Nutrition therapy is using diet to treat and prevent illness, and restore the body to a natural healthy equilibrium. Nutritionists believe that sub-clinical deficiencies of minerals and vitamins are responsible for much disease and weakness in the body.
Examples of conditions resulting from sub-clinical deficiencies include fatigue, lethargy and susceptibility to colds and viruses.
Westerners tend to be overfed but undernourished. The foods we eat are far less nutritious than they appear thanks to intensive farming methods, pesticides, additives and preservatives.
We now know that food intolerance and allergies significantly contribute to various conditions such as asthma, eczema and rheumatoid arthritis.
But on a more positive note, we also know that certain types of food can actually support and stimulate the body’s intrinsic ability to heal itself.
A healthy diet is one in which the food you eat contains all the nutrients needed by the body for it to grow, heal and to function on a day-to-day basis. Diets that are low in fat and cholesterol, and high in whole grains, dietary fiber, fruits and vegetables, are healthier and provide more energy.
Not all supplements are created equal. There are different grades of nutrients.
The supplement companies we recommend are considered Nutraceuticals. They are extensively tested. These supplements use the highest grade ingredients and follow stringent production protocol to ensure they are not compromised.
They have independent audits to ensure quality metrics are met.
The key benefits to using high quality nutraceuticals include
Eating the right kind of food can go a long way in helping your body’s own healing forces. You need sulphur-containing foods to repair and maintain bone, cartilage and connective tissue. Foods high in sulphur are – asparagus, eggs, garlic and onions.
Eat less saturated fat and more alkaline-forming foods like millet, organic fruits and vegetables.
Other good foods are green leafy vegetables, fresh vegetables, non-acidic fresh fruit (avoid oranges, plums and rhubarb), whole grains, oatmeal, brown rice and fish.
Certain foods may aggravate various musculoskeletal conditions and therefore be avoided. They are dairy products, gluten (as found in wheat, oats, barley and rye), corn, sugar and members of the nightshade family – potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and tobacco.
Reduce your intake of acid-forming foods such as tea, coffee, alcohol, red meat, biscuits and cakes.
You do, if you:
Conventional nutrition typically provides standardized dietary guidelines for the general public. Functional nutritional therapy takes a hyper-personalized approach, considering your unique genetics, gut microbiome, lifestyle, and environment to fix the root cause of symptoms rather than just managing them.
Providers frequently use targeted diets to address complex chronic conditions. This includes autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal issues (like IBS or leaky gut), hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, metabolic syndrome, and persistent inflammation.
Not necessarily. We utilize supplements to correct targeted deficiencies or support healing, the primary goal is a “food-first” approach. Supplements are used strategically and based on lab testing rather than guesswork.
Read reviews from real, trusted patients of Dr. Nancy Lentine Integrative Family Medicine.
Food sensitivities and intolerances are frequently related to gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic enzyme deficiencies, chronic inflammatory conditions, and autoimmune diseases.