What is a Functional Nutritionist

You went to the doctor.
You did the bloodwork.
You waited for the call.

And then you heard the words:
“Everything looks normal.”

So why don’t you feel normal?

Why are you still tired?
Why is your weight changing?
Why does your body feel inflamed, puffy, or unpredictable?
Why is your energy different than it used to be?

If you’ve ever thought, “I know something feels off, but I can’t explain it,” you are not alone.

And this is often where a Functional Nutritionist enters the conversation.

If you’ve been searching for answers about weight loss without dieting, low energy, or how to stop emotional eating, this is often the turning point.

A functional nutritionist is trained to look at the body as an interconnected system — not just a collection of isolated lab numbers or diagnoses.

A functional nutritionist — sometimes called a holistic nutritionist — focuses on the whole person, not just the diagnosis.

Conventional medicine is excellent at:
Acute care
Life-saving interventions
Diagnosing disease
Prescribing treatment

But when it comes to subtle shifts in energy, metabolism, inflammation, digestion, hormones, and long-term vitality, there can sometimes be a gap.

A functional nutritionist works in that gap.

We look at patterns.
We look at history.
We look at how systems influence each other.
We ask why symptoms are happening — not just whether they meet criteria for a diagnosis.
We look for root causes and consider nutritional and lifestyle changes to address them.

Standard lab ranges are designed to detect disease.

They are not designed to measure optimal function.

There is a difference between:
“Not sick” and “Thriving”

You can fall within a laboratory reference range and still experience:
Low energy
Stubborn weight gain
Brain fog
Poor sleep
Digestive discomfort
Hormonal fluctuations
Elevated cholesterol creeping upward
Blood sugar that’s technically “fine” but trending higher each year

A functional nutritionist evaluates trends, context, and lived experience — not just whether a number crosses a red line.

Because often, symptoms begin long before diagnosis.

This is one of the most common questions I hear from women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.

“Is this just part of getting older?”

Aging brings change, yes.

But chronic exhaustion, unexplained weight shifts, digestive issues, and persistent inflammation are not inevitable.

Your body is always communicating.

A functional nutritionist helps translate that communication.

Functional nutrition does not replace conventional medicine. It complements it.

The gap exists here.

Conventional care asks:

Functional care asks:

Many women find themselves in the space between:

“I don’t have a diagnosis.”
“But I don’t feel like myself.”

That space — between appointments, between lab reports, between feeling heard and feeling dismissed — is where functional nutrition often makes the biggest difference.

A functional nutritionist focuses on:

This is not about extreme restriction.

It’s not about chasing trends.

It’s not about another quick fix.

It’s about understanding your unique physiology and building sustainable habits that support:

Consider reaching out if:

You do not have to wait for a diagnosis to begin supporting your body.

At Sho Richek Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Counseling, I work with individuals — especially women who want to age well, improve energy, stabilize weight, and avoid unnecessary medications when possible.

As a Certified Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor, I focus on identifying patterns across digestion, inflammation, metabolism, stress, past experiences, emotions, and daily habits to create personalized strategies that support sustainable health.

My approach is collaborative.
I respect and work alongside conventional care.

And I help you bridge the gap between lab results and lived experience.

Because when we support the body from the inside out, the results last.

Next week, we’ll go deeper into one of the most common concerns I hear:

Why is my weight changing — even though my habits haven’t?

We’ll explore metabolism, toxins, hormones, inflammation, and the hidden drivers behind weight shifts.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by unexplained weight gain or stubborn plateaus, you won’t want to miss it.

If this resonated with you and you’re ready to understand your patterns more deeply:

Ready To Crack Your Code?
Visit Shorichek.com to learn more or schedule a complimentary consultation.

Prefer to start on your own?

Explore my Ultimate Food Freedom Workbook — a guided DIY experience with six supportive emails to help you understand your nutritional habits, uncover subconscious triggers, and support weight loss without dieting or deprivation.

Learn more here:
https://www.shorichek.com/workbook

🌿 When we support the body from the inside out, the results last.