When it comes to health care, too often we put time, energy and money into suppressing symptoms rather than treating their root cause. We’ll never achieve optimal health and wellbeing by this route. When we get to the underlying causes of our physical dysfunction (e.g. insulin resistance, high blood pressure, inflammatory conditions), we suddenly gain a panoramic view of what feeds our dysfunction and what, in turn, can restore optimum functioning.

When you experience symptoms, this is the body’s way of communicating something is not functioning the way it should. The field of Functional Medicine approaches the body from the perspective of identifying and treating the root cause of disease.

By looking at the whole picture including diet, history, medications, toxic exposure, prior antibiotic use, stress, lifestyle, and lab work, we are better able to identify the underlying issue and create a complete plan for healing. Whether using conventional or alternative therapies for healing, we cannot underestimate the importance of good nutrition.

The primary reason most people fail to eat a healthy diet is due to misinformation or a lack of understanding about how food affects the body on a cellular level.

We must understand that food is much more than calories. This is why so many programs and people fail at weight loss. While reducing calories will, at least temporarily, lead to weight loss, for true health and healing we must focus on the quality of food and nutrients. The food we ingest has millions of molecules of information which interact with our body at the cellular level.

At Vitopia, we are frequently asked about the best diet for health. The reason for this question is because there are a multitude of plans, programs and ideologies pertaining to the optimal way of eating. Unfortunately, these plans are offered to the masses without consideration that any plan must be individualized for personal healing and long term adherence. Additionally, a nutritional plan can change depending on health status. For example, consider the drastically different diet required for healing medical issues like leaky gut, candida overgrowth, small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), lipid disorders, etc. Once healed, the dietary needs of that person will change based on health status and nutrient needs as the body continues to heal and achieve optimal health.

In addition to providing healing, dietary and nutritional strategies must also consider individual cravings and satisfy our appetite. As our bodies heal and nutrient imbalances are corrected, food cravings and hunger become much easier to manage. At this point, cravings change and our choices begin to include fresh, nutrient dense, fibrous, unprocessed foods and nutritional status improves and becomes a powerful healing force.

This is where our relationship with food changes. While food has always been and will always have a social connection, when we start to understand that food truly is medicine, we more fully appreciate the food we eat and the impact it has on our lives.

Healing begins when we get away from the idea of a diet and understand that food is about nutrients. And nutrients give our bodies instructions about how to function. In this sense, food is seen as a source of information for the body.

Thinking about food this way gives us an understanding of nutrition that goes beyond calories and good or bad foods. Instead of viewing food as the enemy, we see food as a way to create health.

At Vitopia Health, we are excited to offer you the education, training and support that will allow you to take personal control of your health. We believe it is time for a truly new approach that empowers YOU. We are continually working with patients and reviewing the most current scientific literature in an effort to bring you true health and healing. We sincerely hope you will become a part of our team! 

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