As functional medicine coaches and practitioners, we understand that chronic inflammation in the body can lead to symptoms that make life challenging for our patients and clients. Sometimes, conventional medicine may have difficulty identifying the root causes of these symptoms, which can be overwhelming and frustrating for them.
With specialized attention to the individual and a different approach to wellness, we can make a positive impact. Supporting your patients and clients in uncovering potential contributors to their inflammation and providing them with helpful tools is important for their journey toward long-lasting wellness.
Let’s break it down into 3-steps you can use to help your clients better understand how their environment, diet, habits, mental health, and lifestyle may contribute to their inflammation – and their symptoms – and how small changes can have a significant impact on their health journey.
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Three-Step Plan To Support Inflammation Management, Detoxify Their Life, And Promote Wellness
Encourage your clients to consider these steps toward supporting their overall well-being:
Step 1: Identify Potential Inflammation Contributors
Identifying potential contributors to chronic symptoms and discomfort - not just addressing the symptoms alone - can be an effective way to support long-term wellness. One approach is through specialty lab testing - such as the ELISA ACT/LRA Food Intolerance Test, DUTCH hormone test, or Full Thyroid Panel - which you can order right here at RUPA!
These lab tests go beyond standard diagnostic tests to assess potential underlying contributors to health issues, often at a functional or cellular level, and they can help guide personalized and targeted wellness plans for your patients and clients.
There are several types of inflammatory responses and complications. These include:
- Muscle and Joint Inflammation: This type may contribute to joint discomfort and conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, muscular dystrophy, sleep apnea and other respiratory issues, plaque buildup in the arteries, stiffness, aches, and muscle tightness.
- Hormonal and Thyroid Inflammation: Symptoms may include irregular menstrual cycles, mood changes, weight fluctuations, hair thinning, feeling cold, bloating, and food cravings. Conditions associated with this type may include hormonal imbalances, infertility, PCOS, hypothyroidism, and others.
- Inflammation from sugar: Sugar is known to be inflammatory, and many people may experience inflammation related to sugar intake. Addressing this can be important.
- Psychological Stress: Mental stress and related symptoms—such as irritability, negative thoughts, and worry—may be linked to inflammation in the body.
- Digestive Inflammation: Symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and low energy may indicate inflammation in the digestive system.
- Allergies, Asthma, and Skin Inflammation: The body’s response to irritants, including seasonal and environmental factors.
Each of these types of inflammation may have associated symptoms. By examining your clients’ symptoms in light of these types, you may be able to identify potential contributors.
Step 2: Create a Supportive Environment
Once potential sources of inflammation are identified, the next step is to establish an environment that minimizes these triggers and supports overall well-being.
This approach involves taking a holistic look at clients’ everyday lives, providing them with tools and insights to consider reducing exposure to potential toxins in their homes, workplaces, and other environments. This includes evaluating household products, personal care items, and hygiene routines.
Lifestyle changes can also be beneficial. For example, techniques that focus on stress management, improving sleep patterns, and incorporating regular physical activity may help support inflammation management.
This step involves a focus on mindset and mindfulness. In our fast-paced modern world, stressors and constant stimulation can affect our bodies. Everyday situations like traffic jams or work deadlines can trigger stress responses, potentially leading to imbalances. Even if someone’s home environment is free from toxins, persistent stress can impact their efforts to manage inflammation effectively.
By incorporating mindfulness and mindset strategies, such as breathing techniques, visualization, and practicing gratitude, clients can promote relaxation and support their body's natural balance. The parasympathetic nervous system is often called the "rest and digest" system because it conserves energy, maintains normal bodily functions, and promotes relaxation. Supporting this state can help create an optimal environment for wellness.
Step 3: Nourish with Purpose
The final step is helping clients use food intentionally to support their body's needs. Discovering what to eat and how to eat can help improve their symptoms and support long-term balance.
Certain foods and ingredients, such as artificial sweeteners and citric acid, may trigger inflammation or exacerbate existing inflammation. On the other hand, foods and ingredients known for their potential anti-inflammatory properties, such as lean proteins, turmeric, and healthy fats, can be beneficial. A tailored approach that considers their unique needs can help identify ingredients to avoid and those to include to support wellness.
Just as in step 2, step 3 involves a focus on mindset. Regardless of the specific actions taken, the mindset around eating and nutrition plays a crucial role. Cultivating a belief in the supportive power of food and recognizing its potential to contribute to wellness are essential in moving toward long-term health.
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Summary
The work you do as a coach or practitioner is incredibly valuable and impactful! Every day, you're making a positive difference in the lives of many people. By helping your patients and clients identify potential contributors to their inflammation through functional lab testing or assessments, guiding them to create a supportive environment by evaluating toxins in their home, hygiene, and personal care routines, and teaching them how to nourish their bodies with foods that support their unique needs, you can help them manage inflammation and promote wellness.
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