The Future of Medicine: Integrating Nutritional Medicine into Healthcare
By Dr. Alain Frabotta - Chiropractor, Functional, Naturopathic and Integrative Medicine Practitioner, Sydney, Australia.
What Is Nutritional Medicine?
Nutritional Medicine is reshaping the future of healthcare by recognising that food is not just fuel — it’s information that directly influences our biology, genes, and long-term wellbeing.
At its core, nutritional medicine explores the relationship between diet, lifestyle, and health. It’s a holistic approach that integrates clinical nutrition, lifestyle counselling, and targeted supplementation to prevent and treat illness, optimise energy, and promote vitality.
Unlike conventional models that focus primarily on symptom management, nutritional medicine seeks to identify and correct the root causes of imbalance. By addressing nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, and lifestyle factors, it supports the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Simply put: Nutritional Medicine focuses on using food and lifestyle as medicine — helping you take control of your health, one step at a time.
What Does a Nutritionist or Nutritional Medicine Practitioner Do?
A nutritionist or nutritional medicine practitioner assesses your diet, lifestyle, and biochemistry to create a personalised nutrition plan that supports your unique physiology and health goals.
This may include:
Evaluating your nutrient intake and identifying imbalances
Developing therapeutic diet plans and meal strategies
Recommending nutraceuticals and evidence-based supplements
Addressing digestion, metabolism, and inflammation
Providing lifestyle and behavioural support for sustainable results
By combining science-backed nutrition with person-centred care, your practitioner helps you make achievable changes that lead to measurable improvements in health and wellbeing.
The Science Behind Nutritional Medicine
Nutritional Medicine is grounded in clinical research and biochemical understanding. Numerous studies demonstrate that targeted nutrition can prevent, manage, and even reverse many chronic conditions.
Naturopathic and nutritional medicine practitioners apply evidence-based principles—balancing scientific data with clinical experience—to deliver results that are both measurable and sustainable.
They don’t guess; they test. This may include using laboratory diagnostics, functional tests, or nutrigenomic profiling to identify underlying issues such as:
Nutrient deficiencies
Chronic inflammation
Hormonal or metabolic imbalances
Oxidative stress
Gut dysbiosis
Principles of Naturopathic and Nutritional Medicine
The foundation of naturopathic medicine—the philosophy underlying nutritional medicine—is built on six timeless principles that promote the body’s natural ability to heal:
1. Primum Non Nocere — First, Do No Harm: Use the least invasive, safest, and most effective treatments possible.
2. Tolle Causam — Identify and Treat the Cause: Address the underlying cause of illness rather than just the symptoms.
3. Treat the Whole Person: Recognise that health is influenced by physical, mental, emotional, and environmental factors.
4. Vis Medicatrix Naturae — The Healing Power of Nature: Support the body’s natural intelligence and self-healing capacity.
5. Docere — Doctor as Teacher: Empower and educate patients to take responsibility for their own health.
6. Prevention: Focus on preventing disease through early intervention, lifestyle modification, and nutrition.
These principles remain the heart of modern integrative care — blending ancient wisdom with today’s scientific understanding.
The Role of Nutrigenomics in Personalised Medicine
Nutrigenomics is one of the most exciting frontiers in nutritional medicine. It examines how your genes interact with nutrients, lifestyle, and environment, shaping how your body responds to food and stress.
By understanding your genetic blueprint, practitioners can personalise dietary and lifestyle recommendations to optimise specific metabolic pathways such as:
Inflammation control
Methylation and detoxification
Oxidative stress balance
DNA repair and cellular function
This precision-based approach empowers you to make targeted choices that align with your biology — creating long-term, sustainable health outcomes.
Nutritional Medicine and Chronic Disease Prevention
In Australia, chronic diseases remain the leading cause of illness and disability. The good news? Many of these conditions are preventable and manageable through nutrition and lifestyle.
Scientific research consistently links poor diet quality to chronic conditions such as:
Type II Diabetes
Cardiovascular disease
Obesity and metabolic syndrome
Depression and anxiety
Autoimmune disorders
Hormonal imbalances and PCOS
Digestive and inflammatory bowel disorders
Skin conditions such as eczema or acne
Chronic fatigue and stress-related syndromes
By addressing nutrition, inflammation, and gut health, nutritional medicine provides a proactive path to prevention—empowering individuals to take charge of their health before disease develops.
“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” — Hippocrates.
What to Expect in a Consultation
At Dr. Alain Frabotta’s clinic, every consultation begins with a comprehensive assessment. This may include:
Detailed medical assessment
Physical examination (e.g., eyes, skin, nails, abdomen, cardiovascular function)
Laboratory or functional tests (e.g., nutrient status, gut microbiome, hormonal profile)
Genetic or nutrigenomic analysis (if indicated)
The goal is to develop a personalised, evidence-based treatment plan that restores balance, supports healing, and empowers you to sustain long-term wellbeing.
Naturopathic Treatment Modalities
Naturopathic and nutritional practitioners use a diverse range of therapeutic modalities, including:
Clinical nutrition and supplementation
Herbal medicine
Lifestyle and stress management counselling
Mind-body medicine and breathing techniques
Manual therapies, such as gentle muscle release or craniosacral therapy
Each plan is uniquely tailored — blending traditional wisdom with modern diagnostics to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Choosing a Qualified Nutritional Medicine Practitioner
When selecting a practitioner, look for those who are qualified, accredited, and evidence-informed. In Australia, reputable professional associations include:
Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA)
Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association (ANPA)
Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)
A great practitioner doesn’t just prescribe — they partner with you to achieve your health goals, guiding you through education, accountability, and practical lifestyle strategies.
Your health is your most significant investment. Nutritional medicine gives you the knowledge and tools to protect it.
Ready to experience a more integrative and personalised approach to your health?
Book a consultation with Dr. Alain Frabotta to explore how Nutritional Medicine can help you restore balance, prevent disease, and achieve optimal wellness.
+ REFERENCES
[1] Wardle J, Oberg EB. The intersecting paradigms of naturopathic medicine and public health: opportunities for naturopathic medicine. J Altern Complement Med. Nov 2011;17(11):1079-84. doi:10.1089/acm.2010.0830
[2] Ooi SL, McLean L, Pak SC. Naturopathy in Australia: Where are we now? Where are we heading? Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018;33:27-35. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.07.009
[3] Lloyd I. Overview of the World Naturopathic Federation (WNF). vol 30. Cambridge Publishing; 2018:58–61.
[4] Logan AC, Goldenberg JZ, Guiltinan J, Seely D, Katz DL. North American naturopathic medicine in the 21st century: Time for a seventh guiding principle - Scientia Critica. Explore (NY). Sep 2018;14(5):367-372. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2018.03.009
[5] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Chronic disease Overview - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Published 2021. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-conditions-disability-deaths/chronic-disease/overview
[6] Myers SP, Vigar V. The State of the Evidence for Whole-System, Multi-Modality Naturopathic Medicine: A Systematic Scoping Review. J Altern Complement Med. Feb 2019;25(2):141-168. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0340
[7] Romeyke T, Nohammer E, Scheuer HC, Stummer H. Integration of naturopathic medicine into acute inpatient care: An approach for patient-centred medicine under diagnosis-related groups. Complement Ther Clin Pract. Aug 2017;28:9-17. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.04.004
[8] Oberg EB, Bradley RD, Allen J, McCrory MA. CAM: naturopathic dietary interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes. Complement Ther Clin Pract. Aug 2011;17(3):157-61. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2011.02.007
[9] Seely D, Szczurko O, Cooley K, et al. Naturopathic medicine for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: a randomized clinical trial. CMAJ. Jun 11 2013;185(9):E409-16. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120567
[10] Sarris J, McIntyre E, Camfield DA. Plant-based medicines for anxiety disorders, Part 1: a review of preclinical studies. CNS Drugs. Mar 2013;27(3):207-19. doi:10.1007/s40263-013-0044-3
[11] Sarris J, Moylan S, Camfield DA, et al. Complementary medicine, exercise, meditation, diet, and lifestyle modification for anxiety disorders: a review of current evidence. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:809653. doi:10.1155/2012/809653
[12] Barber MS, Barrett R, Bradley RD, Walker E. A naturopathic treatment approach for mild and moderate COVID-19: A retrospective chart review. Complement Ther Med. Dec 2021;63:102788. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102788
[13] Herman PM, Szczurko O, Cooley K, Mills EJ. Cost-effectiveness of naturopathic care for chronic low back pain. Altern Ther Health Med. Mar-Apr 2008;14(2):32-9.
[14] Hofer J, Hoffmann F, Kamp-Becker I, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use in adults with autism spectrum disorder in Germany: results from a multi-center survey. BMC Psychiatry. Feb 1 2019;19(1):53. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2043-5
[15] Foley H, Steel A. Patient perceptions of clinical care in complementary medicine: A systematic review of the consultation experience. Patient Educ Couns. Feb 2017;100(2):212-223. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2016.09.015
[16] LLOYD, I., STEEL, A. & WARDLE, J. (eds.) 2021. Naturopathy, Practice, Effectiveness, Economics & Safety, Toronto, Ontario: World Naturopathic Federation.