regain your quality of life
If you're feeling the ocassional tiredness, you may just need some extra rest. But if it persists and is affecting your daily life, you should visit your doctor to get an assessment as it could be due to multiple factors such as iron deficiency or having an underactive thyroid.
Sometimes however, physical assessments and lab tests at the doctor's may not find anything that is out of the ordinary. This is where a functional medicine approach can help by digging deeper to uncover the hidden causes of your tiredness and chronic fatigue.
A Holistic aPproach to Overcome Fatigue
Functional medicine addresses the whole person by treating the root causes of chronic health conditions such as chronic fatigue; which are predominantly due to diet & lifestyle, genetic predispositions, and hidden infections / environmental chemical exposures that can be uncovered by functional lab testing.
benefits of working with us
Expertise in Functional Medicine
Paul has undergone extensive training with leading functional medicine organisations such as The Institute for Functional Medicine and Kalish Institute of Functional Medicine.
SYSTEMATIC AND EVIDENCE-BASED
Our approach is systematic and practical based on the latest research.
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We are with you every step of the way and offer additional guidance and support between sessions.
personalised plan
We do not use a cookie-cutter approach such as generic diets and supplement recommendations.
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Our functional medicine therapies are tailored specifically to each individual.
SERVICES
The 100 DaY Plan
The hormonal system i.e. stress hormones in particular, is the main body system that contributes to tiredness and chronic fatigue. The main sources of stress for the body are:
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Emotional Stress
This could be due to professional or personal factors such as work, family, personal relationships etc.
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​ 2. Dietary Stress​
Excessive consumption of sugar and processed foods leads to a rapid increase in blood sugar which means that the stress hormones and insulin hormone need to "work harder" to stabilize the blood sugar and this causes their normal function to be disrupted.
3. Inflammatory Stress
Chronic inflammation in the body whether as a result of physical injuries or hidden inflammation e.g. (chronic infections in the gut or from environmental chemicals) can lead to repeated elevations and ultimately dysfunction of the stress hormones as these hormones have an anti-inflammatory effect that are used to protect against chronic inflammation.
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The 100 Day Plan aims to reset the stress hormones back to its regular function by assessing your body's response to stress through a Functional Adrenal Test. Based on the test results, we will then personalise a diet, lifestyle, and nutritional supplementation protocol in order to address the 3 main sources of stress for your body.
The Long-Term Plan
Dysfunction of the hormonal system can have a knock-on effect on other systems in the body as well such as weakening of the immune system in the gut which makes you more susceptible to acquiring chronic gut infections; for example. These are the 5 body systems that contribute directly to tiredness and chronic fatigue:
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Stress
​Dysfunction of the body's stress response can leave you feeling exhausted commonly referred to as "adrenal fatigue".Therefore, the aim is to reset your stress response back to its regular function.​​
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2. Chronic Infections and Microbiome
The presence of bad bugs in your gut can disrupt the delicate ecosystem of friendly bacteria in your gut; leading to inflammatory processes in the brain that result in cognitive symptoms such as brain fog. Therapeutic options are available to remove these bad bugs and restore balance to the gut ecosystem (microbiome).
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3. Immune System
Immune system dysfunction can lead to a state of oxidative stress that is damaging to the cells in the body and not enough antioxidants to serve as a protective mechanism. It is essential to increase the level of antioxidants in order to reduce oxidative stress.
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4. Energy Production
Mitochondria, which is commonly known as the "powerhouse of the cell" due to its role in energy production is often impaired which means that the body's ability to produce energy is greatly reduced. Therefore, mitochondrial function needs to be improved in order to produce adequate energy supply for the body's needs.
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5. Detoxification Capacity
Exposure to environmental chemicals and heavy metals can lead to increased toxic load on the body also known as "body burden"; that can have significant effects on other body systems and result in symptoms such as brain fog and sleep disturbances. Reducing environmental exposure and improving the liver's functional detoxification capacity is essential.
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The goal of the Long-Term Plan is to optimize the function of these 5 body systems by assessing the state of the different systems using a variety of functional lab tests. From there, we integrate the results of your lab tests and customise a therapeutic plan to systematically bring your body systems back into balance.
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*For more information, visit our Services page
Functional Medicine nutritionist
Paul Chen
Our approach combines the best of cutting-edge functional lab diagnostics together with nutritional and lifestyle interventions in order to provide you with a therapeutic approach that is unique to your physiology.
As a functional medicine nutritionist, I help clients by treating the underlying causes of their chronic health concerns through personalised nutrition, lifestyle, and functional lab testing so that they are able to improve their overall health and well-being.
qualifications
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Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science and Human Nutrition
Massey University, New Zealand
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Bachelor of Health Science in Podiatry
Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand
CERTIFICATIONS
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Clinical Mentorship
Kalish Institute of Functional Medicine, USA
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Integrative Cancer Care and Mental Health Modules
Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM), Australia
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Applied Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice
The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), USA
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Health Coach Certification
Institute of Transformational Nutrition, USA
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Foot Mobilisation Therapy
Foot Mobilisation Therapies, Australia
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Western Medical Acupuncture
Acupuncture in Podiatry, Australia