FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

We often hear the phrase Food is Medicine and it is thankfully something that is being recognised officially. In general our experience shows the pattern of customers finding that they resort to better food after the medical medicine fails them. We are slow to learn the value and power of food. Culinary medicine is also a phrase we like. Really we want to be able to eat food that heals us. Getting the balance right is the hard part. With so much conflicting advice to listen to on what is considered healthy food the stress of decision making is enough to keep you sick!!
 
Medicine has evolved of course and I see a merging of thought happening where nutrition is finally being seen as a strategy in the medical world. Functional Medicine is a “branch” of medicine that in relative recent years has embraced the concept of food as part of the healing strategies. Invariably you will see organic food recommended. Why is that? The reason is clear. The toxic load of pesticides etc is one of the reasons we are sick. Heavy metals overload from our environment is also being recognised. Mercury, Aluminium, Lead are well known to be toxic to our bodies. Neurological symptoms are very associated. Dedicated testing strategies can help you build a picture. There are strategies to help. Personally a number of years ago I had my mercury fillings removed and replaced. Chelation from heavy metals involve protocols that are available to find online. There is a lot of information to take in if you embrace the functional medicine route as you are actively involved in your own healing process. But this is an important facet because I believe for too long we had become passive recipients of modern medicine. Free GP care & Free screening are so tempting today as we seek the solace that our health is being looked after but in reality the outcome is yet more medication and intervention overload that may be doing extra harm.
 
Modern medicine still has a long way to go to catch up as it deals with resolving the symptoms only, not the cause. Subtle difference but it is important to know. We often hear that consultants will say that food has no effect on the condition involved. I have heard this so many times from people (even those who have heard this line from their gastroenterologist!). The arrogance of such certainty never fails to amaze me. For all those experts out there, it’s ok to say you don’t know! Don’t dismiss food as a potential ally in the healing journey.
 
Functional medicine is a positive way forward for people to take control of  health. We are fortunate to have information at our fingertips and being able to decipher it helps considerably. Nutritional therapists use this approach and have a great network so they are worth following up as a gateway to understanding your health. The power is in your hands.  

Anne Maher