Nurturing Holistic Wellness: The Role of a Functional Medicine Practitioner in Minneapolis
Although many people in the medical
community have been talking about it for years, holistic wellness has become a buzzword recently. What does it really mean? In short, holistic wellness is about taking care of your entire body and mind instead of focusing solely on what’s broken. And although many people use this term as an alternative to “traditional medicine,” we at The Wellness Clinic believe that there’s no such thing as “alternative” health—just different approaches to achieving optimal well-being. That’s why we work closely with our patients’ primary care physicians (PCPs) and other health providers to ensure that all aspects of their life are taken into account when treating their symptoms and/or chronic conditions.
Working with a functional medicine practitioner can help you achieve holistic wellness.
Working with a functional medicine practitioner in Minneapolis can help you achieve holistic wellness.
Holistic wellness is not just about the body, but also your mind and spirit. Holistic wellness is about achieving balance in life and having the energy to live it fully. It’s about feeling good physically, mentally and emotionally all at once so that when one area of your health isn’t quite where it should be, all other areas are strong enough to support it until things get back on track again–or maybe even beyond that point!
The Importance of Nutrition in Holistic Wellness
Nutrition is a key component of holistic wellness. Your diet can have a profound effect on your overall health, so it’s important to know what types of food you should be eating and why.
The following list highlights some examples of healthy and unhealthy foods:
- Healthy: whole grains (brown rice), fruits (apples), vegetables (spinach)
- Unhealthy: processed meats like hot dogs or sausages which contain nitrites that may increase risk for colorectal cancer in adults who eat them regularly
Fatigue and Poor Sleep Quality
While it’s true that sleep and nutrition are important for everyone, they can be especially beneficial for those who are experiencing fatigue and poor sleep quality.
Fatigue is a common symptom in many diseases and disorders. If you’re feeling tired all the time, it may be due to an underlying condition such as diabetes or thyroid disease (or even something as simple as having overdone it on your last vacation). Even if you don’t have an illness or condition causing your fatigue, there are still steps you can take to boost your energy levels naturally:
- Eat foods rich in iron like lean meat and spinach. Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of chronic tiredness; if you haven’t had blood work done recently to check your iron levels (or if they were normal), consider scheduling one now!
- Include vitamin B12-rich foods
like salmon or eggs at breakfast time each day–these provide an extra boost of energy throughout the morning hours.*
Poor Digestion, Leaky Gut and Autoimmunity
Leaky gut is a condition in which the intestinal lining becomes damaged and permeable. The intestinal wall separates your bloodstream from your digestive tract, but when it’s damaged, substances that should be kept out can pass through. This can lead to inflammation and chronic disease.
The symptoms of leaky gut include:
- Digestive issues like bloating, gas or constipation/diarrhea
- Skin problems like acne or psoriasis (specifically scalp-related)
- Autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; multiple sclerosis; rheumatoid arthritis
Anxiety and Depression
Depression and anxiety are common symptoms of a variety of health conditions, including hormonal changes such as menopause or pregnancy. Depression can also be caused by physical changes like injury, surgery or chronic pain. Anxiety can be triggered by trauma and stressful events in your life. If you have been feeling depressed or anxious for several weeks or more it’s important to seek help from your physician or other health care practitioner so they can determine if there may be an underlying medical cause for these feelings that might need treatment with medication or other therapies.
Brain Fog and Irritability
Brain fog is a common symptom of chronic inflammation, which can be caused by a poor diet, stress and lack of sleep. Brain fog can also cause irritability and depression.
In order to reduce brain fog:
- Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes/beans (chickpeas are particularly good for you) and lean
protein sources such as chicken or fish. Avoid processed foods as much as possible; they may contain trans fats or other ingredients that contribute to inflammation in the body.
- Reduce stress by practicing mindfulness meditation or yoga on a regular basis–at least once per week if not more often! Make sure you get enough sleep each night; 7-8 hours is recommended for adults over 50 years old but really everyone should strive towards this goal!
Conclusion
In conclusion, holistic wellness is something that everyone can benefit from. It’s not just for those who are sick or have chronic conditions–it’s for everyone! Holistic wellness means taking care of your body and mind by eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, managing stress levels and more. If you’re interested in learning more about how functional medicine can help you achieve holistic wellness goals, contact us today