Health strategies based on functional medicine in Toronto have surged in popularity – especially for athletic health goals. This is because some athletes are understanding that personalized treatment plans can support their performance.

Applying the functional medicine model includes a “whole-body” approach to health, especially for fitness endeavors. Functional healthcare providers harness a range of integrative medicine tools – including lab tests, adapted doses of supplementation, and more – to target unique mind and body needs. This can lead to an effective collaboration between a patient and practitioner, in which education to patients is provided while treatment plans are being drafted. By offering patients knowledge on how treatment options work, patients tend to stick to their treatments for sustaining energy production, muscle recovery, and their overall quality of life.

Tailored therapies can target fitness ambitions by tapping into your unique biology. They may result in enhancements to cellular health, physical exertions, and more. Below, the TFMC discusses the benefits that functional medicine can offer to physically active people: 

Top 6 integrative functional medicine benefits for athletes

• 1. May target the root cause of pain: The goal of functional medicine is to pinpoint the source of chronic symptoms, such as pain. By confronting this root cause, you can help prevent or reduce body aches. Here’s an example:  The genova diagnostics  metabolomics test identifies the optimal nutrient levels needed to support muscle recovery and reduce soreness. This personalized assessment offers specific recommendations for amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and digestive support, aimed at optimizing health and enhancing performance. It is especially valuable when nutrient optimization can contribute to improved overall well-being.   If lab results show that you’re lacking nutrients , we’d discuss supplementing with oral supplements or a custom-made IV drip from our IV Lounge in Toronto, which would help optimize recovery and performance 
  2. Can optimize gut health: According to a Dietetics article, “strenuous exercise and endurance sports may cause exercise-induced gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GISs) in up to 70% of athletes.” Functional medicine therapies can help revive your current gut health to maintain energy levels, muscle function, and your overall digestive health. By addressing your gut needs with various tools (i.e. probiotics, prebiotics), we may also help reduce anxiety brought on by digestive discomforts. (Click here to learn about the TFMC’s gut health services.)
  3. Promotes a hormone balance for physical recovery: An athlete’s hormone balance can impact physical activities. For example, women who are physically active – but don’t practice proper muscle recovery and already have low energy levels – may experience a reduction in their sex hormone levels, while cortisol levels continue to rise. This can lead to irregular periods and excessive fatigue! A functional medicine practitioner can conduct a DUTCH test to offer insight into your hormones; the results of this test can offer us ways to stabilize your hormone levels for different aspects of health, such as sleep conditions and stress management.  
  4. Supports nutrition needs for physical exertions and recovery: Sports nutrition needs can vary widely between athletes and may be challenging to determine on your own This is because “…factors influencing food choice in athletes include culture, physiological demands, and socioeconomic factors amongst others, highlighting the complexity of food choice in sporting populations,” confirms a Frontiers in Sports and Active Living study. A functional health provider with experience in nutrition can adapt diet strategies for training objectives (i.e. improving stamina). You may also discover the role of eating an anti-inflammatory diet, which can help reduce inflammation from heavy physical exertions. 
  5. May teach you how to optimally hydrate: Being dehydrated and overhydrated can impede physical performances. A functional practitioner can determine your personal hydration needs by comprehending your current training intensity, body temperature, weight, amount of sodium in your sweat, etc. You may be advised to add electrolytes to your liquids and to frequently consume hydrating fruits and vegetables. The TFMC can also prescribe IV therapy drips to help maximize hydration levels after a hard workout or game – learn about our Toronto IV Lounge here. 
  6. May offer new stress management strategies: According to an article from Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, if some athletes cannot cope with stress, mental health strains can affect their physical performance. To manage your mental wellness and athletic goals, a functional medicine practitioner can advise you on new stress-relief techniques, such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture or cognitive behavioral therapy.  

Ready to up your game? Consider a personalized medicine approach to prevent nutritional deficiencies and chronic inflammation; your treatment plan can be devised to help boost strength and stamina, too. We explain how we can support your optimal wellness below.

Suggested reading here: Toronto’s Functional Medicine Guide: Mastering Dining Out on an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Support your fitness health goals with the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre

We have different genetic makeups, health conditions, environmental factors, and lifestyles –tackling your health concerns with a personalized approach to wellness could affect your athleticism. At the TFMC, we support each patient by treating them as individuals. This involves adapting treatment options to target weight loss, hormone imbalances, nutrient deficits, and more. 

Our clinicians offer multiple functional medicine therapies to tackle individual symptoms. From Western and naturopathic medicine to acupuncture and hormone therapies, we encourage the integration of modalities for your treatment plan. We also offer intravenous therapy in our Toronto IV Lounge, which is where our patients can sit back and reflect on their wellness with an IV drip. When this treatment modality is united with healthy daily living and other therapies (i.e. allopathic treatments, Traditional Chinese Medicine), they may support health enhancements. 

Contact the TFMC for integrative and functional medicine in Toronto to revive your physical fitness. Becoming a new patient is easy – all you need to do is click here to make a quick call and request your first visit.    

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Coleman, Nailah MD, FACSM. Gastrointestinal Issues in Athletes. Current Sports Medicine Reports 18(6):p 185-187, June 2019. | DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000599

Hackney AC, Walz EA. Hormonal adaptation and the stress of exercise training: the role of glucocorticoids. Trends Sport Sci. 2013;20(4):165-171. PMID: 29882537; PMCID: PMC5988244.

Judge LW, Bellar DM, Popp JK, Craig BW, Schoeff MA, Hoover DL, Fox B, Kistler BM, Al-Nawaiseh AM. Hydration to Maximize Performance and Recovery: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among Collegiate Track and Field Throwers. J Hum Kinet. 2021 Jul 28;79:111-122. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2021-0065. PMID: 34400991; PMCID: PMC8336541.

Kali, V. R., & Meda, S. S. (2023). Functional nutrition for the health of exercising individuals and elite sportspersons. Nutrition and Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/02601060231191865

Papadopoulou SK, Mantzorou M, Kondyli-Sarika F, Alexandropoulou I, Papathanasiou J, Voulgaridou G, Nikolaidis PT. The Key Role of Nutritional Elements on Sport Rehabilitation and the Effects of Nutrients Intake. Sports (Basel). 2022 May 26;10(6):84. doi: 10.3390/sports10060084. PMID: 35736824; PMCID: PMC9227980.

Qasrawi, H., Assi, S., Ghanim, N. et al. A Descriptive Study of Pain Relief Practices Among Student-Athletes in Palestine: Focus on Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, and Complementary Medicine and Alternative Medicine Use. J Community Health 46, 684–692 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-020-00935-4

Reno AM, Green M, Killen LG, O’Neal EK, Pritchett K, Hanson Z. Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Muscle Soreness and Performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2022 Aug 1;36(8):2198-2203. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003827. Epub 2020 Oct 1. PMID: 33009349.

Ribichini, E., Scalese, G., Cesarini, A., Mocci, C., Pallotta, N., Severi, C., & Corazziari, E. S. (2023). Exercise-Induced Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Endurance Sports: A Review of Pathophysiology, Symptoms, and Nutritional Management. Dietetics, 2(3), 289-307. https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics2030021

Schaefer D, Cosio D. A Model to Incorporate Functional Medicine into Chronic Pain Care. Pract Pain Manag. 2017;17(10).

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Long-term function, body composition and cardiometabolic health in midlife former athletes: a scoping review

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2023;9:e001605. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001605

Xiao, W., Soh, K. G., Wazir Norjali Wazir, M. R., Talib, O., Bai, X., Bu, T., Sun, H., Popovic, S., Masanovic, B., & Gardasevic, J. (2021). Effect of Functional Training on Physical Fitness Among Athletes: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Physiology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.738878