Why I Became a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner

I graduated with my master’s degree in Nutrition for Wellness from Bastyr University in June 2018. I received my masters because I knew I wanted to help others with their nutrition and health-related goals. I graduated with the intention to pursue a career of my own but fell into the corporate wellness world. While that isn't terrible, it certainly is not where I want to be long term.

For those unfamiliar with Bastyr, it is a holistic institution for integrative health and wellbeing. I truly learned a lot while I was there, but left wanting more. This is where I found the Nutritional Therapy Association. The NTA offers a nutritional therapy practitioner certification (NTP). This program gasps the foundations of nutrition, wellness, and the application of it all, something that I missed during my time at Bastyr.

So What is an FNTP?

“A FunctionalNutritional Therapy Practitioner is a nutritional therapist certified by the NTA to evaluate nutritional needs and make recommendations for dietary changes, helping clients balance body chemistry and achieve optimal wellness. FNTPs are not trained to diagnose or treat pathological conditions, injuries, or diseases.”

This program teaches how to help clients tap into their body’s own “innate intelligence” and support the foundations of health to rebalance the body and truly live well.

The NTA focuses on the 5 foundations of health: a properly prepared, nutrient-dense diet, digestion, blood sugar regulation, fatty acid balance, mineral balance, and hydration. In order to support these foundations, it is necessary to provide the body with the nutrient it needs and health will follow.

As an FNTP, I am trained to support and balance one’s body to address imbalances and deficiencies. The curriculum focuses on finding the root cause of issues or symptoms (much different than traditional nutritional education). Addressing the root cause of dysfunction rather than simply eliminating symptoms helps to balance the body and support it naturally.  

FNTP’s also learn and are trained to perform the Functional Clinical Assessment and utilize Lingual-Neuro Testing (LNT) with clients. The FCA uses a series of palpations and other physical assessments to identify deficiencies and imbalances in the body. From there, LNT allows NTP’s to determine which specific supplements will work best to support the client’s unique body.

Why I Chose to Become an FNTP

My first-hand experience with a healing with food began at a young age with my brother.  If there was one aspect that was most difficult for him during the first years of his life, it was food intake. Being Autistic, his stomach was very sensitive and he could not handle very much food at a time. After months of tests and constant evaluation, my brother was placed on a whole-foods based diet. I began to see my brother start to feel better as he consumed a diet rich with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Though at this time, I may not have entirely grasped the concepts of integrating nutrition and herbal medicine, I felt my body wanted something different and as a teenager, I began to listen to that guidance. In high school, when I saw videos of the food industry, things began to connect for me. I wanted to know and understand the connection between health and the body, this importance to our spirit, and of course, the mind. I began exploring the nutrition world and changed my diet for the better, incorporating whole-foods and cutting out anything processed. This is where my passion for nutrition and wellness began.

With the program, I learned the fundamentals of how food can truly heal your body, mind, and spirit.  My goal an FNTP is to recognize an individual as unique and ensure their body, mind, and soul are treated as one. Additionally, gained the tools to focus more on innovative approaches to nutrition and wellness as the field of nutrition is constantly changing. Through observing my brother, I began to see that nutrition has a healing effect on the body. A simple adjustment in diet or lifestyle choices can greatly enhance one’s life

For more information, please see: www.nutritonaltherapy.com

xoxo,

Avery