Nutrition is the most powerful tool functional medicine practitioners have at their disposal. Indeed, an appropriate dietary program can account for up to 80% of an individual’s success. Thus, for most of us, getting our diet properly “dialed in,” may be more effective than any other single intervention!

In our clinic, because we tend to see patients of all ages with complex, chronic conditions, we often use highly-personalized, multi-layered diets that address different health aspects at the same time. Understanding what foods to include and which to avoid, and at the same time maintaining a nutritionally-balanced diet, can be a challenging task. Focused, ongoing support for implementing your individualized dietary prescription is essential.

 

What to Expect

Physician-led services: All patients who book with our physicians also receive nutrition services to support the implementation of their dietary program. Two hours of banked nutrition consultation time are included in the new patient package, with more available as needed.

Nutritionist-led services: Booking with one of our nutritionists starts you off with two hours of nutrition consultation time, typically used as a 90 minute initial session with 30 minutes of follow-up. More time is then scheduled on an as-needed basis.

Types of therapeutic diets we draw on:

  • Individualized hypoallergenic diets
  • Elimination diets
  • Gluten and casein-free diets
  • Cross-reaction elimination diets
  • Anti-inflammatory diets
  • Low carbohydrate diets
  • Grain/legume-free diets
  • Gut-repair diets
  • Low FODMAPs
  • Anti-yeast protocols
  • Specific Carbohydrate Diets
  • Low histamine
  • Low lectin
  • Low prolamine
  • Low nickel
  • Low oxalate/salicylate
  • Calorie restricted ketogenic diet (Based on Dr. Tom Seyfried’s research)

Types of implementation tools we often use include:

  • Personalized food plans
  • Personalized shopping guides
  • Personalized recipes, including your favorite dishes
  • Nutrient intake analysis to ensure optimal intake and prevent shortfalls
  • Goal setting techniques
  • Food challenge and reintroduction protocols
  • Strategies for overcoming cravings and other challenges

Our Nutrition Team

Jessica Kovalchik, DC MS CNS LDN

Jessica Kovalchik, DC MS CNS LDN CDN IFMCP Nutritionist Jessica Kovalchik, DC MS CNS LDN CDN IFMCP, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, Chiropractor, and Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. She received her Doctorate of Chiropractic in 2011 and her Master of Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition in 2020 from New York Chiropractic College (now…

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Melissa Parker, MS CNS CDN

Melissa Parker, MS CNS CDN, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist. During a decade-long career in the fashion industry she completed a comprehensive certification program in the Pilates method. Shortly thereafter, she received a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. She is also one of the nutritionists for the 3 Years Younger Diet and Lifestyle Program detailed in Younger You by Dr. Kara Fitzgerald.

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Miranda Kusi, MS CNS CDN, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist with a MS degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and a board certification from the American Nutrition Association. She is also one of the nutritionists for the 3 Years Younger Diet and Lifestyle Program detailed in Younger You by Dr. Kara Fitzgerald.

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We take the time to understand your individual health goals, which (in addition to addressing chronic diseases) may include optimal wellness and healthy aging, and use those to directly frame our work together.

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What clients say

Conditions Supported by Functional Medicine

ADHD

A chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.

Allergies

Conditions in which the immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance.

Andropause

Also colloquially known as male menopause — is said to be the result of a gradual drop in testosterone, which is an androgen.

Apthous Stomatitis

A small, shallow sore inside the mouth or at the base of the gums.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis is an itchy inflammation of the skin.

Autoimmune Disease

A disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells.

Burning Mouth Syndrome

(BMS) is an idiopathic condition characterized by a continuous burning sensation of the mucosa of the mouth

Cancer Support and Prevention

An estimated two-thirds of all cancers are preventable. Information and education are key to cancer prevention

Cardiac Disease Prevention & Risk Reduction

A disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue.

Chronic Constipation/Diarrhea

A common condition that is characterized by difficult, infrequent, or perceived incomplete evacuation of bowel movements.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A disease characterized by profound fatigue, sleep abnormalities, pain, & other symptoms that are made worse by exertion.

Constipation

A condition in which there is difficulty in emptying the bowels, usually associated with hardened feces.

Depression

A mood disorder causing a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.

Diabetes

A group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood, or high blood glucose.

Endometriosis

A disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus.

Environmental Toxicity

Understanding of the harmful effects of various chemical, biological and physical agents on living organisms.

Fibromyalgia

Widespread muscle pain and tenderness. Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans.

Food Allergies/ Intolerances

An unpleasant or dangerous immune system reaction after a certain food is eaten.

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease

A digestive disease in which stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipe lining.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) A number of factors can trigger IBS including certain foods, medicines, and emotional stress.

Gluten Sensitivity

An immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.

Hypertension

A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.

Hypothyroidism

A condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone.

Infectious Diseases

Caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi; the diseases can be spread.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Ongoing inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract.

Insomnia

Persistent problems falling or staying asleep or both.

Intestinal Permeability (Leaky Gut)

Intestinal permeability is the phenomenon of the gut wall in the gastrointestinal tract exhibiting permeability.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

An intestinal disorder causing pain in the belly, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

Lead Toxicity

Also called plumbism is a buildup of lead in the body, usually over months or years.

Menopause

Common symptoms include hot flashes and vaginal dryness and possibly sleep disturbances. The combination of these symptoms can cause anxiety or depression.

Mercury Toxicity

Inorganic mercury toxicity often causes skin rashes and inflammation (dermatitis)

Metabolic Syndrome

A cluster of conditions that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Migraines

A headache of varying intensity, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction

A group of disorders caused by dysfunctional mitochondria, the organelles that generate energy for the cell.

Mood Disorders

A psychological disorder characterized by the elevation or lowering of a person’s mood, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

Multiple Sclerosis

A disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves.

Muscle Spasms

A sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles.

Neurodevelopmental Degenerative Disorders

A group of disorders in which the development of the central nervous system is disturbed

Obesity

A disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems.

Osteopenia

Reduced bone mass of lesser severity than osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis

A condition in which bones become weak and brittle.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges.

Premenstrual Syndrome

A group of symptoms that occur in women, typically between ovulation and a period.

Prostate Health

There is a lot you can do to keep your prostate healthy as you age—and stay ahead of the game

Psoriatic Arthritis

A form of arthritis that affects some people who have the skin condition psoriasis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

A chronic inflammatory disorder affecting many joints, including those in the hands and feet.

Sinusitis

A condition in which the cavities around the nasal passages become inflamed.

Stress Related Anxiety

Stress can be triggered by an event that makes you feel frustrated or nervous.

Stress Related Fatigue

Emotional, or physical stress drains the adrenal glands and causes many common symptoms.

Thyroid Disease

Any dysfunction of the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck (thyroid).

Viral Syndromes

A term caregivers use for general symptoms of a viral infection that has no clear cause.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Vitamin Deficiencies is a deficiency of one or more of the bodies essential vitamins.

Yeast Infections

A fungal infection typically on the skin or mucous membranes caused by candida.