2-3 year Master’s program and investing a lot of money with not being taught the nutrition information that I most aligned with. I wanted to really help people feel their best, who maybe have felt they have tried everything or have been let down by multiple health professionals already (overall feeling defeated or stuck). I want people to actually get to the possible root cause of their symptoms instead of just masking it with a bandaid-like treatment that is only temporary.
What is a Functional Nutritional Practitioner?
A functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) focuses on the 6 main foundations taught in the 9-month online program through the NTA. These 6 foundations include: Blood Sugar Regulation, Fatty Acids, Digestion, Hydration, Mineral balance, and a Nutrient Dense, whole-foods Diet. We went through extensive depth and information on each foundation to learn how they can relate to one another and may be the source of illness within the body if they aren’t being met. We also had plenty of practice with the material on ourselves and with partners to really learn how everyone has unique individual needs and different reactions to certain nutrients. Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner’s believe the body has the ability to heal itself when given the proper nutrients and environment.
Nutritional Therapy Association's foundational goal is to focus on nutrition that correlates with one's unique make-up and bio-individuality. The primary role of a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) is to empower individuals to become more knowledgeable about their own health by using nutrition and lifestyle interventions to reach optimal health and functioning. The guiding principles are to focus on the unique bio-individuality of each person by a food-first approach using ancestral wisdom and well-sourced research findings. The mission of NTA is to empower individuals, cultivate a community and heal the world by using these approaches and focusing on digestion, blood sugar, fatty acids, minerals and hydration.
As a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I will not just give you a blanket statement diet or recommendation to try. I will look at your specific lifestyle, stressors, dietary needs, possible short-term vitamins/supplemental needs and other unique factors that will best support your optimal health. You know best of what you experience on a day-to-day basis and may have specific health goals in mind, whether that is losing weight, digestion concerns, better sleep, struggling with blood sugar crashes, fatigue, less anxiety, conception, whatever the goal may be, we will always keep that as the main focus! I believe we all can work toward feeling better and toward better health - we just may not know how to yet. We can work together for one or two sessions, or over the course of a couple months depending on your distinct needs or goals.
What Does Working Together Look Like?
When we work together, I believe you are the most knowledgeable person when it comes to your body and how it functions. I will listen to current symptoms to get a baseline understanding of your most pressing concerns, in addition to your story of how you got to where you are now (whether that be different diets, beliefs about nutritional needs, fears, emotional struggles, work outs, family history, etc.). I will send you comprehensive paperwork to fill out prior to our first meeting that I will read over, highlight areas that stick out to me and ask additional questions before we get started with recommendations and actionable takeaways. We will work toward your specific health needs and goals to help you feeling better!
Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioners do not diagnose disease, but work with you to address nutritional needs that could help your symptoms. FNTP’s can be part of your healthcare team!
