Your Complete Guide To Functional Nutrition + How To Become Certified

Perhaps one of the most well-known, au courant concepts leading the way in the health and wellness spheres today is biological uniqueness, or the notion that everyone is truly individual in biochemical terms. From metabolic makeup and genetics to overall nutritional requirements, every one of us has deeply particular needs regarding optimal well-being, which is why the one-size-fits-all route to health isn't necessarily the answer to a wholesome, vibrant life.

Instead, one powerful method is adopting a whole-person approach that integrates the full complexity of an individual (mind, body, lifestyle, stress management behaviors, and beyond). Enter: functional nutrition.

In the same family as functional medicine, functional nutrition is a personalized, systems-oriented approach that goes beyond managing the immediacy of symptoms and disease—and rather looks at the whole person.

"With an emphasis on personalized food and lifestyle approaches to wellness and disease management, functional nutrition focuses on the patient (not just on their disease or condition) while taking a holistic approach to optimizing an individual's health based on their unique needs," says registered dietitian Jess Cording, M.S., R.D., CDN.  

Through the lens of this integrative, science-informed approach to well-being, functional nutrition reaffirms the dynamic interconnectedness of the body, by acknowledging how each organ and system operate together to achieve optimal function. It recognizes that food is not only a source of fuel but an exceptional device to address the underlying basis of disease while paving the way toward ultimate, everyday wellness.

As for the strategic nutrition itself, this method specifically emphasizes high-quality foods, phytonutrient diversity, plus their role in supporting physiological function and overall health.

As Maya Feller, M.S., R.D., CDN, previously told mbg, it's important to take the whole person "inclusive of their lived experience, culture, heritage, and health needs—into consideration" when it comes to nutrition. "We often say there is no one-size-fits-all dietary approach yet perpetuate a narrow view of what a 'healthy' plate is supposed to look like." This very concept is a cornerstone of what differentiates functional nutrition from more standard methods.

According to Cording, "compared to medical nutrition therapy, functional nutrition focuses more on the individual and also encompasses lifestyle factors that could affect food choices—and how food choices may be impacting lifestyle," she says. "It offers a more holistic approach to enhancing a person's well-being while providing more nuanced care."

Moreover, functional nutrition seeks to establish an empowering, educational, and therapeutic patient-provider relationship to better amplify their well-being, autonomy, and foster sustainable transformations.

Functional nutrition coaches are trained wellness professionals who help guide individuals on their health and nutrition journeys. They take a person-forward approach to health while considering all the factors that may affect an individual's well-being. Functional nutrition coaches tend to have a multidisciplinary knowledge of multiple topics in the health and wellness field, from gut support to longevity.

While there are many similarities between nutrition coaches and health coaches, the former places a greater emphasis on food and nutrition science as the cornerstone tool for health support.

Colleges and universities do offer programs in this field. However, a shorter certificate program could also be a good fit, particularly if you want your functional nutrition education to complement work you are already doing, says Cording. "Either way, it can help to talk to people who have gone through the program or programs you're interested in to help you find the best fit. You also want to make sure to choose a program that offers a science-based curriculum." 

While searching for a trustworthy, solid nutrition coaching program, keep these factors in mind:

With the plethora of coaching education opportunities currently available, finding the right program might feel like a daunting task. But rest assured that once you clarify your long-term intention and vision for your functional nutrition coaching career, it will be easier to identify your next best step. Cording has some last nuggets of inspiration for your program-hunting journey: 

We write a lot about functional nutrition here at mbg. Here are some more resources if you'd like to learn a bit more:

Functional nutrition continues to be an instrumental force shaping the modern health care paradigm. An emerging, revolutionary area of research, this integrative approach to human health and nutrition can be a life-fulfilling career path for anyone looking to deepen their nutrition knowledge and help others flourish along the way!