Functional Nutrition

Functional Nutrition is personalized and science-based approach to nutrition centered on addressing the core roots of chronic disease.

Functional Nutrition is like checking under the hood of your car for problems.

Functional nutrition is on the forefront of healthcare as it is centered on these central tenets:

• Biochemical individuality: describes the importance of individual variations in function that derive from genetic and environmental influence.
• Patient-centered: emphasizes “patient care” rather than “disease care.”
• Dynamic balance of internal and external factors.
• Web-like interconnections of physiological factors – the human body functions as an orchestrated network of interconnected systems, rather than individual systems functioning by themselves without effect on each other. Interactions between diet, lifestyle, mood and the body all interact to affect physiology.
• Health as a positive vitality – not merely the absence of disease.
• Promotion of organ reserve as the means to enhance health span. Small and sometimes hidden stresses can affect the long-term health of the body.

Functional Nutrition systematically identifies core imbalances, and focuses on giving the body the right food plan, lifestyle and environmental inputs to help the body restore health.

Goals of Functional Nutrition:

1. Minimize chronic disease progression
2. Primary emphasis on diet, exercise, and lifestyle
3. Health seen as a continuum, not black or white disease states
4. “Healthy Aging”: De-emphasize need for palliative care which is becoming increasingly expensive as the population lives longer

Beneath every chronic disease is a unique pattern of clinical imbalances that functional nutritionists look to address.

Dr. Rinehart’s 4R Program for Lifestyle Wellness

1. Reduce Inflammation

2. Restore Adrenal Health

3. Rebuild Gut Health

4. Recognize Hidden Food Allergies and Sensitivities