What is an FNTP (Functional nutritional therapy practitioner)?

A Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) is a health professional certified by the Nutritional Therapy Association. This specialist assesses the individual nutritional needs of each client, restores normal bodily functions, and identifies nutritional deficiencies.

An FNTP does not make medical diagnoses, prescribe medications, or treat medical conditions, and is not a replacement for a doctor. Instead, the FNTP guides the client in discovering the underlying causes affecting their health, while providing knowledge and demonstrating how to make suitable changes that the client can implement on their own.

The FNTP makes recommendations on nutritional changes, lifestyle, and environmental factors, and may also suggest nutritional supplementation determined through clinical evaluation. Using non-invasive assessment techniques, the FNTP identifies the body’s priorities, what will nourish it, and what it needs to regain balance.

Is an FNTP a nutritionist?

The field of nutrition is now more accessible and diverse than ever. It can be challenging to find the right support for your health or to choose a program that is worth your investment in time and money.

Here is an overview of how a functional nutritional therapist differs from a nutritionist:

Functional nutrition therapy is unique and distinct from conventional and even holistic nutrition training, which tends to focus on symptoms and conditions by applying predefined models. Conventional and holistic medicines often use laboratory tests or diets to treat symptoms, but this does not identify the underlying mechanism that led to the symptoms, whether the symptoms are conscious to the client or dysfunctions that may be unconscious.

For example, laboratory tests may identify an imbalanced microbiome or food sensitivities, for which a predefined protocol is then applied. An FNTP, on the other hand, looks at everything that has impacted the body from a bio-individual perspective and allowed these imbalances to develop, including lifestyle, environmental factors, and emotional state. It can be costly to start with tests and dietary plans when the body’s priority for healing might lie elsewhere. The FNTP investigates further to determine the initial cause of these imbalances, making the difference between “feeling better for a moment before the symptoms return” and “achieving a state of constant remission and well-being.”

If you are curious about how nutritional therapy can help you, write to me at info@innatewellness.ch or follow me on Instagram @innatewellness_.