Why a Functional Nutritionist?

October 22, 2016 by Marla Leave a Comment

What is Functional Nutrition?

A leading-edge, evidence-based approach to health that focuses on identifying root causes and system imbalances to significantly improve patient health outcomes.

Sound complicated? Let’s simplify it.

A functional nutritionist looks at the whole person to discover the underlying root causes of symptoms. A functional nutritionist emphasizes real food, nutrient density AND food quality, as well as how that food promotes health. The role of a functional nutritionist is to focus on building health while helping to restore the body’s proper function and balance.

“Just how can a functional nutritionist help me?”

That question holds so much frustration and pain. Maybe you’re suffering from exhaustion, brain fog, blood sugar issues, chronic digestive issues, food sensitivities, or hormone imbalance. Yet despite all the doctors, despite all the miracle products and empty promises of super cures, you have not found relief. After all this time you’re on information overload and don’t know who you can trust. How can you know what information is true and what’s just snake oil? And more importantly, who can you trust to translate the information into sizeable bites that truly apply to your situation?

Here’s the good news! Your search has led you to me, Marla Evans, founder of Reclaimed Health. My story may be similar to yours.

My Story

What started in my late 20s as muscle tightness became, by my mid-30s, extreme fatigue and a host of other health concerns. At my worst I could barely even shower in the morning. I knew that I needed to take major steps to reclaim my health, but didn’t know where to turn. All the doctors did was prescribe medications that simply made my symptoms worse and all those “super juices” and supplements did nothing for me.

A misdiagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, with all the accompanying medications, propelled me into the world of natural health. I intuitively knew there was a way to control my symptoms with food and lifestyle changes.

As I began this journey, I investigated everything from Paleo to Weston A. Price to Raw Vegan. My research taught me how to clean up my diet and I started feeling better! I switched to non-toxic cosmetics, personal care products, cleaners and laundry detergents. I continued to improve.

And through this whole process, I also found that I had developed an abiding passion for teaching others and helping them find change.

I lost over 15 years of life to my poor health – I don’t want you to do the same.

I continued deepening my knowledge of the interaction between body and food by attending the Nutrition Therapy Institute and obtained my Master Nutrition Therapist designation.

I haven’t limited myself to Google searches and guesses. I have invested in working with experts, professionals, and attending in-depth educational programs so that I can bring you the best practices and most current knowledge in the field.

As a result of my training and my journey, I am able to guide you out of information overload, help you find answers, and help you develop an action plan geared to your individual needs.

How Can a Functional Nutritionist Help Me?

Let’s take a look at a few symptoms you may be experiencing and how, through Functional Nutrition, I can help.

Symptom #1: Fatigue/Low Energy

Fatigue has many causes:

Stress or lifestyle choices
Dietary issues such as food sensitivities or nutrient deficiencies
Blood sugar imbalance
Hormone imbalances
Toxin overload
Or all of the above!

I take the time to do a thorough health history, lifestyle evaluation and diet analysis. This allows us to unravel the complexity of your fatigue so you can reclaim the energized body you were meant to enjoy!

Fatigue & Brain Fog got you down?
Register for the Total Energy Upgrade!

SYMPTOM #2: Digestive Problems – gas, bloating, GERD, reflux, heartburn, IBS, Celiac

Leaky gut is associated with all these digestive issues
A well-functioning digestive system is the cornerstone of good health
The “gut” is actually called our second brain; the intestinal nervous system is wired directly back to the brain
Poor gut function can lead to autoimmune conditions such as MS, RA, Celiac, Hashimoto’s, and other autoimmune diseases.
Skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis are also directly connected to the gut
Seasonal allergies are connected to gut health
Diet and toxins can cause a disruption in the neurotransmissions causing your health to suffer
Medical and nutritional experts agree that good nutrition is directly related to good digestive health

If you are concerned about your digestive health or are suffering from poor digestion, my gut repair program may be your answer! While my philosophy is to focus on food as medicine, there are times when the body needs more help and supplements are necessary. My gut repair program includes diet and lifestyle modifications along with a supplement routine proven to repair the gut.

SYMPTOM #3: Food Sensitivities and Intolerances

Food intolerances can contribute to neurological, autoimmune and digestive disorders as well as pain and inflammation
Food intolerances are directly related leaky gut
A food intolerance can often arise after the digestive tract has been compromised due to poor diet, stress, or imbalanced gut bacteria

Food sensitivities are not the same as food allergies. Food allergies are potentially deadly while sensitivities are not. However, food sensitivities are still serious. They indicate a poorly functioning gut and create inflammation in the body. Inflammation damages tissues leading to symptoms such as muscle or joint pain, headaches, stuffy nose, and brain fog or trouble concentrating.

Identifying food sensitivities and intolerances can be tricky. I can perform lab tests and/or design an elimination diet to identify the foods your body is reacting to. We then work on healing the gut to eliminate food sensitivities.

SYMPTOM #4: Hormones! Not Just for Women! – Minimize Symptoms during Peri-menopause or Andropause (male menopause)

Hormones are critical to the function of virtually every system in the body
Our hormones are intricately connected. When one is too high it causes another to be too low
Hormones are balanced through a combination of diet and lifestyle adjustments

A person who is experiencing “brain fog”, slow metabolism, moodiness, willpower or motivation issues can find a solution! I can run lab tests to determine hormone imbalances then get to work identifying the root cause – whether it be blood sugar, the adrenal glands, or the GI tract – and design a diet and lifestyle program that works for your body.

Want help navigating the crazy world of hormones?
Schedule an appointment with me

SYMPTOM #5: Nutrient Deficiencies

The immune system is dependent upon a variety of nutrients
Infection and lack of nutrients are often linked together
Certain foods may help reduce the risk of certain diseases

Nutrient deficiencies prevent the body from functioning at its best and can lead to a host of health issues. Nutrient deficiencies can even turn on genes that predispose us to disease. Through lab tests and diet analysis I can identify nutrient deficiencies, determine the cause of the deficiencies (poor diet, poor digestion, stress, etc.), and design a diet and lifestyle plan to replace the missing nutrients.

SYMPTOM # 6: Medication, Medication, Medication, but I still have the Same Problem.

Medications treat symptoms and temporarily make us feel better
Medications DO NOT treat the underlying problem so the symptoms keep getting worse
High blood pressure, type II diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid issues, and more, are all symptoms of larger underlying issues

If you’re tired of all the meds and want to reduce or eliminate them, I can work with you and your doctor to design a diet and lifestyle plan to reach your goal. Only your doctor can alter your medications, but I can help restore your body’s balance which in turn improves function and reduces the need for medications

If you are one of the fortunate few and none of the above symptoms apply to you, Congratulations! But you still want to eat healthy, learn more about the value of certain nutrients, and shop smarter. Again, you are overwhelmed by the amount of information available and have little or no idea where to start. The answer is right here!

FOOD PREP AND NAVIGATING THE GROCERY STORE

Select recipes with key nutrients and proven results
Shop with a trained expert – learn to read labels, determine “low fat” from “good fat”, and the importance of quality food
Prepare meals in your own kitchen and learn new prep and storage methods

Reclaiming your Health is all about becoming informed and making good choices. In the constantly changing sea of information, I can provide information that is specific to your needs, apply that information in a manner that will treat your whole person, and help you make choices that will lead to long-term GREAT health.

http://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/articles/tiredness.html

http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/1/12

1990 l\/l0Collum Award Lecture. Nutrition and immunity: lessons from the past and new insights into the future

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/71/6/1660s.short

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Laughter, Stress and Candy Bars – Say What?

September 8, 2016 by Marla Leave a Comment

Friends on my personal Facebook page have seen me posting “giggles” posts several times a day. I post funny videos, corny jokes, whatever makes me laugh. Why do something so “pointless?” All it does is clog up people’s news feed with “useless” stuff.

Well, I started it after my own Facebook feed grew so very negative. There were posts about police shootings, corrupt political candidates, race wars, religious wars, natural disasters and more. It seemed that the world had gone mad and all the joy had been sucked out of life. I found my stress level growing worse and worse and my world growing increasingly dark.

So I decided to do something about it.

I started reposting things that made me laugh.

Why do this? Because I understand how damaging stress is on the body and I understand the power of laughter. I wanted to help brighten my friends’ day and lower their stress level even if it was just for a moment.

Why Is Laughter So Important?

“A cheerful heart does good like medicine,
but a broken spirit makes one sick.”
Proverbs 17:22 The Living Bible

Laughter has several healing qualities. For example, research has shown laughter can relieve stress by:

Increasing oxygen intake which stimulates organs and increases endorphin production
Activating the parasympathetic nervous system (the calming side of the nervous system)
Stimulating circulation and aids muscle relaxation
Boosting the immune system
Relieving pain
Improving mood[i]

With all laughter has to offer, why would you NOT want to laugh?

The Consequences Of Chronic Stress

Why should we be concerned about stress? What’s so terrible about it? Sure it can cause anxiety sometimes (like if you have a terrible job) or a poor night’s sleep, but is it really so bad for your health?

In a word, yes!

Chronic stress negatively impacts every single area of the body. Just a few examples include increased incidents of:

Cardiovascular disease
Anxiety
Frequent colds
Memory loss
Hypertension
Sexual dysfunction
Insomnia
Fatigue
Depression
Infertility
Irregular menstrual cycles
Difficulty concentrating
Digestive problems[ii]

Let’s take a look at how the stress response relates to an all-too-common problem, blood sugar management.

The Candy Bar Effect of Stress

You’ve heard of the stress hormone called cortisol. You probably relate it to excess belly fat since people with chronically elevated cortisol levels often have excess fat around their middle. Cortisol is released in response to stress whether emotional stress (a bad job or poor relationship), physical stress (illness or injury), or mental stress (worry or reliving past stressful experiences).

One of cortisol’s jobs is to stimulate the release of stored sugar, called glycogen, providing muscles with the fuel they need to escape the threat or turn and fight it. Often referred to as the “fight or flight” response, this mechanism was very handy back in cave man days when we had to escape sabretooth tigers.

Trouble is, in our modern sedentary society we don’t go out and fight that tiger. We sit at our desk all keyed up and angry over an unpleasant interaction with our boss. Cortisol has released a shot of sugar into our blood stream, but we don’t use it up by exercising. As a result, our blood sugar rises.

That’s how stress can have the same effect on the body
as eating a candy bar, but without the joy of the treat.

This is one reason why diabetics can have trouble controlling their blood sugar. There’s a stress in their life that is triggering cortisol which raises their blood sugar.

But you don’t have to be diabetic to have blood sugar trouble.

The Blood Sugar Continuum

There’s a whole continuum of blood sugar dysregulation that ends with Type 2 Diabetes. Symptoms occur anywhere along that spectrum. The scary part is 46% of the American population is either diabetic or pre-diabetic. Many people don’t know they’re pre-diabetic!

Signs of blood sugar issues include:

craving sweets
afternoon sleepiness
fatigue after meals
hungry soon after eating (even after eating a big meal)
lightheaded or moody if meals are missed
blurred vision
difficulty losing weight despite regular exercise

I often refer to blood sugar symptoms by the three biggest culprits: Fog, Flab and Fatigue.

Brain Fog: the inability to think straight, concentrate, or remember things
Belly Fat: or extra flab, especially around the middle
Fatigue: despite a good night’s sleep

These blood sugar disorders can result in some pretty unpleasant consequences:

Decreased thyroid production (low metabolism, weight gain, hair loss)
Increased risk of cancer
High blood pressure (increased cardiac risk)
Systemic inflammation (This is a biggie! More on that in another post)
Increased risk of Alzheimer’s (researchers are beginning to call Alzheimer’s Type 3 Diabetes)

“We conclude that the term “type 3 diabetes” accurately reflects the fact that AD [Alzheimer’s disease] represents a form of diabetes that selectively involves the brain and has molecular and biochemical features that overlap with both type 1 diabetes mellitus and T2DM [type 2 diabetes melitus].”[iii]

Are you at risk for blood sugar problems?
Take the Quiz and find out!

I hope you can see that managing both stress and blood sugar can go a long way toward maintaining your health. I’ve only just touched on them in this post. Stress and blood sugar are each easily whole volumes on their own and I’ll be discussing them in greater detail in upcoming posts.

For now, keep your blood sugar under control by managing stress whether the source be physical, mental or emotional.

Solutions

Stress Management:

Mental/emotional stress: explore Splankna therapy, Heart Math, prayer and meditation, and time out in nature

Physical stress: consider if you may be under or OVER exercising, possible hidden infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic, SIBO or other gut dysbiosis), nutrient deficiencies, poor gut function, poor diet.

These hidden physical stresses can be very tricky to track down. A functional health practitioner can help. you find them more quickly

Diet:

Developing a personalized menu that keeps your blood sugar at optimal levels is vitally important to blood sugar management! You can do this yourself by using a glucometer (blood sugar meter) to test your glucose and aim to keep it below 115 after meals. After a while you’ll have a collection of meals you know work for your body.

I cover this and much more in my blood sugar class, Total Energy Upgrade and also in private nutrition coaching sessions. Sign up for my newsletter and follow me on Facebook to be notified the next time I run the class.

References:

[i] http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456

[ii] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/12/17/stress-makes-you-sick.aspx

[iii] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769828/