Symbiosis
Posted by Andrea Nakayama
Perched atop a shelf in my office is the hefty “compact” Oxford English Dictionary that my late husband bought me for Christmas many moons ago. In thinking about the word “symbiosis” I hoisted the tome off its perch, grabbed the domed magnifying glass that just barely allows me to make out the tiny print, and looked up the true meaning of the word that I use to explain the unique place where “food meets physiology.”
Generally, the term symbiosis means to “live together” and “in association with one another.”
From a biological perspective, symbiosis refers to the “interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both.”
Symbiosis and the understanding of these interactions—between the outside and inside worlds—is the fourth pillar in my Practitioner Mastery Paradigm. The Paradigm was born through my teaching in Functional Nutrition Lab, as I gained a deeper understanding of the myriad aspects needed for practitioners to have true success in practice.
While we may think that one more skill or this next bit of information will catapult our ability to practice with excellence, it’s truly a synthesis of different techniques, expertise and proficiencies that add up to both clinical and professional advances.
I’ve studied these.
I’ve taken them apart and dissected them.
I’ve looked at them from every angle so that I can teach more coaches and clinicians to become true masters in the field of functional nutrition.
I’m committed to doing so because I want to see less patients suffer and more practitioners prosper.
The 8 pillars of the Practitioner Mastery Paradigm include:
- empathy
- leadership
- nutrition skills
- symbiosis
- anatomy & physiology
- problem solving
- intuition
- mastery
One trap I see many practitioners fall into is thinking that understanding dietary theories is enough to help them help others get well. Similarly, a mere comprehension of biochemistry, no matter how deep and detailed, will not translate to clinical benefits.
Instead, symbiosis is the answer.
Symbiosis is where bioindividuality comes into play. It’s where we recognize how food meets the patient’s unique physiology. Our job is to understand our client’s unique body, and match the particular foods that will act as medicine for that individual. When we grasp the interplay, we can initiate both healing and harmony.
That’s symbiosis.
[bctt tweet=”#Symbiosis is where we recognize how food meets the patient’s unique physiology. ” username=”AndreaNakayama”]
EXPERIENCE A FREE TRAINING SERIES WITH ANDREA NAKAYAMA TO HELP YOU
Begin practicing functionally today!
MORE TO EXPLORE
You Might Also Like
A Functional Understanding of Microflora and Candida
I’m a firm believer that you are not what you eat, but what your body can do with what you eat. In other words, you are what your body can break down and absorb. In many ways you are also the sum of your parts. Sure there’s the usual digestive parts – your mouth and […]
Read MoreStart with the Gut
It's been several months since I've written a Consumer's Report. Please don't let that fool you into believing that I'm not a consumer. Like you, I get caught out-and-about and also just appreciate being able to buy a pre-packaged thing or two that meets my exacting standards and serves my gut intentions. I especially love to get my hands on a product that simultaneously passes the grade, is gratifying to the taste buds and fuels my health. That's what these pages are all about! Today I raise a glass to KeVita, my favorite drink on-the-go.
Read MoreGraduate Spotlight: Salomey Adomako
Salomey Adomako is a registered nurse (RN) and a Functional Nutrition Alliance Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC) in Simsbury, Connecticut. She is originally from Ghana, West Africa, and devotes a great deal of time to her Ghanaian community in Connecticut. Salomey specializes in working with women struggling with chronic health issues to support their health […]
Read MoreFood, Mood, Poop Journal (and the real scoop on poop)
While poop provides some great clues, poop data alone becomes much more relevant when we gather input on food intake as well. That’s why the Food, Mood, Poop Journal is your first step in clinical data capture.
Read More