Functional medicine approach to diet and nutrition is personalized, whole body and mind inclusive, and looks at root causes of illness. Unlike the common conventional approach to treating chronic disease via symptom alleviation, at Project of Health I focus on addressing root causes of disease. I personalize your diet and lifestyle recommendations and tailor them specifically to each of you.

In my years of clinical practice, I have learned that there is no one way that is best or work for everyone, and so I like to use a combination of principles including Functional Medicine Nutrition, modified Medical Nutrition Therapy, and Intuitive Eating.

As per the Institute for Functional Medicine, the Functional Medicine Nutrition Approach entails patient-centered care that addresses underlying root causes of disease:

• The use of systems biology-oriented approach

• Food and lifestyle as medicine

• The impact of environmental and toxic burden just to name a few.

New retrospective analysis at Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, found that patients with diagnosed inflammatory arthritis treated with functional medicine approach showed improvement in all primary outcomes including pain, mental health and global health scores when compared to the conventional standard of care alone. (1)

As per The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, MNT- Medical Nutrition Therapy is a specific application of the Nutrition Care Process that is focused on the management of diseases by registered dietitian – nutritionist (RD, RDN). MNT involves in-depth individualized nutrition assessment and duration and frequency of care using the Nutrition Care Process to manage the disease.

Intuitive Eating as a lifestyle technique takes part of my program simply because it teaches us to listen to our body cues and to have a real and good relationship with food, ourselves, our body needs, cues of fullness, hunger and satiety. It is a beautiful, simple, yet very helpful and powerful principle that if applied daily, as a form of habitual practice, might do wonders. It is a guiding principle that will help you understand yourself; help distinguish your needs from your wants, teach you the power of modesty and hopefully bring back joy when you think of food.

At the center of my approach upon which success is crucial is the therapeutic partnership that develops between you and me. It is a team effort that starts at the beginning and during this journey of reaching optimal health for you. It follows a route which is not one size fits all. It does not provide a magic pill, plant or most recent diet fad that will work magic for everyone. The beauty of this combination approach is that is designed to work specifically, just and only for you.

Timeline of What to Expect:

•  Answer provided questionnaires upon sigh up: this will help me understand what you are going through more. It will be a window towards addressing possible root causes of your health issue. They will seem like a lot, I am telling you this even now, before you even consider doing this, however, their importance, their role in this journey it is crucial.

• Send me your most recent and or last 2 or 3 available lab results you have- to help me look at and establish patterns.

• Initial 90 min consult with a functional dietitian: will allow for partnership to develop, personalized dietary plan to address your imbalance, flexible diet and lifestyle recommendations.

• Ongoing communication via your personal project of health dashboard, education materials pertaining to your well-being, weekly messaging and updates.

• Ongoing as needed Medical Symptom Questionnaires to validate progress.

• Additional 2 or 5 x 30-45 minute follow up consults, depending on the plan preferred and chosen by you

Project of Health Programs:

1. In Metabolic Health program, I focus on addressing the imbalance of blood glucose, lipid levels, blood pressure and healthy weight/waist circumference->the infamous visceral adiposity which is one of the biggest drivers of chronic inflammation and contributor to chronic disease.

2. GUT project health program focuses on addressing the imbalances of the GUT.  Issues with digestion and absorption, inflammation, bacterial overgrowth, GUT microbiome, leaky gut, dysbiosis etc.

3. Sustainable Weight Loss Program, initially addresses the general terrain of overall health, looks into imbalances, environmental impact and review the role of obesogen toxins, behavior and emotional impact on weight. It is of crucial importance to create a plan and lifestyle that will be easy to follow for the long term, not just for a given window of time.  Optimal weight loss entails reaching and keeping your optimal weight on.  As a medical provider of nutrition therapy, I am able to give 20% off of all Prolon products that mimic fasting mimicking diet principles. It has been a great addition to my weight loss protocol with incredible and sustainable results, my favorite and most reliable one being able to maintain the weight you lost. Discount link: https://prolonfmd.com/ProjectofHealt.

4. My Safe Detox program follows the guidelines and principles of functional nutrition to enhance your body ability to detoxify and biotransform. I will provide sequenced support, guidance and knowledge to teach you how to use real food, food groups and color as means to promote more efficient capabilities of your body to detoxify. Introduce you to the detoxifying and detox supporting power of multiple roots, plants, spices and foods that you can use them for the rest of your life.

If you feel you are ready to take back some form, if not total control over your health and wellness, want to be an active participant in your health and wellness journey, then Project of Health might be the right step and choice for you. I am looking forward to working with you and share your experience that you will undertake to result in a better, happier, healthier, mindful version of yourself.

Bid you good health,

Biljana Sofronijoska Rece RDN, LD, IFMCP

Reference:

1. Droz N, Hanaway P, Hyman M, Jin Y, Beidelschies M, et al. (2020) The impact of functional medicine on patient-reported outcomes in inflammatory arthritis: A retrospective study. PLOS ONE 15(10): e0240416. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240416