You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” But how often do you heed that warning? If you’re like most Americans, there’s probably room for improvement.
In the fast-paced world of modern living, one of the easiest places to save time and cut corners involves our diets. But those spur-of-the-moment choices can add up to larger problems than you might think.
As a functional medicine practitioner, Dr. Terry L. Franklin knows that good health and wellness start with proper nutrition.
That’s because your body needs essential vitamins and nutrients to function at its very best. Without it, you’re setting yourself up for numerous problems, from weight management issues and poor energy to emotional disorders and preventable diseases.
Have you given much thought to your diet lately? Here’s the link between food and health through the lens of a functional medicine practitioner.
Unlike other types of conventional health care, functional medicine takes a highly personalized, holistic approach to helping people reach and maintain optimal health. It often questions why someone becomes ill rather than simply treating the disease or its symptoms.
Why? Because if you can identify the cause of disease, you can address it at the source.
Leading causes of chronic disease include:
And another significant root cause of chronic disease involves poor nutrition and your microbiome — or the bacteria that live inside and outside of the body.
As a result, you should rethink your diet to reach and maintain optimal health.
Do you remember what you had for breakfast today? How about lunch? If you’re eating on the go, grabbing convenience food, or skipping meals entirely, you’re not doing yourself any favors.
Food is more than something to quiet hunger pains. It provides the vitamins, minerals, macronutrients, and phytochemicals every part of your body needs to function.
Unfortunately, most Americans consume a diet that lacks the most essential nutrients — and it’s high in sugar, refined flour, and inflammatory oils. That adds up to metabolic dysfunction, microbiome imbalances, and chronic disease.
But when you think of food as medicine, you can make choices that prevent and even treat many of these health conditions. It simply starts with eating healthy, whole foods, and it’s easier than you may expect.
Eating for optimal health typically includes these basic guidelines:
Dr. Franklin uses these guiding principles to offer dietary recommendations on a case-by-case basis. That’s because they’re easy to modify to every individual need, whether you’re a vegetarian or pro athlete or you have an allergy or chronic disease.
And it’s safe, effective, and beneficial for people of all ages, even children.
Taking a new approach to eating might seem overwhelming, especially if your diet needs a complete overhaul. But you’re not alone. Dr. Franklin can simplify the process and create a personalized strategy to get you started at his practice in Monterey, California.
During your visit, Dr. Franklin assesses your overall health, discusses your concerns, and evaluates your diet. He also looks at the other root causes of disease outlined above. Using this information, he can offer lifestyle education, wellness care, and dietary modifications to get you started on a path to better health.
Are you ready to change your diet and restore your wellness? Contact our office in downtown Monterey to schedule a consultation with Dr. Franklin today.
