The Power of Functional Nutrition

Nutritional imbalances are potential contributors or causes of several chronic conditions, and nutrition-based interventions may bring relief or potentially resolve these conditions completely. Proper nutrition is associated with not only disease prevention but surgical recovery as well.^1,2

However, clinicians are rarely offered even basic nutritional training in medical school, a systematic review in The Lancet suggests.³ Perhaps unsurprisingly, many patients do not have optimal nutrition,⁴ are experiencing record levels of chronic disease,⁵ and are most likely being treated with pharmaceuticals, despite the availability of other highly effective options.^6,7

When high-quality nutrition is applied effectively and consistently, it may prevent future chronic disease in adolescents,⁸ enhance cognition in people with dementia,⁹ and improve outcomes in patients receiving colorectal and GI oncological surgeries,¹⁰ to name a few. Moreover, in patients who have hospital stays for any reason, nutrition support is associated with fewer infectious complications and shorter lengths of stays. 

Chronic diseases account for the majority of health concerns in middle-aged and older populations,¹¹ and many of these conditions respond well to nutritional interventions. Risks of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease are strongly linked to lifestyle, especially dietary choices.^12,13

Immunonutrition—the potential to modulate the activity of the immune system by interventions with specific nutrients—has also emerged as a clinically important concept, highlighting the importance of nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, and D, folic acid, beta carotene, and trace elements such as zinc, selenium, manganese, and iron to the gut microbiome.¹⁴

There are a variety of approaches for plant-based eating, from Mediterranean-type diets to vegetarian and vegan diets. Plant-based diets aim to maximize the consumption of nutrient-dense plant foods (vegetables, fruits, beans, peas, lentils, and nuts) and minimize processed foods, oils, and animal foods (including dairy and eggs).¹³ Yet despite the strong body of evidence favoring plant-based diets, including studies showing a willingness of the general public to embrace them, many physicians are not stressing the importance of plant-based diets as a first-line treatment for chronic illnesses.¹³

In this video, IFM educator Michael Stone talks about functional nutrition and how clinicians can use high-quality foods that are rich in phytonutrients to address their patients’ clinical imbalances:

[Video Time: 1.5 Minutes] Michael Stone, MD, MS, is a board certified family physician. He has been lecturing about functional nutrition for over 20 years

Specific nutrients and dietary patterns have also been investigated for their neuroprotective properties. Increased diet quality and adherence to dietary guidelines that emphasize consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, and fiber were related to better cognition among those with and without cognitive impairments in two recent cross-sectional studies.^14,15 In addition, specific nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, and specific diets such as the Mediterranean and ketogenic diets, have surfaced in recent neurodegenerative disease research with suggested benefits of prevention, slowing disease progression, and improving quality of life for patients.^16-22  For an in-depth look at the connection between diet and cognition, please read the following IFM-authored article “Nutrition: A Key Modulator of Cognitive Health.”

Nutrition-based interventions are fundamental components of many therapeutic strategies used to combat chronic illness and restore optimal health. These personalized treatments may include modifiable therapeutic food plans that address nutritional imbalances, and patient-practitioner collaboration is essential for successful implementation and sustainability.

Learn more about functional nutrition strategies to help patients achieve sustainable lifestyle change and improve their well-being through IFM’s new course Lifestyle: The Foundations of Functional Medicine.