What is the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy?
Increasing consumer demand, advancing technology, and the changing healthcare landscape are driving the demand for clinicians trained in integrative and functional nutrition (IFN).
The Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA) is one of the most respected online functional nutrition training and mentoring programs in the industry. It was founded by two of the nation’s premier integrative medicine nutritionists, Dr. Sheila Dean and Kathie Swift MS.
Consisting of 5 tracks with 33 modules that are 100% online and self-paced, the IFNA program teaches leading-edge, evidence-based, whole systems approaches to patient care. This emerging medical nutrition model focuses on identifying root causes and imbalances to significantly improve health outcomes and combines the very best of modern science, clinical wisdom, and critical thinking.
As an IFNA student, you’ll learn to methodically and systematically identify the “root causes” of disease. This requires a deep understanding of function, not just pathology, networks of physiology, not just “silo” organ systems, and an organized, integrated nutrition assessment. As an IFNA trained clinician, you’ll critically assess a patient using a “whole systems” approach and personalize a holistic nutrition care plan to restore function and improve patient outcomes.
IFNA training includes skill-building and competencies in six key clinical areas:
- Whole body systems approach
- Root cause analysis
- Therapeutic elimination diets and food plans
- Conventional and functional diagnostic labs including nutrigenetic testing
- The art and science of dietary supplements
- Mind-body modalities such as meditation, yoga, breathing techniques, and other lifestyle-oriented coaching practices to support behavior change
A “food as medicine” approach is central to IFN therapy; thus, an understanding and application of culinary nutrition concepts and condition-specific healing foods to support health and healing is inherent in the curriculum.